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Post by cameron on Oct 9, 2020 7:33:14 GMT
and picked out by Tony at the publisher's office. Recorded, as far as we know, with equal enthusiasm for the track from all members and Ron Richards. I could be wrong, but I'd assume the arrangement of the track was Tony's or Ron's as the case usually went in the post-Graham era. Just a small correction - it was Ron Richards' secretary, Shirley I think her name was, who pulled Allan to one side, knowing that he was a huge Phil Everly fan, and played him the track from Phil's new album which she had, and suggested that it should be a Hollies song. So if any member of the group "found it", it was Allan, because he could have easily brushed it off and never spoke about it again, but he saw something in it like Shirley did. When you hear the original, the Hollies just took it somewhere else entirely, a bit like when Nilsson recorded Badfinger's 'Without You'. The orchestra, the powerful vocals... just a superb performance all round.
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Deleted
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Terry
Oct 9, 2020 7:42:26 GMT
Post by Deleted on Oct 9, 2020 7:42:26 GMT
and picked out by Tony at the publisher's office. Recorded, as far as we know, with equal enthusiasm for the track from all members and Ron Richards. I could be wrong, but I'd assume the arrangement of the track was Tony's or Ron's as the case usually went in the post-Graham era. Just a small correction - it was Ron Richards' secretary, Shirley I think her name was, who pulled Allan to one side, knowing that he was a huge Phil Everly fan, and played him the track from Phil's new album which she had, and suggested that it should be a Hollies song. So if any member of the group "found it", it was Allan, because he could have easily brushed it off and never spoke about it again, but he saw something in it like Shirley did. When you hear the original, the Hollies just took it somewhere else entirely, a bit like when Nilsson recorded Badfinger's 'Without You'. The orchestra, the powerful vocals... just a superb performance all round. The only thing I don't quite understand is if Allan was such a huge Phil Everly fan (which undoubtedly he was/is), then why didn't he discover the song himself? Unless Shirley had an advance pressing of course.
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Post by gee on Oct 9, 2020 15:27:15 GMT
Cameron has the account spot on re Ron's secretary suggesting the song to Allan - a karmic sort of Everlys 'thank you' for 'Two Yanks in England' in a way...
it was a track on Phil Everly's solo 1972 RCA Victor album 'Star Spangled Springer'- produced by guitarist Duane Eddy (one of Tony's big guitar influences - listen to Tony's 'rumbling' guitarwork on 'Hey What's Wrong With Me' and years later his intro,solo and outro to; 'Please Sign Your Letters' and on 'Love Makes The World Go Round')
Phil's intimate version was a late night style gentle ballad version which was really more of an album track tho' RCA did put it out as a single in September 1973, it's really lovely but of course The Hollies transformed the piece into a classic with a stronger arrangement and each member excelling...plus as Bobby has advised Ron Richards suggestion they make The Hollies version move just a little bit faster than as recorded was a key factor
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Post by gee on Oct 9, 2020 15:36:08 GMT
Tony in 'Duane Eddy' style - notably at approx 1 min 03 secs into the number
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Post by gee on Oct 9, 2020 15:37:56 GMT
and more clearly here
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Post by gee on Oct 9, 2020 15:39:25 GMT
also here;
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Post by The Dude on Oct 9, 2020 17:56:40 GMT
Oh... look who's fondly leaning on Allan's shoulder...
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Post by The Dude on Oct 9, 2020 17:57:42 GMT
...and here....
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Post by madprofessorblyth on Oct 9, 2020 20:02:55 GMT
and picked out by Tony at the publisher's office. Recorded, as far as we know, with equal enthusiasm for the track from all members and Ron Richards. I could be wrong, but I'd assume the arrangement of the track was Tony's or Ron's as the case usually went in the post-Graham era. Just a small correction - it was Ron Richards' secretary, Shirley I think her name was, who pulled Allan to one side, knowing that he was a huge Phil Everly fan, and played him the track from Phil's new album which she had, and suggested that it should be a Hollies song. So if any member of the group "found it", it was Allan, because he could have easily brushed it off and never spoke about it again, but he saw something in it like Shirley did. When you hear the original, the Hollies just took it somewhere else entirely, a bit like when Nilsson recorded Badfinger's 'Without You'. The orchestra, the powerful vocals... just a superb performance all round. Indeed! I completely forgot this interesting story. I remember reading up on it back when I got into them about seven or so years ago but after that much time (and getting into many more groups!) I've become a little rusty, haha! I haven't heard the Phil Everly recording in years but I'm looking forward to hearing it again in regards to this thread! I completely agree with you on "Without You," as both a super Badfinger and Nilsson fan, Harry (and with some due credit to Richard Perry) really took it to great heights! I still enjoy the Badfinger recording as well, but mostly on the verses - I love both Pete and Tom as singers a lot, but I never quite felt Tom's vocal style really worked on that chorus - though I give him all the credit for coming up with it...! Without sidestepping the whole conversation, Pete's already underrated immensely as a songwriter and guitar player, but his vocal style is very rich and unique and not typically given credit for it! Whatever the case, Phil Everly, Harry, Pete and Tom - all amazingly talented and dearly missed!!
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Post by gee on Oct 10, 2020 11:17:21 GMT
Very true - Pete and Tom LOVED Harry Nilsson's classic version of their song - there's a great and very poignant photo of Pete, Tom and Harry all smiling together with a gold disc !
Pete always felt Badfinger's original version was very 'skeletal' of their two put together songs;'I Can't Live' and 'If It's Love' - where chorus and verses combined to become 'Without You' and in truth it's not really a band orientated song rather than more suitable for a solo singer and Harry Nilsson had the vast vocal range to get the best out of it together with Richard Perry's vital contribution
funny but Harry much as he loved it,was always slightly a little 'irked' that he was best known for two famous cover versions and NOT one of his own many great songs - be it 'Without You' or 'Everybody's Talkin' !
mind you Nilsson's similar titled song 'Without HER' was a classic and covered by SO many from Jack Jones to Blood Sweat and Tears
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