Hollies – THE HOLLIES***

Very Last Day/You Must Believe Me/Put Yourself In My Place/Down The Line/That’s My Desire/Too Many People/Lawdy Miss Clawdy/When I Come Home To You/Fortune Teller/So Lonely/I’ve Been Wrong/Mickey’s Monkey

Eponymous third album from respected northern beat group The Hollies. Although the group produced a stunning series of singles during the sixties their albums were often much less memorable. (UK:8)

"This time around, they are trying to self-pen a bit more songs than before (five), but they are also trying to expand their horizons; and in mid-65, for bands like The Hollies, 'expanding horizons' meant steering away from pristine rock energy and wasting their fire on 'moodier' or 'subtler' styles, that could as easily delve into charming innocent folk rock as it could into sugary pabulum."

"Put Yourself In My Place is the closest to a Hollies classic on here, perhaps a little bit too confused in the vocal department and a little bit too dependent on conventional Merseybeat vocals. You can certainly see some progress compared to the past."

"Original songs on this record really cement The Hollies song formula. I really like Put Yourself In My Place, great chunky guitar, and the usual awesome harmonies."

"This album reveals a band who, though regulars in the top ten singles charts, were still developing their style. Hollies doesn't progress significantly from In The Hollies Style, but is nevertheless solid."

"Compared to their two previous albums, the first thing that strikes you is how the songwriting partnership Clarke/Hicks/Nash had grown. On the earlier albums most of their own songs were more or less filler."

"It was a typical release for its time. consisting largely of cover versions, along with a handful of group originals. Like The Stones, The Hollies favoured American R & B songs such as Lawdy Miss Clawdy, Fortune Teller and Mickey's Monkey. But they were also listening to the folk revival, which led them to open the album with The Very Last Day. The original songs had more individual flair than those on previous albums, but still weren't very distinguished."