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Ambitious compilation to satisfy whole world

Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 09/13/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Hollies were one of the best British groups around in the sixties. This anthology attempts to cater for the whole world by including songs that were hits in a variety of different countries. Clearly a lot of research went into the track selection, though a third CD would have been required to do the job comprehensively. Stewball (a huge hit for Peter Paul and Mary elsewhere) was a huge Swedish hit for the Hollies but is not included here. Two minor American hits (Another night, Do the best you can) are also missing, as are minor hits from some other countries.Despite those omissions, this is an undeniably strong compilation. Of course, their biggest successes were in their home country, where their long list of big hits includes I'm alive, Sorry Suzanne, On a carousel, Look through any window, The air that I breathe, Carrie Anne, He ain't heavy he's my brother, Bus stop, Jennifer Eccles, Just one look and Yes I will. Of these, Just one look is a cover of a song that had been a huge American hit for Doris Troy.The big UK hits are not the only ones worth hearing. If I needed someone and King Midas in reverse were, by their standards, modest hits but still wonderful. The generally less successful seventies are also well represented, not only by The air that I breathe (first recorded a year earlier by Phil Everly - yes, really), but by Long cool woman in a black dress, Gasoline alley bird and Boulder to Birmingham (a cover of an Emmylou Harris song). A new recording completes the set.This is as good a collection of Hollies music as you are ever likely to find. If you enjoy British sixties pop music, you will find much to enjoy here."

Almost The Best Of!

Ralph Quirino | Keswick, Ontario Canada | 04/26/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"46 stand-out songs culled from the breadth and width of the band's lustrous career (and a new song to boot) on 2 brimming discs. No liner notes information yet world-wide chart position listings and amazing photos. Almost all the key moments are here yet sadly missing is "Another Night". Why? Why can't EMI get its act together and release one complete, effectively sequenced anthology? Don't get me wrong: I'm happy I own this set. But I wish that it had given me liner notes, a chronological sequencing of songs and "Another Night" (especially!). To this day, The Hollies are a misunderstood band who never really got their props and this anthology could have righted so many misconceptions! On a sound reproduction level: a glorious and full remaster. Still, for newcomers wanting a solid picture of the group's entire career, a worthwhile purchase."

They ain't heavy, they're The Hollies

Peter Reeve | Thousand Oaks, CA USA | 03/19/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"With 47 tracks, this is a genuine 'Greatest Hits' album, and it is usually available at discounted prices, so if you want one sprig of Hollies in your collection, this is the one to pick. The current alternatives are Sony's single-disc 2002 The Hollies' Greatest Hits, and the Anthology album. The latter looks like the worst choice because it omits the earliest hits like Bus Stop and On A Carousel. That's like a Beatles collection without She Loves You or I Want to Hold Your Hand. The Sony disc has 13 tracks that comprise all the essential songs and sells at about the third of the cost of this CD new, and about half the cost when used copies are compared. The insert notes on the Sony disc are minimal. Go for that only if you are really counting pennies, otherwise opt for this one.



The insert notes incorporate the excellent idea of pictures of every lineup (a dozen) over the years, with names to let you know who's who. In every picture, from 1963 to 2003, Tony Hicks looks just the same! There are also track listings that tell you at least as much as you want to know (Jennifer Eccles reached number 2 in Malaysia).



The group is still going, albeit with no original members apart from the ageless Hicks, although Bobby Elliot is almost original. Actually, the lineup has changed less frequently than most perennial groups but for me, Alan Clarke was the essential member, and during his brief absence in the 70s and since his retirement, they are The Hollies in name only. Clarke's singing is their trademark. Graham Nash got more attention, because of his later association with Crosby, Stills & Nash (& Young). But Nash was never a great singer, in either group.



The Hollies are light and frothy and poppy, but musically good nonetheless. They are very derivative. They are an amalgam of The Everly Brothers and the early Beatles. It is no surprise to see that many of these tracks were recorded at Abbey Road, including a George Harrison song, If I Needed Someone. Their lack of seriousness is most plainly heard in their kitsch, big-band swing version of Dylan's Blowin' In The Wind, which has to be heard to be believed. But they are great fun and very listenable. And let's not forget that He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother is one of the very greatest popular songs ever. That particular song absolutely has to be in your collection.



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