Allan Clarke (singer)
Encyclopedia
Allan Clarke is a retired British singer who was one of the founding members of The Hollies
. He retired in 1999.
, began singing together in Manchester
while still at school. In April 1963, they added Tony Hicks
(lead guitar) (who replaced Vic Steele), along with the later additions of Bobby Elliott
and Bernie Calvert
(who would replace Eric Haydock
on bass in 1966), became The Hollies formed in December 1962, founded by Clarke and Nash. Clarke was their lead vocalist, but also played occasional guitar and harmonica. In the UK they enjoyed 30 chart
singles
, plus two further chart entries with re-releases, 17 of which made the Top 10, with two – "I'm Alive" (1965) and "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother
" (1988 re-issue) – reaching No. 1, the latter on re-release; it had originally been a top three hit in 1969.
In the US charts
they achieved 23 chart singles, six of which hit the Top 10. Many of the group’s songs were co-written
by Clarke, usually with Hicks and Nash, until the latter's departure at the end of 1968. They used the pseudonym "L. Ransford" initially for their song-writing credits, then 'Clarke-Hicks-Nash' from mid 1966 onwards.
in 1966 Clarke helped along with several Hollies bandmates in The Everly Brothers recording of their album 'Two Yanks In England' which featured Everlys covers of mostly Hollies songs co-written by Clarke.
Clarke-Hicks-Nash between them composed The Hollies albums; 'For Certain Because...' (1966), 'Evolution', and 'Butterfly' (both 1967), while their UK hit singles compilation; 'Hollies' Greatest' topped the UK album charts in August 1968.
Clarke began writing solo songs from 1967 put under the team banner, notably; 'Lullaby To Tim' (dedicated to his son, though sung by Nash), 'Heading For A Fall', 'Water on The Brain', 'Would You Believe', etc.
Besides the full composing team Clarke also still wrote songs with Nash such as: 'Try it', 'Wishyouawish' (1967), 'Tomorrow When it Comes', 'Jennifer Eccles', 'Wings' (1968)
Clarke then assumed more of a figurehead profile as frontman of the Hollies following Graham Nash's departure from the group in December 1968.
Following Nash's exit Clarke took sole lead vocals on 'Hollies Sing Dylan' (a UK No.3 album in early 1969).
Clarke's own songs were then solely credited to him such as; 'My Life is Over With You', 'Goodbye Tomorrow', 'Not That Way At All', 'Marigold' (1969), 'Mad Professor Blyth', 'Separated',(1970), 'Row The Boat Together', 'Hold On' (1971).
Clarke also helped Nash's replacement Terry Sylvester develop as a songwriter teaming with him for a number of songs cut by the band such as; 'Gloria Swansong', 'Look At Life' (1969) 'I Wanna Shout', 'Man Without A Heart', 'Perfect Lady Housewife' (1970), etc.
Keen to launch a solo career due to Nash's success in CSN
, Clarke unexpectedly left the group in 1971, and was replaced by the Swedish
singer Mikael Rickfors
formerly with Bamboo
. Clarke made three albums on his own – My Real Name Is 'Arold (1972), Headroom (1973), and Allan Clarke (1974). However, none of Clarke's solo works had much acclaim.
Ironically, after Clarke left the Hollies, "Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress
," a song from their 1971 album Distant Light
, which he had co-written with songwriters Roger Cook
and Roger Greenaway
, and on which Clarke sang lead and played lead guitar, became an international hit, reaching No. 2 in the US (their most successful single ever there) and No. 32 in the UK Singles Chart
. However, the Hollies toured with Graham Nash's replacement, Terry Sylvester, assuming the lead vocal on performance of the single instead of Clarke.
Rickfors left the group and Clarke rejoined them in July 1973. Their first single with him back in the fold was another of his songs, "The Day that Curly Billy Shot Down Crazy Sam McGee," a Top 40 hit that autumn, that used the same style as "Long Cool Woman."
Clarke continued to record
and release solo albums while remaining with The Hollies, although his solo career did not achieve much chart or single success, one reason for this was that Clarke never did a solo tour, or much in the way of promotion of himself as a soloist besides issuing solo albums and singles, always putting The Hollies first. His next album was I've Got Time (1976). He also performed guest vocals on the 1977 album I Robot
by The Alan Parsons Project
(most notably, lead vocals on the FM-hit Breakdown). He briefly left The Hollies for the second time in March 1978 and made I Wasn't Born Yesterday (1978) an album of original material mostly written by Clarke with singer/songwriter Gary Benson, which yeilded a US chart hit single in '(I Will Be Your) Shadow In The Street', but then returned to the group in August. Subsequent solo albums included Legendary Heroes (1979), another largely original set, with its UK title and track running order changed to The Only One when released in 1980. His final solo album was Reasons To Believe (1990) issued in Germany on Polydor Records (still unissued in the US and UK). A single 'Reasons To Believe In' featured a non album 'B' side 'Without Love'.
Between 1974 and 1978 Clarke composed most of the original songs The Hollies recorded on a series of studio albums (several unissued in the US) along with Tony Hicks and Terry Sylvester.
By the mid seventies The Hollies' UK chart career was almost over however; their run of hit singles culminated with "The Air That I Breathe
," No. 2 in 1974, which was followed by a long run of commercial failures (despite a minor UK chart hit with Mike Batt's 'Soldier's Song' in 1980) , although they had continued to have overseas chart hits and enjoyed several years of much-acclaimed concert tours throughout the world. The success of their live shows was captured in their album Hollies Live Hits recorded live at a two-night concert in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 1976, which made No. 4 in the UK album charts, then a 1978 compilation '20 Golden Greats' made No.2 in the UK album charts.
In 1982 Clarke issued a rare non album single; 'Someone Else Will' c/w 'Castles In The Wind' on Forever Records, however this failed to chart.
A 1983 reunion with Graham Nash resulted in the albums; 'What Goes Around...' and 'Reunion' (a live US concert recording issued later), plus a US singles top thirty chart hit with a cover of 'Stop In The Name of Love'.
During Clarke's solo period, he composed several albums of his own material ( 'Arold', 'Headroom') and partly relied on outside material, with two mid seventies albums comprising cover versions ('Allan Clarke', 'I've Got Time') and was unlucky in 1973 that his record company were slow in spotting the potential of his strong version of Mentor Williams' 'Drift Away' (the lone cover on 'Headroom'), giving Dobie Gray the hit single. He was one of the first acts in Britain to champion the work of Bruce Springsteen
. Clarke recorded a cover version
of "Born to Run
" and "Blinded by the Light
." Ultimately, Clarke's record label thought the lyrics of these songs were too obscure, thus his versions did not receive much attention; his version of "Born to Run," although recorded a few months before Bruce Springsteen's, was delayed upon its release, and not released until after Springsteen's version, and "Blinded by the Light
" was dropped altogether as a potential single (later appearing on 'I've Got Time' album) with Clarke thus giving Manfred Mann's Earthband the go-ahead to record their own hit version. Clarke also cut a version of Springsteen's If I Were The Priest' in 1974. In this period, Clarke also used material of Lindsey Buckingham
pre-Fleetwood Mac
, plus recorded covers of songs by Janis Ian, Gavin Sutherland, and Randy Newman.
The Hollies charted in the UK with a hits medley; 'Holliedaze' in 1981 (Graham Nash joining them for UK TV promotion of this) , then later enjoyed a surprise UK No.1 in Autumn 1988 with a re-issue of 'He Ain't Heavy...He's My Brother' (thanks to use in a TV Commercial) restoring much public profile for the band.
In 1993 Clarke (with The Hollies & Graham Nash) contributed harmony and support vocals to a new version of 'Peggy Sue Got Married' featuring Lead vocals by Buddy Holly, which credited as; 'Buddy Holly and The Hollies' led off the 'Not Fade Away' tribute album to Holly by various artists.
Also that year Clarke's final recording with The Hollies; 'The Woman I Love' charted in the UK reaching No.42.
Clarke retired from the music industry in 1999, and was initially replaced in the group by Carl Wayne
, former vocalist with The Move
, who then died in 2004. The Hollies continue touring and recording today with Peter Howarth
as their vocalist.
Allan and the other members of the Hollies of the sixties and seventies were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on 15 March 2010. On that occasion he and Graham Nash performed a few of their songs, including 'Long cool woman'.
, Northamptonshire
since 1977, and is married to Jennifer Clarke, with whom he has three children, Toby,Timothy and Piper
The Hollies
The Hollies are an English pop and rock group, formed in Manchester in the early 1960s, though most of the band members are from throughout East Lancashire. Known for their distinctive vocal harmony style, they became one of the leading British groups of the 1960s and 1970s...
. He retired in 1999.
Career
He and his childhood friend, Graham NashGraham Nash
Graham William Nash, OBE is an English singer-songwriter known for his light tenor vocals and for his songwriting contributions with the British pop group The Hollies, and with the folk-rock band Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Nash is a photography collector and a published photographer...
, began singing together in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
while still at school. In April 1963, they added Tony Hicks
Tony Hicks
Tony Hicks is a guitarist and singer who has been a member of the British pop group The Hollies since 1963.-Career:...
(lead guitar) (who replaced Vic Steele), along with the later additions of Bobby Elliott
Bobby Elliott
Robert Hartley "Bobby" Elliott is a rock drummer, best known for playing with The Hollies, who has been described as "one of the very finest drummers in all of pop/rock".-Early life:...
and Bernie Calvert
Bernie Calvert
Bernie Calvert played bass guitar and keyboards with The Hollies from 1966 until 1981.-Career:...
(who would replace Eric Haydock
Eric Haydock
Eric Haydock was the original bass guitarist with The Hollies from December 1962 until 1966. Although considered a great bassist, he was replaced in 1966 by Bernie Calvert, after disputes related to the conduct of the band's managers.-External links:*...
on bass in 1966), became The Hollies formed in December 1962, founded by Clarke and Nash. Clarke was their lead vocalist, but also played occasional guitar and harmonica. In the UK they enjoyed 30 chart
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
singles
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
, plus two further chart entries with re-releases, 17 of which made the Top 10, with two – "I'm Alive" (1965) and "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother
He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother
"He Ain't Heavy... He's My Brother" is a popular music ballad written by Bobby Scott and Bob Russell. Originally recorded by Kelly Gordon in 1969, the song became a worldwide hit for The Hollies later that year and again for Neil Diamond in 1970....
" (1988 re-issue) – reaching No. 1, the latter on re-release; it had originally been a top three hit in 1969.
In the US charts
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
they achieved 23 chart singles, six of which hit the Top 10. Many of the group’s songs were co-written
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
by Clarke, usually with Hicks and Nash, until the latter's departure at the end of 1968. They used the pseudonym "L. Ransford" initially for their song-writing credits, then 'Clarke-Hicks-Nash' from mid 1966 onwards.
in 1966 Clarke helped along with several Hollies bandmates in The Everly Brothers recording of their album 'Two Yanks In England' which featured Everlys covers of mostly Hollies songs co-written by Clarke.
Clarke-Hicks-Nash between them composed The Hollies albums; 'For Certain Because...' (1966), 'Evolution', and 'Butterfly' (both 1967), while their UK hit singles compilation; 'Hollies' Greatest' topped the UK album charts in August 1968.
Clarke began writing solo songs from 1967 put under the team banner, notably; 'Lullaby To Tim' (dedicated to his son, though sung by Nash), 'Heading For A Fall', 'Water on The Brain', 'Would You Believe', etc.
Besides the full composing team Clarke also still wrote songs with Nash such as: 'Try it', 'Wishyouawish' (1967), 'Tomorrow When it Comes', 'Jennifer Eccles', 'Wings' (1968)
Clarke then assumed more of a figurehead profile as frontman of the Hollies following Graham Nash's departure from the group in December 1968.
Following Nash's exit Clarke took sole lead vocals on 'Hollies Sing Dylan' (a UK No.3 album in early 1969).
Clarke's own songs were then solely credited to him such as; 'My Life is Over With You', 'Goodbye Tomorrow', 'Not That Way At All', 'Marigold' (1969), 'Mad Professor Blyth', 'Separated',(1970), 'Row The Boat Together', 'Hold On' (1971).
Clarke also helped Nash's replacement Terry Sylvester develop as a songwriter teaming with him for a number of songs cut by the band such as; 'Gloria Swansong', 'Look At Life' (1969) 'I Wanna Shout', 'Man Without A Heart', 'Perfect Lady Housewife' (1970), etc.
Keen to launch a solo career due to Nash's success in CSN
Crosby, Stills & Nash (and Young)
Crosby, Stills & Nash is a folk rock supergroup made up of David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Graham Nash, also known as Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young when joined by occasional fourth member Neil Young...
, Clarke unexpectedly left the group in 1971, and was replaced by the Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
singer Mikael Rickfors
Mikael Rickfors
Mikael Rickfors was born in Stockholm, Sweden, 4 December 1948. From 1968 he was the lead singer and bass guitarist in popular Swedish band Bamboo. The band released two singles before breaking up in 1970. Rickfors would later perform with the British rock group The Hollies for about two years....
formerly with Bamboo
Bamboo
Bamboo is a group of perennial evergreens in the true grass family Poaceae, subfamily Bambusoideae, tribe Bambuseae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family....
. Clarke made three albums on his own – My Real Name Is 'Arold (1972), Headroom (1973), and Allan Clarke (1974). However, none of Clarke's solo works had much acclaim.
Ironically, after Clarke left the Hollies, "Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress
Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress
"Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress" is a song written by Allan Clarke, Roger Cook, and Roger Greenaway and performed by the British pop group The Hollies...
," a song from their 1971 album Distant Light
Distant Light (Hollies album)
Distant Light is the 1971 released album by The Hollies. It was the last UK albumby the band to feature lead vocalist and founding member Allan Clarke, till the 1974 album...
, which he had co-written with songwriters Roger Cook
Roger Cook (songwriter)
Roger Cook is an English songwriter who has written many hits for other recording artists. He has also had a successful recording career in his own right.-Early life:Cook was born in Fishponds, Bristol, England...
and Roger Greenaway
Roger Greenaway
Roger Greenaway , is a popular English songwriter, best known for his collaborations with Roger Cook.-Career:...
, and on which Clarke sang lead and played lead guitar, became an international hit, reaching No. 2 in the US (their most successful single ever there) and No. 32 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. However, the Hollies toured with Graham Nash's replacement, Terry Sylvester, assuming the lead vocal on performance of the single instead of Clarke.
Rickfors left the group and Clarke rejoined them in July 1973. Their first single with him back in the fold was another of his songs, "The Day that Curly Billy Shot Down Crazy Sam McGee," a Top 40 hit that autumn, that used the same style as "Long Cool Woman."
Clarke continued to record
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
and release solo albums while remaining with The Hollies, although his solo career did not achieve much chart or single success, one reason for this was that Clarke never did a solo tour, or much in the way of promotion of himself as a soloist besides issuing solo albums and singles, always putting The Hollies first. His next album was I've Got Time (1976). He also performed guest vocals on the 1977 album I Robot
I Robot (album)
I Robot is a progressive rock album recorded by The Alan Parsons Project, engineered by Alan Parsons and Eric Woolfson in 1977. It was released by Arista Records in 1977 and re-released on CD in 1984 and 2007. It was intended to be based on the I, Robot stories written by Isaac Asimov, and Woolfson...
by The Alan Parsons Project
The Alan Parsons Project
The Alan Parsons Project was a British progressive rock band, active between 1975 and 1990, consisting of singer Eric Woolfson and keyboardist Alan Parsons surrounded by a varying number of session musicians....
(most notably, lead vocals on the FM-hit Breakdown). He briefly left The Hollies for the second time in March 1978 and made I Wasn't Born Yesterday (1978) an album of original material mostly written by Clarke with singer/songwriter Gary Benson, which yeilded a US chart hit single in '(I Will Be Your) Shadow In The Street', but then returned to the group in August. Subsequent solo albums included Legendary Heroes (1979), another largely original set, with its UK title and track running order changed to The Only One when released in 1980. His final solo album was Reasons To Believe (1990) issued in Germany on Polydor Records (still unissued in the US and UK). A single 'Reasons To Believe In' featured a non album 'B' side 'Without Love'.
Between 1974 and 1978 Clarke composed most of the original songs The Hollies recorded on a series of studio albums (several unissued in the US) along with Tony Hicks and Terry Sylvester.
By the mid seventies The Hollies' UK chart career was almost over however; their run of hit singles culminated with "The Air That I Breathe
The Air That I Breathe
"The Air That I Breathe" is a ballad written by Albert Hammond and Mike Hazlewood, initially recorded by Albert Hammond on his 1972 album It Never Rains In Southern California.-History:...
," No. 2 in 1974, which was followed by a long run of commercial failures (despite a minor UK chart hit with Mike Batt's 'Soldier's Song' in 1980) , although they had continued to have overseas chart hits and enjoyed several years of much-acclaimed concert tours throughout the world. The success of their live shows was captured in their album Hollies Live Hits recorded live at a two-night concert in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 1976, which made No. 4 in the UK album charts, then a 1978 compilation '20 Golden Greats' made No.2 in the UK album charts.
In 1982 Clarke issued a rare non album single; 'Someone Else Will' c/w 'Castles In The Wind' on Forever Records, however this failed to chart.
A 1983 reunion with Graham Nash resulted in the albums; 'What Goes Around...' and 'Reunion' (a live US concert recording issued later), plus a US singles top thirty chart hit with a cover of 'Stop In The Name of Love'.
During Clarke's solo period, he composed several albums of his own material ( 'Arold', 'Headroom') and partly relied on outside material, with two mid seventies albums comprising cover versions ('Allan Clarke', 'I've Got Time') and was unlucky in 1973 that his record company were slow in spotting the potential of his strong version of Mentor Williams' 'Drift Away' (the lone cover on 'Headroom'), giving Dobie Gray the hit single. He was one of the first acts in Britain to champion the work of Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band...
. Clarke recorded a cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of "Born to Run
Born to Run (song)
"Born to Run" is a song by American singer songwriter Bruce Springsteen, and the title song of his album Born to Run.- Songwriting :Written at in Long Branch, New Jersey in early 1974, the song was Bruce Springsteen's last-ditch effort to make it big. The prior year, Springsteen had released two...
" and "Blinded by the Light
Blinded by the Light
"Blinded by the Light" is a song written and originally recorded by Bruce Springsteen, although it is mostly known by its 1977 #1 hit version recorded by Manfred Mann's Earth Band. It was released in the United Kingdom in August 1976, where it reached No...
." Ultimately, Clarke's record label thought the lyrics of these songs were too obscure, thus his versions did not receive much attention; his version of "Born to Run," although recorded a few months before Bruce Springsteen's, was delayed upon its release, and not released until after Springsteen's version, and "Blinded by the Light
Blinded by the Light
"Blinded by the Light" is a song written and originally recorded by Bruce Springsteen, although it is mostly known by its 1977 #1 hit version recorded by Manfred Mann's Earth Band. It was released in the United Kingdom in August 1976, where it reached No...
" was dropped altogether as a potential single (later appearing on 'I've Got Time' album) with Clarke thus giving Manfred Mann's Earthband the go-ahead to record their own hit version. Clarke also cut a version of Springsteen's If I Were The Priest' in 1974. In this period, Clarke also used material of Lindsey Buckingham
Lindsey Buckingham
Lindsey Adams Buckingham is an American guitarist, singer, composer and producer, most notable for being the guitarist and male lead singer of the musical group Fleetwood Mac. Aside from his tenure with Fleetwood Mac, Buckingham has also released six solo albums and a live album...
pre-Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac are a British–American rock band formed in 1967 in London.The only original member present in the band is its eponymous drummer, Mick Fleetwood...
, plus recorded covers of songs by Janis Ian, Gavin Sutherland, and Randy Newman.
The Hollies charted in the UK with a hits medley; 'Holliedaze' in 1981 (Graham Nash joining them for UK TV promotion of this) , then later enjoyed a surprise UK No.1 in Autumn 1988 with a re-issue of 'He Ain't Heavy...He's My Brother' (thanks to use in a TV Commercial) restoring much public profile for the band.
In 1993 Clarke (with The Hollies & Graham Nash) contributed harmony and support vocals to a new version of 'Peggy Sue Got Married' featuring Lead vocals by Buddy Holly, which credited as; 'Buddy Holly and The Hollies' led off the 'Not Fade Away' tribute album to Holly by various artists.
Also that year Clarke's final recording with The Hollies; 'The Woman I Love' charted in the UK reaching No.42.
Clarke retired from the music industry in 1999, and was initially replaced in the group by Carl Wayne
Carl Wayne
Carl Wayne was a British singer and actor. He is best remembered as the lead vocalist of Birmingham rock group The Move during the 1960s.-Early days:...
, former vocalist with The Move
The Move
The Move, from Birmingham, England, were one of the leading British rock bands of the 1960s. They scored nine Top 20 UK singles in five years, but were among the most popular British bands not to find any success in the United States....
, who then died in 2004. The Hollies continue touring and recording today with Peter Howarth
Peter Howarth
Peter Howarth is the current lead singer of the British band The Hollies, joining in October 2004. He replaced Carl Wayne, who died earlier in the year...
as their vocalist.
Allan and the other members of the Hollies of the sixties and seventies were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on 15 March 2010. On that occasion he and Graham Nash performed a few of their songs, including 'Long cool woman'.
Personal life
Allan Clarke has lived in AshtonAshton, Northamptonshire
Ashton, Northamptonshire may refer to:*Ashton, East Northamptonshire*Ashton, South Northamptonshire...
, Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
since 1977, and is married to Jennifer Clarke, with whom he has three children, Toby,Timothy and Piper