Metropolis RecordingsThe new charity single featuring a version of the 1969 Hollies hit "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" by The Justice Collective, an all-star group of British artists that includes Paul McCartney, has debuted at #1 on the U.K.'s Official Christmas Singles Chart.  The recording sold more than 269,000 during its first week of release.  The track was organized to raise money for the families of the many people killed during an April 1989 crushing incident at the Hillsborough soccer stadium in Sheffield, England.

According to Britain's Official Charts Company, the tune marks the eighth #1 U.K. Christmas single in which McCartney has participated.  Previously, he's had four chart-toppers with The Beatles, one with his 1970s group Wings and one each with the star-studded Band Aid and Band Aid 20 projects.

As previously reported, The Justice Collective's rendition of "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" includes vocals and a guitar solo by McCartney, and also features contributions from Squeeze's Glenn Tilbrook, The Clash's Mick Jones, Gerry and the Pacemakers frontman Gerry Marsden, Frankie Goes to Hollywood's Holly Johnson, The Pogues' Shane MacGowan, The Spice Girls' Melanie C., Robbie Williams and others.

All the musicians featured on the single donated their time without a fee.  Proceeds raised from the track will benefit charities that support the families of the victims of the Hillsborough tragedy and their fight to reopen an investigation into the cause of the incident, which led to the deaths of 96 people.

In the U.S., the song can be purchased as a digital download via iTunes and Amazon.

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