The Hollies

As you will all know by now I am a massive fan of music from the 1960s and have blogged a few times about some of the female groups of that era. Well now its the time of the boys.
This band was one of the first bands I really became obsessed with. I think I first heard them when I was around 7 and I've been a huge fan ever since.
Its The Hollies!




Although there were lots of 'boy bands' around in the 1960s (and I love almost all of them) the Hollies are something extra special.
Their music brings back so many memories from my childhood and early teens, its like my own personal soundtrack.

"The Hollies originated with a duo formed by Allan Clarke and Graham Nash, who were best friends from primary school and began performing together during the skiffle craze of the late 1950s.^[2] Eventually Clarke and Nash became a vocal and guitar duo modeled on the Everly Brothers under the names "Ricky and Dane Young."^[2] Under this name, they teamed up with a local band, the Fourtones, consisting of Vic Steele (born Victor Winston Farrell, 8 May 1945, Manchester) on lead guitar, Eric Haydock on bass guitar, and Don Rathbone (born Donald Rathbone, October 1942, Wilmslow, Cheshire) on drums.^[2] They first called themselves The Hollies for a December 1962 gig at the Oasis Club in Manchester.^[2] It has been suggested that Haydock named the group after the green garland for Christmas, but in a 2009 interview, Graham Nash said that the group decided just prior to a performance to call themselves "the Hollies" because of their admiration for Buddy Holly as well.^[3] In 2009, Nash wrote, "We called ourselves the Hollies, after Buddy and Christmas."^[4]
In January 1963, The Hollies performed at the Cavern Club in Liverpool, where they were seen by Parlophone assistant producer Ron Richards, who had been involved in producing the first Beatles session.^[2] Richards offered them an audition with Parlophone, but Steele did not want to be a "professional musician" and left in February 1963. ^[2] For the audition, they replaced Steele with Tony Hicks, who played in a Nelson band called the Dolphins, which also featured Bobby Elliott on drums and Bernie Calvert on bass.^[2] Not only were they signed by Richards, who would continue to produce the band until 1979, but a song from the audition, a cover of the Coasters' 1961 single "(Ain't That) Just Like Me", was released as their debut single in May 1963, and hit No.25 on the UK Singles Chart."Wikipedia
 

And the best thing about The Hollies is, they're still going strong today! They're like an ever lasting gobstopper, it's great.
As much as I'd like too I couldn't possible name a favourite song of theirs because there a just too many that I cherish but I will leave you with this one.
Till next time folks,
Laura Lou x

  

PP Arnold

By now you will all know how much I love 'oldies' music (I prefer to call it 'good' music) what with my Ronettes post and all.
Well Now I want to share with you another of my most loved artists from the 1960s.
PP Arnold.

Patricia Cole was born into a family of gospel singers, and so began her musical training at a very young age. An unfortunate marriage to David Arnold when she was only 15 brought a period of considerable hardship throughout her late teen years, but she persevered with her musical ambitions in the hopes that it would open the door to a better life.
(For full bio visit http://www.nndb.com/people/840/000043711/)


I first discovered her when I was around 9 years old and had bought my first 60s compilation CD which I believe I have already told you about.
Well, PP Arnold's song 'The First Cut is The Deepest' was the very last track on the disc and boy was it a treat. I used to listen to it over and over and imagine myself singing it in a typical black and white sixties mini dress and of course matching white boots.
When I got older I heard more and more of her music and understanding more of the world the words seamed to mean a lot more. I couldn't relate to any of them but you get the point (yeah?)

I was awed and amazed by this one song so much that it made me want to become a pop star just so I could sing it, but what child doesn't think that at one time or another?
So anyway, the point I am trying to make is that You don't really hear too much about singers like PP Arnold nower days. People only remember 'the greats' like Aretha Franklin and Dusty Springfield and beautiful singers with soulful voices like PP Arnold get forgotten about.

And lets not forget how utterly beautiful she was (is). her style wasn't typical, it had a relaxed feel to it.
Except for in picture like this of course!




It's hard to have a favourite song when it comes to PP Arnold because there are so many amazing songs like 'Though it Hurts Me',  'Angel of The Morning', 'A Different Drum' and her version of The Beatles 'Eleanor Rigby' but as it was the first I ever heard of hers I shall have to say that 'The First Cut is The Deepest' hold something a little more for me than the others and here it is for your enjoyment.

Till next time,
Laura Lou x

Obsessed with...

The Ronettes!

I have always loved music from the 1960s ever since I was around 9 years old. My first CD was a compilation call 'Super Sixties' and I listened to it non stop for about six months... I'm sure I drove my mother crazy with it.
Amongst some of my favourite groups from the sixties are The Small Faces, The Beach Boys, The Beatles, The Searchers, The Hollies and my most favourite... The Monkees! I also loved people like Dusty Springfield, Bobby Vee and Marty Wilde but I had never heard of the Ronettes... until now.
The are probably remembered as the "girl group" of the early '60s. They achieved their biggest success under producer Phil Spector. In towering black beehive hairdos and dark eye makeup, the Ronettes were a classic mid-sixties girl group with a sultry twist; vulnerable but tough, sexy but. sweet.
And I can't get enough of them! For the last few weeks all I listened to is The Ronettes, I just love their sound. It's like bubble gum pop but at the same time still pretty mature and adult.
Their biggest hit, as everyone will know, is Be My Baby but they had so many other great songs like This Is What I Get For Loving You and Paradise but my all time favourite song by The Ronettes is... I Want A Boy.
It is such a cute catchy little song and I want to share it with you all. So here it is... The Ronettes singing I Want A Boy.

Hope you all Enjoyed it as much as I did,
Laura Lou x