The Hollies - French '60s EP Collection, Vol. 3 (1996) (22-track Digipack 24 bit Remaster 2001)

One of the best and most commercially successful pop/rock acts of the British Invasion, when the Hollies began recording in 1963, they relied heavily upon the R&B/early rock & roll covers that provided the staple diet for countless British bands of the time. They quickly developed a more distinctive style of three-part harmonies (heavily influenced by the Everly Brothers), ringing guitars, and hook-happy material, penned by both outside writers (especially Graham Gouldman) and themselves, eventually composing most of their repertoire on their own. The best early Hollies records evoke an infectious, melodic cheer similar to that of the early Beatles, although the Hollies were neither in their class (not an insult: nobody else was) nor demonstrated a similar capacity for artistic growth. They tried, though, easing into somewhat more sophisticated folk-rock and mildly psychedelic sounds as the decade wore on, especially on their EP's (which contain quite a few overlooked highlights).

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150 MB
2000mustangs

Tracklist:

01 Stop,stop,stop 03:01
02 It's You 02:14
03 King Midas In Reverse 03:02
04 Everything In Sunshine 01:59
05 Jennifer Eccles 02:56
06 Try It 03:02
07 Listen To Me 02:39
08 Do The Best You Can 02:50
09 Sorry Suzanne 03:00
10 Not That Way At All 02:50
11 He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother 04:18
12 Cos You Like To Love Me 03:00
13 I Can't Tell The Bottom From The Top 03:49
14 Mad Professor Blyth 02:17
15 Kill Me Quick 02:08
16 We're Alive 02:38
17 Non Prego Per Me 02:45
18 Devi Avere Fiducia In Me 02:12
19 Open Up You Eyes 02:49
20 Blowin' In The Wind 04:09
21 Man With No Expression 03:25
22 Sign Of The Times 02:36

The Hollies - Romany (1972) (20-track Digipack Remaster 2007)

This EMI expanded CD edition of the Hollies' Romany album appeared some seven years after the Magic Records expanded edition, and the two do not overlap entirely. The difference is in the bonus tracks -- gone are Tony Hicks' "A Better Place" (which was released on the 1973 album Out on the Road) and Mikael Rickfors' "The Last Word" and "Don't Leave the Child Alone," but in their place are an alternate acoustic take of "Magic Woman Touch," the lost single "Papa Rain," and the group's rendition of the Eagles' "Witchy Woman." Both CDs total 20 songs, but this one is a little over three minutes longer in overall running time, and those outtakes are well worth owning, even if it means keeping two versions of the expanded edition around -- the harmony singing and the timbre of the acoustic version of "Magic Woman Touch" make it one of the prettiest recordings ever to emanate from this group's orbit, and that is saying something given the Hollies' track record; "Papa Rain" would have made a somewhat brooding, moody single, a bit reminiscent in tone of the darker side of Crosby, Stills & Nash; and "Witchy Woman" (which was then a new song) gets a punchy, enthusiastic performance that pushes the harmonies hard and also allows Tony Hicks, Bernie Calvert, and Bobby Elliott to show off some of their more intense playing. And the version of "Oh Granny" featured here is the rarely heard remix, with Terry Sylvester's vocals replacing Allan Clarke's. The sound throughout this edition, incidentally, is considerably improved over the Magic Records edition, with boosted volume and a lot more detail revealed in the playing and singing -- though the Magic edition offers a heavier bass, which some people prefer. The earlier CD is perfectly acceptable, however, and either can safely be said to be superior to anything that Sony Music might ever have issued on the basic album in America (which they never got around to issuing on CD, anyway)...B. Eder

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161 MB
2000mustangs

Tracklist:

01 Won't You Feel Good That Morning 3:23
02 Touch 5:13
03 Words Don't Come Easy 3:46
04 Magic Woman Touch 3:20
05 Lizzy and the Rainman 3:19
06 Down River 4:09
07 Slow Down 2:57
08 Delaware Taggett and the Outlaw Boys 3:11
09 Jesus Was a Crossmaker 3:46
10 Romany 5:28
11 Blue in the Morning 3:22
12 Courage of Your Convictions 3:38
13 The Baby Bonus 3:55
14 Magic Woman Touch Bonus / Acoustic Version 4:03
15 Indian Girl Bonus 3:19
16 If It Wasn't for the Reason Bonus 3:19
17 Papa Rain previously unreleased / Bonus 4:09
18 Witchy Woman previously unreleased / Bonus 3:38
19 Oh Granny Terry Sylvester Vocal Version 2:43
20 I Had a Dream Bonus 3:32

The Hollies - Hollies (1974) (20-track Digipack Remaster 2005)

The Hollies - Hollies (1974) (20-track Digipack Remaster 2005)

In retrospect this could be the best ever non-greatest hits Hollies CD. If it isn't it comes pretty close. This remastered addition adds great sound quality and bonus tracks. This CD was the first release of the recently reunited Hollies with Allan Clarke. Its obvious that both sides were energized and happy with the reunion. At this time the various members of the Hollies were writing separately. What they lacked in writing unity was offset by the great songs that Clarke brought back to the band including Curly Billy and Don't Let Me Down. Obviously, without the reunion these songs would have landed on an Allan Clarke solo release. Clearly, Clarke brought back to the band his "A-list" of material (this is also confirmed by the lack of strong Clarke originals on subsequent solo releases until the late 70's).
Listening to these songs today they all hold up very well. I was somewhat surprised at how fresh they sounded. Besides the previously mentioned Clarke orginals, I love "Falling, Calling", "Out on the Road", "Down on the Run" and "Its a Shame, its a Game". And then there is the huge hit, "The Air That I Breathe". Simply one of the most beautiful recordings ever by an band. The brilliance of this song I feel has lead to some under-appreciation of this entire CD. Give this CD another listen (especially in this new remastered version). Too often the success of Hollies singles has lead people to believe they didn't make fine albums. This one is a great example of that...J. Ohyde

mp3
320 @
2000mustangs

Tracklist:

01 Falling Calling 03:16
02 I's A Shame, I'ts A Game 03:44
03 Don't Let Me Down 04:22
04 Out On The Road 02:58
05 The Air That I Breathe 04:14
06 Rubber Lucy 04:13
07 Transatlantic Westbound Jet 03:14
08 Pick Up The Pieces Again 04:00
09 Love Makes The World Go Round 03:48
10 The Day That Curly Billy Shot Down Crazy Sam McGee 04:27
11 Born A Man - (bonus) 02:59
12 No More Riders - (bonus) 02:58
13 Son Of A Rotten Gambler - (bonus) 04:07
14 Layin' To The Music - (bonus) 02:32
15 Out On The Road (1st version) - (bonus) 02:57
16 Mr. Heartbreaker - (bonus) 03:28
17 Slow Down - Go Down - (bonus) 03:53
18 Transatlantic Westbound Jet (1st version) - (bonus) 04:45
19 Mexico Gold - (bonus) 03:52
20 Tip Of The Iceberg - (bonus) 04:06
21 Down On The Run 03:52

The Hollies - Another Night (1975) (Remaster Edit 2004)@320

The Hollies - Another Night (1975) (Remaster Edit 2004)

Out of print in the U.S. this '04 reissue features the hit 'I'm Down' and 7 bonus tracks 'Hello Lady Goodbye', 'Another Night' (live), '4th of July Asbury Park (Sandy)' (live), 'I'm Down' (live), 'Come Down to the Shore', 'Born to Run' and 'Why Don't You Call'. 17 tracks in all.

When "Another Night" was released way back in the seventies, critics blasted it and signaled as the end of the Hollies' long line of hits. I have always disagreed; "Another Night" contains some of the best tunes they ever recorded, and the addition of seven extra tunes makes this a classic CD. It's all here: their soaring unparalleled harmonies, restrained musicianship, and their haunting arrangements. "Another Night" is a great song, with a hypnotic opening and dynamic rhythmic pulse; "Sandy" written by Bruce Springsteen, is gorgeous and surpasses the writer's version; "Lonely Hobo Lullabye" is a mournful yet poignant look at wandering; "I'm Down," is typical Hollies harmonies soaring above a great melody; "Give Me Time," joins that list of Hollies greats; the live versions of "Another Night" and "Sandy" are not as good as the studio tracks, but entertaining nonetheless. I even liked their cover of Springsteen's "Born to Run." The Hollies were one of the great bands of the sixties/seventies, and have given us such wonderful classics as "Air That I Breathe," "He Ain't Heavy" and "Long Cool Woman." ...Michael Butts

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150 MB

Tracklist:

01. Another Night 3.57
02. 4th July, Asbury Park (Sandy) 4.11
03. Lonely Hobo Lullaby 4.18
04. Second Hand Hang-Ups 4.32
05. Time Machine Jive 3.19
06. I'm Down 4.13
07. Look Out Johnny (There's A Monkey On Your Back) 3.35
08. Give Me Time 3.11
09. You Gave Me Life (With That Look In Your Eyes) 3.52
10. Lucy 5.12
11. Hello Lady Goodbye (Bonus) 3.56
12. Another Night (Bonus)(Live) 3.40
13. 4th July, Asbury Park (Sandy) (Bonus)(Live) 4.11
14. I'm Down (Bonus)(Live) 4.04
15. Come Down To The Shore (Bonus) 3.51
16. Born To Run (Bonus) 4.08
17. Why Don't You Call? (Bonus) 3.17