''Evolution'' is the first of two albums released in 1967 by British
pop rock band
the Hollies. It is their sixth UK album and peaked at number 13 on the
UK Albums Chart.
Background
Like its predecessor, ''
For Certain Because
''For Certain Because'' is the fifth UK album by the Hollies and their second released in 1966. It was the first Hollies album in which all the songs were written by members Allan Clarke, Graham Nash, and Tony Hicks, and the first on which the ...
'', this album comprises only songs written by group members
Allan Clarke,
Graham Nash, and
Tony Hicks. None of the songs on the album were selected for single or EP release in the UK, although "
Carrie Anne" from the American release was issued as a single in the US. Drummer
Bobby Elliott
Robert Hartley Elliott (born 8 December 1941) is an English rock drummer, best known for playing with The Hollies. He has been described as "one of the very finest drummers in all of pop/rock".
Early life
Elliott discovered jazz music when he w ...
only played on three songs on the album due to
appendicitis and, as a result, he was substituted for by Dougie Wright,
Clem Cattini and
Mitch Mitchell of
the Jimi Hendrix Experience.
The album cover artwork was created by
the Fool, with the psychedelic cover photo by
Karl Ferris, who is credited with creating the first truly psychedelic photograph for an album cover.
Ferris commented on the making of the album cover during a special signing of cover prints in 1997:
In 1978,
Parlophone reissued the stereo version of ''Evolution'', along with ''
Butterfly'' and ''
Confessions of the Mind
''Confessions of the Mind'' is the tenth studio album by the Hollies. It was released in the United States as ''Moving Finger'', with a different track sequence and the tracks "Separated" and "I Wanna Shout" replaced with the Clarke/Sylvester p ...
''.
The song "Have You Ever Loved Somebody?" was released earlier (in September 1966) both by
the Searchers and
Paul and
Barry Ryan as single a-sides. It was first released by
the Everly Brothers on their ''
Two Yanks in England'' album.
Recording
''Evolution'' and its respective singles were recorded at
EMI's
Abbey Road Studios
Abbey Road Studios (formerly EMI Recording Studios) is a recording studio at 3 Abbey Road, St John's Wood, City of Westminster, London, England. It was established in November 1931 by the Gramophone Company, a predecessor of British music c ...
in just six days spread over three months in early 1967, at the same time
the Beatles were recording ''
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
''Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band'' is the eighth studio album by the English rock band the Beatles. Released on 26May 1967, ''Sgt. Pepper'' is regarded by musicologists as an early concept album that advanced the roles of sound composi ...
''. The first session occurred on 11 January where "When Your Lights Turned On", "Have You Ever Loved Somebody" and the B-side "All the World is Love" were completed. Work began on, but was not completed for, the eventual single "On a Carousel". That song was completed during the next session on 13 January along with the album track, "Lullaby to Tim". Two songs sung in Italian, "Non Prego Per Me" and "Devi Avere Fiducia in Me" (the former composed by
Lucio Battisti and
Mogol), were also recorded on that day specifically for release as a single in Italy. The next session on 22 February was dedicated to two more songs meant specifically for release in Italy, "We're Alive" and "Kill Me Quick". "The Games We Play" as well as the
Graham Gouldman-penned "Schoolgirl" were also begun during this session. The bulk of album work took place on March 3, 8 and 17. "Schoolgirl" was attempted again on the 8th but was ultimately left unfinished for reasons unknown. It was completed years later, in November 1997, by Tony Hicks (who also recorded additional guitar) and his son Paul at Abbey Road studios and released on the "Abbey Road 66-70" CD. The final songs recorded before the album's release in June were "Carrie Anne" on 1 May and its B-side, "Signs That Will Never Change", on the following day.
Track listing
All tracks written by
Allan Clarke,
Tony Hicks, and
Graham Nash.
US version
''Evolution'' was also the name of the Hollies' debut album for their new US label,
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America
Sony Corporation of America (SONAM, also known as SCA), is the American arm of the Japanese conglomerate Sony Group ...
. But, like many American issues of British albums, this album was remixed using heavy echo and reverb. In addition, three songs were left off the album (with only "Carrie Anne" added).
The cover shown is the US/Canadian cover, which used the same Karl Ferris photograph but differed from the UK cover by dispensing with The Fool's overall cover design. Instead, the US/Canadian cover put the Hollies' name on the cover in more conventional psychedelic-influenced lettering, placed the album title on the cover in a normal font, and then overlaid a paisley-patterned image.
The 1998 US CD reissue of ''Evolution'' by Sundazed presents the original US Epic ''Evolution'' LP using the original EMI stereo masters. In addition, two of the songs that appeared on the UK ''Evolution'', "Water on the Brain" and "When Your Lights Turn On" appear here as well as "
Jennifer Eccles
"Jennifer Eccles" is a 1968 single by The Hollies. It was released with the B-side "Open Up Your Eyes" on the Parlophone label, Catalogue number R5680. The track reached #7 on the UK singles chart in March 1968. It was released in the US with a ...
," "Signs That Will Never Change", and "Open Up Your Eyes."
Track listing
Personnel
The Hollies
*
Allan Clarke – vocals, harmonica
*
Tony Hicks – lead guitar, vocals
*
Graham Nash – rhythm guitar, vocals
*
Bobby Elliott
Robert Hartley Elliott (born 8 December 1941) is an English rock drummer, best known for playing with The Hollies. He has been described as "one of the very finest drummers in all of pop/rock".
Early life
Elliott discovered jazz music when he w ...
– drums on "When Your Light's Turned On", "Have You Ever Loved Somebody?" and "Lullaby to Tim"
*
Bernie Calvert – bass guitar, harpsichord on "Ye Olde Toffee Shoppe"
Additional personnel
*
Ron Richards –
production
*Dougie Wright,
Mitch Mitchell,
Clem Cattini – drums except where noted
*
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight; 25 March 1947) is a British singer, pianist and composer. Commonly nicknamed the "Rocket Man" after his 1972 hit single of the same name, John has led a commercially successful career a ...
– piano on "Water on the Brain" and Hammond organ on "You Need Love"
Charts
References
{{Authority control
1967 albums
The Hollies albums
Albums produced by Ron Richards (producer)
Parlophone albums
Epic Records albums