Hollies' Greatest Hits CD

One of the best British Invasion bands, the Hollies were rightfully famous for their stellar harmonies (this is of course where Graham Nash honed his vocals skills) and keen sense of pop songcraft. This two-CD anthology from EMI covers the band's entire career, from their earliest (and probably best) incarnation in the 1960s up to an early 2000s recording made specifically for this collection, and including the band's various hits from the intervening decades.

While the non-chronological sequencing seems a bit random, it does highlight the Hollies' many phases and stylistic segues, from jangle-pop and country-rock to psychedelic heaviness and adult contemporary balladry. Those looking for only the chiming folk-rock the Hollies' are best known for ("Bus Stop," "Carrie Anne," and the like) may want to seek out a different collection, but enthusiasts looking for a solid career retrospective will do well to check this out.

There are better-sounding repackagings of Hollies material-the 30th ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION box set, for example. On balance, though, GREATEST HITS is probably the most representative single-CD Hollies best-of collection available. All but three of the songs were recorded during the tenure of Gram Nash-the band's most creative period -and most of them are unarguable pop rock gems, among the best records of their era. The rest, including the Creedence-inspired "Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress," are merely excellent. Consumer note: if you're puzzled by the absence of the Hollies' biggest worldwide hit, the lovely "Air That I Breathe," be advised that it wasn't released until a year after this compilation first went to market.

Digitally remastered by Vic Anesini (Sony Music Studios, New York, New York).

Includes one bonus track newly recorded for this release.

Recorded between 1963 & 2003.

The Hollies include: Bernie Calvert, Allan Clarke, Tony Hicks, Terry Sylvester, Bobby Elliot.

Producers includes: Ron Richards, The Hollies, Alan Parsons, Mike Batt, Mike Moran.

Compilation producer: Tim Chaksfield.

The Hollies includes: Allan Clarke, Graham Nash.

Remastered