Up Front: The Coconut Collection

[thejanitor]

So, what exactly is the full story behind the songs on this compilation? All I can really tell is the guys decided in the late 80s to record several singles on this German label that were given disco remixes and also that Baby Come Back was made for a cat food advert. Although there's quite a few TV performances of these songs on YouTube, I can't find much else info on this brief period in Hollies history. 

[sandy]

Nov 22, 2020 18:10:36 GMT thejanitor said:

So, what exactly is the full story behind the songs on this compilation? All I can really tell is the guys decided in the late 80s to record several singles on this German label that were given disco remixes and also that Baby Come Back was made for a cat food advert. Although there's quite a few TV performances of these songs on YouTube, I can't find much else info on this brief period in Hollies history. 

Someone will probably be able to tell you the state of their recording contracts at the time...did they have one for new stuff in uk at all?
The German audience have always been very loyal to the band. The disco type vibe seemed to continue there long after it petered out here, so maybe combination of all three made recording these an attractive proposition?

Ulli Eichblatt was a writer, producer and big fan, I thought,as was Ulli Twelker,and I think they tempted the guys over?
Ulli also worked on Allan's Et Cetera Long Cool Woman, and later, after being put in touch with post Hollies Terry, did stuff with Terry too Also he did stuff with Carl Wayne( there's the YouTube clip of Carl singing Soldier's song?)
The Upfront bit ,I believe,was the name of the German fanzine at the time, run by Alfons Kraft?
I'm sure others will have more details ☺️

[thejanitor]

Thanks, Sandy, that does make things a little clearer. 😊

Something else I've noticed with the clips of these songs, although I think all of these performances are mimed, they are shown with three different high harmony singers/rhythm guitarists. I know that's Alan Coates in the Stand By Me and first Shine Silently clips, but the other two I'm unsure of (Also Bobby is absent for unknown reasons and replaced by Rennie Hatzke on the Baby Come Back performance).









I'm not sure about you guys, but something tells me the guy in the last clip really likes John Lennon... 😂 

[baz]

Nov 23, 2020 19:24:37 GMT sandy said:

Someone will probably be able to tell you the state of their recording contracts at the time...did they have one for new stuff in uk at all?

This Coconut episode still bewilders me as this occurred in 1989 presumably after the "Find Me A Family" single. Interest in The Hollies was high in the UK thanks to the recent number one and 25th anniversary activities yet no new material would be forthcoming until 1992 or 1993 by which time, the renewed interest had been and gone. It was believed Allan was keen to get a new album done but instead they focused on this Coconut stuff which wasn't really breaking much new ground and was unavailable back here in the UK. Talk about shooting themselves in the foot for it would have sold had it been released here but... I would have thought EMI would have welcomed any new material and presume this was an exclusive deal which EMI were not privy to and the UK fans lost out.

Seems like yet another Hollies misfire.

[Deleted]

Nov 24, 2020 23:27:36 GMT baz said:

Nov 23, 2020 19:24:37 GMT sandy said:

Someone will probably be able to tell you the state of their recording contracts at the time...did they have one for new stuff in uk at all?

This Coconut episode still bewilders me as this occurred in 1989 presumably after the "Find Me A Family" single. Interest in The Hollies was high in the UK thanks to the recent number one and 25th anniversary activities yet no new material would be forthcoming until 1992 or 1993 by which time, the renewed interest had been and gone. It was believed Allan was keen to get a new album done but instead they focused on this Coconut stuff which wasn't really breaking much new ground and was unavailable back here in the UK. Talk about shooting themselves in the foot for it would have sold had it been released here but... I would have thought EMI would have welcomed any new material and presume this was an exclusive deal which EMI were not privy to and the UK fans lost out.

Seems like yet another Hollies misfire.

Even if these songs had been released in the UK, I can't imagine them being much of a success. By 1989, the bombast of the 80s was passing, and artists like Paul McCartney and The Rolling Stones were willing to go in a more retro direction (compare 'Flowers In The Dirt' and 'Steel Wheels' to 'Press' and 'Dirty Work'!). These songs by The Hollies already sounded dated, as did to an even greater extent some of the 2006 Howarth-era songs...

[albatros]

THE HOLLIES UP FRONT SPECIAL VOL:1

This CD with an edition of only 200 pieces was made by Uli Eichblatt in cooperation with the record company COCONUT RECORDS from Germany. At the time, Uli had very good contact with the Hollies and wanted to represent the Hollies in Germany. Unfortunately that failed.
Now something about this CD:

It has all the songs recorded with Coconut Records. Baby Come Back is not included as this single was not recorded with Coconut Records.
The rare tracks are the following:

4 versions of Stand By Me - one of which is only published here
2 versions of Shine Silently 7" + 12"
2 versions of Your Eyes 7" + 12"
For What It's Worth, I'm Sorry 7" Mix
Long Cool Women - 12" Remix - Longer Version
Find Me A Family (Instrumental Version
Draggin My Heels (Special Disco Version)

If any of you would like to have or buy this rare CD with an edition of only 200 copies, I still have a few copies still in their original seals. I acquired/bought the Coconut Records closeout many years ago. Yes, I made in the mid 80th this fanzine called Hollies Forever - later Hollies Up Front.
You can contact me unter: [e-mail]