‘Let's Stick Together’ is a blues-based rhythm and blues song written by Wilbert Harrison. In 1962, Fury Records released it as a single. Harrison further developed the song and in 1969, Sue Records issued it as a two-part single titled ‘Let's Work Together’. Although Harrison's original song did not appear in the record charts, his reworked version entered the U.S. Top 40. Several artists subsequently recorded the songs; ‘Let's Work Together’ by Canned Heat (1970) and ‘Let's Stick Together’ by Bryan Ferry (1976) were both chart successes. This article focuses on Bryan Ferry’s version of the song.
In 1976, Island Records released a version of ‘Let's Stick Together’ by Bryan Ferry. The song is the title track for his album of the same name. This was Ferry’s third solo release; it was his first following the disbanding of Roxy Music earlier in the year. Unlike Ferry's two previous solo releases, Let’s Stick Together was not a dedicated album project, instead predominately made up of singles, B-sides, and an EP. Three tracks were exclusive to the LP, all remakes of Roxy Music tracks: ‘Casanova’, ‘2HB’, and ‘Chance Meeting’. It had a generally favourable critical reception, but only just made the UK Top 20.
Ferry plays harmonica and pianos (electric and acoustic), Chris Spedding on electric guitar, John Wetton on bass, Paul Thompson on drums, Mel Collins on soprano saxophone and the tenor saxophone solo is played by Chris Mercer. The video, featuring the band playing the song, includes an appearance by "sexily seductive" model Jerry Hall, Ferry's girlfriend at the time, who provided the "mid-riff yelping backing vocals that only add to the frenetic edge of lustful excitement", according to AllMusic reviewer Dave Thompson.
The single is Ferry’s biggest solo hit in the UK, where it reached number four in the UK chart on June 27, 1976. It was certified Silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). In 1988, Ferry released a remix of the song as ‘Let's Stick Together '88’, on E.G. Records in the UK. The single reached number 12 on the UK chart on October 29. The song is used near the end of the film "The Family Plan" on Apple TV.
Label – E.G.
Songwriter – Wilbert Harrison
Producers – Chris Thomas, Bryan Ferry
SONG LYRICS
And now the marriage vow is very sacredThe man has put us together now
You ought to make it stick together
Come on, come on, let's stick together
You know we made a vow not to leave one another never
But now you never miss your water till your well runs dry
Come on now baby give our love a try
Let's stick together
Come on, come on, let's stick together
You know we made a vow not to leave one another never
Well if you're stuck for a while consider our child
How can it be happy without its ma and pa
Let's stick together
Come on, come on, let's stick together
You know we made a vow not to leave one another never
Well if you're stuck for a while consider our child
How can it be happy without its ma and pa
Let's stick together
Come on, come on, let's stick together
You know we made a vow not to leave one another never