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Post by Gralto on Jun 22, 2013 2:49:27 GMT
Hi All, Back in 2008, I wrote a piece for UK magazine Record Collector on 50 of the band's most interesting vinyl rarities. The idea was to tell The Hollies' story through their vinyl releases, revealing some rarely heard tales while trying to provide an understanding of the band's history and at the same time, reveal an assortment of Hollies vinyl rarities, several of which had not been previously seen or unearthed.
The idea was that this would be run in the August or Sept 2008 issue of the magazine, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Hollies Greatest album's ascent to the top of the English album charts. Record Collector said they would run it...then never did. Probably a blessing in disguise in hindsight, as several uber-rarities appeared in the years since that made the piece a lot more interesting. It also gave me a chance to correct some factual errors I'd made originally.
For those who haven't seen it, I will scan it and post here to save you tracking down a copy. Overall, I was very pleased with the way the magazine laid out the article and a few minor quibbles aside about changing a few words, punctuation and grammar here and there, it's pretty much as I wrote it.
One thing - there is one major howler of a mistake I made but I will mention that after I've scanned and added here
I will be interested to hear people's comments. It's certainly not 'The Hollies' 50 Rarest Discs' as that would be a relatively uninteresting read based on mostly their foreign releases from their earliest years. There were also at least 5 other discs for which I wrote pieces that were culled from the final 50. Some I chose weren't that rare but helped progress the story.
Right...scans to follow shortly, assuming I can work out what to do! cheers Simon
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Post by cameron on Jun 26, 2013 0:13:42 GMT
I've already told you how much I loved this article. It's so refreshing to get some new information on the Hollies. I have a few thoughts on some of the records featured:
THE FOURTONES ACETATE I've heard "Crying In The Rain" but nothing else from this acetate. This is REALLY worth having if anyone ever has access to it. Graham and Allan are really in the spotlight here.
YES I WILL/NOBODY The Japanese pressings of Hollies records are worth getting as they're pressed on Red Wax, which is superior to black vinyl, albeit much more expensive. The Japanese pressings were sometimes subject to remastering and editing, producing a different sound. Personally, I think the rarest Japanese pressing is the original Red Wax pressing of "Butterfly". It had the same cover as the UK pressing, but the "Hollies" letters on the front were coloured in. I've only ever seen one copy of this LP.
THE HOLLIES (SWEDEN, PMCS309) Bobby Elliott boasts how he has an unplayed copy of this. He says that the cover photo was taken before the Hollies went out on stage on their first tour of Sweden supporting Herman's Hermits in 1965. He said that they were very impressed with the Swedish PA system that they used on that tour - so much so that they bought one and used it themselves all over the world! Back the the LP in question, this one always illudes me. I always miss out on a copy that turns up on eBay, you'd be surprised how much they sell for!
DON'T MAKE ME CRY ACETATE I'd love to hear this. As your article points out, there's a lot of confusion over the title of the song. To hear the definitive version would be nice.
KILL ME QUICK/WE'RE ALIVE There's a lot of fuss made over the original mono mix of this single, which misses out so much that is presented in the stereo mix (such as instruments and backing vocals) and the mono mix has never seen the light of day since 1967. But you can make your own mono mix by removing the right hand channel of the stereo mix - it is identical to the original mono mix. I suspect the stereo mix was supplied to EMI Italy and incorrectly mixed down.
THE LEE KINGS - COMING FROM THE GROUND Again, this one illudes me. When a copy turns up for sale, I always get outbid! One day... Another rarity worth having. It's debated whether the unreleased Hollies track from 1967, "Ashes To Ashes", is in fact the Hollies having a go at this track themselves.
BAMBOO - TO KNOW YOU IS TO LOVE YOU/TOUCH I have never heard this, and I've never seen a copy anywhere. I'd love to hear this early version of one of my favourite Hollies songs.
OUT ON THE ROAD Again, worth buying. All CD reissues are terrible vinyl rips. The problem is that Hansa used to do their own mastering and this LP is very treble and bass heavy. The midtones especially. I don't know if Spanish pressings suffer the same problem. It's very difficult to get a satisfactory copy from vinyl. Original copies turn up regularly on eBay.
PROFILE: THE HOLLIES (BBC) I'd love to hear this! 150 minutes of interviews and music, what's not to like!
Some discs that could have been included are: - The Societe - Bird Has Flown from 1967 on Deram records. Produced by Allan Clarke (and featuring his voice) this track is rumoured to have been moonlighted by the Hollies themselves, with them playing on the track instead of the members of the Scottish group, The Societe. After some very careful listens, I can't decide! Have a listen for yourselves, it's on Youtube. - An obscure LP called Taggett by the band of the same name. This was produced by Tony Hicks in 1972/3. - The German LP, "Hollies Greatest Hits" on Hansa records as this features the first official stereo mixes of "All The World Is Love", "Like Every Time Before", "Do The Best You Can" and "Blowin' In The Wind (Nash Version)". It also features a stereo remix of "Carrie Anne". - The Canadian LP, "Love N' Flowers". To cash in on the Hollies' move to Epic, they released this album in Canada only featuring a very 'summer of love' looking cover. Jokes on the listener as this LP is pretty much all tracks taken from "Hollies (1965)", no "ego is dead!" here! - "Jennifer Eccles" jukebox promo on Parlophon (sic) Records, Italy. This was backed with "Hush" by Deep Purple! What a killer of a 45! Most copies I've seen are understandably worn out... - "Butterfly" (PCS 7039) UK pressing. This is arguably the most valuable Hollies UK lp. Mint copies can fetch upwards of £150. - "Listen To The Hollies" an obscure South African greatest hits collection from 1968. - "Hollies Days" a German LP which for many years was the only stereo issue of their third UK album, "Hollies (1965)", as the stereo mix was not released at the time in the UK until 1970 on the budget label Starline. The German LP features unique artwork. - "The Hollies EP Collection" on EMI records was issued briefly in 1978 before being quickly withdrawn. This is a valuable addition to your collection as the LP was mastered not from master tapes, but mint copies of the original EPs.
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Post by roots66 on Jun 26, 2013 12:14:03 GMT
Simon, I scanned this the other day to pass on privately to a few fans...can post the links here if you're having trouble. It took an unusually long time for this issue to make it over here.
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Post by downriver on Jun 28, 2013 20:49:29 GMT
Great list!! I've heard snippets of Graham and Allan being interviewed from some fan disc thing (probably a promo that people sent away for, like that one Dave Dee and co. did for Coca Cola in 1966 or 7 with The Supremes) but I have no idea where it is from. I do believe Cathy MacGowan of Ready Steady Go fame is interviewing them and all I can remember is Graham's comment "tell them to go check out our bank balance!" when asked "What about people who don't like your work?". I would imagine however that it is not on the list simply because it may be a "Various Artists" record and not a "Hollies" one.
And I mentioned this on the old forum (RIP!!!) but I would LOVE, not only to hear the Fourtones acetate, but to at least know how many songs are on it and what they are? I would imagine only 2 but some say it has 4 songs! Unusual for an acetate made privately a not-yet-wealthy-band!
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Post by roots66 on Jun 28, 2013 22:09:59 GMT
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Post by downriver on Jun 30, 2013 20:50:34 GMT
Thanks for scanning that, roots66! Answered just about all my questions and THEN some!
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Post by Gralto on Jul 2, 2013 10:34:40 GMT
Simon, I scanned this the other day to pass on privately to a few fans...can post the links here if you're having trouble. It took an unusually long time for this issue to make it over here. Thanks heaps - really appreciate you doing that for the board!
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Post by Gralto on Jul 2, 2013 11:28:15 GMT
Cameron - many thanks for your comments about the article. In regards to some of your discs:
THE FOURTONES ACETATE I've heard "Crying In The Rain" but nothing else from this acetate. This is REALLY worth having if anyone ever has access to it. Graham and Allan are really in the spotlight here.
I think - not 100% sure - that years and years ago (mid 1990s?) these four tracks got released on a bootleg called - from memory - Primary or Primary Colours? It was a Nash solo boot - maybe a CSN one - but it wasn't a Hollies CD. I've never seen a copy, let alone owned one but my hazy memory distinctly recalls seeing the tracks on a bootleg listing - perhaps it was from ICE magazine, or a list I got from a bootleg seller, back in the good old early 1990s, when you excitedly looked to see if your supplier had any Hollies bootlegs!!! Of course...he didn't, until shoddy CDs like Hollie Days and Manchester Express appeared. Then...one day...I see a listing for the first potentially great Hollies bootleg CD - In A Spin - appear on a New York mail order service's listing, stating "live tracks, BBC, outtakes". OMG - I have to have this. I bolt to the bank, organise an international bank cheque (remember those? neither do I), sent the envelope same day and feverishly waited for the disc arrive. Imagine my disappointment upon receipt of said disc, upon first listen only to discover many of the tracks had been sourced directly from my collection, via a tape I had given someone. It's fair to say that person was quickly removed from my Xmas card list.
THE HOLLIES (SWEDEN, PMCS309) Bobby Elliott boasts how he has an unplayed copy of this. He says that the cover photo was taken before the Hollies went out on stage on their first tour of Sweden supporting Herman's Hermits in 1965. He said that they were very impressed with the Swedish PA system that they used on that tour - so much so that they bought one and used it themselves all over the world! Back the the LP in question, this one always illudes me. I always miss out on a copy that turns up on eBay, you'd be surprised how much they sell for!
I suggest you try the main Swedish auction site - Tradera. They often have copies there.
KILL ME QUICK/WE'RE ALIVE There's a lot of fuss made over the original mono mix of this single, which misses out so much that is presented in the stereo mix (such as instruments and backing vocals) and the mono mix has never seen the light of day since 1967. But you can make your own mono mix by removing the right hand channel of the stereo mix - it is identical to the original mono mix. I suspect the stereo mix was supplied to EMI Italy and incorrectly mixed down.
Good pick up - what you surmise may well be absolutely bang on.
THE LEE KINGS - COMING FROM THE GROUND Again, this one illudes me. When a copy turns up for sale, I always get outbid! One day... Another rarity worth having. It's debated whether the unreleased Hollies track from 1967, "Ashes To Ashes", is in fact the Hollies having a go at this track themselves.
Copies of this with picture sleeve are really genuinely hard to come by. I remember going to a Swedish record fair in Stockholm in 2001 and locals there said it was almost impossible to find. I think I've seen only, maybe 5 copies online in over a decade of looking. My picture sleeve copy is terrible - it has the original owner's hand writing on it that quite defaces it - and is all I have.
OUT ON THE ROAD Again, worth buying. All CD reissues are terrible vinyl rips. The problem is that Hansa used to do their own mastering and this LP is very treble and bass heavy. The midtones especially. I don't know if Spanish pressings suffer the same problem. It's very difficult to get a satisfactory copy from vinyl. Original copies turn up regularly on eBay.
I think they all sound the same pretty much. I've got a German and Spanish copy as well as own a Trident acetate.
Some discs that could have been included are: - The Societe - Bird Has Flown from 1967 on Deram records. Produced by Allan Clarke (and featuring his voice) this track is rumoured to have been moonlighted by the Hollies themselves, with them playing on the track instead of the members of the Scottish group, The Societe. After some very careful listens, I can't decide! Have a listen for yourselves, it's on Youtube. - An obscure LP called Taggett by the band of the same name. This was produced by Tony Hicks in 1972/3. - The German LP, "Hollies Greatest Hits" on Hansa records as this features the first official stereo mixes of "All The World Is Love", "Like Every Time Before", "Do The Best You Can" and "Blowin' In The Wind (Nash Version)". It also features a stereo remix of "Carrie Anne". - The Canadian LP, "Love N' Flowers". To cash in on the Hollies' move to Epic, they released this album in Canada only featuring a very 'summer of love' looking cover. Jokes on the listener as this LP is pretty much all tracks taken from "Hollies (1965)", no "ego is dead!" here! - "Jennifer Eccles" jukebox promo on Parlophon (sic) Records, Italy. This was backed with "Hush" by Deep Purple! What a killer of a 45! Most copies I've seen are understandably worn out... - "Butterfly" (PCS 7039) UK pressing. This is arguably the most valuable Hollies UK lp. Mint copies can fetch upwards of £150. - "Listen To The Hollies" an obscure South African greatest hits collection from 1968. - "Hollies Days" a German LP which for many years was the only stereo issue of their third UK album, "Hollies (1965)", as the stereo mix was not released at the time in the UK until 1970 on the budget label Starline. The German LP features unique artwork. - "The Hollies EP Collection" on EMI records was issued briefly in 1978 before being quickly withdrawn. This is a valuable addition to your collection as the LP was mastered not from master tapes, but mint copies of the original EPs.
Yes I agree with several of the above - some people have stated that The Societie is The Hollies in disguise because it's on Decca and they wanted to try something different away from EMI but were contractually tied so they put this out as someone else...or so the story goes. I can assure you - it's not The Hollies. There is at least one photo of Clarke with The Societie around and while he is involved in the production, it aint our faves under a pseudonym.
Taggett album - Hicks produced that one but there are other discs that could have been included along the same lines. He produced a 45 for an English opera singer (Joseph Ward) in 1969 that he got all excited about at the time! He also played on discs with Kenny Lynch, Tony Hazzard, Chip Taylor, Bradford Disaster Charity 45 and several others, and also wrote other songs with Lynch that The Hollies never recorded (Cilla Black recorded one of them). Clarke did heaps too - producing, writing and/or performing on releases from Blue Mink, Gary Walker, Buckeye, playing harmonica on an album of Dylan covers in the early 70s, collaborating with Maurice Gibb, Lynsey De Paul etc etc etc. And that's not looking at discs from Sylvester, Nash and others. So, I could have included a heap of other discs but tried to keep it diverse enough to tell their story without being too obscure too often.
I have that Listen To The Hollies South African LP and had actually written about that one in the final 50, but I'd always wanted the blood-stained cover compilation - because it's so out there and different to every other Hollies cover - so I changed it at the last minute when I managed to procure a copy.
A number of people have said to me about the non-inclusion of the German Hansa Greatest Hits compile and in hindsight, maybe I could have included it at the expense of the Like Every Time Before German 45. The aim though, was to tell their story thru the records and the Two Yanks In England LP was a landmark for them as songwriters, giving them a massive shot of confidence to write albums of their own compositions. This album had more 'Gralto' songs on it than any other Hollies album release to date. Including the Do The Best You Can German 45 was my way into this story rather than including The Ev's LP as is. At this point I was a bit concerned I had too many non-Hollies discs in the article so narrowing it down to 50 was a constant battle of adding and removing discs. I was most disappointed I couldn't squeeze in the acetate version of Kenny Lynch's A Better Place, which is great and features Hicks and possibly Elliott.
Cheers Simon
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Post by cameron on Jul 2, 2013 13:31:55 GMT
I'm sorry if I seemed like I was criticising your article for not including certain records, I was just pointing out a few other rarities since we're talking about it - and I've never seen a thread on rare Hollies records before!
Interesting notes you make about bootleging. I've been compiling my own but I am quite reluctant to trade it out because I know people will take it and distribute the music unfairly instead of using it just for their own personal reference. Shame really, but when one pays good money for rarities, you're reluctant to void your investment! That said, I wonder how many Hollies rarities (or any artists' rarities for that matter) reside in the hands of collectors because they're reluctant to share? Reelin' In The Years is a case in point - they have TWO complete Hollies concerts (one in colour!) from 1970/1971 that we Hollies fans have been after for years. But they won't sell the clips, won't trade the clips, and won't even allow us to preview them online (like British Pathe do) - they simply include plenty of reminders that they only deal with legitimate productions! I have heard of that Graham Nash bootleg, and I'll be keeping an eye out for it now I know what's on it!
Thank you so much for the tip for the Swedish action site - I've already found a copy! I'll keep an eye out for the Lee Kings release too.
I can't believe you have the trident acetate for Out On The Road! That's so cool. Hollies acetates are really worth getting in any condition. A few years back some from 1966 turned up on eBay with sound clips. There was a different mix of "Don't Even Think About Changing" (I think with no vocals, or just Allan's voice - I can't remember which) and a really obscure take of "Stop! Stop! Stop!", that appeared on Andrew Sandoval's Come To The Sunshine special. These acetates were really beaten up, and I regret not saving sound files, but they went for about £150 each.
Glad you've cleared that up about the Societe. I never believed that it was the Hollies, but so many people have said that it is, that I started to believe it myself.
That "Listen To The Hollies" LP is absolutely rubbish. The sound quality is absolutely appalling. If you thought that the stereo version of "Hollies' Greatest" sounded weak, this one takes it to a whole other level! I understand that the South African pressing plant wasn't up to the standards of those elsewhere, which is why I'm always reluctant to buy records pressed there. Especially when generally they're more expensive as they're rare. Does the blood-stained cover compilation suffer the same problem?
I'd love to hear that acetate of "A Better Place". Perhaps it will surface on an official version of "Out On The Road" (now that really is wishful thinking!)
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Post by scousette on Jul 5, 2013 4:44:22 GMT
Simon, I really enjoyed your article and am so glad Record Collector published it. Thanks always for keeping The Hollies alive and in the public eye.
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Post by Gralto on Jul 5, 2013 10:25:00 GMT
I'm sorry if I seemed like I was criticising your article for not including certain records, I was just pointing out a few other rarities since we're talking about it - and I've never seen a thread on rare Hollies records before! Interesting notes you make about bootleging. I've been compiling my own but I am quite reluctant to trade it out because I know people will take it and distribute the music unfairly instead of using it just for their own personal reference. Shame really, but when one pays good money for rarities, you're reluctant to void your investment! That said, I wonder how many Hollies rarities (or any artists' rarities for that matter) reside in the hands of collectors because they're reluctant to share? Reelin' In The Years is a case in point - they have TWO complete Hollies concerts (one in colour!) from 1970/1971 that we Hollies fans have been after for years. But they won't sell the clips, won't trade the clips, and won't even allow us to preview them online (like British Pathe do) - they simply include plenty of reminders that they only deal with legitimate productions! I have heard of that Graham Nash bootleg, and I'll be keeping an eye out for it now I know what's on it! Thank you so much for the tip for the Swedish action site - I've already found a copy! I'll keep an eye out for the Lee Kings release too. I can't believe you have the trident acetate for Out On The Road! That's so cool. Hollies acetates are really worth getting in any condition. A few years back some from 1966 turned up on eBay with sound clips. There was a different mix of "Don't Even Think About Changing" (I think with no vocals, or just Allan's voice - I can't remember which) and a really obscure take of "Stop! Stop! Stop!", that appeared on Andrew Sandoval's Come To The Sunshine special. These acetates were really beaten up, and I regret not saving sound files, but they went for about £150 each. Glad you've cleared that up about the Societe. I never believed that it was the Hollies, but so many people have said that it is, that I started to believe it myself. That "Listen To The Hollies" LP is absolutely rubbish. The sound quality is absolutely appalling. If you thought that the stereo version of "Hollies' Greatest" sounded weak, this one takes it to a whole other level! I understand that the South African pressing plant wasn't up to the standards of those elsewhere, which is why I'm always reluctant to buy records pressed there. Especially when generally they're more expensive as they're rare. Does the blood-stained cover compilation suffer the same problem? I'd love to hear that acetate of "A Better Place". Perhaps it will surface on an official version of "Out On The Road" (now that really is wishful thinking!) Hi Cameron - don't worry mate - I didn't take it as criticism not that it would have mattered if I had. I'm bound to get stuff wrong and not everyone will agree with my selections. Totally fine. If I had read someone else's piece, I'd be thinking "why didn't you include x,y and z?" too. Listings like this are kinda designed to encourage debate anyway. I'm not aware of a different mix of Don't Even Think About Changing turning up on eBay - shame - I'd really like to hear it if anyone reading this board has it. The Sandoval version of Stop Stop Stop is quite different but I'm still not sure if the drone you can hear throughout that song is intentionally there by The Hollies or if it's a noise that came through during the broadcast (or is even something Andrew Sandoval did to the recording to ensure the track he has remains properly unheard). I agree about the South African LPs and how average they sound. I only buy them for their (generally) entirely unique cover art. Please keep up the good work with your interesting and thoughtful comments. Cheers Simon
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Post by Gralto on Jul 5, 2013 10:31:27 GMT
Simon, I really enjoyed your article and am so glad Record Collector published it. Thanks always for keeping The Hollies alive and in the public eye. Oh thanks. Maybe one day I will get the book I've been researching for some years completed - some of the stories to be included might put The Hollies back in the public eye again then too!
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Post by sass e frass on Jul 8, 2013 22:11:12 GMT
thx for sharing the great article! i eagerly await the completion and release of your book - you know us Hollies fans - hungry for more!
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Post by Stranger on Jul 28, 2013 16:25:54 GMT
Y es I agree with several of the above - some people have stated that The Societie is The Hollies in disguise because it's on Decca and they wanted to try something different away from EMI but were contractually tied so they put this out as someone else...or so the story goes. I can assure you - it's not The Hollies. There is at least one photo of Clarke with The Societie around and while he is involved in the production, it aint our faves under a pseudonym.
Taggett album - Hicks produced that one but there are other discs that could have been included along the same lines. He produced a 45 for an English opera singer (Joseph Ward) in 1969 that he got all excited about at the time! He also played on discs with Kenny Lynch, Tony Hazzard, Chip Taylor, Bradford Disaster Charity 45 and several others, and also wrote other songs with Lynch that The Hollies never recorded (Cilla Black recorded one of them). Clarke did heaps too - producing, writing and/or performing on releases from Blue Mink, Gary Walker, Buckeye, playing harmonica on an album of Dylan covers in the early 70s, collaborating with Maurice Gibb, Lynsey De Paul etc etc etc. And that's not looking at discs from Sylvester, Nash and others. So, I could have included a heap of other discs but tried to keep it diverse enough to tell their story without being too obscure too often.
I really enjoyed your article too Simon. It makes me want to track down the longer Curly Billy. Sometimes I think I can hear Allan on The Societie track but maybe I can just hear his influence. I didn't realise Tony and particularly Allan were involved in as many outside projects as you've mentioned above. Two stand out outside Hollies tracks for me would be Cilla Black's Faded Images and DBMT (or whatever they called themselves) Sarah.
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Post by dirtyfaz on Jul 28, 2013 23:55:18 GMT
Anyone able to give a track listing for that South African LP and does anyone have a scan of the front and back sleeve?
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Post by Gralto on Jul 29, 2013 9:14:25 GMT
Y es I agree with several of the above - some people have stated that The Societie is The Hollies in disguise because it's on Decca and they wanted to try something different away from EMI but were contractually tied so they put this out as someone else...or so the story goes. I can assure you - it's not The Hollies. There is at least one photo of Clarke with The Societie around and while he is involved in the production, it aint our faves under a pseudonym.
Taggett album - Hicks produced that one but there are other discs that could have been included along the same lines. He produced a 45 for an English opera singer (Joseph Ward) in 1969 that he got all excited about at the time! He also played on discs with Kenny Lynch, Tony Hazzard, Chip Taylor, Bradford Disaster Charity 45 and several others, and also wrote other songs with Lynch that The Hollies never recorded (Cilla Black recorded one of them). Clarke did heaps too - producing, writing and/or performing on releases from Blue Mink, Gary Walker, Buckeye, playing harmonica on an album of Dylan covers in the early 70s, collaborating with Maurice Gibb, Lynsey De Paul etc etc etc. And that's not looking at discs from Sylvester, Nash and others. So, I could have included a heap of other discs but tried to keep it diverse enough to tell their story without being too obscure too often.
Two stand out outside Hollies tracks for me would be Cilla Black's Faded Images and DBMT (or whatever they called themselves) Sarah. DBMT - Sarah - that's a new one to me. Did Clarke play or sing on this track? He didn't write it so you've got me intrigued there!
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Post by Gralto on Jul 29, 2013 9:15:48 GMT
Anyone able to give a track listing for that South African LP and does anyone have a scan of the front and back sleeve? Which South African LP are you referring DF?
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Post by Stranger on Jul 29, 2013 12:33:08 GMT
Two stand out outside Hollies tracks for me would be Cilla Black's Faded Images and DBMT (or whatever they called themselves) Sarah. DBMT - Sarah - that's a new one to me. Did Clarke play or sing on this track? He didn't write it so you've got me intrigued there! It is another Cook Greenaway Clarke co-write.
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Post by gee on Jul 29, 2013 16:39:52 GMT
Hi gang ! I've successfully 'beamed aboard' ! (to quote Star Trek terminology)
Re Simon's fine article - well first I know that Simon put TONS of work into this and it shows - well done mate !
It was a really excellent researched piece of work, and don't worry about that one error Simon, there was quite a long gap between you doing the piece & RC finally printing it, plus when you are up to your eyes in an article, especially such a detailed one, it's so easy to miss an error you would be the FIRST to spot in another person's article ! (I know that well...)
If I had to put on my critical hat (sorry Simon !) it's just that with such a long career as The Hollies it's so hard to wittle it down to a mere FIFTY items, plus I think we have TWO articles here - 'Hollies rarities' and 'Hollies RELATED rarities', tho' I take Simon's point re their 'story' being a key angle to the article...
I am Taking it from a UK angle (as they are a British band) - there are things that might be common here but RARE to an Australian, American, German, etc...and vice versa of course...so getting it right for all of us is never easy is it ?
also seperating Hollies releases from Hollies Related items is such a key thing too - to me Allan Clarke's first album 'Arold' is not that rare (I've seen it loads of times) as opposed to say his 1982 stand alone single 'Someone Else Will' / 'Castles in The Air' (Forever Records) or even the German only 1999 Polydor album 'Reasons To Believe' and the single with non album B side - not easy to find in the UK.
I mentioned to Simon I'd consider the 'Hollies related' rare 1969 Decca single of; 'The Dick Barton Theme' by The Bread & Beer Band (Featuring Bernie Calvert & Elton John) - which has been on sale for Ninety pounds in 'Record Collector' mag, to be considerably rarer than the UK chart topper 'Lily The Pink' by The Scaffold (featuring Graham Nash) which you can get for a mere fifty PENCE in a UK charity shop (I did)
so, as I said, maybe two articles were combined here ? - Hollies rarities & Hollies "Related" rarities - & a few UK 'common' items (tho' maybe rarer overseas of course) were included while the odd Hollies rare track was not (like, say, the rare Mexican EP alternate version of 'Try it' etc) or even the now quite rare UK mono 'Hollies Sing Dylan' album PMC 7078 (never re-issued in mono on vinyl at all or put out on CD by EMI in the UK...or elsewhere ?), while even some of the sixties UK official studio albums like 'Butterfly' (notably the never re-issued on vinyl mono version PMC 7039) have shot up in value in recent years, with sellers in 'Record Collector' mag asking up from fifty to sixty pounds for mint condition copies.... plus the odd later 'non UK' overseas single issued in Germany, etc might have been included ? - but then of course the world is full of those 'Monday morning footballers' who would do things differently - & I know Simon has told me that since he has thought of a few other things he might have put into the fifty...plus Simon was of course tracing their musical development, not just listing rarities as such....
So Simon's exhaustive work must be fully commended as it gives The Hollies a big push as a collectable group in a major music publication such as 'Record Collector' magazine, duly increasing their critical standing, which must be a positive thing and can only lead to a better wider public appreciation of The Hollies & increase the chances of further future archive releases
- so well done Simon !
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Post by dirtyfaz on Jul 29, 2013 23:58:54 GMT
Guess I was referring to the Best of one mentioned in the article with the blood cover.
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Post by dirtyfaz on Jul 30, 2013 0:46:06 GMT
It seems everyone rates the Mexican EP with the alternate Try It. I don't know how rare the EP is. I have had one for a very long time. The same alternate version was issued first in Australia, mono single b-side Parlophone A8301/Jennifer Eccles. This was a reasonable size hit in Australia and was issued well before the Mexican EP. If you are after the alternate Try It, it is most likely easier to pick up either the single or the Jennifer Eccles EP issued in Australia as well GEPO70063 with the 2 tracks plus Do The Best You Can & Dear Eloise. For some reason Hollies collectors seem to forget about the Australian issues of Try It. It should be mentioned purely because it was issued here, not forgotten about. For those interested the variation in that mix are; This shorter version has a different, shorter intro, vocals mixed lower and missing sound effects on the album version, most likely an unfinished earlier mix, this version also issued on a Mexican EP Capitol EPEM 10615.
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Post by gee on Jul 30, 2013 8:29:07 GMT
I think it's because it's a Hollies vinyl rarity never issued in UK, USA, or Europe that the alternate 'Try it' (which sounds like a unfinished 'working version' probably issued in error originally !) is deemed a notable vinyl rarity - clearly 'down under' it's far less rare and as I said what consitiutes a vinyl rarity in one part of the world, is sometimes quite common in another (similarly the 'longer version' of 'Curly Billy' or the 80's German singles, etc)
I remember a few years ago a friend of mine who ran a second hand record shop was offered quite a hefty sum on ebay for the concert only 12 inch single of 'Purple Rain' c/w 'Naomi' & 'Two Shadows' by a Hollies collector in Japan who was eager to get his hands on a (for him) elusive item - which I had easily got at a Hollies concert. so the whole question of what is 'rare' is a fluid thing....
I have not seen a original stereo UK copy of 'Would You Believe' (PCS 7008) and 'For Certain Because...' (PCS 7011) in their original UK Parlophone sleeves for many years now (over twenty years) - in 'Record Collector' mag mono copies of both albums (which would have sold much more back in the sixties)do crop up from time to time...and original Parlophone copies of both mono & stereo versions of 'Evolution' & 'Butterfly' and even original stereo versions of 'Stay With The Hollies' (1964) appear every so often but I've not seen either 'Would You Believe ?' or 'For Certain...' in their original stereo versions for a very long time now - the later re-issued stereo versions re-titled as: 'I Can't Let Go' on MFP (quite easily found) & 'Stop Stop Stop' on Starline (which is not very common either now) are more likely to turn up than the sixties Parlophone stereo versions, plus more common are the later BGO Records re-releases in original sleeves.
so some of the more readily available vinyl releases (once commonplace) have become Hollies vinyl rarities themselves now, and in the UK besides '20 Golden Greats' and maybe 'Hollies' Greatest' (both massive selling albums) and the odd MFP release plus 'Hollies Live Hits' (polydor), Hollies studio albums in general are getting harder to find on vinyl as time passes....
It's worth grabbing the 1970 Parlophone single in mono of 'I Can't Tell The Bottom From The Top' c/w 'Mad Professor Blyth' (R 5837) too if you spot it in a charity shop etc... the 'A' side has the guitar part towards the conclusion that they have since 'mixed out' on later CD versions, while the 'B' side is not that common in mono on vinyl either, as it's nearly always featured in it's stereo version later both on vinyl and CD (tho' a mono version is out on CD).
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Post by distantlight on Aug 6, 2013 16:16:18 GMT
Great article, Simon! Very interesting facts with lots of things I didn't know. Last winter I bought a copy of "Evolution" in South Africa for rarities sake... doesn't sound that good but I've never seen it before.
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Post by littlelover on Aug 13, 2013 1:57:20 GMT
Bravo Simon! I can't believe it took me so long to get here and read it.
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Post by stuball on Aug 13, 2013 16:06:27 GMT
- The Canadian LP, "Love N' Flowers". To cash in on the Hollies' move to Epic, they released this album in Canada only featuring a very 'summer of love' looking cover. Jokes on the listener as this LP is pretty much all tracks taken from "Hollies (1965)", no "ego is dead!" here! When I purchased this LP back in '68, it certainly was a surprise to hear these 'new' old tunes, apparent to any pop fan's ear, from the British Invasion era. Especially when one expected to hear the latest psychedelic offerings from The Hollies. In Canada, 'Hollies' had been sat on by Capitol for two years, so the public (me included) never knew of its existence. Only when The Hollies shifted to Epic did Capitol see fit to throw these tracks out onto the market. Of course, I was pleased to get my hands on any Hollies songs, and I quickly grew to love and appreciate 'LOVE N' FLOWERS'. Only in '69, when I found a Brit import of 'Hollies', did I realize the full story. Such were the times of limited communication! Capitol Canada really ran the gamut of time with this release: songs from 1965, cover photo from 1966, album title so very 1967 and available in stores in 1968! A strange one indeed!
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