Post by christocello on Sept 5, 2015 17:08:09 GMT
Now that the youngest contribution to the Hollies biographies (by Brian Southall) has been released - and some of us eagerly look forward to Bobbies book whenever it will come true -I would like to mention that there still are and have been publications available that might help to ease our pain of not having enough literature referring to our heroes.
First of all: "How to run a beat group" by The Hollies (as told to Anne Nightingale, pictures by Bruce Fleming) published by the Daily Mirror in 1964. It has got 100 pages plus 8 pages with b/w pictures and tells what the title promises: it's mostly about building up a buisiness, Allan Clarke telling about the importance of applying make up, Tony Hicks about the benefits of writing your own songs (royalties), several dos and donts if you want to turn professional and so on. Sometimes I would doubt the authenticity of some of the quotations from the boys, especially when Eric seems to speak eloquently and fluently ;-) Occasionally this predator of DIY-books can be found on ebay, sometimes for ridiculous high prices. It made me wonder that Brian Southall didn't mention this first more or less "serious" book on the Hollies in his bibliography...
Secondly: Write on - The illustrated discography of the Hollies (also with a german title), written by Manfred Schwanbeck & Peter Krause, published in 2001 (ISBN 3-925005-61-7). 156 pages.
Although this discography is far from being complete, the attempt of comprising the records data of every member of the Hollies is admirable. Also the biographical information - given in German and in English! - is more than above standard if you consider the book's focus lies on discographical information. The quality of the sleeve pictures in the book varies heavily, that might be a weak point of it.
Third: Just one look - Hollies collector's dreams, Picture covers around the world - by Heinz Dietz, published in 2003. This is a book full of picture sleeves (74 pages, the following 30 pages aren't numbered...) that comes near to the fulfilment of the collector's dreams as the title says. Bobby and Graham contributed short forewords, Bobby praises this collection as "lovingly catalogued". I admit, this was the reason for myself to start collecting Hollies' singles from all over the world, so be warned... In this catalogue-like book you have - only vinyl - singles, LP's, reissues, compilations, labels, rare stuff, some autograph cards and finally lists of most countries' 45-releases. There are just a few countries missing (like Philippines, Kenya, Uruguay, Nicaragua, Angola or Columbia) and personally I would haved liked to have the 12 inch "Maxi-Single" releases included. That book might still be available via the author: heinz-dietz@t-online.de
Fourth:The Hollies - con estilo propio, by Fernando López Chaurri, published in 2004 (it's only in spanish) ISBN 84-9743-111-1. I am afraid my knowledge of Spanish is nearly non-existant, but as far as I could get the details, this 261 pages containing book lays the focus on the Graham-Nash Era, even if it tries to cover the whole history up to Carl Wayne. The Hollies musical output is discussed with references to the musical background of that time, so even the Stones and particularly the Beatles are quite often mentioned when it goes on describing the songs. You have a song-for-song description of the albums and the book closes with UK and US charts and discographies. 32 pages with colour and b/w photos add to the whole impact. Perhaps one of our spanish-speaking Hollie-fans might write a review? (Due to storage limitations I'll post the cover in a new posting)
So, with Brian Southalls latest contribution to the "canon", do we really have to complain about too few publications? For everyone, who longs for more: read the Hollies' tour programmes. Take a look at Bobbies "The Hollies through the ages, Vol.I". Take even closer looks into the various CD booklets including "The Long Run". And don't forget about "Carousell" - the Hollies' fan-club's fanzine. There's a whole lotta looking and a whole lotta reading to do - apart from the listening :-)
First of all: "How to run a beat group" by The Hollies (as told to Anne Nightingale, pictures by Bruce Fleming) published by the Daily Mirror in 1964. It has got 100 pages plus 8 pages with b/w pictures and tells what the title promises: it's mostly about building up a buisiness, Allan Clarke telling about the importance of applying make up, Tony Hicks about the benefits of writing your own songs (royalties), several dos and donts if you want to turn professional and so on. Sometimes I would doubt the authenticity of some of the quotations from the boys, especially when Eric seems to speak eloquently and fluently ;-) Occasionally this predator of DIY-books can be found on ebay, sometimes for ridiculous high prices. It made me wonder that Brian Southall didn't mention this first more or less "serious" book on the Hollies in his bibliography...
Secondly: Write on - The illustrated discography of the Hollies (also with a german title), written by Manfred Schwanbeck & Peter Krause, published in 2001 (ISBN 3-925005-61-7). 156 pages.
Although this discography is far from being complete, the attempt of comprising the records data of every member of the Hollies is admirable. Also the biographical information - given in German and in English! - is more than above standard if you consider the book's focus lies on discographical information. The quality of the sleeve pictures in the book varies heavily, that might be a weak point of it.
Third: Just one look - Hollies collector's dreams, Picture covers around the world - by Heinz Dietz, published in 2003. This is a book full of picture sleeves (74 pages, the following 30 pages aren't numbered...) that comes near to the fulfilment of the collector's dreams as the title says. Bobby and Graham contributed short forewords, Bobby praises this collection as "lovingly catalogued". I admit, this was the reason for myself to start collecting Hollies' singles from all over the world, so be warned... In this catalogue-like book you have - only vinyl - singles, LP's, reissues, compilations, labels, rare stuff, some autograph cards and finally lists of most countries' 45-releases. There are just a few countries missing (like Philippines, Kenya, Uruguay, Nicaragua, Angola or Columbia) and personally I would haved liked to have the 12 inch "Maxi-Single" releases included. That book might still be available via the author: heinz-dietz@t-online.de
Fourth:The Hollies - con estilo propio, by Fernando López Chaurri, published in 2004 (it's only in spanish) ISBN 84-9743-111-1. I am afraid my knowledge of Spanish is nearly non-existant, but as far as I could get the details, this 261 pages containing book lays the focus on the Graham-Nash Era, even if it tries to cover the whole history up to Carl Wayne. The Hollies musical output is discussed with references to the musical background of that time, so even the Stones and particularly the Beatles are quite often mentioned when it goes on describing the songs. You have a song-for-song description of the albums and the book closes with UK and US charts and discographies. 32 pages with colour and b/w photos add to the whole impact. Perhaps one of our spanish-speaking Hollie-fans might write a review? (Due to storage limitations I'll post the cover in a new posting)
So, with Brian Southalls latest contribution to the "canon", do we really have to complain about too few publications? For everyone, who longs for more: read the Hollies' tour programmes. Take a look at Bobbies "The Hollies through the ages, Vol.I". Take even closer looks into the various CD booklets including "The Long Run". And don't forget about "Carousell" - the Hollies' fan-club's fanzine. There's a whole lotta looking and a whole lotta reading to do - apart from the listening :-)