Product Description The Hollies were one of the most successful British groups of the sixties and early seventies and have continued to perform up to the present day. Look Through Any Window tells the story of their peak years from 1963 to 1975 when the band clocked up 27 UK Top 40 singles, 17 of which were Top 10s. They were also part of the British Invasion led by the Beatles that stormed the US charts in the sixties and scored hit singles in many other countries around the world. This DVD is the history of the Hollies told through newly filmed interviews with band members Allan Clarke, Graham Nash, Tony Hicks and Bobby Elliott and fantastic vintage footage of the Hollies performing their classic tracks in full. / Bonus Features: Option to play the 22 complete song performances without the interviews. / TRACK LISTING: 1) Baby That s All 2) Rockin Robin 3) Little Lover 4) Just One Look 5) Here I Go Again 6) I m Alive 7) Look Through Any Window 8) I Can t Let Go 9) Bus Stop 10) Stop Stop Stop 11) On A Carousel 12) Carrie Anne 13) Dear Eloise 14) King Midas In Reverse 15) Jennifer Eccles 16) Wings 17) Do The Best You Can 18) Listen To Me 19) Sorry Suzanne 20) He Ain t Heavy, He s My Brother 21) Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress 22) The Air That I Breathe .com If the bands that composed the British Invasion of the 1960s were put in a pyramid, one (admittedly subjective) appraisal would have the Beatles alone at the very top--"the toppermost of the poppermost," as John Lennon would say. Just below them would be the Rolling Stones, the Kinks, and the Who, followed by a group including the Animals, the Zombies… and the Hollies, the subject of this compilation of more than 20 performances (many of them live, almost all of them complete) from their glory years. Those who know the Hollies as the band Graham Nash was in before he joined forces with Stephen Stills and David Crosby, or who are familiar only with their MOR-ish post-Nash singles "The Air That I Breathe," "Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress," and "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother," are in for a treat. Like so many English groups of the era, they started out playing soul and R&B covers ("Rockin' Robin" and "Just One Look," both from a '64 concert, are two good examples here). But the influence of rock 'n' roll pioneers the Everly Brothers and Buddy Holly, who inspired Hollies lead singer Allan Clarke, lead guitarist Tony Hicks, and Nash, was already apparent in the threesome's soaring harmonies, which were further showcased in brilliant pop singles like "Here I Go Again," "I'm Alive," "Look Through Any Window," and "Bus Stop" (all by other songwriters, including Graham Gouldman, later of 10cc), and later in such Clarke-Hicks-Nash compositions as "Stop Stop Stop," "Carrie-Anne," and "On a Carousel" (the DVD contains several minutes of footage of the group at work on the latter in the same Abbey Road studio where the Beatles recorded all of their important work). Recorded in the United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden, Yugoslavia, and Holland, these performances are in black & white and color, with superb remastered sound and generally top-notch visuals; new interviews with the three principals and drummer Bobby Elliott are insightful and full of details. This is another outstanding entry in Reelin' in the Years Productions' British Invasion series; titles by the Small Faces, Herman's Hermits, Gerry and the Pacemakers, and Dusty Springfield are also recommended. --Sam Graham
P**A
Terrific Documentary on the Wonderful Hollies
I also attended the premiere on September 22, 2011, in Santa Monica. What a night! What a great documentary!This Reelin' in the Years production, the fifth in their British Invasion series, is phenomenal. First of all, the sound is magnificent. Second, the interviews with Graham, Allan, Tony and Bobby are illuminating. Third, there is unseen footage that is just exceptional.(Oh, there are fourth, fifth, etc but that can get a bit stale. Let me just babble on.)The film chronicles the Hollies from 1963-1975 -- their prime years, including the post-Nash big pop hit stuff. It begins with Graham and Allan talking about how them met as small children and sharing their love of singing. There is a terrific film snippet of Allan and Graham singing on stage as the Two Teens, one of their stage incarnations in the 50s in Manchester.It goes pretty quickly into the genesis of the Hollies in Manchester in 1962, with the eventual hitmaking lineup of Clarke, Nash, Tony Hicks on lead guitar, Bobby Elliott on drums, and Eric Haydock on 6-string electric bass. The other personnel changes were of course discussed (especially the departure of Nash), but including Haydock's replacement, Bernie Calvert, and the addition of Terry Sylvester.Bits and pieces of footage shot at Abbey Road by Granada Television when the Hollies were recording "On a Carousel" have been seen previously. This documentary uses the complete footage for the first time. It's stunning. We see the band members recording their parts---Nash singing lead a cappella, the wonderful 3-part harmony, Hicks laying down his lead guitar. After each of the 22 complete performances that are included in this film, the crowd applauded, but probably not as loudly or as enthusiastically as after we were treated to this rare footage.The Hollies' road manager, Rod Shields, took lots of home movies of the band, and some of those reels are used in the production, most notably for visuals for "King Midas in Reverse," for which a proper promo film was never made. We see the Hollies in then Yugoslavia, Japan, and in other playful settings that capture their youth, enthusiasm and charm.The four Hollies interviewed for the documentary take time to talk about their music, what it was like to record at Abbey Road, and the debt they owe their late producer, Ron Richards, for helping them to become a chart-topping band in the 60s and 70s.One of the best segments was during a Hicks interview, where he showed how he came up with the banjo part of Stop!Stop!Stop! Then, as Bobby continues the story, he tells us Tony had never played banjo before! Their love of experimentation and not wanting to be bored with their music led to these wonderful innovations.The British Invasion series has had rave reviews (other titles include Dusty Springfield and Herman's Hermits) and this Hollies edition is certain to continue the praise for Reelin' in the Years. Its principal producer, David Peck, was on hand at the premiere for the post-screening discussion, along with Graham Nash and Allan Clarke. He spoke of his joy in being able to make this documentary and how much he loves the Hollies' music. It is indeed a labor of love.I give this DVD my highest recommendation. It's a must-buy for any Hollies fan or anyone who treasures the finest of British Invasion music.
R**5
One of the most underrated Rock Bands of all time The Hollies this is one of the greatest rocumentaries you'll ever see
Growing up the music landscape had change several times over The British Invasion wasn't even a blip on the radar screen all that was left at this particular time was The Rolling Stones and The Who with any consistency. The Beatles had already cemented their legacy and even though they had broken up many years earlier their music was deeply and freshly rooted into the world's foundation so much so that they felt like they were still together a current band. that never called it quits. I always loved Rock "n" Roll and Metal music ever since I was a kid and as a young kid I saw this commercial on tv about Casey Kasem and his covering of The British Invasion Bands there were video clips live and non live performances of these amazing rock groups of yesteryear performing their biggest hits I was basically locked in Loving every minute of it. One of the clips that were shown was Carrie Ann, On A Carousel, and Sorry Suzanne by The Hollies talking about Graham Nash's departure and Terry Sylvester's entry to the group and how it changed the dynamic of the group's harmonies. So from that moment on I wanted to go back and discover all these great Rock Bands that came before and paved the way for the current bands that we all love today.This DVD is awesome if you love Rock "N" Roll and The Hollies I suggest getting this DVD it's very insightful, blissfully entertaining it runs a little over two hours but doesn't feel like it at all. The only knocks I have on it is I thought they should have interviewed Eric Haydock, Bernie Calvert, and Terry Sylvester for this rocumentary and I thought it should have covered all the way to the present where they could have shorten that part a bit so your not feeling like your watching a version of Gone With The Wind as far as length goes. Other than that I love it. It's a great buy I've watched it several times already. Truly one of the greatest Rock Bands of all time. Buy it pop it in and enjoy.
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