The Hollies in 1970s

Next single of Hollies, "I Can't Tell The Bottom From The Top", again featured the young Elton John on piano and reached UK #7 in April 1970, charting in twelve countries. The UK hits continued with "Gasoline Alley Bred" (Sep. 1970, UK #14,Australia #20) while Tony Hicks song "Too Young To Be Married" -- only an Album track in UK & USA -- was a No. 1 single Australia, New Zealand, and Malaysia, also reaching no.9 in Singapore too. Allan Clarke's hard edged rocker "Hey Willy" made UK #22 in 1971, charting in eight other countries. Like Graham Nash earlier, by 1971 Frontman Allan Clarke was also growing frustrated, and he too began clashing with producer Ron Richards over material, and was eager to cut a solo album. He too departed from The Hollies in December 1971, a move which surprised both the band's fans and the public in general. With the end of their EMI/Parlophone contract they signed with Polydor and Swedish singer Mikael Rickfors formerly of the group Bamboo (who had supported The Hollies in Sweden in 1967) was quickly recruited and sang lead on the single "The Baby" (UK #26, 1972) and the album "Romany" (which reached No. 84 in the USA). Meanwhile EMI lifted a track from their album Distant Light, which had Clarke on lead vocal and lead guitar, the Creedence Clearwater Revival-inspired song, "Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress"; EMI released it as a rival single, and although it fared relatively poorly in the UK (#32) it reached #2 in the US and #1 in Australia[. A further Clarke sung track was also lifted from "Distant Light" as a USA single "Long Dark Road" making No. 26. A second Rickfors-sung single, "Magic Woman Touch," (1972) failed to chart in the UK, becoming their first official single to miss since 1963, although it did chart in seven other countries, reaching the Top Ten in Holland, New Zealand and Hong Kong. A second Rickfors-led Hollies Album "Out On The Road" (1973) was recorded and issued in Germany, however no UK or USA release was made as Rickfors then stepped down -- giving this lost Hollies Album legendary status among the band's fans, and high prices on the original German release. Rickfors departed as Allan Clarke rejoined the group in late summer 1973 and they then returned to the UK Top 30 with another swamp rock-style song penned by Clarke, "The Day That Curly Billy Shot Down Crazy Sam McGee" (UK #24, 1973).

Hollies Tickets are available at Sold Out Ticket Market at nominal rates.