DJ Allyn – The Soundtrack for my Life

Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress ~ The Hollies  

The Hollies are an English beat band formed in the early 1960s. Their history began by chance with five-year-old Allan Clarke’s arrival at the Ordsall Primary School in Salford (Manchester’s twin city), England in 1947. He met five-year-old Graham Nash, when Nash was the only student to volunteer to let Clarke sit next to him in class. Soon, they found a common interest in music. They began singing together in choir and as they matured, their voices complemented each other magnificently. The impetus for Clarke and Nash to begin music careers together was the emergence of skiffle music in England.

According to Clarke:

“We all wanted to be rock ‘n’ roll stars, and skiffle was one way to start, because it was all based on the easiest chords to play, A, D, G, and C, and we loved the songs. Graham and I played clubs in Manchester, doing an Everly Brothers-type thing. The Everly Brothers were our real inspiration, because of the two-part harmonies.”

This laid the foundation for The Hollies. By 1962 Clarke and Nash had already been singing together locally at coffee houses for a number of years as a semi-professional duo under a number of names such as the Guytones, the Two Teens, The Levins and a brother act called Ricky and Dane. As they were playing a show with the Fourtones, they met Eric Haydock and Don Rathbone and were invited to join the Deltas.

The four decided to abandon the Deltas and form a new group in December 1962. According to those close to the band, they chose the name from some Christmas holly decorating Graham Nash’s house; not, as long time rumour has it, in homage to Buddy Holly . The stories are sufficiently vague that not even the band members remember exactly; however, what they do agree upon is that the name was simply a stop-gap, and it’s stuck for 34 years and counting . The original lineup consisted of lead singer Allan Clarke, guitarists Graham Nash and Vic Steele, bassist Eric Haydock and drummer Don Rathbone. Vic Steele, who, reportedly, didn’t want to turn professional, left by May 1963 and was replaced by local guitar hero Tony Hicks. In the summer of 1963, before the group started having hits, Rathbone was having trouble adjusting to studio drumming and became their road manager instead. He was replaced by Bobby Elliott from Shane Fenton And The Fentones; however, Elliott and Hicks had played together previously in another Manchester band called Rick Shaw and the Dolphins. In 1966 Bernie Calvert took Haydock’s place; and in ‘68, when Nash left to form Crosby, Stills & Nash, later to become Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young, he was replaced by Terry Sylvester (ex-Escorts and Swinging Blue Jeans)

Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress

The song’s first-person lyrics tell a story of an FBI agent (the narrator) who is scouting a speakeasy in advance of a raid. Prior to the police’s arrival, the narrator meets the “long cool woman” of the title, a singer at the bar described as “5′9″, beautiful, tall”, and immediately falls in love with her. The raid results in a shootout during which he protects her. The narrator is given congratulations by the District Attorney (“the DA man”) and, presumably, a relationship with the woman when he gets legal immunity for her.

It was released soon after Allan Clarke, who was featured on both lead guitar and lead vocal, had left the group.  The song is notable in that it features Clarke playing rhythm guitar, something he rarely did. Clarke came up with the signature guitar rhythm that opens the song. In the light of the song’s success, Clarke rethought his solo career and rejoined the group in 1972.

Saturday night I was downtown
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 DA man
When I heard this woman singing a song

A pair of 45’s 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 tall
With just one look I was a bad mess
‘Cause that long cool woman had it all

I saw her headin’ to the table
Well a tall walking big black cat
My charmer said I hope that you’re in boy
‘Cause I’m telling you she knows where it’s at
When suddenly we heard the sirens
And everybody started to run
Jumping under doors and tables
When I heard somebody shooting a gun

Well the DA was pumping my left hand
And then she was a-holding my right
Well I told her don’t be scared
‘Cause you’re gonna be spared
Well I’ve gotta be forgiving
If I wanna spend my living
With a long cool woman in a black dress
Just a 5′9 beautiful tall
Well, with just one look I was a bad mess
‘Cause that long cool woman had it all

Had it all

• Audio from the 1971 album, Distant Light:

The Air That I Breathe ~ The Hollies  

The Hollies are an English beat band formed in the early 1960s.  Their history began by chance with five-year-old Allan Clarke’s arrival at the Ordsall Primary School in Salford (Manchester’s twin city), England in 1947. He met five-year-old Graham Nash, when Nash was the only student to volunteer to let Clarke sit next to him in class. Soon, they found a common interest in music. They began singing together in choir and as they matured, their voices complemented each other magnificently. The impetus for Clarke and Nash to begin music careers together was the emergence of skiffle music in England.

According to Clarke:

“We all wanted to be rock ‘n’ roll stars, and skiffle was one way to start, because it was all based on the easiest chords to play, A, D, G, and C, and we loved the songs. Graham and I played clubs in Manchester, doing an Everly Brothers-type thing. The Everly Brothers were our real inspiration, because of the two-part harmonies.”

This laid the foundation for The Hollies. By 1962 Clarke and Nash had already been singing together locally at coffee houses for a number of years as a semi-professional duo under a number of names such as the Guytones, the Two Teens, The Levins and a brother act called Ricky and Dane. As they were playing a show with the Fourtones, they met Eric Haydock  and Don Rathbone and were invited to join the Deltas.

The four decided to abandon the Deltas and form a new group in December 1962. According to those close to the band, they chose the name from some Christmas holly decorating Graham Nash’s house; not, as long time rumour has it, in homage to Buddy Holly . The stories are sufficiently vague that not even the band members remember exactly; however, what they do agree upon is that the name was simply a stop-gap, and it’s stuck for 34 years and counting . The original lineup consisted of lead singer Allan Clarke, guitarists Graham Nash and Vic Steele, bassist Eric Haydock and drummer Don Rathbone. Vic Steele, who, reportedly, didn’t want to turn professional, left by May 1963 and was replaced by local guitar hero Tony Hicks. In the summer of 1963, before the group started having hits, Rathbone was having trouble adjusting to studio drumming and became their road manager instead. He was replaced by Bobby Elliott from Shane Fenton And The Fentones; however, Elliott and Hicks had played together previously in another Manchester band called Rick Shaw and the Dolphins. In 1966 Bernie Calvert took Haydock’s place; and in ‘68, when Nash left to form Crosby, Stills & Nash, later to become Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young, he was replaced by Terry Sylvester (ex-Escorts and Swinging Blue Jeans)

The Air That I Breathe

If I could make a wish
I think Id pass
Cant think of anything I need
No cigarettes, no sleep, no light, no sound
Nothing to eat, no books to read

Making love with you
Has left me peaceful, warm, and tired
What more could I ask
Theres nothing left to be desired
Peace came upon me and it leaves me weak
So sleep, silent angel, go to sleep

Sometimes, all I need is the air that I breathe
And to love you
All I need is the air that I breathe
Yes to love you
All I need is the air that I breathe

Peace came upon me and it leaves me weak
So sleep, silent angel, go to sleep

Sometimes, all I need is the air that I breathe
And to love you
All I need is the air that I breathe
Yes to love you
All I need is the air that I breathe

Sometimes, all I need is the air that I breathe
And to love you
All I need is the air that I breathe
Yes to love you
All I need is the air that I breathe
And to love you
All I need is the air that I breathe
Yes to love you