Distant Light

Hollies | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 26, 1991)
• Original Release Date: 1991
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B0000024XU
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #234,143 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. What a Life I've Led

2. Look What We've Got

3. Hold On

4. Pull Down the Blind

5. To Do With Love

6. Promised Land

7. Long Cool Woman (In a Black Dress)

8. You Know the Score

9. Cable Car

10. A Little Thing Like Love

11. Long Dark Road

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars HOLLIES ACHIEVE ALBUM CREDIBILITY AT LAST, September 18, 2000

By 

[e-mail] (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Distant Light (Audio CD)

The Hollies had been primarily known for their hit singles up until the release of this fine LP. Their highest charting LP (aside from 1967's "Greatest Hits" on Imperial), "Distant Light" showed a mature, well-rounded band at their peak. Soaring harmonies, topical songs, and varied instrumentation are the key elements here. They tackle such subjects as war ("Promised Land" and "You know the score"), the complexities of relationships ("Little Thing Like Love" and "To Do With Love") and even gangsters ("Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress") with flair & panache. As fate would have it, lead singer Allan Clarke would leave the band shortly after completion of the recording, to be replaced by the equally outstanding singer, Mikael Rickfors from Sweden, for the band's next superb albums, "Romany" and "Out on the Road", and would be showcased to jaw-dropping effect on the band's 1972 fall concert tour. This early 70s phase of the band's career is in many ways their most creative & most interesting. Graham Nash had always wished the band would grow up & be taken seriously as an album act. It took his leaving for it to happen. The Hollies made wonderful music in the 60s with Nash, but made even better music in the first half of the 70s.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Just a Bunch of Beatles Imitators? Bologna, August 27, 2000

By 

dev1 (Baltimore) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Distant Light (Audio CD)

Why does it surprise me that there are more Hollies "Greatest Hits," "Best of," and "Anthology" CD's than there are original albums available. Unfortunately, the Hollies are remembered as "Hit Makers", and the remainder of their material is cast aside as mediocre. I say bologna: Distant Light is as much an "album" as Rubber Soul or Revolver, with a central theme and a continuity of atmosphere.

The Hollies strong suits are luscious three-part vocal harmonies (a la the Everly Brothers), and irrepressible melodies that Paul McCartney would kill for. Like the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, the vocal harmonies sore to high heaven (To Do With Love, Promised Land), and the melodies are unforgettable (Promised Land). My favorite member is neither the renowned Graham Nash nor Rod Argent, but lead singer Alan Clarke. This guy belts out a song like his next meal depends upon it (Little Thing Like Love).

The rocker `Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress' is atypical of Distant Light: the overall aura is polished folk-rock: symphonic, mysterious (Look What We've Got) and majestic. `You Know The Score' is a mesmerizing composition: a three-part suite with an elegant a Capella sandwiched in the middle. Using a bit of production trickery, the vocals sound as thought they are a mile away from the recording microphones. Hidden among the spirited hook-laden pop is an anti-war message (You Know The Score). Pretty clever for a Pop album.

On a positive note, the original Distant Light captures the Hollies at a creative point in thier journey from "Hit Makers" to album band. One negative point is the CD's length. Originally crafted for the vinyl LP format, Distant Light weighs in at a scant forty-one minutes; but the album seems longer. Why let a record company decide which material is "best" or "greatest." Get the original and decide for yourself. I believe that you'll be pleasantly surprised.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hollies go "Light"-ly, October 11, 2001

By 

D. Hartley (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Distant Light (Audio CD)

Largely overlooked post-Graham Nash offering from the Hollies has dated well. Even though the track list includes one of the band's most recognizable radio hits ("Long Cool Woman...") don't be fooled into thinking this is an entire set of finger-popping "sing-a-longs". Most of this 1971 album features more complex musical arrangements than previous Hollies releases, augmented by an overall sense of non-secular soul searching contained in the lyrics. Aside from the obviously well-crafted pop-rock of "Long Cool Woman...", other standout songs include the opening number "Life I've Led", a gospel-tinged, Van Morrison style number in the "Tupelo Honey" vein, and "Promised Land", a rousing arrangement rich with soaring harmonies and a majestic, "Who's Next" production sound. Listening to (or rediscovering) this album should quell any feelings that the Hollies were a throwaway bubblegum pop outfit. Collectors note: The 1999 edition has great sound and the original cover art is beautifully reproduced.