The Hollies-The Story Behind The Song "Long Cool Woman(In A Black Dress)

The Hollies started out as a duo with Alan Clarke and Graham Nash known as The Deltas. Two different stories have been told over the years about how they became The Hollies.One version is that former band member Eric Haydock wanted to name the group after the Christmas holly garland.

However, Graham Nash wrote in 2009 that they called themselves The Hollies after the singer Buddy Holly and the Christmas decoration.

In 1968 Graham Nash grew tired of touring and left The Hollies to move to Los Angeles to concentrate on writing songs. But that plan changed after he arrived in Los Angeles.Nash joined up with former Buffalo Springfield guitarist Stephen Stills and Ex-Byrds singer and guitarist David Crosby to form the now legendary Crosby,Stills & Nash

The Hollies replaced Nash in 1969 with Terry Sylvester

There have been numerous personnel changes in the band, but during those early days the members were, Alan Clarke, lead singer and guitarist, Tony Hicks guitar and backing vocals,Bobby Elliott, drums and percussion, and Bernie Calvert on bass and keyboards

As of this writing, Elliott and Hicks are the only remaining original members.

The Hollies had that Beatleseque sound with perfect harmonies.They gave us hits like “Bus Stop,” “Stop, Stop,Stop,” ”He Ain’t Heavy He’s My Brother,” and their huge hit “Long Cool Woman (In A Black Dress).”

So, what is “Long Cool Woman (In A Black Dress” ) about?

(Well) As Allan Clarke tells it, he and his friend Roger Cook, a songwriter and record producer, had been out having a few drinks and then returned to their office

Clarke says he doesn’t remember why,perhaps because of their earlier libations, but they thought it would be fun to write a song about a woman singing at a bar,wearing a black dress during prohibition.

So, Long Cool Woman is simply a song about Prohibition in America in the 1930’s.

The opening riff was originally written on the piano,but it was replaced with a guitar

After they finished the song, Clarke told Cook, “I think the boys in the band would like it and we could work up a good version”.

Three weeks later,Clarke took the recording he and the Hollies had made to Cook, played the track for him and Cook was blown away

About five weeks later, ”Long Cool Woman” was released, with Alan Clarke impersonating John Fogerty on the vocals trying to make it sound like Creedence Clearwater Revival.