The Black Hollies
Debuted: February 1st, 2010
“When You're Not There”
I'm not going to lie, this song was directly inspired by my newly acquired 45, "What Good Am I Without You" by Darrow Fletcher(Mike Terry arranged this amazing song) and a song by the Falcons called, "Good Good Feeling"(possibly Mike Terry as well. Anyone know for sure? Help!). I had come up with the opening riff one night and tried my very best to remember it for the following day's rehearsal. I introduced the idea to Wiley and Jon and we started to play around with a basic arrangment. Wiley was playing Dennis Pierce's (nouvellas.com) Epiphone 12 string guitar, Jon played a Wurlitzer 200A electric piano and I sat behind drums. After a couple of plays, we had a pretty solid arrangement and a demo was recorded to tape. We celebrated by purchasing a gallon of Carlo Rossi table wine and two boxes of Entenmann's doughnuts among other things and a week later I tweaked the arrangment over and over again until it was time to record the Lp. Hahaha! As far as the lyrics go, again very soulful, sincere and honest. "Ever since you stole my attention, nothing seems to matter, I can't explain this sudden attraction and nothing seems to matter when you're not there." There, there, don't you cry, it's only a song my friends.
The Black Hollies
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When You're Not ThereThe Black Hollies -
Gloomy Monday MorningThe Black Hollies -
Run With Me RunThe Black Hollies
Sounds like I'm describing those first two Nuggets box set compilations, doesn't it? I'm not, but I suppose I could be and that's a good thing. I love those lost mid-Sixties gems unearthed from the rubble. The Black Hollies probably do too, but unlike me, they've done something with it. Their love for this sound spawned inspiration and action and creation and they've been criss-crossing the US for the past several years with it. These boys obviously believe in what they do. Count me in as a fellow Believer.
I was somewhat surprised to discover the pre-history of the band. Before diving headfirst into their current endeavors, 3/4 of The Black Hollies were the 3/5 of Rye Coalition. Now I'm still yet still to actually hear Rye Coalition, but I know the name from seeing it in print all over the place a few years ago. Turns out these guys learned a lot about the highs and lows of the music biz. Here's the short version... Proved themselves in indie circles with four critically praised releases > jumped up to the majors with a deal with DreamWorks > championed and produced by Dave Grohl > toured with Foo Fighters, Mars Volta, Queens of the Stone Age > shuffled to Interscope by the powers that be > sat in that all-too-familiar major-label release purgatory for a couple years > hired lawyers > won rights to masters > back to the indies.
As I said, I've never heard Rye Coalition and I do not plan to. Supposedly they were one of those so-called "hard rock" bands that the kids were loving mid-decade, which I can take or leave (usually leave, actually). I can only assume they were miles away from The Black Hollies. After their experiences through the mid-Aughts, can you blame them for such a dynamic shift in style? I, for one, cannot and am happy they did. Of course, I am a sucker for that hot, hot sound of The Black Hollies.
So tune it, drop out, get down or whatever it is those damned drugged out hippies used to say, and love these Lake Fever Sessions from The Black Hollies. You know I do!
-Joe Baine Colvert