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Post by thejanitor on Dec 18, 2019 13:29:54 GMT
I just read the sad news that Kenny Lynch has passed away today at the age of 81. Aside from his own career, he of course wrote a number of songs with Tony for The Hollies between 1971-73, including "Out On The Road", " Blue In The Morning " and much of the Distant Light album. R.I.P. ✌❤
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Post by Tony Wilkinson on Dec 18, 2019 13:42:20 GMT
I just read the sad news that Kenny Lynch has passed away today at the age of 81. Aside from his own career, he of course wrote a number of songs with Tony for The Hollies between 1971-73, including "Out On The Road", " Blue In The Morning " and much of the Distant Light album. R.I.P. ✌❤ Kenny was a good likeable bloke and yes I will remember him for his work with Tony RIP |
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Post by rokinrobinoflocksley on Dec 18, 2019 14:31:16 GMT
Also co-wrote the Small Faces first #1 (on Melody Maker, Disc, and the BBC POTP/TOTP) "Sha-La-La-La-Lee", plus 2 other songs on their first LP. And Cilla Black's hit "Love's Just A Broken Heart" (which always reminds me of the Doctor Who theme, ha). Good article on him on Wiki, which is being revised as we speak...
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Post by cameron on Dec 18, 2019 23:53:06 GMT
Tony Hicks and Kenny Lynch also wrote 'Faded Images' for Cilla Black that lead off her 1971 album called 'Images'. I believe it to be the only track that Tony and Kenny wrote together that wasn't used by the Hollies. Here's a list of tracks that Tony and Kenny wrote together: - What A Life I've Lead - Look What We've Got - To Do With Love - Promised Land - Long Dark Road - Blue In The Morning - Out On The Road - A Better Place - Born A Man - Slow Down, Go Down - Nearer To You I've found out that Kenny himself recorded a version of 'A Better Place' in 1972, but it's not on YouTube: www.discogs.com/Kenny-Lynch-A-Better-Place-/master/676760Hicks also co-wrote 'We Can Be Friends' (1973) [B-side is his version of 'Nearer To You'], 'Bet You I Do' (1974) and 'Nightmares' (1977) [B-side of 'Is It True What They Say About Georgia', written by Chip Taylor ('I Can't Let Go', 'The Baby') and credited to "Hollies LTD"]. None of these singles charted anywhere or are available on YouTube or Spotify. I've just bought the three Tony Hicks/Hollies related Kenny Lynch singles from Discogs, I'll get them up on YouTube after Christmas when they've all arrived. |
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Post by Stranger on Dec 22, 2019 16:36:14 GMT
Sad to hear this, Kenny Lynch is absolutely my favourite outside Hollies collaborator. The songs he wrote with Tony are uniformly excellent.
Is It True What They Say About Georgia is the great lost Hollies song, you barely notice Kenny taking over on lead vocals it is so Hollies sounding overall!
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Post by moorlock2003 on Dec 30, 2019 14:44:39 GMT
How very sad. I enjoyed Kenny Lynch in the movie "Dr. Terror's House of Horrors" in addition to his wonderful collaborations with Tony Hicks, with "Long Dark Road" being a particular standout; the peak of the band's powers harmony-wise. (I have a copy of Lynch's version of "A Better Place").
Nothing on the official site about this. Why am I not surprised?
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Post by cameron on Dec 30, 2019 22:02:35 GMT
I've just added 'A Better Place' to YouTube. I'm amazed that NONE of the Tony Hicks/Kenny Lynch recordings outside of the Hollies are available on CD or download.
I'm 100% certain that Tony plays guitar on this track. The drums are also absolutely identical in sound to early 1972 Hollies recordings. And I'm not sure if Terry sings on the track too. Either way, I actually prefer it to the Hollies' version! Tony Hicks' guitar solo is superb!
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Post by JamesT on Dec 31, 2019 8:37:47 GMT
I've just added 'A Better Place' to YouTube. I'm amazed that NONE of the Tony Hicks/Kenny Lynch recordings outside of the Hollies are available on CD or download. I'm 100% certain that Tony plays guitar on this track. The drums are also absolutely identical in sound to early 1972 Hollies recordings. And I'm not sure if Terry sings on the track too. Either way, I actually prefer it to the Hollies' version! Tony Hicks' guitar solo is superb! Very little seems to be available in respect of his back catalogue. There was a CD of his 60s material released about 6 years ago (on the Cherry Red label, I think). Other than that - just the odd compilation seems available. I've not even been able to find what I'd call a true discography for Kenny. |
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Post by calvertbesseralseric on Dec 31, 2019 10:47:57 GMT
I've just added 'A Better Place' to YouTube. I'm amazed that NONE of the Tony Hicks/Kenny Lynch recordings outside of the Hollies are available on CD or download. I'm 100% certain that Tony plays guitar on this track. The drums are also absolutely identical in sound to early 1972 Hollies recordings. And I'm not sure if Terry sings on the track too. Either way, I actually prefer it to the Hollies' version! Tony Hicks' guitar solo is superb! Pretty sure I can here Tony's distinctive rough voice adding some character to the backing vocals. You're right about the guitar too - it sounded a bit unlike him at first, but then that quick-fingered Hicks style came in perfectly! I also really like the more pop-soul sound they've gone for here, and this more stripped back performance seems to bring out the compositional complexities of the song a bit more. |
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Post by moorlock2003 on Dec 31, 2019 21:00:01 GMT
Tony Hicks and Kenny Lynch also wrote 'Faded Images' for Cilla Black that lead off her 1971 album called 'Images'. I believe it to be the only track that Tony and Kenny wrote together that wasn't used by the Hollies. Here's a list of tracks that Tony and Kenny wrote together: - What A Life I've Lead - Look What We've Got - To Do With Love - Promised Land - Long Dark Road - Blue In The Morning - Out On The Road - A Better Place - Born A Man - Slow Down, Go Down - Nearer To You I've found out that Kenny himself recorded a version of 'A Better Place' in 1972, but it's not on YouTube: www.discogs.com/Kenny-Lynch-A-Better-Place-/master/676760Hicks also co-wrote 'We Can Be Friends' (1973) [B-side is his version of 'Nearer To You'], 'Bet You I Do' (1974) and 'Nightmares' (1977) [B-side of 'Is It True What They Say About Georgia', written by Chip Taylor ('I Can't Let Go', 'The Baby') and credited to "Hollies LTD"]. None of these singles charted anywhere or are available on YouTube or Spotify. I've just bought the three Tony Hicks/Hollies related Kenny Lynch singles from Discogs, I'll get them up on YouTube after Christmas when they've all arrived. Thank you in advance. I'd buy those discs myself but my record collection is now complete. I have ceased buying entertainment items including records. I'm 65 now and it's time to focus on other priorities. |
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Post by dirtyfaz on Jan 1, 2020 0:19:27 GMT
I've gotten like you Moorlock2003. I am a little older than you and maybe since 2015 I have slowed right down purchasing new material unless I felt it is something special that I am interested in.
Over the last 6 months I have been making flac digital copies of every CD and selected vinyl I own and other CDs of interest that my friends have. I have been loading them onto a Synology NAS setup in the house. Great idea and I can play all my music via the network within the place and control via a tablet. Guess a bit like streaming these days.
That has led me to wonder what to do with all this physical product I have here. Maybe it is time to part ways with it all. I do realise that after I pass the family won't care too much about it and either throw most of it away or virtually give it away.
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poco
Junior Member
Posts: 86 
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Post by poco on Jan 1, 2020 4:46:47 GMT
LOL Dirtyfaz don't you dare do it. Message me.
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Post by moorlock2003 on Jan 1, 2020 4:57:57 GMT
Having said that the last records I got were a stock copy of Denny Doherty's Hollies cover "Indian Girl" b/w "Baby Catch the moon" and a US Imperial copy of "Move It Baby" by Simon Scott & The LeRoys from 1964. Could it have been an inspiration for The Hollies, what with its calling out a "cool woman"?
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Post by dirtyfaz on Jan 1, 2020 7:52:10 GMT
I should have started a separate topic for this. It's an interesting question. In fact I will just to get a feel for how us older collectors of music/Hollies and what the future holds for that collection after our passing.
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Post by Stranger on Jan 4, 2020 17:54:38 GMT
In terms of Hollies related rarities, I personally don't think it gets much better than this from Kenny Lynch and "friends":
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Post by cameron on Mar 18, 2020 4:00:00 GMT
I've finally got around to compiling that video of the rare Kenny Lynch singles + some other of my favourite Hicks/Lynch tracks:
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Post by JamesT on Mar 18, 2020 7:42:00 GMT
Many thanks for this, Cameron - great effort and interesting to compare the tracks. 'Nightmares' really is an intriguing track. I must admit I really like 'Oh Granny' in both its versions, but I'll let you off with not including it!
Just a point as well - 'Born A Man' was on the 1993 CD 'Singles A's And B's 1970-1979' which I think was its first airing on that medium.
Still bowled over with the brilliant Kenny Lynch version of 'A Better Place'. I'm sure a box set of his recordings would be welcomed by many.
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Post by eric on Mar 18, 2020 10:16:07 GMT
Many thanks for this, Cameron - great effort and interesting to compare the tracks. Still bowled over with the brilliant Kenny Lynch version of 'A Better Place'. Yes, thank you Cameron for this collection. I agree with James that Kenny's version of "A Better Place" is great. A very pleasant surprise indeed! |
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Post by cameron on Mar 18, 2020 11:38:38 GMT
I ordered all the Kenny Lynch singles at the same time from Discogs and 'A Better Place' was the first one I put on. I was bowled over by it, especially the unmistakeable sound of Tony's electric sitar on it. It's way better than the Hollies' version. I was told that the Hollies play on it, though Bobby Elliott was struggling to recall the session when he was asked. It fitted in either just before Mikael Rickfors joined or immediately after their first session with him to record 'The Baby'.
Is it just me, or is Kenny Lynch's voice quite similar to Tony Hicks' on those early solo tracks? I can see why they'd write songs together, they seem well-suited vocally.
I've just got one single to find, 'We Can Be Friends' b/w 'You'll Be On Your Own Tonight' from 1973, which I believe are both Hicks/Lynch tracks, though no involvement from the Hollies.
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Post by stuball on Mar 18, 2020 16:00:27 GMT
I always enjoyed the Hicks/Lynch compositions on those early '70's Hollies albums. They seemed a wonderful fit for the group's style. In fact, I've often thought how much better those later '70's LPs would have been, IF Tony and Kenny had continued to bring tunes of that caliber to the Hollies' table.
That the Clarke/Sylvester/Hicks team churned out some laboured and frankly, bland material during that 76-77 period, is beyond dispute. In my opinion, the vast majority of it seemed written by rote, and totally uninspired. Little more than filler in some cases. No way of knowing of course, but I'd like to think that a two-pronged approach of equal numbers of Hick-Lynch, plus Clarke and/or Sylvester tunes, might have brought some magic to Write On, Russian Roulette and Crazy Steal. And for that matter, wouldn't things have been far, far better, if the abysmal 5317704, and its follow-up, the snooze-fest Buddy Holly collection, had never seen the light of day. Imagine those two dogs replaced by two immensely superior collections, chock full of tunes of by Clarke and/or Sylvester, plus the Hicks/Lynch partnership!
Seems to me, the group didn't know they potentially had a golden two-pronged in-house songwriting combination going for them. A missed opportunity for sure!
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Post by cameron on Mar 21, 2020 19:48:19 GMT
I much prefer Kenny's solo version of 'A Better Place' to the Hollies' version. Kind of ironic that the Hollies also played on it! Tony's solo is absolutely superb.
I would guess that the Hicks/Lynch team dissipated after four unsuccessful Hicks/Lynch/Hollies singles for Kenny Lynch between 1972 and 1977. According to Discogs, Kenny didn't issue any other solo singles during that time. All but one were Hicks/Lynch penned A-sides, and the one that wasn't featured the Hollies and had a Hicks/Lynch B-side. Tony's known for being very pragmatic, so probably just decided to stop working with Kenny when none of their songs were enjoying chart success other than 'Long Dark Road', which was an un-planned surprise hit in 1972 in America only.
The Clarke/Hicks/Sylvester team peaked far too early on 'Another Night'. Not much that came after was especially inspired, other than a few standout tracks on 'Write On' and 'Russian Roulette'. I think perhaps their confidence was knocked when 'Another Night' wasn't anywhere near the success of 'Hollies (1974)', which it really deserved to be, as it was a much more consistently excellent album. Contrary to Allan's view that "everything was just 5% less" after 'The Air That I Breathe', I actually think there's at least handful of songs on 'Another Night' that are just as good. I'm forever bowled over by the musical and lyrical brilliance of 'I'm Down', for example. And 'Give Me Time' has an infectious melody. I don't think Ron Richards helped much either, pretty much forcing them to record the pleasant but forgettable 'Son of a Rotten Gambler' as a follow up to TATIB, which completely nose-dived in the charts.
Ultimately, morale had seemingly run dry within the group by 1976. Around this time, they embarked on their self-imposed "retirement" for half of the year, viewing the group as very much a work project only. That was their biggest mistake I feel. There's the feeling that they were doing the bare minimum to get by, and it shows on those late 70s albums. There's hardly any outtakes or working versions in the vaults during that 1975-1980 period either, showing that they'd work with whatever they'd got, whereas earlier in their career they'd be quite picky and keep working to be successful and turn out great albums by re-arranging songs and sometimes giving up on them altogether in favour of something better. They'd not had a really big worldwide smash hit for two years either, and 'Live Hits', although massively successful, cemented their "oldies circuit" status. Kind of ironic, that some of their newer material like 'Another Night' and 'Star' from 'Live Hits' rocks WAY harder than the album versions, and I think they needed that excitement on their studio albums around that time.
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Post by cameron on Mar 30, 2020 0:37:48 GMT
I'm going to have to re-cut the video as it's been blocked by YouTube on copyright grounds because of the Hollies and Cilla tracks. Ironically, none of the Kenny Lynch solo tracks were picked up on, obviously because they've never been re-released on CD and aren't currently officially available. The upside is, during this time, I've tracked down the missing single 'We Can Be Friends' b/w 'You'll Be On Your Own Tonight' which are both Hicks/Lynch compositions. Both are very much Hollies-esque and I think this is my favourite single of Kenny's. Both songs are really strong. The B-side very much seems to have the backing of the Hollies again, but I could be wrong. Hopefully I'll get the video re-edited and back up so that you can decide for yourselves.
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Post by knut on Mar 30, 2020 20:40:58 GMT
Thanks Cameron I just ordered that KL single.
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Post by cameron on Mar 31, 2020 9:56:34 GMT
Okay, new upload. This one shouldn't get censored by copyright. This is the complete Kenny Lynch solo output from 1972 - 1977, minus one non-Hicks/Lynch B-side:
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