"The Clarke, Hicks & Nash Years: The Complete Hollies April 1963 to October 1968" by THE HOLLIES - A Review Of The 2011 EMI 6CD Collection Of Remasters...

“…Ego Is Dead…”

Released May 2011 in the UK and USA - "The Clarke, Hicks And Nash Years: The Complete Hollies April 1963 to October 1968" by THE HOLLIES is a jam-packed 6CD Set (in a double-sized jewel case) on EMI 5099909624221.

Across 158 tracks are the A&B-sides of 19 British 7" singles, 3 songs exclusive to two British EPs (as well as the other 18 tracks from all 7 British EPs), 6 Foreign Language versions (5 of which are Previously Unreleased), 3 English language sides on Italian and German singles, 20 compilation exclusives, 7 full British albums and an 8-track Previously Unreleased Live Concert from 1968 in Stereo.

The CDS are sequenced in recording-date order - with the album tracks often spread across different discs. So in order to give an easier-to-read picture - I've posted a HOLLIES UK Singles, EPs and LPs British Discography in the 'comment' section attached to this review. It references track-by-track where those 45's and LPs are on this massive 6CD set and the following individual disc breakdowns give you the straggler songs  'outside' of that Discography...

Disc 1, 28 tracks, 64:34 minutes:

Tracks 6 and 10 are "Zip A Dee Do Dah" and "Poison Ivy" - released 1985 in the UK on "The Hollies" LP on EMI Music For Pleasure 41 5727 1

Track 7 is "I Understand" - released 1993 in the USA on the 3CD Box Set "30th Anniversary Collection 1963-1993"

Tracks 25 and 26 are "When I'm Not There" and "What Kind Of Love" - released 1964 on "The Hollies" UK 4-track EP on Parlophone GEP 8909

Disc 2, 26 tracks, 64:29 minutes:

Track 12 is "We're Through (Alternative Arrangement)" - released 1997 on "The Hollies At Abbey Road 1963-1966" (previously unreleased at the time)

Track 17 is "She Said Yeah" - released 2003 on the 6CD Box Set "The Long Road Home"

Track 18 is "Yes I Will (Alternate Version)" - released 1964 in the UK on "Hollies' Greatest Hits" LP on Parlophone PCS 7057

Track 26 is "Honey And Wine" - released 1965 in the UK on the "I'm Alive" 4-track EP on Parlophone GEP 8942

Disc 3, 28 tracks, 64:24 minutes:

Tracks 1 to 3 are "Listen Here To Me", "So Lonely" and "Bring Back Your Love To Me" - released 2003 on the 6CD Box Set "The Long Road Home"

Tracks 15, 16 and 18 are "She Gives Me Everything I Want", "I Can't Get Nowhere With You" and "You In My Arms" - released 1993 in the USA on the 3CD Box Set "30th Anniversary Collection 1963-1993"

Track 27 is "Look Through Any Window (French Lyric Version)" - first released on the 1988 CD "Rarities"

Tracks 25, 27 and 28 are "Stewball (French Lyric Version)", "You Know He Did (French Lyric Version)" and "We're Through (French Lyric Version)" -all three are Previously Unreleased

Disc 4, 27 tracks, 69:57 minutes:

Track 3 is "A Taste Of Honey" - released 1966 in the USA on the Hollies LP "Beat Group!" on Imperial LP 12312

Tracks 26 and 27 are "Non Prego Per Me" and "Devi Avere Fiducia In Me" - the A&B sides of an Italian 7" single - Previously Unreleased Stereo versions

Disc 5, 24 tracks, 64:11 minutes:

Tracks 3 and 4 are "We're Alive" and "Kill Me Quick" - Italian A&B-sides of a 1967 single; B-side is Stereo version with Backing Vocals

Track 7 is "Schoolgirl" - released 1997 on "The Hollies At Abbey Road 1966-1970" (previously unreleased at the time)

Disc 6, 25 tracks, 73:15 minutes:

Track 8 is "Wings" - released 1969 on the UK on the Various Artists album "No One's Gonna Change Our World" (on Behalf of the World Wildlife Fund) on Regal Starline SRS 5013

Tracks 10 and 11 are "Tomorrow When It Comes" and "Relax" - first released on the 1988 CD "Rarities"

Track 14 is "Man With No Expression (Horses Through A Rainstorm)" - released 1997 on "The Hollies At Abbey Road 1966-1970" (previously unreleased at the time)

Track 15 is "Blowin' In The Wind" - A B-side In Germany and Sweden to ???

Track 16 is "A Taste Of Honey (1968 Version)" - released 2003 on the 6CD Box Set "The Long Road Home"

Tracks 18 to 25 are "Stop! Stop! Stop!", "Look Through Any Window", "The Times They Are A-Changin'", "On A Carousel", "King Midas In Reverse", "Butterfly", "Jennifer Eccles", and "Carrie Anne" - all recorded LIVE AT LEWISHAM ODEON, 24 May 1968 and are Previously Unreleased

Fans will know that the digital remasters are mostly from 1999 and 2003 and were by done by expert tape man PETER MEW at Abbey Road - the sound quality is uniformly great (as I find it is on anything he remasters). The 24-page booklet features an introduction by MICK HOUGHTON, A Q&A with GRAHAM NASH, a UK Discography for the period with the seven EP and LP sleeves pictured in colour and then a song-by-song breakdown (itself broken up with collages of publicity/in-the-studio photos. It's well done (the cover photo taken at Niagara Falls in December 1967 sees the boys in period Gladrags) and for such a huge haul of music is priced cheaply too.

I love the album foursome "Would You Believe?", "For Certain Because", "Evolution" and "Butterfly" that really saw Allan Clarke, Tony Hicks and Graham Nash take off as writers - superb album nuggets like the pre CSN vibe of "Stop Right There", the Beatlesque "You Need Love", the Ogdens Small Faces whimsy of "Dear Eloise" and the Northern Britain social commentary of "Charlie And Fred". And the brilliant "Elevated Observations?" from October 1967's "Evolution" album gave that "Sgt. Peppers" mob a run for their Liverpudlian money (lyrics above). The live show is also far better than I thought it would be - clearly showing how accomplished they were as a band - nailing down difficult stuff like "King Midas In Reverse" with ease.

Further glory would follow for The Hollies on both the Parlophone and Polydor labels with Alan Clarke taking the song-writing ascendancy - while Graham Nash went on to conquer the West Coast of America and then the entire world with David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Neil Young.

"All that summer we enjoyed it..." - they sang on "Bus Stop". Great sound, top songs and quality presentation - there's so much to enjoy here...

UK HOLLIES DISCOGRAPHY referencing "The Clarke, Hicks & Nash Years"

Note: [8/1] = Track 8 on Disc 1, [3/4] = Track 3 on Disc 4 etc:

UK 7” SINGLES and EPs:

1. (Ain't That) Just Like Me [2/1] b/w Hey What's Wrong With Me [3/1]

May 1963, Parlophone R 5030

2. Searchin' [8/1] b/w Whole World Over [1/1]

August 1963, Parlophone R 5052

3. Stay [9/1] b/w Now's The Time [4/1]

November 1963, Parlophone R 5077

4. Just One Look [23/1] b/w Keep Off That Friend Of Mine [22/1]

February 1964, Parlophone R 5104

5. Here I Go Again [27/1] b/w Baby That's All [28/1]

May 1964, Parlophone R 5137

6. We're Through [13/2] b/w Come On Back [8/2]

September 1964, Parlophone R 5178

7. Yes I Will [22/2] b/w Nobody [20/2]

January 1965, Parlophone R 5232

8. I'm Alive [4/3] b/w You Know He Did [21/2]

May 1965, Parlophone R 5287

9. Look Through Any Window [5/3] b/w So Lonely [12/3]

August 1965, Parlophone R 5322

10. If I Needed Someone [20/3] b/w I've Got A Way Of My Own [17/3]

December 1965, Parlophone R 5392

11. I Can't Let Go [23/3] b/w Running Through The Night [21/3]

February 1966, Parlophone R 5409

12. Bus Stop [11/4] b/w Don't Run And Hide [10/4]

June 1966, Parlophone R 5469

13. After The Fox [9/4] b/w The Fox Trot

September 1966, United Artists UP 1152

(A-side Peter Sellers with The Hollies, B-side is by Burt Bacharach only)

14. Stop! Stop! Stop! [14/4] b/w It's You [18/4]

October 1966, Parlophone R 5508

15. On A Carousel [2/5] b/w All The World Is Love [23/4]

February 1967, Parlophone R 5562

16. Carrie Anne [15/5] b/w Signs That Will Never Change [16/5]

May 1967, Parlophone R 5602

17. King Midas In Reverse [17/5] b/w Everything Is Sunshine [19/5]

September 1967, Parlophone R 5637

18. Jennifer Eccles [9/6] b/w Open Up Your Eyes [7/6]

March 1968, Parlophone R 5680

19. Listen To Me [17/6] b/w Do The Best You Can [12/6]

September 1968, Parlophone R 5733

UK 4-TRACK EPs (Extended Plays):

1. "The Hollies", June 1964 on Parlophone GEP 8909

Side 1:

1. Rockin' Robin' [21/1]

2. What Kind Of Love [26/1]

Side 2:

1. Whatcha Gonna Do ‘Bout It [19/1]

2. When I'm Not There [26/1]

2."Just One Look", July 1964 on Parlophone GEP 8911

Side 1:

1. Just One Look [23/1]

2. Keep Off That Friend Of Mine [22/1]

Side 2:

1. Lucille [14/1]

2. Talking About You [12/1]

3. "Here I Go Again", October 1964 on Parlophone GEP 8915

Side 1:

1. You Better Move On [18/1]

2. Memphis [11/1]

Side 2:

1. Here I Go Again [27/1]

2. Baby That's All [28/1]

4. "We're Through", December 1964 on Parlophone GEP 8927

Side 1:

1. We're Through [13/2]

2. Come On Back [8/2]

Side 2:

1. What Kind Of Boy [11/2]

2. You'll Be Mine [3/2]

5. "In The Hollies Style", April 1965 on Parlophone GEP 8934

Side 1:

1. Too Much Monkey Business [6/2]

2. To You My Love [14/2]

Side 2:

1. Come On Home [5/2]

2. What Kind Of Boy [11/2]

6. "I'm Alive", September 1965 on Parlophone GEP 8942

Side 1:

1. I'm Alive [4/3]

2. You Know He Did [21/2]

Side 2:

1. Honey And Wine [26/2]

2. Mickey's Monkey [23/2]

7. "I Can't Let Go", June 1965 on Parlophone GEP 8951

Side 1:

1. I Can't Let Go [23/3]

2. Look Through Any Window [5/3]

Side 2.

1. I've Got A Way Of My Own [17/3]

2. So Lonely [2/3]

ALBUMS:

1. "Stay With The Hollies", January 1964 on Parlophone PMC 1220 (Mono)

Side 1:

1. I'm Talking About You [12/1]

2. Mr. Moonlight [17/1]

3. You Better Move On [18/1]

4. Lucille [14/1]

5. Baby Don't Cry [15/1]

6. Memphis [11/1]

7. Stay [9/1]

Side 2:

1. Rockin' Robin [21/1]

2. Watcha Gonna Do ‘Bout It [19/1]

3. Do You Love Me [16/1]

4. It's Only Make Believe [13/1]

5. What Kind Of Girl Are You [20/1]

6. Little Lover [5/1]

7. Candy Man [24/1]

2. "In The Hollies Style", November 1964 on Parlophone PMC 1235 (Mono)

Side 1:

1.         Nitty Gritty/Something's Gotta Hold On Me [15/2]

2.         Don't You Know [2/2]

3.         To You My Love [14/2]

4.         It's In Her Kiss [4/2]

5.         Time For Love [1/2]

6.         What Kind Of Boy [11/2]

Side 2:

1.         Too Much Money Business [6/2]

2.         I Thought Of You Last Night [7/2]

3.         Please Don't Feel Too Bad [10/2]

4.         Come On Home [5/2]

5.         You'll Be Mine [3/2]

6.         Set Me Free [9/2]

3.         "Hollies", September 1965 on Parlophone PMC 1261 (Mono-only)

Side 1:

1.         Very Last Day [25/2]

2.         You Must Believe Me [7/3]

3.         Put Yourself In My Place [16/2]

4.         Down The Line [9/3]

5.         That's My Desire [24/2]

6.         Too Many People [11/3]

Side 2:

1.         Lawdy Miss Clawdy [6/3]

2.         When I Come Home To You [19/2]

3.         Fortune Teller [10/3]

4.         So Lonely [2/3]

5.         I've Been Wrong [13/3]

6.         Mickey's Monkey [23/2]

4.         "Would You Believe?", June 1966 on Parlophone PMC 7008 (Mono)

Side 1:

1.         I Take What I Want [1/4]

2.         Hard Hard Year [2/4]

3.         That's How Strong My Love Is [4/4]

4.         Sweet Little Sixteen [7/4]

5.         Oriental Sadness [24/3]

6.         I Am A Rock [8/4]

Side 2:

1.         Take Your Time [5/4]

2.         Don't You Even Care (What's Gonna Happen To Me?) [22/3]

3.         Fifi The Flea [6/4]

4.         Stewball [14/3]

5.         I've Got A Way Of My Own [17/3]

6.         I Can't Let Go [23/3]

5.         "For Certain Because...", October 1966 on Parlophone PCS 7011 (Stereo)

Side 1:

1.         What's Wrong With The Way I Live [20/4]

2.         Pay You Back With Interest [16/4]

3.         Tell Me To My Face [15/4]

4.         Clown [17/4]

5.         Suspicious Look In Your Eyes [13/4]

6.         It's You [18/4]

Side 2:

1.         High Classed [22/4]

2.         Peculiar Situation [12/4]

3.         What Went Wrong [21/4]

4.         Crusader [19/4]

5.         Don't Even Thing About Changing [19/3]

6.         Stop Stop Stop [14/4]

6. "Evolution", June 1967 on Parlophone PCS 7022 (Stereo)

Side 1:

1.         Then The Heartaches Begin [9/5]

2.         Stop Right There [12/5]

3.         Water On The Brain [13/5]

4.         Lullaby To Tim [1/5]

5.         Have You Ever Loved Somebody [25/4]

6.         You Need Love [11/5]

Side 2:

1.         Rain On The Window [8/5]

2.         Heading For A Fall [14/5]

3.         Ye Olde Toffee Shoppe [10/5]

4.         When Your Light's Turned On [24/4]

5.         Leave Me [5/5]

6.         The Games We Play [6/5]

7. "Butterfly", October 1967 on Parlophone PCS 7039

Side 1:

1.         Dear Eloise [24/5]

2.         Away, Away, Away [3/6]

3.         The Maker [6/6]

4.         Pegasus [23/5]

5.         Would You Believe [2/6]

6.         Wish You A Wish [20/5]

Side 2:

1.         Postcard [21/5]

2.         Charlie And Fred [4/6]

3.         Try It [18/5]

4.         Elevated Observations? [1/6]

5.         Step Inside [22/5]

6.         Butterfly [5/6]