Hollies on DVD

By Knut Skyberg

How many of you knew that your favourite group by 2005 had available 20 different songs on the new picture and sound format, DVD? And two of them have been released both as playback/lipsynch versions as well as live in studio recordings, so we have 23 different performances. This is something to bear in mind, while we are waiting for the definitive DVD greatest hits collection. In 2006 we finally got an "official" Hollies only DVD compilation - see the Hollies news page.

But most probably some of the DVD clips from the various artists collections may escape from being included in future compilations. Since some of these DVDs are already getting a few years old, the time might be right to pick them up quickly, if you collect the Hollies, since the first releases are getting more difficult to get hold of, already. I must admit that I was not among those who laid my hands on all video collections with the Hollies, while everything was on VHS tape. I have a couple, like Casey Kasem’s Rock ‘n’ roll Goldmine – the British Invasion. This features an awful live in studio version of He ain’t heavy he’s my brother, so stay clear. I noticed the video release of songs like Baby that’s all on Ready steady go collections, but never got around to buying it, even if it’s in nice colour. However, such clips tend to circulate among fans, and many have seen the fabulous colour clip of Now’s the time from the film It’s all over town, with our boys in fashion leader trousers and jackets. I would like that one on DVD for sure!

After VHS video came a short spell with other formats. Groups like the Pretty Things issued CDs with bonus old footage films playable on PC, but we never saw that from the Hollies. What we did see, was a Japanese release of the German Beat club performance of Sorry Suzanne (Pioneer PIFP-1016, 1990) on the rare “Video Single disc” format. I bough it, but never got a suitable player. Now we finally have gotten the same performance on the Special edition EP, released last year. The first DVD output I got with the Hollies was in 1997, with I can’t let go, played live at the German Beat-Club. A very good performance, clear pictures, although in black and white, the band good looking and youngsters dancing. (If you cannot get hold of this release, there is another nice compilation featuring the same track, and also Jennifer Eccles, see below.) Then we had to wait until 2002, when BR Music started releasing the best of 60’s and 70’s compilations. So far you will need 5 different DVDs to get hold of everything. And finally, to make everything even more complicated, I accidentally stumbled over another compilation by Disky, featuring a so-called medley, of He ain’t heavy and The air that I breathe, both played excellently live in studio. The sad thing is that it isn’t really a medley, it’s just two half performances spliced together. I really would prefer to see them both in full length (hint, hint, Bobby). What more would you like to know about the DVD releases? Well, all of the BR Music clips are playback promo clips. Jennifer Eccles is in stereo. My copy of Sorry Suzanne from Beat-club on Remember 60’s Vol.1 BR Music (2002) has an unstable picture, but you won’t need this one anyway, since it’s also on the Special edition EP compilation. Unless you want Fire brigade, Blackberry way and Curly by the Move with Carl, that is! Move is also featured on 60’s vol 2, with Blackberry way, and on 70’s vol 1 with Tonight. Only pity about the Hollies DVD EP is that all song starts and endings are ruined by a large The Hollies sign instead of the film. Some of the pop-up info is slightly incorrect, by the way. Too young to be married is also a playback, but worth getting only to see both Tony and Allan with moustaches. Both hairy lips were gone on Long cool woman. Magic woman touch is the Abbey Road promo clip with Rickfors, while Amnesty is playback in studio. Amnesty is a hugely underrated song, one of my favourites. Finally, anyone wanting to try He ain’t heavy on karaoke, may like to buy Karaoke rock anthems (Avio entertainment AVDVD 024). I picked this up in a major store in London. However, I am not all that impressed at the quality of the backing, for instance no harmonica, but at least it’s in the original key of G.

2005 saw the release of several new DVD clips. The most important is the Dutch 40 jaar Top 40 series, featuring the Hollies on 3 different discs. The boxes contain both a DVD and a CD disc, by the way. The most interesting is Curly Billy, which in fact reached no 1 in Holland. The Dutch have good taste, I must say. Blowin’ in the wind is rather odd, though, as the group is interrupted by a kissing couple several times. Personally I could have done without that. I’m alive is a very good film from some scene, I don’t think I’ve seen this before. Curly Billy seems to have been shot in a TV studio, extremely good quality filming, but unfortunately only plackback. By the way, on the 1973-74 box you also get Mud with Dynamite, featuring Ray Stiles in action.

2006 finally saw the first release of a full-lenght DVD by the Hollies, see the Hollies news page and above photo. This has been put out by Veo Star, and can be obtained through www.cdon.com, where you can choose different languages.

And as mentioned above, in 2007 we got the excellent The Dutch Collection, the first fully official Hollies anthology.

If anyone has knowledge of other DVD output by the Hollies, please let me know. You may write to kskyberg@online.no. Good DVD hunting!

Notice! In the below list bootleg DVD releases have not been included. And the 2006 and 2007 all Hollies DVDs are not yet listed with individual tracks.

I’m alive Playback 40 Jaar Top 40 1965-66 Universal 2004

Look through any window Promo The best of beat Planet Song/Medusa2003

I can’t let go Live, Beat-Club The best of ’66 Radio Bremen 1997

So you wanna be a rock ‘n’ roll star 2003

Beat generation BMG 2003

Dear Eloise Promo Remember 60’s Vol.2 BR Music 2002

Jennifer Eccles Beat-Club So you wanna be a rock ‘n’ roll star 2003

Beat generation BMG 2003

Special edition EP Classic pictures 2003

Listen to me Promo Special edition EP Classic pictures 2003

Do the best you can Promo Special edition EP Classic pictures 2003

Blowin’ in the wind Promo 40 Jaar Top 40 1969-70 Universal 2004

Sorry Suzanne Beat-club Remember 60’s Vol.1 BR Music 2002

Special edition EP Classic pictures 2003

Too young to be married Promo Remember the 60’s Vol.1 BR Music 2002

He ain’t heavy (cut) Live Greatest hits of the 70’s Disky 2001

He ain’t heavy Promo Remember 60’s Vol.4 BR Music 2004

He ain’t heavy Live Rock n roll Goldmine ILC Music 2004

Gasoline Alley bred Live? Sony promo sampler

Long cool woman Promo Remember the 70’s Vol.1 BR Music 2002

Magic woman touch Promo Remember the 70’s Vol.2 BR Music 2002

The day that Curly Billy Playback 40 Jaar Top 40 1973-74 Universal 2004

The air that I breathe (cut) Live Greatest hits of the 70’s Disky 2001

The air that I breathe Promo Remember the 70’s Vol.4 BR Music 2004

Amnesty Promo Remember the 70’s Vol.2 BR Music 2002

He ain't heavy he's my brother Mostly TV clips, some promo Veo Star

The Dutch Collection As above EMI Holland

New Shindig DVD features first official (?)release of US live performances of I'm alive and Too much monkey business

The best of Shindig! 1964-1965. SHIN 6465

Hollies on DVD

New high quality Hollies DVDs