06/10/2023
ON THIS DATE (56 YEARS AGO)
June 9, 1967 – The Hollies: Evolution is released.
# ALL THINGS MUSIC PLUS+ 4.5/5
# Allmusic 4/5
# New Musical Express (see original review below)
Evolution is an album by The Hollies, released in the UK on June 9, 1967 (July 17, 1967 in the US). It reached #13 on the UK Albums chart. The US version reached #43 on the Billboard 200 Top LP's chart.
Like its predecessor, For Certain Because, this album features only songs written by group members Allan Clarke, Graham Nash, and Tony Hicks. None of the songs on the album were selected for single or EP release in the UK.
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THE COVER
The album cover artwork was created by The Fool, with the psychedelic cover photo by Karl Ferris, who is credited with creating the first truly psychedelic photograph for an album cover. Ferris commented on the making of the album cover during a special signing of cover prints in 1997:
"... they wanted to break from their 'Pop Beat' sound into something more psychedelic. So I listened to the music that they were recording at Abbey Road Studios, and got an image of them pushing through a membrane into 'the Psychedelic world', and so in summer of 1966, I took a studio shot of them pushing out their hands and the lead singer pointing through the clear plastic. Over this, I superimposed a shot of William Morris Art Nouveau wallpaper with an illustration and 'Love' lettering drawn by my girlfriend Anke. This combination created the image of the Hollies 'pushing through to a new wave of music style and consciousness'. I worked with The Fool (lead by Simon Posthuma) on this, and they did the lettering, the back cover design, and the group’s costumes."
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UK/US VERSIONS
Evolution and its respective singles were recorded in just six days time over the course of
three months in early 1967 at the same time the Beatles were recording Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band at the same studio. The first session occurred on 11 January where "When Your Lights Turned On", "Have You Ever Loved Somebody" and the B-side "All the World is Love" were completed. Work began on but was not completed for the eventual single "On a Carousel". That song was completed during the next session on 13 January along with the album track, "Lullaby to Tim". Two songs sung in Italian, "Non Prego Per Mi" and "Devi Avere Fiducia In Mi", were also recorded on that day specifically for release as a single in Italy. The next session on 22 February was dedicated to two more songs meant specifically for release in Italy, "We're Alive" and "Kill Me Quick". "The Games We Play" as well as the Graham Gouldman-penned "Schoolgirl" were also begun during this session. The bulk of album work took place in March on the 3rd, 8th and 17th. "Schoolgirl" was attempted again on the 8th but was ultimately left unfinished for reasons unknown. The final songs recorded before the album's release in June were "Carrie Anne" on 1 May and its B-side, "Signs That Will Never Change", on the following day.
Evolution was also the name of The Hollies' debut album for their new U.S. label, Epic Records. But, like many American issues of British albums, this album was remixed using heavy echo and reverb. In addition, three songs were left off the album (with only "Carrie Anne" added), thus making the U.S. version somewhat less desirable than its British counterpart.
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ORIGINAL NEW MUSICAL EXPRESS REVIEW
By Allen Evans, June 3, 1967
Track-by-track of HOLLIES' EVOLUTION
The Hollies must take a big bow for their latest - and best - LP, " Evolution." Specially Graham Nash, Allan Clarke and Tony Hicks for composing all the 12 rousing and interesting tunes.
They've also brought into it added instrumentation on nine tracks, which is mostly deep brass and is directed by ex-Manfred Mann lead guitarist, Mike Vickers. Ron Richards produced the disc for Parlophone, and the startling cover design is by Holland's surrealistic Simon and Marijke, aided by photographer Karl Ferris. Altogether an ear-and eye-opening production.
SIDE ONE
WHEN THE HEARTACHES BEGIN* is an up-tempo, harmony track, the boys singing about an ended romance (the subject of several tracks), with a harmonica or organ which sounds like a bagpipe adding to the driving rhythm
STOP RIGHT THERE* has soft, sultry singing about a girl the singer (Graham) is crazy about. a gipsy violin plays in the instrumental backing to add to the romantic thoughts of the boy.
WATER ON THE BRAIN* is a sw***er about a "drip, drip, it's driving me wild" inside the boy's head. Deep-throated instrumental sounds behind makes this exciting
LULLABY TO TIM* makes you think the record player has gone wrong. It's just that the vocal is distorted because the song is about a dream, with quiet, dream-like music in the backing.
HAVE YOU EVER LOVED SOMEBODY is pure Hollies, up-tempo and happy sounding, with an attacking vocal about someone remembering about a crashed romance and asks: "have you ever loved all night?"
YOU NEED LOVE* features a choral effect, the vocalists shouting at times and sounding a little hysterical as they sing a driving song about a boy who, when tired and worn out, is revived when his girl runs to him.
SIDE TWO
RAIN ON THE WINDOW* is another descriptive piece like Water On The Brain. The boy is looking out at the rain on the window and saying how the pitter-patter reminds him of his girl. Wind instruments are used in an echo effect rather tellingly, and the vocalists keep the words 'Pitter-patter' going over and over again.
HEADING FOR A FALL* is sung on the off -beat and is most appealing. About a boy hypnotised by a girl's beauty and knows it's bad for him. Deep organ sound behind it all is good.
YE OLDE TOFFEE SHOPPE* spotlights a harpsichord to get the Olde English feeling as a sweet shop and old lady who owns it is sung about. It develops into a pleasing gavotte.
WHEN YOUR LIGHT'S TURN ON is a rousing, up-tempo Hollies-only piece with strident guitars to the fore as a song about a girl who isn't afraid to tell a boy about all his many failings Is sung by the boy who admits "Everything you say about me gets right home, that's why I put up with you."
LEAVE ME. Organ pours out a deep beat behind this song, which makes a plea to a girl to leave the boy alone.
THE GAMES WE PLAY* is a saucy song which might get parents wondering! To a raving rhythm backing, the boy is singing to his girl about what their respective parents think about them going together, then shatters the illusion they have with "If your family only knew the game we Play!" Sometime the Hollies lyrics really strike home at everyday teen life, don't they? Or do they?
Anyway, here is another pulsating, Imaginative, varied album from a group considered one of the best in the pop world today. It's the best they've done, I think. Only one question remains in my mind - as nine tracks have 'extra instrumentation' behind them (indicated by *) can the Hollies do these on tour?
~ Allen Evans New Musical Express
TRACKS:
All tracks composed by Graham Nash, Allan Clarke and Tony Hicks
Side one
1 Then the Heartaches Begin - 2:48
2 Stop Right There - 2:28
3 Water on the Brain - 2:27
4 Lullaby to Tim - 3:04
5 Have You Ever Loved Somebody? - 3:04
6 You Need Love - 2:32
Side two
1 Rain on the Window - 3:16
2 Heading for a Fall - 2:23
3 Ye Olde Toffee Shoppe - 2:22
4 When Your Light's Turned On - 2:37
5 Leave Me - 2:30
6 The Games We Play - 2:46
The U.S. edition of Evolution featured different tracks in a modified tracklisting order:
Side one
Carrie Anne
Stop Right There
Rain on the Window
Then the Heartaches Begin
Ye Olde Toffee Shoppe
Side two
You Need Love
Heading for a Fall
The Games We Play
Lullaby to Tim
Have You Ever Loved Somebody
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