Frequent releases during the mid-60s included many cover versions of popular songs, as well as a few group-penned hits and many songs written especially for them by professional songwriters.
The Hollies were formed in 1962 in Lancashire, England. By 1965,the group had been established as one of Britain's pre-eminent singles bands. As part of the British Invasion, they enjoyed huge chart success in many countries in the mid-Sixties, releasing a string of classic harmony-pop hits including Bus Stop I'm Alive, a UK No. 1, I Can't Let Go, Stop Stop Stop, Carrie Anne, On A Carousel, Look Through Any Window, and Jennifer Eccles.
In 1972, the hit Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress reached #2 in the US. Their last mega hit was He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother, hitting #1 in the UK in 1988 (albeit 19 years after its first release).
The band are noted for their longevity, with their 2006 tour chalking up 45 years. Despite numerous changes in line-up, Tony Hicks & Bobby Elliott have been with the band almost from its inception.
Lead singer Allan Clarke left The Hollies in 1971, though he rejoined the band at later times. He was eventually replaced by Carl Wayne, ex lead singer of The Move, who passed away in 2004. Wayne was replaced by Peter Howarth. The 2007 line up is, Ian Parker on keyboards, Ray Stiles (Ex Mud, remember 'Tiger Feet') on bass guitar and Alan Coates on guitar and vocals by Steve Lauri.
Original bass player Eric Haydock died in January 2018.
The Hollies were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 15, 2010.
Allan Clarke (vocals, 1962-71, 1973-99), Graham Nash (guitar, vocals, 1962-68, 1983), Eric Haydock (bass, 1962-66), Vick Farrell (guitar, 1962), Don Rathbone (drums, 1962-63), Tony Hicks (guitar, banjo, mandolin, electric sitar, vocals, 1963-present), Bobby Elliott (drums, percussion, 1963-present), Bernie Calvert (bass, 1966-81), Terry Sylvester (guitar, vocals, 1969-81), Mikael Rickfors (vocals, 1971-73), Denis Haines (bass, 1981-86), Alan Coates (guitar, 1981-2004), Ray Stiles (bass, vocals, 1986-present), Ian Parker (keyboards, vocals, 1991-present), Carl Wayne (vocals, 2000-04), Peter Howarth (vocals, acoustic guitar, 2004-present), Steve Lauri (guitar, vocals, 2004-present)
Long Cool Woman
The Hollies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Working for the FBI
Sitting in a nest of bad men
Whiskey bottles piling high
Bootlegging boozer on the west side
Full of people who are doing wrong
Just about to call up the D.A. man
A pair of forty fives made me open my eyes
My temperature started to rise
She was a long cool woman in a black dress
Just a 5'9" beautiful 'n' tall
Just one look I was a bad mess
'Cause that long cool woman had it all
I saw her heading to the table
Well, a tall walking big black cat
Charlie said, I hope that you're able, boy
'Cause I'm telling you she knows where it's at
Well, suddenly we hear the sirens
And everybody started to run
Jumping under doors and tables
Well, I heard somebody shooting a gun
Well, the D.A. was pumping my left hand
She was holding my right
Well, I told her, don't get scared
'Cause you're gonna be spared
I've gotta be forgiven if I wanna spend my living
With a long cool woman in a black dress
Just a 5'9" beautiful 'n' tall
Well with just one look I was a bad mess
'Cause that long cool woman had it all
Had it all, had it all, had it all
Had it all, had it all, had it all (she had it all)
The lyrics to The Hollies' song "Long Cool Woman" tells the story of the singer, who is working for the FBI, infiltrating a group of bootleggers and shady characters in the downtown area. As the night goes on, he's about to call in backup when he hears a beautiful woman singing. He turns around to see a tall, statuesque woman in a black dress, and is immediately smitten. The woman is confident and powerful, exuding an aura of mystery and danger. Just as things are starting to heat up, the group is interrupted by the sound of police sirens, and this mysterious woman disappears into the night.
The song is a classic rock staple, and its catchy melody and accessible lyrics have made it a favorite of music fans for decades. It's easy to see why - there's something about the story of the charming, dangerous dame and the hapless hero that has timeless appeal. The Hollies do a great job of capturing the excitement and energy of the chase, as well as the disappointment of losing something that you've just discovered. At the heart of the song is a longing for adventure and passion that most of us can identify with.
Line by Line Meaning
Saturday night I was downtown
It was a Saturday night and I was in the city center
Working for the FBI
I was undercover for the FBI
Sitting in a nest of bad men
I was surrounded by dangerous people
Whiskey bottles piling high
There were a lot of empty whiskey bottles around me
Bootlegging boozer on the west side
There was an illegal alcohol seller on the west side of town
Full of people who are doing wrong
Many people were there doing illegal things
Just about to call up the D.A. man
I was about to call the District Attorney
When I heard this woman singing a song
Then I heard a woman singing
A pair of forty fives made me open my eyes
When I saw two guns, I became alert
My temperature started to rise
I became nervous and afraid
She was a long cool woman in a black dress
The woman singing was tall, beautiful, and wearing a black dress
Just a 5'9" beautiful 'n' tall
She was exactly 5 feet and 9 inches, and was really beautiful and tall
Just one look I was a bad mess
Just a glance at her made me lose my composure and confidence
'Cause that long cool woman had it all
She had some kind of power or quality that made her attractive
I saw her heading to the table
I saw her walking toward a table
Well, a tall walking big black cat
She walked confidently and elegantly like a big black cat
Charlie said, I hope that you're able, boy
Charlie, a friend of mine, said he hoped I was good enough for her
'Cause I'm telling you she knows where it's at
He warned me that she knew what she wanted and was not easily fooled
Well, suddenly we hear the sirens
We suddenly heard police sirens
And everybody started to run
Everyone began to flee
Jumping under doors and tables
People were hiding under furniture
Well, I heard somebody shooting a gun
I heard gunshots
Well, the D.A. was pumping my left hand
The District Attorney was squeezing my left hand tightly
She was holding my right
The woman was holding my right hand
Well, I told her, don't get scared
I reassured her not to be afraid
'Cause you're gonna be spared
I promised to keep her safe
I've gotta be forgiven if I wanna spend my living
I felt that I needed to be forgiven for my actions in order to enjoy my life
Had it all, had it all, had it all
She had something special that caught everyone's attention
Had it all, had it all, had it all (she had it all)
She had that special something that made her stand out
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Alan Clarke, Roger Frederick Cook, Roger John Reginald Greenaway
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Philip Kassabian
on Carrie Anne
A nice and catchy song by The Hollies.
Philip Kassabian
on Bus Stop
Yet another great Hollies song.
Philip Kassabian
on Stop Stop Stop
One of the best bands from the 60's no doubt.