"Hollies" is a 1974 album by the English pop-rock band The Hollies. The centerpiece is the band's classic cover of Albert Hammond's ballad "The Air That I Breathe," a major worldwide hit that year. It also contains another "Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress soundalike in "The Day That Curly Billy Shot Down Crazy Sam McGee".
This record would have disappeared long ago were it not for regal centerpiece "The Air That I Breathe," arguably pop's greatest ballad. The rest of the material naturally pales in comparison, but 1974's Hollies delivers likable-enough smiley face rock with the quintet's lilting trademark harmonies throughout. Of course, silly star fables like "Out on the Road" can't measure up to past glories. Same goes for the morally ambiguous, similarly titled openers. Luckily, the album maintains the Brits' peculiar pent-up energy, even in countrified hootenannies like "Rubber Lucy" (surprisingly not a companion to Roxy Music's blow-up doll ode). The meaningless "Transatlantic Westbound Jet" cruises along enjoyably, with visions of Cheap Trick dancing in the verses. "Pick up the Pieces Again" is rolled up in Crosby, Stills, & Nash (the last a former Hollies running mate), and the boys cannibalize their own "Long Tall Women in a Black Dress" for denouement "The Day That Curly Billy Shot Down Crazy Sam McGee" (whew). Unfortunately, here, the Hollies have run out of tunes to match their talent. But that beautiful ballad will live forever: "Sleep, silent angel, go to sleep." By the way, the band is named after Buddy Holly.
Tracklist
01. Falling Calling (Clarke, Sylvester) - 3:10
02. It's a Shame, It's a Game (Hicks, Jennings) - 3:41
03. Don't Let Me Down (Clarke) - 4:21
04. Out on the Road (Hicks, Lynch) - 2:57
05. The Air That I Breathe (Hammond, Hazelwood) - 4:12
06. Rubber Lucy (Clarke) - 4:12
07. Transatlantic West Bound Jet (Elliot, Sylvester) - 3:13
08. Pick Up the Pieces Again (Sylvester) - 3:58
09. Down on the Run (Hicks, Jennings) - 3:49
10. Love Makes the World Go Round (Clarke, Sylvester) - 3:44
11. The Day That Curly Billy Shot Down Crazy Sam McGee (Clarke) - 4:25
Released: March 1974
Recorded: EMI Abbey Road Studios, London, England
Genre: Rock, Pop
Length: 41:42
Label: Epic
Producer: The Hollies, Ron Richards
Personnel:
Allan Clarke - vocals
Terry Sylvester - guitarist, vocals
Duffy Power - harmonica
Bernie Calvert - keyboards
Bobby Elliott - drums, percussion
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