Track Listing

1. Won't You Feel Good That Morning
2. Touch
3. Words Don't Come Easy
4. Magic Woman Touch
5. Lizzy and the Rainman
6. Down River
7. Slow Down
8. Delaware Taggett and the Outlaw Boys
9. Jesus Was a Crossmaker
10. Romany
11. Blue in the Morning
12. Courage of Your Convictions
13. Baby [*]
14. Magic Woman Touch [Acoustic Version][*]
15. Indian Girl [*]
16. If It Wasn't for the Reason [*]
17. Papa Rain [#][*]
18. Witchy Woman [#][*]
19. Oh Granny [Terry Sylvester Vocal Version]
20. I Had a Dream [*]

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #36516 in Music
• Released on: 2007-08-20
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Import, Original recording remastered
• Dimensions: .20 pounds

Album Description
2007 digitally remastered and expanded edition of the British Rock group's 1972 album, recorded during the short time period that Mikael Rickfors fronted the band. Features eight bonus tracks: 'The Baby', 'Magic Woman Touch' (Acoustic Version), 'If It Wasn't For The Reason That I Love You', 'Papa Rain' (Unreleased), 'Witchy Woman' (Unreleased), 'Oh Granny' (Terry Sylvester Version) and 'I Had A Dream'. 20 tracks total. EMI.

Customer Reviews

Finally......
Finally available in stereo and with bonus tracks. This originally came out when I was a sophmore in college in 1972, and at the time I was pleasantly surprised, since A. Clarke was no longer the lead singer. After my first listen, that was fine with me! I just rec'd. my copy from Amazon (just releaaed on August 20), and couldn't wait to listen again. Melody, harmony, musicianship, Abbey Road Studio sound, well produced and great memories......and my favorite Hollies album.

Lost classic as West Coast and England Collide
Back in 1990 their former label released a compilation CD titled The Epic Anthology. I picked this up a few years ago and found myself playing it every few weeks. Every review I read about the Epic Anthology mentioned a song called Magic Woman Touch. Many seemed to think that this was the best single that Crosby Stills and Nash never released. When I finally heard it (on the Epic Anthology) I have to say they are right on the money. It was almost as if the Hollies were trying to one-up old Mr. Nash. Even so, it still sounds completely original and completely like the Hollies. This CD has turned out to be a brand new classic for me.
In several places, they are navigating the same waters as CSN. In a couple of the songs the guitarist is utilizing a tone that clearly recalls Stills on Wooden Ships and a few other CSN classics. The second cut, Touch, could easily be a Stills cameo. If you think I am pushing the Stills thing too far, you need to hear the wah-wah leads on the last cut I Had A Dream. The fact that the guitarist is still completely original in the way he plays really pushes the whole CD to another level.

The harmonies on this album are among the most original and listenable you could ask for. Its funny how so many people take harmony singing for granted. I know there are plenty of musicians on this blog so I don't have to tell anyone how hard it is to actually sing good harmony. Much less come up with original arrangements that don't sound like everything else. Romany holds some of the greatest arrangements the Hollies ever came up with.

The bonus track on this release are pretty dag-gone solid. Papa Rain starts off with the Stills-like guitar opening of Wooden Ships and than moves into a slow dreamy state that sounds as if you are floating down a river in mid-summer. The harmonies easily match Crosby-Nash and the singer (Rickfors) sounds like early Darryl Hall. The cover of Witchy Woman rocks a lot harder than the Eagles version did and near the end adds a bit of funk to the guitars.

Rickfors stayed with The Hollies for just this one album. He went on to become a very successful songwriter well as one of Europe's most respected vocalists. The Hollies got Clarke back on the next release and went back to work. Still, this one album, considered by many to be a brief aberration, sounds as if someone brought the West Coast of California to England and somehow everything worked out for everyone.

I have sought this CD forever...
I have noticed that the best Hollies songs (at least to me) are the ones that really never topped the charts. While Bus Stop, Carrie Anne, He Ain't Heavy, The Air That I Breathe, Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress, etc. are great songs, they are readily available on "hits" albums, compilations and the radio. Songs like "Touch" and "Romany" and the like are rarely heard. Let's face it, if we wanted nothing but hits, why not simply listen to an FM station? The purpose of purchasing music would then be moot! This is my favorite Hollies album! While I like other Hollies songs, this type of album is what I look for when I list my favorites. Next on my list for the Hollies is 5317704, followed by A Crazy Steal. The style of these works makes the Hollies my favorite band. There are other songs that I really enjoy "Don't Let me Down" to name one, but the songs on this work set it apart - as does the album cover art.