Hollies Singer Allan Clarke Revisits ‘Long Cool Woman’ on New LP
by Best Classic Bands Staff
Allan Clarke accepting induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010
Some 20 years after he retired from the music business to spend more time with his family, Allan Clarke, the former lead singer of The Hollies, is releasing a new album. The collection of new songs, Resurgence, is due September 20 via BMG.
Several songs have been released from the album, including a track that will surely draw attention: “Long Cool Woman’s Back in Town.” The title is reminiscent of the Hollies’ 1972 hit, “Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress.” Listen to the new track below.
In an interview with the British music publication Uncut, Clarke said, “For many years, people have asked ‘Why don’t you go back to singing?’ What I couldn’t do was perform Hollies songs anymore. But what I should have said was that there may be a time when I’ll be able to sing, because I’ll be doing songs that maybe I’ll write myself. It was always on the back burner. But then I said to my son Toby, who’s been involved musically in the family since the year he was born, ‘I’ve got a song I’ve done on guitar, but I don’t know what to do with it, what do you suggest?’ He said, ‘You should learn to use GarageBand,’ and showed me how… It’s given me a new lease on life in doing something I thought I’d never do again.”
Listen to “Long Cool Woman’s Back in Town”
Clarke, who turned 77 in April, was a childhood friend of Graham Nash in Manchester. The pair sang together in school and formed the Hollies (named after Buddy Holly) in late 1962. They scored several top 10 hits in America, most with a lead vocal by Clarke, including “Bus Stop,” “Stop Stop Stop,” “Carrie-Anne” and “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother.” Another, “Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress,” was pulled from the album Distant Light after Clarke departed the group in 1971, and became a hit the following year.
Watch the Hollies perform “Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress” with Clarke on lead vocal
Related: The Hollies came to America in 1965 and performed on a bill with Soupy Sales and…Jimi Hendrix!
Listen to “Journey of Regret” from Resurgence
Clarke returned to the Hollies in 1973 while also releasing several solo albums that did not fare well commercially. His final solo album prior to the new one, 1990’s Reasons to Believe, was issued in Germany but not in the U.K. or the U.S.
Watch the Hollies perform “Carrie-Anne,” with Allan Clarke on lead vocal
3 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationWow that’s cool to have him back !!
At last, a new recording from one of the best, most underrated singers. Well done Allan and thank you.
I lived in England in the early 60’s and listened to Radio Luxembourg, the only place you get rock and roll on the radio and only at night. I distinctly remember a live interview with the members of the Hollies when asked where the name came from. They replied that they were a new band at Christmas time and went into a hall that was festooned with Christmas Holley. someone asked them the name of the band and they hadn’t decided as of yet and just looked at each other and looked around the hall and said together”The Hollies”. Not Buddy Holly, although that’s more rock and roll worthy.