The Hollies

This British CD seems like a superfluous 18-song compilation, devoted to Hollies songs on which the group was accompanied by string sections, variously arranged by Johnny Scott, Chris Gunning, Mike Batt, Tony Hymas, Mike Vickers, Peter Wingfield, et al. How these songs relate other than that is sort of dubious, as the material jumps across years and decades, back and forth from the '60s to the end of the '70s, zigging and zagging. On the other hand, it is a good excuse to remaster tracks such as "Butterfly," "Sandy," "Confessions of a Mind," etc., not all of which are that well-known to subsequent generations of listeners or, generally, too well exposed in the United States (and to make the music available at a mid-price level). Thus, it's a chance to sample a good deal of the Hollies' better work that occurred in between and after their biggest hits, and even a couple of those hits are represented. Even casual listeners will marvel at the harmonies on a lost '70s cut like "I'm Down," and their version of "Sandy" deserves as many airings as it can get. It's all impeccably written and performed although, by the nature of the criteria on which this collection was built, tends toward the poppier side of the group's work ("He Ain't Heavy," etc.). ~ Bruce Eder, All Music Guide