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Post by Deleted on Sept 23, 2019 13:31:49 GMT
Finally played it, and love it! Firm fave for me is the final track 'I'm Comin' Home', and no-one's mentioned the packaging, which features some great recent pics of AC and includes full lyrics to all the songs.
The Searchers, Gerry Marsden, Brian Poole, The Pretty Things... just some of the acts who've retired during the past year or so, yet here we have Allan Clarke (20 years after HIS retirement) releasing some of the strongest product of his career! Amazing.
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Post by allanclarke on Sept 23, 2019 19:06:37 GMT
The Midweek Album Charts are out and sadly there is no sign of Allan. Let’s keep our fingers crossed to see him at least in the Top 100. It‘s a great Comeback anyway.
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Post by Tony Wilkinson on Sept 23, 2019 19:13:35 GMT
The Midweek Album Charts are out and sadly there is no sign of Allan. Let’s keep our fingers crossed to see him at least in the Top 100. It‘s a great Comeback anyway. Don't think it matters, certainly not to Allan, marketing strategy of putting all the tracks on YouTube on the day of release not the best idea.... Let's just enjoy what we appreciate and hope that it doesn't take another 20 years before we hear more........
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Post by allanclarke on Sept 23, 2019 19:25:28 GMT
The Midweek Album Charts are out and sadly there is no sign of Allan. Let’s keep our fingers crossed to see him at least in the Top 100. It‘s a great Comeback anyway. Don't think it matters, certainly not to Allan, marketing strategy of putting all the tracks on YouTube on the day of release not the best idea.... Let's just enjoy what we appreciate and hope that it doesn't take another 20 years before we hear more........ That‘s right. Good point
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Post by cameron on Sept 23, 2019 22:21:18 GMT
I've just got home from the Motorhome Show where the Hollies played this weekend and finally have had a chance to give 'Resurgence' a spin on my proper Hi-Fi.
What amazes me is how Allan manages to strike a balance between sounding very much like him (with a couple of tracks possibly fitting in with previous solo albums: 'I'm Coming Home' I think could have fitted on 'Headroom' and 'You Broke My Heart' could be from 'Reasons To Believe'), he's obviously kept his own unique identity throughout the album with some really great songwriting with catchy choruses and the occasional contrasting middle eight (modern music world, do you even know what a middle eight section is?!) but he also sounds remarkably fresh, with the track 'I Don't Know The Reason' sounding particularly modern.
As Peter points out, the packaging is extensive with the full lyrics included and various new and previously seen photos of Allan recently. I'm still not mad for the cover, though I get why he's chosen to have the statue that Jeni created on it, as this album feels very much like a family affair with help from his son and grandson with the recording process.
There's really absolutely nothing to be picky over at all, it's easily as strong as 'Headroom' or 'Legendary Heroes', eclipsing many of his previous solo LPs I feel. As a cohesive body of work, it's impressive for anyone. I think it sounds remarkably fresher than recent solo albums by other "ageing rockstars" like Paul Weller and Roger Waters. It's not a 77 year old man at the end of his career churning out an LP of lightweight ditties, this is a very very good album that can proudly take its place in today's world. Well done Allan, you didn't disappoint at all, this exceeded all expectations!
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Post by calvertbesseralseric on Sept 24, 2019 13:02:40 GMT
^ For those who haven't seen it, a short chat between Allan and his grandson Samuel, who plays the solo on You Broke My Heart. Two major takeaways from this admittedly rather unfocused chat: 1. Allan confirms he wants to tour. Mentions his desire to be seen as that "other guy on stage" who he became after Samuel saw the Hollies on tour to his other grandchildren. Sounds like he hasn't really thought too much about it, but it's great to know he's still willing to go on the road, particularly with how great his vocals sound. 2. Allan's still recording. He's sent a further demo to Francis, so maybe we'll be seeing Resurgence Pt.2 sooner than anyone otherwise would've expected. Certainly seems like his creativity's still there and only intensifying, so I'd hardly complain if we got another album sooner rather than later.
Look, as one of the younger members of this board (almost certainly the only teenager, I'd suspect) I've got to say Resurgence is incredible. I come more from a classical and art-music background but Allan is a genuine rockstar and this album should stand as an example to other ageing rockers turning out uninspired late-career records. Just great the whole way through.
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Post by madprofessorblyth on Sept 24, 2019 16:18:50 GMT
Look, as one of the younger members of this board (almost certainly the only teenager, I'd suspect) Hey, that makes two of us. And I thought I was the only one too...!
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Post by baz on Sept 24, 2019 22:24:41 GMT
OK. Confession corner : I knew absolutely nothing about this album until 4 days ago when I saw some throwaway remark somewhere online referring to it. It had me doing a double take assuming it may had been a joke, so quickly found out that no, we really do have a brand new Allan Clarke album in 2019... my searching around led me back to here after an absence of many years! Allan's return is by and far the biggest surprise of the year, if not the decade as I never for one moment believed we'd see or hear Allan sing again, let alone end up with a totally new album.
I have listened to some of the tracks on YouTube and watched the interviews. All wonderful to see and hear. I like Allan's aged voice - unmistakeably Allan! - and I'm so pleased he finally felt comfortable to write and sing again. He's looking very fit and well and enjoying himself in the interviews... very gracious. I trust and hope he's getting a good idea of how the fans are feeling about all this. A surprising and welcome return from an old friend.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 25, 2019 17:25:34 GMT
Apart from Terry, have any ex or current Hollies commented on Allan's new recordings?
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Post by cameron on Oct 4, 2019 18:57:40 GMT
A great new interview with Allan - great questions from the interviewer and thoughtful answers from Allan. The interview begins around the hour mark: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0008wb6
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halls
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Post by halls on Oct 4, 2019 21:59:22 GMT
A great new interview with Allan - great questions from the interviewer and thoughtful answers from Allan. The interview begins around the hour mark: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0008wb6Thanks for sharing 👍
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Post by JamesT on Oct 5, 2019 8:02:13 GMT
A great new interview with Allan - great questions from the interviewer and thoughtful answers from Allan. The interview begins around the hour mark: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0008wb6Superb stuff.
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Post by cameron on Nov 11, 2019 10:06:18 GMT
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Post by cameron on Nov 11, 2019 10:30:50 GMT
He's also done a five-page interview with a Swedish magazine, "Rock N' Roll", kindly translated on Facebook by Swedish fan Agneta Andersson, titled "Forgive Me, Mikael Rickfors!". Here's some excerpts of special interest:
"We had great Swedish sound equipment, called Ackuset. It was a disappointment when we got something later on which was not as good. I remember being on a quay in Stockholm, in a container and in a big bus garage. They seemed like rough environments. Me and Graham were once in New York, and discussed the possibility of putting a DVD together with Hollies movies. "We did several in Sweden, do you remember?" said Graham, and guess who we run into around the corner? Lasse Hallstrom [original director]! We had a long talk, but unfortunately a DVD was never made."
"I had written a lot of songs with Roger Cook, with whom I wrote 'Long Cool Woman', he said "why don't you make a solo album?". Good idea, I thought. So I asked Tony and Bobby if it was okay. I would only be gone from the Hollies for a couple of months. But Tony answered "no, then we don't want you in the band. If you make a solo record, you'll probably disappear to the USA and leave us in the shit, like Graham did." So reluctantly, I left."
"[Mikael Rickfors] what a good voice he had. He sounded like Scott Walker, one of my favourites. But I have heard that they had a problem with his English pronunciation. But I really don't know anything about that. We never talked about him when I returned after a couple of years. But I think he did a great job with him." (Did you listen to their records with Mikael Rickfors?) "Yes, they were hits". (Have you ever met Mikael Rickfors?) "No." (According to Mikael Rickfors, you met together with the rest of the Hollies when in Sweden, after you re-entered into the band. Rickfors says that you refused to say hello to him and turned your back on him, which Tony Hicks confirmed and deeply regrets) "It sounds terrible that I could have been so rude, if that's true, I apologise". (Did you see Rickfors as a threat?) "No, not at all!".
(Is there any chance that we will see and hear you in Sweden again?) "A TV show would be a good start".
(When Rock N' Roll Magazine passed on Allan's apologies to Mikael Rickfors, he sounds flabbergasted, but he says:) "Apology accepted. Allan was a bit boorish at the time. But the situation might have been a bit awkward then, after his reunion with the Hollies. I have heard one of Allan's new songs. I think he sounds better now than in the Hollies."
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Post by cameron on Nov 11, 2019 10:43:40 GMT
Finally, he's done an hour long special with Aled Jones yesterday. It's a great interview, Aled lets Allan talk at length and he talks through many stories we know, but some we don't. There's a nice story about hearing Paul McCartney practice "Hello Goodbye" at Abbey Road. He pays more compliments to Terry Sylvester, saying that his voice fits better with the Hollies than Graham's. He also mentions that his recording contract is for ten years and he's already writing material for his next album! www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000b78h
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Post by Deleted on Nov 11, 2019 11:08:20 GMT
Great to read about Allan and Mikael being complimentary to each other!
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Post by JamesT on Nov 11, 2019 11:53:12 GMT
Wonderful. Nice to hear that the interviews are not the usual bland variety with banale questions. Hopefully more nuggets will be forthcoming in subsequent times.
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Post by stuball on Nov 11, 2019 14:34:22 GMT
Great to read about Allan and Mikael being complimentary to each other! It certainly is. I suppose age mellows most of us. That, plus the fact the money, the egos, the jealousy, and The Hollies as a going concern, are now part of a long distant past.
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Post by stuball on Nov 11, 2019 14:41:31 GMT
Wonderful. Nice to hear that the interviews are not the usual bland variety with banale questions. Hopefully more nuggets will be forthcoming in subsequent times. Yes, very unusual not to hear the same bland inquiries, followed up by the same pat answers. Where were these type of questions back in the '60's and '70's?
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Post by thejanitor on Nov 11, 2019 23:01:43 GMT
Thanks, will listen later. 😁 And it's nice to hear Allan giving respect and appreciation to Mikael that he truly deserves. ☺
I'm loving this audio interview/promotion roll Allan is on atm and I'm more than happy for it to keep on coming, but I also kinda wish more places other than BBC radio would do one with him too, maybe a podcast or something. Or maybe I have been/I am just missing things...
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Post by stuball on Nov 12, 2019 15:16:45 GMT
I'm aware the BBC is lavishly funded by the British taxpayer, so their ratings wouldn't mean dick-all to them regarding survival, but I wonder what kind of audience these interviews draw? Sometimes I fear that this kind of stuff is nothing but suitable 'filler' for those hours when audience numbers are next to nil.
Am I right on this? Don't get me wrong, personally I really enjoy listening to these easy-going 'fireside chats' with Allan, but I always picture myself and only a handful of other aging Hollies fans tuning in. Hopefully I'm wrong on this!
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Post by cameron on Nov 12, 2019 17:25:20 GMT
You're sort of right, Stuball. BBC Radio 2 is Allan's primary audience. They play "oldies" and tame modern music. The morning and evening drive-time shows are among the most listened to on British radio. Allan did appear on Steve Wright In The Afternoon to promote the Cherry Red records retrospective a few years back, which was absolute primetime exposure. This time around, the best he's had is the Johnny Walker Sounds of the Seventies on Sunday, where he played 'Who?' from 'Headroom' and within a day it had surged up onto Allan's top-five most played tracks on Spotify. Everything else he's done is local regional BBC radio, other than last week's Aled Jones show and Jools Holland's show. But it's the first time I've heard the Jools Holland radio show, and it was far too cringy to bear for the first half until Allan came on, and they were doing some kind of mock "raiding of the vaults" complete with fake footsteps to "walk" into the basement at the BBC!
I'm disappointed that BBC Radio 2 didn't make one of his tracks 'Record of the Week', which gets played on virtually every daytime show for a week. I also think that Allan needs to appear on BBC's 'Later Live... With Jools Holland', which is a hugely respected TV show here. That show is famous for breaking many artists to British audiences. Though I understand that Allan isn't perhaps comfortable with TV work yet.
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Post by baz on Nov 12, 2019 20:25:14 GMT
I also think that Allan needs to appear on BBC's 'Later Live... With Jools Holland', which is a hugely respected TV show here. That show is famous for breaking many artists to British audiences. Though I understand that Allan isn't perhaps comfortable with TV work yet. And to my utter dismay, it's the ONLY major music TV show thats left here in the UK where one can find such acts/exposure. Whilst Allan is more than deserving of appearing on the show I get the feeling it's doubtful though would like to be proved wrong and suspect if it did happen, it would be as one of the minor chat items with the obligatory "oh, let's look at this clip from the BBC archive" deals as opposed to a new performance so time would be wasted with another airing of a TOTP clip we've all seen hundreds of times. There are spots like Graham Norton, Strictly Come Dancing etc which condescend to feature a music act but they generally tend to be current or big "legend" type acts and Allan would never get considered for those so haven't got much hope in seeing Allan get given any major TV exposure as well deserving as it would be. Again, I hope I'll be proved wrong...
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Post by JamesT on Nov 13, 2019 7:21:44 GMT
I'm disappointed that BBC Radio 2 didn't make one of his tracks 'Record of the Week', which gets played on virtually every daytime show for a week. The exposure that 'Jeff Lynne's ELO' got the other week was phenomenal. Apart from the title track, the rest is utterly dull and uninspired and the sonic quality of the recording is very poor. That didn't stop it getting to #1! Sadly, I don't think Allan's album would get show producers as excited as the one by JLELO, which is a much bigger act. All very frustrating given what a superb album 'Resurgence' is, together with the interesting backstory.
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Post by baz on Nov 13, 2019 10:34:57 GMT
I'm disappointed that BBC Radio 2 didn't make one of his tracks 'Record of the Week', which gets played on virtually every daytime show for a week. The exposure that 'Jeff Lynne's ELO' got the other week was phenomenal. Apart from the title track, the rest is utterly dull and uninspired and the sonic quality of the recording is very poor. That didn't stop it getting to #1! Sadly, I don't think Allan's album would get show producers as excited as the one by JLELO, which is a much bigger act. All very frustrating given what a superb album 'Resurgence' is, together with the interesting backstory. And that's it in a nutshell really. Just suppose The Hollies had just released a new album at the same time as Allan's. Which of the two acts would BBC Radio choose to play? They'd play The Hollies based on their name and legacy as more people know their name than they do Allan. It'd be a replay of 1972 in a way as I'll bet The Hollies got far more airplay and exposure than Allan did with his first solo album. But then again, let's pose the question - is Allan in this expecting large sales and exposure? I think not. I think he's real happy to have a new album out there available for all who want it. BMG investing in him at his age is very surprising and heartening too, but if Allan isn't going to tour then that's not gonna generate many sales and so on. Any exposure Allan gets I would imagine for him would be seen as a pleasant bonus. There are many other names from his era who have released albums over the last 30 years to complete indifference to the degree I wouldn't discover they existed until long after, so the fact Allan's return has generated the coverage and exposure it has is great!
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