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He (song)
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Wikipedia article
"'He'" is a song about God, written in 1954. The song made the popular music charts the following year.
The music was written by Jack Richards, with lyrics by Richard Mullan. The song was originally published by Avas Music Publishing, Inc.
Background
The final lines in the two verses state:
"Though it makes him sad
to see the way we live,
He'll always say: 'I Forgive' ".
First recordings
The first recording to be released was by Al Hibbler, whose version reached No. 4 on 'Billboard's chart of Best Sellers in Stores, No. 7 on 'Billboard's Top 100, No. 7 on 'Billboard's chart of Most Played by Jockeys, and No. 8 on 'Billboard's chart of Most Played in Juke Boxes.Whitburn, Joel (1987) 'The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits', Billboard Publications, Inc. p. 146. Despite its popularity with listeners to Radio Luxenbourg, the song never reached the British charts - mainly due to the ban imposed by the BBC on popular songs with what they termed pseudo-religious lyrics and both Hibbler's and the version by the McGuire Sisters lost out due to that decision.
The McGuire Sisters also released a version of the song in 1955, which reached No. 10 on 'Billboard's chart of Most Played in Juke Boxes, No. 12 on 'Billboard's Top 100, No. 12 on 'Billboard's chart of Best Sellers in Stores, and No. 16 on 'Billboard's chart of Most Played by Jockeys.Whitburn, Joel (1987) 'The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits', Billboard Publications, Inc. p. 202.
The song was ranked No. 33 on 'Billboard's ranking of "1955's Top Tunes", based on the Honor Roll of Hits"[http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/50s/1955/Billboard%201955-12-31.pdf 1955's Top Tunes]", 'Billboard', December 31, 1955. p. 29. Retrieved April 19, 2018. and No. 34 on 'Billboard's ranking of "1956's Top Tunes"."[http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/50s/1956/Billboard%201956-12-29.pdf 1956's Top Tunes]", 'Billboard', December 29, 1956. p. 32. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
Other recordings
*Andy Williams released a version on his 1960 album, 'The Village of St. Bernadette'.
*The Righteous Brothers released a version of the song in 1966, which spent eight weeks on the 'Billboard' Hot 100 chart, peaking at No. 18.[https://www.billboard.com/artist/the-righteous-brothers/chart-history/hsi/ Hot 100 - The Righteous Brothers He Chart History], 'Billboard.com'. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
*Diana Ross & The Supremes covered the song for 'In Loving Memory', a 1968 gospel compilation featuring Motown Records artists.
*Elvis Presley recorded the song in 1960 at his home in Bel Air.
References
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