The Hollies - Write On (1976)
Rock | 1cd | EAC Rip | Flac + Cue + Log | covers
Magic 5244142 HDCD | rel: 1999 | 435Mb
At the time of its release in early 1976, Epic Records passed on Write On, but subsequently included a handful of its songs, including "Star," "Love Is the Thing," "I Won't Move Over," and the title track on 1977's Clarke, Hicks, Sylvester, Calvert & Elliott. Why they passed on it is anyone's guess, since it's as strong as anything the group had been putting on LP up to that time, made up of pleasant and tuneful, if not always memorable or exciting songs, the authorship of all but one credited to Allan Clarke, Terry Sylvester, and Tony Hicks. The opening track, "Star," might have been a modest hit, with its engaging hooks, quasi-reggae beat, and gorgeous harmonizing on the choruses, if it had been given a chance on AM radio. "Write On" is also beautifully sung and offers a delicious chorus, but just misses the level of tension needed to put it over, even with Tony Hicks' larger-than-life guitar solo in the middle.