Hollies Acetates

[cameron]

A few years ago, I was having a conversation with a fellow Hollies fanatic about Acetates. I recalled that not long after I'd got into the Hollies, I saw a bunch of Acetates sell on eBay including full sound clips in the listings. But I wasn't "into" them enough at the time to understand the significance of these acetates and none of them jumped out at me as being the Hollies best-known hits. Thanks to that marvellous website 'Popsike', I've just found that they sold in 2009 (for £150+ each) and included the following: 

If I Needed Someone (alternative mix)
Suspicious Look In Your Eyes
What's Wrong With The Way I Live
Hard Hard Year
I've Got A Way Of My Own

Did anyone grab the audio from the eBay listings? I checked the item numbers on eBay and of course they're long gone now. I just wondered if there was any difference between these acetates and the released recordings? It seems that 'If I Needed Someone' and 'What's Wrong With The Way I Live' were EMI acetates, usually done for rough mixes etc... but the rest were all Dick James demo pressings, which were probably the finished track as we all know them, kept for reference in case anyone wanted to cover these songs. I do actually vividly remember listening to the one for 'What's Wrong With The Way I Live' and it appeared to be an earlier version with not so much percussion and a different bass part that was smoother. Why on earth I didn't copy the sound files at the time, I do not know! I had been into the Beatles before, and you can get pretty much their entire recording sessions on YouTube, I sort of expected the same with the Hollies, so consciously didn't "waste my time" with this audio - what a fool! 

And while we're on the subject, an EMI one sided acetate of 'I Can't Tell The Bottom From The Top' also sold for £298 according to Popsike. I heard a rumour once that Mikael Rickfors recorded an acetate for this track to the Hollies' original backing as part of his "audition" to join the band - can anyone confirm/elaborate on this? 

There's the usual album acetates, particularly of 'Evolution' which have changed hands via eBay regularly too. 

Has anyone ever come across or known of any unusual/sought after Hollies Acetate pressings over the years? 

[albatros]

Hi Cameron! Very interesting point you wrote about. Yes, often an acetate have a different version on as the original 7" or album release. Cause often they taped more than a version from theire songs. And only the best - the opinion from the band or the pruducer - see the light of day.
I have this acetate from "I Can`t Tell The Bottom From The Top" in stock. I bought it for a not so high price around 15 Years ago. I`m sure that the vocals come from Mikael Rickfors. The backround is the original Hollies recording. I alao have a rougher Mix from this one also from THE HOLLIES. - Also on an acetate. I know the original from GUY FLETCHER and any other cover versions. All absolutly different to this one. For myself it`s Mikael Rickfors. I contact him any years ago, but he can`t remember.
But it is his voice on this acetate.

[Gralto]

Hi Albatros - I know we had some discussions about this many years ago (2008), and you are convinced it's Rickfors but having listened to the bit that was put up online in the sale, I'm 99.9% sure it was Fletcher's voice. I contacted Fletcher about it and tried to send him the clip but the snippet I sent him wouldn't play on his computer and after a few follow ups, it all got a bit hard. Therefore, never fully confirmed. However Fletcher's voice is not too dissimilar from Rickfors and there is no mention on the disc of any Hollies involvement hand written on the label. I would not get my hopes up it's The H on there - sorry to be a killjoy!

[albatros]

Hi Simon! I see it different than you did. I have the album with the version from Guy Fletcher on it. It`s totaly different then the Hollies version. Why shall Fletcher sing the vocals on a Hollies instrumental track ?? Now I have more time then years ago. Maybe I send a tape to Mikael Rickfors. And lets wait what he says about this track. I`m sure its Rickfors.

[Gralto]

Jun 16, 2019 13:14:20 GMT albatros said:

Hi Simon! I see it different than you did. I have the album with the version from Guy Fletcher on it. It`s totaly different then the Hollies version. Why shall Fletcher sing the vocals on a Hollies instrumental track ?? Now I have more time then years ago. Maybe I send a tape to Mikael Rickfors. And lets wait what he says about this track. I`m sure its Rickfors.

Hi again Albatros! Of course Fletcher (co-) wrote I Can't Tell The Bottom From The Top and the version I think you are talking about is his demo.
It's this one yes? (see pic) Or do you have a different one to this? 

[albatros]

Hi Simon! Yes it`s this one. Fletcher and Flett wrote this song. But on this one - the instrumental part is definitivly The Hollies. I will check up who sung the Vocal part on this one. For my opinion it can`t be Guy Fletcher. Why shall he sing the vocals on a Hollies backing track ??

[Gralto]

Pretty sure it's not The Hollies on the backing Mr A!

[knut]

I bought the acetate that Terry had given to his friend and co-songwriter Dean Ford from Marmalade. When he died his wife sold it via Ebay. It is the Hollies version.

[Gralto]

Thanks Knut - but you are talking about a different acetate to the copy I pictured above which Albatros has/had? If I recall correctly, there was a spate of Hollies acetates at one point some years back on Ebay and I think there were two acetates of I Can't Tell The Bottom - one which was the publisher's demo (the one pictured above) and another, a genuine Hollies one with Clarke of course on vocals. The latter is yours yes?

I can foolishly recall turning down being offered the acetate of Wings on 45 many, many years ago when the vendor wanted $200 US - I'd pay that now! Thought it was miles overs then though. Was going to post the pic of it here but I can't find it in my files anymore, :-(

[knut]

You are right. Mine is the Hollies version we know. It has hand written text. 4.18

[albatros]

Hi Knut and Simon! I have 2 acetates from I CAN`T TELL THE BOTTOM...". The first is a rougher version with Clarke on it. And the other one - my opinion - is definitivly Mikael Rickfors. I check it up. I have the original version from Guy Fletcher in stock. He have a totaly different voice as on my acetate. And the backround is also totaly different.