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Healing Hands (Elton John song)
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox song
| name = Healing Hands
| cover = Ejohn healinghands.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Elton John
| album = Sleeping with the Past
| A-side =
| B-side =
| released =
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre =
| length = 4:21
| label =
* Rocket (UK)
* MCA (US)
| writer =
* Elton John
* Bernie Taupin
| producer = Chris Thomas
| prev_title = Through the Storm
| prev_year = 1989
| next_title = Sacrifice
| next_year = 1989
| misc =
}}
"'Healing Hands'" is a song by English musician Elton John, written by John and Bernie Taupin, from John's 1989 album, 'Sleeping with the Past'. The single was released during late summer 1989 and was a top-20 hit in the United States. A reissued version (paired as a double A-side single with "Sacrifice") became the singer's first solo number-one single in the United Kingdom.
The song was inspired by the Four Tops song "Reach Out, I'll Be There". Produced by Chris Thomas, it was the first of three singles released from the album, with the follow-ups being "Sacrifice" and "Club at the End of the Street".
Chart performance
"Healing Hands" did moderately well as a single in the United States, climbing to 13 on the 'Billboard' Hot 100 and reaching No. 1 on the 'Billboard' Adult Contemporary chart on the week of 21 October 1989. The song failed to make the UK top 40 during its initial release, as did the follow-up, "Sacrifice". However, after Steve Wright of BBC Radio One added "Sacrifice" to his station's playlist, "Sacrifice" was re-released in the UK as a double A-side with "Healing Hands". The double A-side record topped the UK Singles Chart for five weeks starting 23 June 1990, becoming the first solo No. 1 hit of Elton John's career in his native country.
Technical details
Musically, the song is complex, with the intro and verses in the key of B flat major, and the chorus in the key of D major. An instrumental solo, in the related minor key of G (minor), serves as a bridge.
Personnel
* Elton John keyboards, lead and harmony vocals
* Guy Babylon keyboards
* Fred Mandel keyboards
* Peter Iversen Fairlight and Audiofile programming
* Davey Johnstone guitars, backing vocals
* Romeo Williams bass
* Jonathan Moffett drums
* Natalie Jackson backing vocals
* Mortonette Jenkins backing vocals
* Marlena Jeter backing vocals
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
References
* "Healing Hands", 'The Billboard Book of Number One Adult Contemporary Hits' by Wesley Hyatt, p. 352, Billboard Books (1999).
Category:Elton John songs
Category:1989 singles
Category:1989 songs
Category:MCA Records singles
Category:Music videos directed by Russell Mulcahy
Category:The Rocket Record Company singles
Category:Song recordings produced by Chris Thomas (record producer)
Category:Songs with lyrics by Bernie Taupin
Category:Songs with music by Elton John
Category:UK Singles Chart number-one singles
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