The road is long: THE HOLLIES STORY

Tight little bio. Peter's out at the end, but still a worthwhile read for fans.

Although I thoroughly enjoyed this book, the fact that 60% of it is devoted to the Graham Nash years through 1968 is a bit disappointing to any true Hollies fan. It is well documented and enjoyable reading, but really pays too little attention to the remaining 45+ years of the band's history. Even though they lacked the commercial potency of their earlier days, the music that the group continued to produce was beautiful and worth more than the glancing blow given by the author. If you're not familiar with The Hollies recorded output post Nash, do yourself a favor and search out some of the brilliant albums still available.Still, this is recommended reading for fans of the British music scene of the 60s.

Nice to finally have a biography on The Hollies. Long overdue! But a little disappointing. To begin with, there are several errors where wrong names or titles appear that could've been prevented with simple proof-reading. And some things, such as Bobby Elliott's illness in 1967 where several drummers filled in for him on the road & in the studio, are only briefly touched on and others not mentioned at all. Another weakness is the author's not going into more detail on the music. The booklet that accompanied The Long Road Home box set was far superior and could've been used as a reference work here, if the writer had been so inclined. But on the other hand, there were some very interesting revelations that the book brought to light that I never knew before...such as bassist Eric Haydock continuing as the band's bassist, even after Bernie Calvert had come in as his replacement in May 1966, until he was officially fired in July 1965.

Good but not as thorough as one would expect in a musical biography today! Many important developments in the earliest history of the Hollies are either omitted or simply glossed over. Also it would have been helpful to have a little more analysis of each album in the progression of the band. The first two albums were very much the product of "what we sing on stage" which was overwhelmingly covers of familiar r&b songs. The third LP marked the first true progression for the band into two styles: folk as rock (e.g. "Very Last Day") and strong self-composed songs that transcended simple pop. While hit singles, often composed by others, were the bread-and-butter of the Hollies for more than three years, they stretched in the EP and album fields into ever more complex and distinctive musical formats Banjos, folk, changeable tempos, all became hallmarks of the Hollies. I miss a lot of explanation into the motivation and design in the narrative here. This book is *a good introduction* into the Hollies story but it is by no means *the definitive* story of one of British rock's most remarkable bands.

I couldn't wait for this book to come out; I really, really, really wanted to like it. I've read and watched pretty much EVERYTHING Hollies. But then I read it. It reads like the Elliott diary it came from, except without any juicy parts that MUST have been in his diaries somewhere! Just a long list of dates, performances, and names. Nothing really personal, not much about their relationships, except some about Elliott's childhood. Nothing much about how they wrote songs, lyrics, music, etc. which is something I have always been interested in - I am trying to learn their catalog on guitar and drums. Nothing about the new line-up (which I don't like anyway - no one can match the Clarke/Nash harmonies); not many photos either. If you are a hardcore (popcore?) Hollies fan like me, you will still want to get it. Just don't expect too much.

If you are a fan of the Hollies this a must read. Interesting by lines on the interactions with the Stones, Searches, Beatles and Elton John just to name a few.Found to be amusing was there distaste for the Dave Clarke Five.The group was well managed and had a great relation with producers, studios,and writers of there music.If your not a big Hollies fan still a enjoyable read.

Sadly its a dreadful and worthless book. The author is stuck a bit as there are no official interviews with present or former band members and we get no detail on anything. Just the same old info told 1000 times before. No insight on why the band gives up on the states or ceases to write songs or doesnt make a proper LP for nearly a quarter century. No backstory on why two members leave at the same time never to really be replaced by proper bandmates... etc ,etc.... I'm sure they are all thinking one day they will write their own books but that day will likely never come. One of the longest lived and best British Invasion bands will never have their story properly told. A wasted opportunity.

I really don't know why I bought this book, the Hollies were not one of my favorite groups in the sixties but I'm glad I did. I enjoyed it and I learned a lot about the Hollies and the recording business in general. It is a good read and very interesting. Oh, I bought their greatest hits album and am enjoying the songs much more now than I did in the 60s and 70s.

This is a book, a biography sure but it’s not a newspaper column. So, why do they have to write it as if it is? This author is not alone in doing that. Just write the story for heaven’s sake. we don’t care which one ‘rcalled’ what incident. We don’t give a hoot who ‘explained’ what event. it doesn’t matter. We only want the story that’s all. This might have been a decent book otherwise. I was looking forward to reading it but not full of all those comments about who ‘recalled’ what and which one ‘explained’ that event. No thanks. I think I’ll just go without if you don’t mind.

The book was full of facts and information but does not portray the group, as I like to view them as a fan, with any feeling. The author made a decent enough go at their history but there is a lot of negative comments. Even though they were not 'charting' with songs through the 80's, 90's & 00's they were and are still a fantastic live band . Full of drive and the harmony between them is unmissable. Two recent albums had some great songs and the oldies still have a place and are worth a listen. If you want to find out how they started and what went on through the 60's and 70's worth a go but do not take the later stages as a true indication of what they are all about.

Well as others have said it's a short-ish read with some 130 pages devoted to the 1960s, just over 20 to the 1970s and about the same again for the last 35 years. Errors apart it is well written and thoroughly enjoyable, particularly the record reviews.In the back of the book the publisher advertises a Bob Dylan book which include 164 pages of biography and 115 pages of discography; so why oh why didn't the Hollies story include something similar, certainly for the main UK releases. Similarly the family tree which I first created for 'Carousel' (and as used in the boxed CD set) is there for the asking.So here's a stab at a mainly Parlophone discography. Post Parlophone albums are listed, as are hit singles. Given EMI’s recent and comprehensive CD sets for the Parlophone years and those on Polydor with Mikael Rickfors (totalling 11 discs covering April 1963 to March 1973) we may yet see a further re-issue of the other 1970’s recordings.The first line-up of the Hollies to record comprised Allan Clarke, Graham Nash, Eric Haydock, Tony Hicks and Don Rathbone. After five recording sessions which included a couple of singles, EP & LP tracks and one which remained unreleased until a 1985 compilation. Don was replaced by Bobby Elliott and this line-up completed the first LP and three more. In 1966 Eric left with Bernie Calvert who had played with Tony & Bobby in the Dolphins back in 1961 joining. Three albums followed after which Graham Nash decided to move on; in his place came Terry Sylvester (ex Swinging Blue Jeans). This was in 1968 and four further LPs take us up to 1971 when Allan Clarke went solo. Carl Wayne (ex Move) was approached but ultimately Mikael Rickfors joined for two LPs one of which was only issued in Germany. Allan rejoined in 1973. Allan, Tony, Bobby, Bernie & Terry then stayed together until 1981 recording seven studio albums on Polydor. From this point until 1999 the core of the group was Allan, Tony and Bobby, supported live by such stalwarts as Dennis Haines, Ian Parker, Ray Stiles (ex Mud) and Alan Coates. Even Graham Nash stopped in the name of love (a ‘45’) and came back for the 1983 tour and an album. In 1999 Allan, for family reasons, retired and his place was taken, until his death in 2005, by Carl Wayne. Prior to this sad event, the settled touring line-up was Carl, Bobby, Tony, Alan C, Ray S & Ian P. This great line-up gave us the Hollies hits plus some Move and even the odd song from Mud. The first studio album for many years was 2006’s ‘Staying Power’ with: Bobby Elliott – drums (1963 to present),Tony Hicks – guitars, backing vocals, banjo, mandolin, bass, sitar, keyboards (1963 to present),Ray Stiles – bass, backing vocals (1986 to present),Ian Parker – keyboards, woodwinds, backing vocals (1991 to present),Peter Howarth – lead vocals, guitar (2004 to present),Steve Lauri – guitar, backing vocals (2004 to present).The same line-up recorded the album ‘Then, Now Always’ which came out in late 2010 with the track of the same name craftily featuring on the hits compilation ‘Midas Touch’, not the first or last time this ploy has been adopted.The discography comprises Parlophone non-compilation LPs, EPs & 45s. Parlophone LP re-issues on CD include those by BGO records (between 1988-91) and in 1997/99 by EMI. The latter were digitally remastered typically with both mono & stereo versions on a single CD in card covers (some titles stereo only). These were followed in 2004 by the first in a series of 2-fers and in 2015 by 5 LPs in card covers in a box.' (Ain’t That) Just Like Me/Hey What’s Wrong With Me (Parlophone R5030), 5/63, #25' Searchin’/Whole World Over (R5052) 8/63, #12with a couple of early exceptions, Bobby Elliott drums on:' Stay/Now’s The Time (R5077), 11/63, #8 ()' STAY WITH THE HOLLIES (PMC 1220 & PCS 3054), 1/64, #2' Just One Look/Keep Off Of That Friend Of Mine (R5104), 2/64, #2' Here I Go Again/Baby That’s All (R5137), 5/64, #4' EP: The Hollies (GEP 8908), 6/64, #6' EP: Just One Look (GEP 8911), 7/64, #10' We’re Through/Come On Back (R5178), 9/64, #7' EP: Here I Go Again (GEP 8915) 10/64' IN THE HOLLIES STYLE (PMC 1235), 11/64' EP: We’re Through (GEP 8927) 12/64' Yes I will/Nobody (R5232), 1/65, #9' EP: In the Hollies Style (GEP 8934) 4/65' I’m Alive/ You Know He Did (R5287), 5/65, #1' Look Through Any Window/So Lonely (R5322) , 8/65, #4' EP: I’m Alive (GEP 8942) 9/65, #5' HOLLIES (PMC 1261) 9/65, #8' If I Needed Someone/I’ve Got A Way Of My Own (R5392), 12/65, #20' I Can’t Let Go/Running Through The Night (R5409), 2/66, #2' EP: I Can’t Let Go (GEP 8951) 6/66, #9' WOULD YOU BELIEVE, (PMC/PCS 7008), 6/66, #16Bernie Calvert joins for:' Bus Stop/Don’t Run And Hide (R5469), 6/66, #5' After The Fox (with Peter Sellers)/B-side not the Hollies (UA UP 1152), 9/66' Stop Stop Stop/It’s You (R508), 10/66, #2' FOR CERTAIN BECAUSE (PMC/PCS 7011) 10/66, #23' On A Carousel/All The World Is Love (R5562), 2/67, #4' Carrie Anne/Signs That Will Never Change (R5602), 5/67, #3' EVOLUTION (PMC/PCS 7022), 6/67, #13' King Midas In Reverse/Everything Is Sunshine (R5637), 9/67, #18' BUTTERFLY (PMC/PCS 7039), 10/67' Jennifer Eccles/Open Up Your eyes (R5680), 3/68, #7' Listen To Me/Do The Best You Can (R5733), 9/68, #1farewell Graham Nash; hello Terry Sylvester' Sorry Suzanne/Not That Way At All (R5765), 2/69, #3,' HOLLIES SING DYLAN (PMC/PCS 7078), 5/69, #3' He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother/’Cos You Like To Love Me (R5806), 9/69, #3' HOLLIES SING HOLLIES (PCS 7092), 11/69' I Can’t Tell The Bottom From The Top/Mad Professor Blyth (R5837), 4/70, #7' Gasoline Alley Bred/Dandelion Wine (R5862), 9/70, #14' CONFESSIONS OF THE MIND (PCS 7116), 11/70, #30' Hey Willy/Row The Boat Together (R5905), 5/71, #22' DISTANT LIGHT (PAS 10005) 6/71, last Parlophone album. Later Hit Singles' The Baby/Oh Granny (Polydor 2058 199), 2/72, #26 (Polydor debut with Mikael Rickfors)' Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress/Cable Car (Parlophone R5939), 4/72, #32, from DISTANT LIGHT (#2 hit in US so issued here)Allan Clarke rejoins for' The Day That Curly Billy Shot Down Crazy Sammy Mcghee/Born A Man (Polydor 2058 403) 10/73, #24' The Air That I Breathe/No More Riders (Polydor 2058 435), 1/74, #2' Soldier’s Song/Draggin’ My Heels (Polydor 2059 246), 6/80, #58' Holliedaze/Holliepops (medley) (EMI 5229) 8/81, #28' He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother/Carrie (EMI EM74), 8/88, #1' The Air That I Breathe/We’re Through (EMI EM80) 11/88, #60' The Woman I Love/Purple Rain (live) (EMI EM264), 3/93, #42Post-71 Albums (UK releases on Polydor unless stated otherwise)' Romany (Polydor 2383 144) 11/72, Polydor debut with Mikael Rickfors (on FMO*)' Out On The Road (German Hansa 87119 IT), 4/73 (included on ‘Changin’ Times’)' Hollies, 3/74 (2383 262) #38, return of Allan Clarke (FMO)' Another Night (2442 128) 2/75 (on FO*)' Write On (2442 141) 1/76 (FMO)' Russian Roulette (2383 421) 12/76 (FO)' Hollies Live Hits (2383 428) 3/77, #4 (in ‘The Long Road Home’ box)' A Crazy Steal (2383 474) 3/78 (FMO)' 20 Golden Greats (EMI EMTV 11) 7/78, #2, Parlophone recordings' Five Three One – Double Seven O Four (2442 160) 3/79, (FO)' Buddy Holly (POLTV 12 10/80 (FO), last on Polydor' What Goes Around (WEA 250 139-1) 7/83, featuring Graham Nash' Staying Power (EMI 355983 2) 2006' Then, Now, Always (EMI 9 17502 2 8) 2010The Polydor albums were re-issued in 1995/96 as two boxed sets entitled ‘Four Originals*’ and ‘Four More Originals*’ but some can also be found on single discs. The 2015 CD Changin’ Times includes from Sorry Suzanne to the Out On The Road German LP.CD Compilations include:' All the Hits and More (dbl) (#51), 1988' At Abbey Road 1963 – 89 (tpl), (also available singly), 2000' Greatest Hits (dbl) (#21), features ‘The Woman I Love’ and new song ‘How Do I Survive’ sung by Carl Wayne, 2003' The Long Road Home 1963 – 2003, (6CD boxed set), 2003' Midas Touch – Very Best of (dbl); new songs ‘Then, Now, Always (Dolphin Days)’ & I Would Fly (live), 2010' Clarke, Hicks & Nash Years: Apr 63 – Oct 68, (6CD, 158 tracks), 2011' 50 at Fifty (3 CD set including new song ‘Skylarks), 2014' Changin’ Times: Jan 1969 – Mar 1973 (5CD, 90 tracks), 2015In January 2014 I bought a decent copy of the LP Stay with the Hollies for £1.50. Probably 2/6d less than it would have cost on its first release exactly 50 years ago in 1964.

Having been a Hollies fan for over 50 years! I couldn't wait to read this. I picked it up and didn't put it down until I had read it all. Oh the memories it brought back of those early days when you saw the Hollies at concerts, but certainly didn't hear them.Pity about some glaring errors for instance they talk about Vic Farrell - to my knowledge he was Vic Steele. And also Tony has been made two years older. He was born on 16 December 1945 a fact that should have been checked. In addition Bobby has often said that his wife (then girlfriend) approached Bernie to join them.With regard to the reticence of current band members to assist, could this perhaps be because Bobby Elliott is in the process of writing his own book from the diaries he has kept over the years.This book though is one that is a must for all Hollies fans as it shows the stages the group passed through and the ups and downs over the years. If they had been asked in 1963 if the group would still be performing 50 plus years on,. I wonder what their response would have been.I have often wondered why the Hollies have never received the recognition they deserve, perhaps as is said in the book they are/were just too nice and didn't court publicity like some of the other groups around. Still with Allan, Bobby and Tony they had the best. I still cannot understand why Tony is such an underrated guitarist - just listen to some of his solos they stand up with the best.On the whole I would say that this is a very informative book and truly gives the reader an insight into the life of the group, but it leaves me wanting more.

I knew a lot about the Hollies' earlier years but not much about the leaving of the late, great Eric Haydock; the departure of Graham Nash and the retirement of Alan Clark. This book reveals a lot about what went on behind the scenes. It's not the finest piece of pop history writing and I'm glad I did not pay full whack price for it. Nevertheless, if you are a fan of the Hollies, it's worth a read if you can find a bargain price copy.