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Post by Gralto on Nov 19, 2018 8:47:56 GMT
Very exciting Simon! Great news. Out of curiosity are things like demos even on the radar for future releases or does Ron just focus on mainstream studio recordings? I read an article from around 1970 the other day with Tony Hicks saying he would demo his songs with guitar and bass before presenting to the band. If such things still exist it would be a shame for them to be lost to time! Hi Stranger - yes I have often marvelled at Hicks' music room as detailed in that Beat Instrumental article. Alas Tony has often demonstrated a disinterest in retention of items from the past and I would not hold high hopes of these tapes surviving the decades. The archivist in me despairs that he would seemingly discard a demo of something like Long Dark Road which the interviewing writer heard and couldn't decide which was better between this and the released version. If Tony can throw out a perfectly good autoharp - a tale once recounted by Bobby - then I fear for the status of a bunch of obsolete format 1/4" tapes. But Mr Hicks has a large place and I don't believe has moved house since the time (not 100% certain of this) so there remains hope of survival! In answer to your question of sourcing demos, due to the large amount of material from which to choose recorded at Abbey Road (and other studios) there has ben no need - at this point - for Ron to go sniffing around the various members own archives. Not that they necessary hold much anyway. Nash has a mountain of tapes but this only commences when he helps form CSN in 1968. He does not hold tapes from 1965-66. The Mirage CD release featuring Nash's demo of Go Away he did not have himself or even know of its existence. He even had no knowledge it was going to be issued on that CD, not that it bothered him - he is certainly not Don Henley on that front (thankfully!) Cheers Simon
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Post by Gralto on Nov 19, 2018 10:50:44 GMT
Thanks for the update Gralto/Simon! Was hoping the Marrakesh backing would at least be among these tracks. If not now, when? Over Christmas, Graham & Allan & Tony should get together and put vocals on this thing. It would sell a lot more copies if they did! Just think of the buzz that would go round... They should issue it now while they're still alive to enjoy and reap the benefits from it, otherwise their heirs will eventually put it out after most of us are all gone, ugh... Hi RRoL - I think with Marrakesh Express having leaked out on the net that there is probably little reason to make this a priority on a release. I understand that what has found its way out is all there is - no vocals at all - not even a half hearted guide vocal exist in the vaults. A real shame. Cheers Simon
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Post by cameron on Nov 19, 2018 20:09:14 GMT
I can't physically contain my excitement for this release! Because of the Hollies' unique position in holding their own tapes, virtually nothing 'unofficial' has ever leaked out other than alternative mixes. Not like the Beatles, where you could probably piece together everything that they ever committed to tape from 1962-1970 from various bootlegs over the years.
The first official sessionography was in Record Collector in the late 1980s. It was then done again in 2003 for 'The Long Road Home' booklet, which took it beyond what RC did in the 1980s with more detail. The '30th Anniversary Collection' from 1993 elaborated slightly by stating which take number the songs were and listing their tape reel numbers, where applicable. But all the same, it's surprising what has been left off and what isn't quite right. Tape logs are notorious for not being 100% correct as engineers guess at working titles, take numbers and recording dates. The only way to find out is to sit and listen through all the tapes, which I believe only Ron Furmanek has done so far.
As for the 1968 Marrakesh Express recording, Graham's 1968 vocal demo as released this year was done on a two track tape recorder, and has vocals separate to his guitar. I'm sure if the Hollies spoke to him, they might be able to come to some agreement to use the vocals to "complete" the backing track. They do fit, as I proved with my mix. With access to the isolated instrumental parts and the vocal demo, a complete take could be very easily created.
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Post by JamesT on Nov 20, 2018 9:57:10 GMT
Your work on ME deserves a wider audience, Cameron. Maybe this creation could be passed to Ron? Simon?
Don't forget that Tony tacked on some guitar to finish tracks off for release on the 'At Abbey Road' series...Schoolgirl and Samuel come to mind.
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Post by cameron on Jun 5, 2019 10:12:33 GMT
Any updates on this project? It's over a year since it was first announced and nothing further appears to have been said.
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