''Confessions of the Mind'' is the tenth studio album by
the Hollies
The Hollies are a British pop rock band, formed in 1962. One of the leading British groups of the 1960s and into the mid-1970s, they are known for their distinctive three-part vocal harmony style. Allan Clarke and Graham Nash founded the band ...
. It was released in the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
as ''Moving Finger'', with a different track sequence and the tracks "Separated" and "I Wanna Shout" replaced with the Clarke/Sylvester penned "Marigold: Gloria Swansong" saved from the previous album (''
Hollies Sing Hollies
''Hollies Sing Hollies'' is the ninth studio album released in the UK by the Hollies. It was released in November 1969 by Parlophone. It was their second album that year, coming 6 months after an entire album of Bob Dylan covers. It was their ...
'') and "Gasoline Alley Bred". In
Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...
, it was released by Hansa as ''Move On'' with an alternate track sequence with "Gasoline Alley Bred" added. The UK version peaked at number 30 in the charts and the US version at number 183.
Overview and recording
Nearly all of the songs were written either by guitarist
Tony Hicks
Anthony Christopher Hicks (born 16 December 1945) is an English guitarist and singer who has been a member of the British rock/pop band the Hollies since 1963, and as such was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010. His main rol ...
or by the songwriting team of
Allan Clarke and
Terry Sylvester
Terence Sylvester (born 8 January 1947) is an English musician and songwriter. He is a former member of the Escorts, the Swinging Blue Jeans (1966–1969), and the Hollies. In the latter role, he took on the high parts formerly sung by Graham ...
. Tony Hicks revealed in an interview that the band at this time was influenced by the style of rivals such as
Jethro Tull and
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Crosby, Stills & Nash (CSN) were a folk rock supergroup made up of American singer-songwriters David Crosby and Stephen Stills and English singer-songwriter Graham Nash. When joined by Canadian singer-songwriter Neil Young as a fourth member ...
. "Our songwriting has also undergone change," Tony said to
Disc and Music Echo
''Disc'' was a weekly British popular music magazine, published between 1958 and 1975, when it was incorporated into ''Record Mirror''. It was also known for periods as ''Disc Weekly '' (1964–1966) and ''Disc and Music Echo '' (1966–1972).
...
. "I used to write about love mainly, but now I choose more general subjects. I’m writing about worldly affairs and more important issues. They mean so much more." Originally, the album was to open with a poetry reading by drummer
Bobby Elliott in the style of
The Moody Blues
The Moody Blues were an English rock music, rock band formed in Birmingham in 1964, initially consisting of keyboardist Mike Pinder, multi-instrumentalist Ray Thomas, guitarist Denny Laine, drummer Graeme Edge and bassist Clint Warwick. The g ...
' albums. The track "Bobby's Prologue" was even recorded, but the idea was eventually abandoned.
The Hollies began a work on the album in early November 1969, with recording sessions lasting until May 1970. The basis of the opening track "Survival of the Fittest", co-written by
Graham Nash
Graham William Nash (born 2 February 1942) is an English musician, singer, songwriter, photographer, and activist. He is known for his light tenor voice and for his contributions as a member of the Hollies and the supergroups Crosby, Stills ...
, was recorded in August 1969, still with Nash in the studio, but his vocals were later replaced with Terry Sylvester's. The Hollies worked on Hicks's "Too Young To Be Married" during the sessions of the previous album
Hollies Sing Hollies
''Hollies Sing Hollies'' is the ninth studio album released in the UK by the Hollies. It was released in November 1969 by Parlophone. It was their second album that year, coming 6 months after an entire album of Bob Dylan covers. It was their ...
, but did not complete it then. "Isn't It Nice?" and bluesy "Perfect Lady Housewife", both written by Clarke and
Terry Sylvester
Terence Sylvester (born 8 January 1947) is an English musician and songwriter. He is a former member of the Escorts, the Swinging Blue Jeans (1966–1969), and the Hollies. In the latter role, he took on the high parts formerly sung by Graham ...
, were older tunes from the abandoned stage musical ''Oh Flux!''.
During the recording process, several other songs were made and released as singles ("
I Can't Tell the Bottom from the Top", B-sides "Mad Professor Blyth" and "Dandelion Wine"), some songs remained in the archives and were released years later on various compilations ("Sign of the Times", "Eleanor's Castle") and some remain unreleased to this day ("Bobby's Prologue", "Snow on Heather Moon", re-recording of Clarke-Nash's "Wings").
[Peter Doggett, The Long Road Home (CD box liner notes), EMI Records Ltd, 2003.]
Keyboardist Reg Dwight (soon to be known as
Elton John) participated in the recording of the album, playing on the songs "Perfect Lady Housewife" and the single "I Can't Tell the Bottom from the Top".
Release and reception
The LP was packaged in a plain black and white cover with the album title and The Hollies name (and lyrics on the back). ''Confessions of the Mind'' had mostly positive reviews,
Reveille (newspaper)
''Reveille'' was a popular British weekly tabloid newspaper founded by Reg Hipwell during the Second World WarUnion Jack, A Scrapbook, British Forces' Newspapers 1939-45 HMSO & Imperial War Museum, 1993 () and the post-war years.
Launched on ...
called the LP "an outstanding album on which all of the songs are good", and reaching the UK Top 30. However, the original release of the album had an insert with a color photograph of the band. With the Top 10 hit "I Can't Tell the Bottom from the Top" as the lead single from these sessions, none of the songs on the album were selected for another 45 release in the UK or the US, although "Too Young To Be Married" was issued as a single in many countries and became a No. 1 single in Australia, New Zealand and Malaysia (the single would have been certified gold). A live version of the song appeared on the concert album "
Hollies Live Hits
''Hollies Live Hits'' (stylized as ''Hollies. Live Hits.'') is the first live album by the Hollies, released in 1977. It reached number four on the UK Album Chart.
Overview and recording
The Hollies had already planned to release a live album wi ...
" released in March 1977. Another album track "Man Without A Heart" was released as a single in the Netherlands and went to No. 25.
Track listing
Moving Finger
''Moving Finger'' is the tenth US album by
the Hollies
The Hollies are a British pop rock band, formed in 1962. One of the leading British groups of the 1960s and into the mid-1970s, they are known for their distinctive three-part vocal harmony style. Allan Clarke and Graham Nash founded the band ...
, released on
Epic Records in stereo (E 30255) on December 21, 1970. It omitted two songs from the UK ''Confessions of the Mind'' track listing, "Separated" and "I Wanna Shout", and were both replaced by "Marigold: Gloria Swansong" (reserved from ''Hollies Sing Hollies'') and "Gasoline Alley Bred".
Personnel
Tracks 2, 6, 8, and 9 include accompaniment arranged and conducted by Johnny Scott.
;The Hollies
*
Allan Clarke - vocals, guitar, harmonica
*
Tony Hicks
Anthony Christopher Hicks (born 16 December 1945) is an English guitarist and singer who has been a member of the British rock/pop band the Hollies since 1963, and as such was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010. His main rol ...
- guitar, vocals
*
Terry Sylvester
Terence Sylvester (born 8 January 1947) is an English musician and songwriter. He is a former member of the Escorts, the Swinging Blue Jeans (1966–1969), and the Hollies. In the latter role, he took on the high parts formerly sung by Graham ...
- guitar, vocals
*
Bernie Calvert
Bernard Bamford Calvert (born 16 September 1942) is an English musician who played bass guitar and keyboards with The Hollies from 1966 until 1981.
Career
He worked with several rock and roll groups during the early 1960s, most notably Rickie ...
- bass, keyboards
*
Bobby Elliott - drums
*
Graham Nash
Graham William Nash (born 2 February 1942) is an English musician, singer, songwriter, photographer, and activist. He is known for his light tenor voice and for his contributions as a member of the Hollies and the supergroups Crosby, Stills ...
- rhythm guitar (on "Survival of the Fittest")
References
{{Authority control
1970 albums
The Hollies albums
Parlophone albums
Epic Records albums
Albums produced by Ron Richards (producer)