Healing Hands (Elton John song)

"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 in August 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 in June 1990.

"Healing Hands"
Single by Elton John
from the album Sleeping with the Past
A-side	"Sacrifice" (second release)
B-side	"Dancing in the End Zone" (first release)
Released	7 August 1989[1]
Length	4:21
Label	Rocket (UK) MCA (US)
Songwriter(s)	Elton John Bernie Taupin
Producer(s)	Chris Thomas[2]
Elton John singles chronology
"Through the Storm" (1989) "Healing Hands" (1989) "Sacrifice" (1989)
Music video
"Healing Hands" on YouTube

The song was inspired by the Four Tops song "Reach Out, I'll Be There".^[3] 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".

Release and reception

"Healing Hands" did moderately well as a single in the United States, climbing to No. 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.

Cash Box reviewed the single saying that "Elton has gone back to basics, and delivers a great song this time, relying only on a piano and his golden throat to get him through."^[4]

Music video

The music video filmed in black and white features John singing with backgrounds singers Jackson, Jenkins and Jeter standing on platforms with black flags waving in back of them and even John in a flag as well.

Technical details

Musically, the intro and verses are in B flat major, with the chorus in 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 Chart (1989–1990) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[5] 14 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[6] 10 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[7] 6 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[8] 1 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[9] 37 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[10] 60 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[11] 13 UK Singles (OCC)[12] 45 UK Singles (OCC)[13] with "Sacrifice" 1 US Billboard Hot 100[14] 13 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[15] 1 US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[16] 23 West Germany (GfK)[17] 39 Zimbabwe (ZIMA)[18] 2

Year-end charts Chart (1989) Position Australia (ARIA)[19] 61 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[20] 46 Chart (1990) Position UK Singles (OCC)[21] 3

References

1. "New Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 5 August 1989. p. 41. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
2. "Healing Hands". AllMusic. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
3. Cassata, Mary Anne (2002). The Elton John Scrapbook. Citadel Press. p. 38. ISBN 9780806523224.
4. Wednesday, Oscar (26 August 1989). "Pure Pop for Now People" (PDF). Cash Box. p. 14. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
5. "Elton John – Healing Hands". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
6. "Elton John – Healing Hands" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
7. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 6592." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
8. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 6619." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
9. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 41. 14 October 1989. p. IV. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
10. "Elton John – Healing Hands" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
11. "Elton John – Healing Hands". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
12. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
13. "Elton John: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
14. "Elton John Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
15. "Elton John Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
16. "Elton John Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
17. "Offiziellecharts.de – Elton John – Healing Hands" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
18. • Zimbabwe. Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: singles chart book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000
19. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
20. "Top 100 Singles of '89". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
21. "1990 Top 100 Singles". Music Week. London, England: Spotlight Publications. 2 March 1991. p. 41.

• "Healing Hands", The Billboard Book of Number One Adult Contemporary Hits by Wesley Hyatt, p. 352, Billboard Books (1999).