With Apologies to The Hollies Lead Singer, Allan Clarke

by Rick Landers

While in my early twenties, I attended college in Coventry, England, and served as a Staff Assistant to the school’s American Studies Department. This was in the early to mid 1970s, well after the British Invasion when the Beatles, the Stones, Billy J. Kramer and The Dakotas, The Animals, The Dave Clark Five, Gerry and The Pacemakers and others made mincemeat out of the American music scene.

One group had a series of great hits and have only recently (March 2010) been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. They were, The Hollies, and they had a string of songs that hit the U.S. charts, with their tightly wound harmonies, distinct lead guitar and even more distinct lead vocalist, Allan Clarke,at the helm.  Most of The Hollies songs were ’60s vintage tunes, but a couple of them, including the smash hit, “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother”, got a lot of airplay during the 1970s.

The Hollies – “Look through Any Window” (Allan Clarke lead vocalist; Graham Nash on Vox 12-string guitar)

So, there I was hitchhiking to Southern England with my orange backpack and coffin shaped sleeping bag, rolled, tucked and strapped at the bottom. My hair was at my shoulders, my faded jeans were ragged floor draggers, my boots spray painted a royal blue and my attitude, stupid cool.

A British make car stopped and a guy with hair a bit shorter than mine, but better coiffed, offered me a lift and some conversation.  After a few minutes he said, “Have you ever heard of The Hollies? I’m Allan Clarke and I use to be their singer”.

Well, I recalled that Graham Nash who was with Crosby, Stills and Nash had been the singer with the Hollies, so I figured this Allan guy must have been with the group before they were famous. So, I grunted something inane like, “Oh, yeah”, figuring he was the equivalent of The Beatles’ early drummer, Pete Best.

Clarke smiled and said, “You don’t believe me do you?” And I told him that I did, but I didn’t tell him what I really thought and that was that he may have been the group’s singer, but not the guy who sang the hits.  We had what I recall was a nice conversation and he dropped me off.

The Hollies – “Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress”

Later, I would realize what a dope I ‘d been. Allan Clarke was the lead vocalist for nearly all of  The Hollies hits! Clarke’s vocals were lively, fresh, and were as much a signature sound of the British Invasion as any other.  And as much as I try to steer clear of the word “legend”, Clarke measures up.

So, here I am today painting some shelving for a closet and I’m listening to my iPod and “Bus Stop” shows up, screaming in my ears and I’m singing along just as happy to join in as I was when I was a kid, more than 40 years ago  – thanks to Allan Clarke.

Last month, The Hollies were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and the honor is well deserved and long overdue. The Hollies pegged the charts with more hits of Billboard’s Hot 100 (1964 – 1975) than any other British group. Check out their website: The Hollies

So, hats off to Allan Clarke and a big apology from that long-haired American kid he picked up and gave a ride to back in the day, who didn’t know squat.

The Hollies (Allan Clarke) – “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother”

All the Best,

Rick
Rick Landers
Publisher
Guitar International

Links

Hollies Greatest Hits on Amazon