![In A Spin, no label, BC 5317704]( "In A Spin, no label, BC 5317704")
In A Spin, no label, BC 5317704
Culled from a plethora of TV and radio broadcasts, padded out with a few of the pseudo rarities and alternate takes omitted from the official 30th Anniversary three-CD boxed set, In a Spin is alternately a treasure trove of lost performances, and an aural nightmare which maliciously debunks the perfection of the Hollies' studio work. At best, the sound is typical period broadcast quality; at worst, the Hollies struggle manfully to escape a paper bag full of tape hiss and echo. Add the natural pitfalls of live television to the brew, and the wonder is that they even came close to reproducing the hits we know and love. But they did, and this CDs testifies to their skills. The released material can be dealt with swiftly: "Poison Ivy" is an alternate version, hitherto found only on the Manchester band's Australian debut; "A Taste of Honey" was likewise released only on the U.S. Beat Group album; and "Yes I Will" and "Look Through Any Window" are the stereo mixes included on the Hollies Greatest album. Elsewhere, there's an hilarious (if brief) encounter between the band and Ready Steady Go TV host Cathy McGowan, preserved on a 1966 flexidisc interview; a fabulous 1966 BBC version of "Bus Stop," the quintessential '60s hit and quite possibly the greatest pop song ever written; a delightfully demo-like "Dear Oak Tree"; and a 1971 Australian TV special which was surely a joy for both band and audience. History has never regarded the live Hollies experience as one of those moments we should kick ourselves for missing; In a Spin suggests that history, maybe, got it wrong once again.
1 Disc and Music Echo Interview Flexidisc 1966
2 Poison Ivy Leiber, Stoller
3 Yes I Will (I'll Be True to You) Goffin, Titelman
4 Look Through Any Window Gouldman, Silverman
5 A Taste of Honey Marlow, Scott
6 Very Last Day Stookey, Yarrow
7 I Can't Let Go Gorgoni, Taylor
8 Look Through Any Window Gouldman, Silverman
9 Stop, Stop, Stop Clarke, Hicks, Nash
10 On a Carousel Clarke, Hicks, Nash
11 Bus Stop Gouldman
12 Dear Oak Tree
13 Blowin' in the Wind Dylan
14 Carrie Anne Clarke, Hicks, Nash
15 Medley
16 Stop, Stop, Stop Clarke, Hicks, Nash
17 A Taste of Honey Marlow, Scott
18 Quit Your Low Down Ways Dylan
19 Maybe I'll Settle Down
20 Stewball Herald, Rinzler, Yellin
21 Gasoline Alley Bred Cook, Greenaway, Macaulay
22 Let It Be Lennon, McCartney
23 Too Young to Be Married Hicks
24 He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother Russell, Scott
