Distant Light (Hollies album)

The album was the band's biggest experiment to date. The use of saxophones, female choruses, and more complex compositions in the style of the Moody Blues ("You Know The Score"), was very unusual for the Hollies. The lyrics were more serious – containing, for example, anti-war messages ("You Know The Score" or "Promised Land") or dramatic stories ("What A Life I've Led", "Hold On"). Only a few songs were in the traditional Hollies style and sound ("Long Dark Road", "A Little Thing Like Love", "To Do with Love"). The recording featured guest appearances by pianist Gary Brooker (Procol Harum), guitarist Mick Abrahams (Jethro Tull) and saxophonist Jim Jewell. Vocals were sung by Madeline Bell, Doris Troy and Liza Strike. The LP was released on 8 October 1971 in a gatefold sleeve with a painted woodland and summer scene by Colin Elgie of Hipgnosis. The idea was conceived by Storm Thorgerson, famous for his work with Pink Floyd. There were many hidden messages and a good deal of symbolism and, years later, the artist admitted that there were so many that he couldn't remember some of them. The inside cover art consisted of pictures of the band members taken at a house party at Tony Hicks's apartment. ==Release and reception==

The band performed the first three songs from the album ("What a Life I've Led" and "Look What We've Got" and "Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress") live on the television show Meet the Hollies on 25 July 1971. Later, they performed "Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress" and "A Little Thing Like Love" again on another TV show, ''It's Lulu. The album was highly praised by critics – Record Mirror'' wrote that "You could use the word sensational about The Hollies' new album" – and it became the group's biggest success in America (including their records with Graham Nash). However, in their native UK, the LP was only a modest success for the band. The album's biggest hit was the song "Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress", composed by Allan Clarke and Roger Cook (whose co-writer Roger Greenaway was also credited by verbal agreement between the two songwriters). The single reached No. 2 in the US, No. 1 in Canada and No. 32 in the UK; it was the Hollies' biggest American hit. The song "Long Dark Road" was also released as a single in the US and Canada, reaching No. 26 and No. 24 respectively. ==Track listing==

All tracks composed by Tony Hicks and Kenny Lynch, except where indicated. Side one • "What a Life I've Led" – 3:58 • "Look What We've Got" – 4:07 • "Hold On" (Allan Clarke) – 4:07 • "Pull Down the Blind" (Terry Sylvester) – 3:30 • "To Do with Love" – 3:29 • "Promised Land" – 4:20 Side two • "Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress" (Allan Clarke, Roger Cook, Roger Greenaway) – 3:19 • "You Know the Score" (Allan Clarke, Terry Sylvester) – 5:37 • "Cable Car" (Terry Sylvester) – 4:25 • "A Little Thing Like Love" (Allan Clarke, Tony Macaulay) – 3:19 • "Long Dark Road" – 4:16 ==Personnel==

;The Hollies • Allan Clarke – lead vocals and backing vocals, lead guitar on "Long Cool Woman" • Tony Hicks – lead guitars and bass • Terry Sylvester – rhythm guitars • Bernie Calvert – bass • Bobby Elliott – drums with: • John Scott – arrangements, conductor • Gary Brooker – organ and piano on "Long Dark Road" • Mick Abrahams – pedal steel guitar on "What A Life I've Led" • Jim Jewell – saxophone • Madeline Bell, Doris Troy and Liza Strike – backing vocals on "What A Life I've Led" ==Chart positions==