The Hollies :: View topic

Hello, I'm trying to locate a copy of Naomi/2 Shadows. If someone has a copy that they're willing to sell or trade please contact me. I've collected the Hollies since 1971 and have many rare and unusual items-records,photos,posters.clippings and have some signed records and programs and I feel sure that I have something that would be of interest.
Those independent and occasional Hollies releases of the late 80's and 90's are where my collection is lacking. They weren't issued in the US and the magazines I used to get to follow them like MM and NME no longer had anything on the Hollies. The importers would sometimes get them on special request but you had to know what to ask for because they didn't stock the Hollies. I wish the Hollies discography would go into more detail as for example all of the different mixes and releases on Coconut. It would also be nice to see a complete discographyof Allan Clarke, my next favorite Hollies lead singer. I've just gotten Reasons to Believe and the 45, Someone Else Will, and I had no idea these existed and I wonder what else is there?

Hi
These two tracks (Naomi/2 Shadows) are available on a four track CD " The air That I Breathe"(Opel Commercial) The track order is as follows 1: The air that I breathe 2: Another night( this is a live version recorded I think about 1991) 3:Naomi 4: Two Shadows

here is a link that will take you too Amazon.co.uk where currently there are 3 copies of this CD for sale.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Air-that-breathe-Opel-commercial/dp/B000091T4E/ref=sr_1_89?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1209770539&sr=1-89

I hope this helps you
Cheers Ray

Yes. it does. Thank you very much.

An interesting note to point out (undocumented so far as I know, unless I missed it) is that the versions on this CD are different to the ones released on 1990's Purple Rain single that was sold at concerts, especially Naomi with its completely different bass line and some different keyboard parts

I've always felt that being a Hollies fan that it seemed like I was the only one. So when you come across others and they are kind and helpful you really appreciate it.
Ray sent me the link to amazon(I had looked there but didn't see the specific songs) and Geoff has sent me an Allan Clarke discography which is very helpful. I'm also glad to know of the different versions of Naomi, which will keep me searching for the concert record, but at least I will be able to hear it as soon as the copy of the Opel commercial cd arrives. Thank you all for your help.

Rythym Guitar Joined: 08 Jun 2006 Posts: 293

I also have bought the "Opel Commercial" CD to have those two songs. Two months before I bought that one I bought the "Purple Rain" record on ebay. I was very glad and then came the shock when it arrived here. The post must have put an extremely heavy package onto my one (although there was a "Fragile" sign on it) and I almost cried holding this record in my hands broken into pieces.
It was the last time I bought a record on the Internet. From now on there will only be CDs for me.
Hope that you won't have to experience this shock, as well, dcpurcell.

dcpurcel wrote

No, I don't believe I misquoted him. I don't have the article but I distinctly recall him saying , among other things, that he was autocratic and made all the decisions and that he used the top session men. So while he didn't say he used them on every recording, in the context of the interview the implication was there and that was why I posed the question. I seem to remember that he produced another group-I want to say Freddie and the Dreamers.

I received my copy of the Opel Commercial today and interesting is the best way to describe Naomi and 2 Shadows. Maybe they'll grow on me. The song I liked best is Another Night. It's a live version but not the one recorded in New Zealand in the 70's. My question is that it says it's a cut from a forthcoming album and I'm not aware of another live release. Does someone have any information on this?

Geoff may be able to provide further information, but I believe they were planning a live release in the early-mid '90's. There was various rumours about shows being recorded/filmed which came to nothing unfortunately.

Of course, those two tracks are also available on the U.S. release of their 30th Anniversary triple disc.

That's got a bunch of hard to find tracks, although many of them have been subsequently released elsewhere on Hollies discs.

Rythym Guitar Joined: 08 Jun 2006 Posts: 293

Hi dcpurcell,
it's quite interesting that you are asking quite the same questions I've asked one year ago.
I was also searching for those tracks and was a bit disappointed when I finally had them. I like many of their 1980s B-sides more like "You Gave Me Strength" and "For What It's Worth I'm Sorry" which are both excellent Hollies ballads.
Today I quite enjoy "Two Shadows". I think it's better than "Naomi". I grew on them. Maybe you will grow on them, too. But still I think that there are better "rarities".
And I also asked about this information that the song "Another Night " was taken from an upcoming live release. It was written to me that there was an intention of releasing a live album at the beginning of the 90s but it never was. Why the project was abandoned, I still don't know. It's a real shame because it would be great to have live material of The Hollies during the last decade with the original voice of Allan Clarke.

I'm fairly new to this and hadn't realized how much this is old territory for the rest of you. I agree that a live release from the Hollies of the 90's would be wonderful to have, especially if this version of Another Night is any indication. If the first version was speeded up and made more dynamic like this I'm sure it would have been a hit. I've read interviews with Allan Clarke and he describes a Hollies show as being 2 and a half to 3 hours long and filled with not only songs from their repertoire but also a wide range of cover songs. He mentioned that their show was way too long for them to be part of any packaged nostalgia shows. I think Purple Rain was from this era. I loved Tony Hicks guitar solo on it.
I like This Is It and Stand By Me but I agree they had some good b-sides too, I especially liked Laughter Turns To Tears. You gave me Strength is on the way and I should be able to listen to it for the first time along with Burn,Fire, Burn. Needless to say I'm looking forward to it. I listened to Baby Come Back and Hillsborough for the first time last week and was pleasantly surprised by how much I like Hillsborough. Baby Come Back is, I have to agree with another Forum member, not very good. Am I hearing things or is that Tony Hicks at the end saying that Baby's a cat? Am I allowed to say that a record is not very good? Whatever the case it's always good to hear a Hollies song for the first time. I just played Yesterday's Gone and I especially love the lead guitar work on it. As long as the Hollies keep on making music like that I'll keep following them.

I thought Another Night was recorded in Germany? Purple Rain will be from the 1991 tour, and what a version that is!