Amazing Grace

"Amazing Grace" is a hymn first published in 1779 by John Newton, an Englishman who worked on slave ships. On one voyage, they came across a nasty storm and Newton thought the ship was going to sink. After they made it through, Newton became deeply religious and later became a minister. Newton wrote this based on his religious conversion, and how God saved him even though he was a "wretch." To this day, it remains a very popular hymn.

Judy Collins' 1970 version spent 67 weeks on the UK chart, which is longer than any other single by a female artist. She recorded it at St Paul's Chapel, Colombia University.

Collin's version was re-released in the UK in 1971 and again in 1972, and it charted again both times. In 1972, The Pipes And Drums And Military Band Of The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards released their version, which went to #1 and was the biggest-selling single on 1972 in the UK.

Joan Baez sang this to open the Philadelphia stage of Live Aid in 1985. There were over 100,000 people in the crowd, and most of them sang it with her.

Arlo Guthrie performed this at Woodstock in 1969.