British Invasion: The Hollies - Look Through Any Window

The British Are Coming! The British Are Coming!

This particular "British Invasion" rockumentary from Eagle Vision showcases The Hollies who were, without question, one of the most likable and easy to listen to pop sensations of the Swinging Sixties, bar none.

Through stills, vintage music videos, taped live performances, as well as band-member interviews (nearly 40 years later), the viewer learns all that there is to know about what made The Hollies tick at the very height of their popularity in the competitive arena of rock-n-roll mania.

With their focus being on syncopated, 3-part harmonies, along with plenty of twangy guitar (thrown in for good measure), The Hollies original goal was to emulate The Everly Brothers (their idols) from America.

With its 109-minute running time, this entertaining rockumentary features 22 of The Hollies' most memorable tunes, such as - "Bus Stop", "On A Carousel", "Carrie Anne", and "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother", to name but a few.

He was tired after the show and had had enough of "producers and promoters and agents". But, when he found out I was a "soundman" and a lifelong lover of The Hollies, he said have a seat. I don't think we said much about CSN&Y. But he was willing to talk through several drinks ( I may have had them all) about the Hollies days. I remembered how young they were. I was just a teenager when their first hits appeared in America. I remembered the impact of their songs like "bus Stop" had on me.

I remember saying "The Hollies at their best were competition for the Beatles".

I won't tell you what he said as it was a private conversation. But, I think he liked the sentiment.

Regarding the video. I think it is splendid. Heartbreaking at times but truly worth watching.

This was amazing and how more music documentaries should be.

Band members talking about the songwriting and development of The Hollies' sound. Full performances of all the classic hits. You can't help but want to dance or tap your foot along while watching.

It was quite an upbeat and positive documentary, much like the hits of The Hollies themselves. Such an underrated band.

I was amazed at how quickly the 2 hour runtime flew by. I could have easily kept watching them talk about their songs and careers for another 2 hours. It will make you delve into The Hollies discography.

Definitely recommend for fans of The Hollies and 60s music.

Great band as a child growing up in the sixties I remember listening to bus stop and stop stop stop on the radio. As a teenager my music interest changed and became more of a rock n roll listener (Led Zeppelin Rush) and the like. But I would occasionally revisit Bus stop Long Cool Women Stop Stop Stop Pay you Back with interest I always thought Allen Clarke had one of the best voices. On you tube I came across T he Hollies live in Switzerland 1975 and have listened to many of their songs which are great and I never knew existed.I'm so glad I found the Hollies panel interview which was promoting this film So glad I discovered that and this film super job. Just wish they would have included Terry Sylvester in some interviews.Now The Hollies are one of my favorites and Allen Clarke one of my favorite vocalists

(I am reviewing the U.S. home version of this which is a bit over 2 hours...not the 184 minutes listed here. I am guessing the extra time includes some of the extras.)

Let me start out by stating the obvious: If you are a fan of The Hollies you will not only wish to view this documentary, you will wish to add it to your DVD collection. It is a well made, revealing look into one of the very best of the British Invasion groups. There are extensive interviews with Allan Clarke, Graham Nash, Tony Hicks and Bobby Elliot and some wonderful behind the scenes looks at the group working together. In fact, the scene of them recording "On a Carousel" at Abbey Road Studios alone is worth the price of the DVD.

I was left, however, slightly disappointed with the film and I believe it's because it really shouldn't have had "1963-1975" in the title but rather only "1963-1968." That's because this documentary, like many other looks back at The Hollies, seems to want to end things with the departure of Nash in 1968. The post-Nash years here are given very short shrift.

It is quite meaningful to me that ten months after Nash left and was replaced by Terry Sylvester, The Hollies had their biggest hit with "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother." In fact, that song plus "Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress" and "The Air That I Breathe" are probably my three favorite Hollies songs. All came after Nash left. What exactly does that say?

Nash and Clarke were best friends from the age of six, and it's obvious in this documentary that Clarke was stung by the departure of Nash and never really warmed up to replacement Sylvester. Curiously and significantly, there is no interview with Sylvester in this documentary. Again, what exactly does that say?

Hopefully what it says is this: The ultimate documentary of The Hollies story from 1963 to 1968 has been made. But the window (so to speak) has been left open for the story from 1969 and beyond to yet be made.