The Hollies

The Hollies' mid-'60s hits were British Invasion pop of the cute school -- sweet-voiced, upbeat, and ultracrafted. Vocalists Allan Clarke and Graham Nash crooned about teenagers in love on hit singles including "Stop Stop Stop" and "Dear Eloise," in addition to songs by non-Hollies such as Graham Gouldman (later a founding member of 10cc), who provided such valentines as "Here I Go Again," "Look Through Any Window," and "Bus Stop." The band made massive singles but couldn't stretch enough for albums, and bombed when trying anything difficult (their 1969 album of Dylan covers, Hollies Sing Dylan, for example). Their better albums have been reissued by Sundazed, and they range from the semipsychedelia of Evolution and Dear Eloise/King Midas in Reverse to the slick pop of Moving Finger. Nash departed for Crosby, Stills & Nash in 1968, but the Hollies, with ex-Swinging Blue Jean Terry Sylvester added on second lead vocal, persevered. The '70s found them scoring big with "Long Cool Woman," "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother," and "The Air That I Breathe." Of the abundant compilations, Epic Anthology and Classic Masters are the strongest. Archive Alive! features a fine 1983 concert: It's amazing that they could pull off those complex harmonies live. What Goes Around is a nice reunion album of almost all the original members on the 20th anniversary of the Hollies' founding. (PAUL EVANS)

From 2004's The New Rolling Stone Album Guide