Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hi All
Well I want to start a new thread or encouraged related threads as regards bands that have played The Cavern Club in its heyday.

One of these that I want to encourage topics on is groups such as The Hollies.

In a series of threads coming up you are encouraged to talk about The Hollies past present and future.

Martin

Martin,

As a point of interest Meddy's People (my band in the 60s) used to play and of course sing many of the Hollies big hits. We even recorded and released our own version of "Yes I Will" on the Quality Records label here in Canada.

As a result of my interest, I too welcome any discussion on this very influential group.

I can't let go of this one Martin.

The Hollies influence has been a powerful one since the early days of the British Invasion. They have had so very many great hits and as with the Beatles their vocals reigned supreme. Their use of the 12 string guitar was also an attention grabber especially on songs like "Bus Stop" and "Love Through Any Window."

A stand out was certainly their brilliant harmonies and soaring lead vocals. Bus Stop is still one of my favourites for its interesting guitar work.

I think you meant to say "Look Through Any Window" Peter. That and Bus Stop were on our set list. One of the many reasons that I owned two Rickenbacker guitars. A 1961 FG 375 OS and a 1966 FG 360/12. Like you, I loved the intricate guitar parts on Bus Stop.

Hi Brian
lol...You will have to come along with some of the former members of your band to my musical charity fundraiser in aid of cancer related charity’s, that I hold at The Jacaranda in Liverpool each year as part of Fab4Fundraisers, we could do with a good Hollies type band. I do A mean Alan Clarke impersonation BTW!

Martin

I would love to see the lyrics to a song called "Love Through Any Window"!

One other strength of the Hollies' sound was that their music was never tiring to hear. I still think that "Pay You Back With Interest" is one of the best compositions of that era of music - minimalistic yet complex at the same time (yes, I know that sounds paradoxical!).

Then again, there was "Water On The Brain" which, to me, was a real low point in music ...

Sorry, I did indeed mean to say "Look Through Any Window". Glad to be able to add some comic relief. A good one too, Gary.

There are at least two versions that I have read about how the Hollies chose their name. The first, is that it was taken from Buddy Holly. The second, that it referred to the holly on the house of one of the band members, perhaps Graham Nash. What do you think?

As far as I recall from interviews at the time, it was a derivative of Buddy Holly.

Hi All
Some very interesting points raised above and just to pick up on a few of them.

Peter,yes you are so right about the songs you mention Look Through Any Window and Bus Stop. What is interesting is that both those songs are wrote by Graham Gouldman of 10cc.

Gary, you wanted the lyrics to Look Through Any Window, look no more! http://tinyurl.com/l86nn

As regards the name of The Hollies this was named after the Christmas decoration. At Graham Nash’s house so the legend goes! However I will check my source of information and come back to this.

Martin

The first thing i've learned about the Hollies - i don't remember which site it was on, but the first line of the biography went something like that: "No matter how often you've heard that rumor, the Hollies' name doesn't derive from Buddy Holly".

Hi Sheena
I am sure I have heard Graham Nash say it was after a Christmas decoration.

I will have to see if I can find the interview he said it in and post it up.

Martin

Rumours also state it was after a Old People´s home.

Interesting about Yes I will reminds that It will be this weeks clough´s clip for those familiar with this weekly thing for which Peter has a 100% record to date.

??

Although the group admired Buddy Holly, their name was inspired primarily by the sprigs of holly in evidence around Christmas of 1962, at the time they re-formed their previous band, The Deltas, and had to come up with a new name. They signed to Parlophone in 1963 as label-mates of The Beatles, and released their first album in the United States in 1964 as part of the first wave of British Invasion releases. They are commonly associated with Manchester, as several original Hollies came from the city and its outlying communities.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hollies