Product Description
A new three-CD compilation celebrating the 50th anniversary of one of the great U.K. pop-rock groups of the 1960s and '70s, The Hollies, will be released on October 21. 50 at Fifty features a career-spanning selection of songs, including the band's many hits, some album gems, a number of concert performances and a brand-new tune recorded by the current Hollies lineup.

Led by singers Allan Clarke and Graham Nash and guitarist Tony Hicks, the original Hollies scored such hits as "Look Through Any Window," "Stop Stop Stop," "Bus Stop," "Carrie Anne" and "On a Carousel" during the band's 1960s heyday. After Nash left to join Crosby, Stills & Nash in late 1968, he was replaced by singer/guitarist Terry Sylvester, with whom the group released some of its most successful singles, including "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother," "Long Cool Woman (in a Black Dress)" and "The Air That I Breathe."

All of those songs appear on 50 at Fifty, as do a few tunes from 1983's What Goes Around…, which saw Nash reuniting with his old group. The new track, "Skylarks," was recorded this year and co-written by longtime Hollies drummer Bobby Elliot and the band's current lead singer, Peter Howarth.

"I feel quite privileged to be writing the 50th track on this compilation, which contains some of our best work," says Elliot in a statement. "I'm in good company with my buddies Allan Clarke, Tony Hicks, and Graham Nash, who, throughout our career, have written some outstanding Hollies material." He adds, "'Skylarks' takes us in a new direction -- nothing new for The Hollies. It's back to our inventive roots in many ways."

CD1
1. (Ain't That) Just Like Me
2. Searchin'
3. Stay
4. Just One Look
5. Here I Go Again
6. We're Through
7. Yes I Will
8. I'm Alive
9. Look Through Any Window
10. If I Needed Someone
11. I Can't Let Go
12. Bus Stop
13. Pay You Back With Interest
14. Stop! Stop! Stop!
15. On A Carousel
16. Carrie Anne
17. King Midas In Reverse
18. Jennifer Eccles
19. Listen To Me
20. Sorry Suzanne

CD2
1. He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother
2. I Can't Tell The Bottom From The Top
3. Gasoline Alley Bred
4. Hey Willy
5. The Baby
6. Long Cool Woman (In A Black Dress)
7. Magic Woman Touch
8. The Day That Curly Billy Shot Down Crazy Sam Mcghee
9. The Air That I Breathe
10. Lonely Hobo Lullaby
11. 4th Of July Asbury Park (Sandy)
12. I'm Down
13. There's Always Goodbye
14. Boulder To Birmingham
15. Too Young To Be Married (Live)
16. Daddy Don't Mind

CD3
1. Hello To Romance
2. Amnesty
3. Soldiers Song
4. Heartbeat
5. If The Lights Go Out (First Version)
6. Take My Love And Run (First Version)
7. Stop In The Name Of Love
8. Let Her Go Down
9. Too Many Hearts Get Broken
10. Laughter Turns To Tears
11. So Damn Beautiful
12. On A Carousel (Live)
13. Then, Now Always (Dolphin Days) (Live)
14. Skylarks (New 2014 Recording)

Amazon USA
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00M58N15G/?tag=imwan-20

Amazon UK
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00M58N15G/?tag=imwan-21

Fantastic collection actually, but yet again my favorite song "Another Night" is absent. I know it was only a minor US hit, but really?

Anyway, although they have been compiled to death, this sure seems like the most extensive and thorough Hollies comp.

I noticed that too, IP. Also at first glance, Long Dark Road, Dear Eloise, and Jesus Was A Crossmaker are absent. And their best b-side So Lonely. But this does appear to be the cream of the cream...

Bump: This listing is in flux. The Amazon UK page has done dead for the moment, while a domestic release on Rhino, scheduled for October 21st, has appeared at Amazon USA. The domestic listing doesn't show a final track called "Skylarks" either, and I wonder if that's previously unreleased or an out-and-out mistake in the Brit listing. Let's see how things shake out ...

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00M58N15G/?tag=imwan-20

Damn:
How is "Long Dark Road" missing too?

And "Dear Eloise"?

I cannot fathom how these comps get put together. I mean, you have 3 CDs for Pete's (mine) sake!

I was going to ask if "Skylarks" was a new song.

If this is on Rhino maybe new mastering is possible?

I hope so. (New mastering would get me to buy this even with the weird track selection.)

I actually picked up the "30th Anniversary Collection 1963-1993" set a few weeks ago. That's all I need, and besides, this is missing a few essential tracks.

Bump: The British listing is now back. That's scheduled for September 8th, still shows the mysterious "Skylarks" as the final track, and is solicited as being on Parlophone/Warner Bros. The lengthy delay before it's available in America makes me think that the Amazon USA listing could be for an actual domestic pressing, on Rhino, which perhaps leaves off that "Skylarks" track because of a contractual issue. We shall see.

BTW, the American price (is you can bear to wait for an extra month and a half) is about half what it was yesterday and is now actually better than the UK price:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00M58N15G/?tag=imwan-20

the hollies are tough, especially for completists.

there are a hell of a lot of comps out there and a couple of rarities too.

to get most of it, i say most because i really don;t think you can get all of it unless you ave a lot of time and money to do the research and find things all over the world.

get the 6 CD set of hollies material that covers just about everything, if not everything, that they did with graham nash. not to expensive either.

get the 3 CD - 30th anniversary collection

try to find the 2 box sets - "four by the hollies" and "four more by the hollies"

that will do you just fine, i think.

i must say i have never heard 'staying power" from 2006 or "then now always" from 2009

I like almost each Hollies-era including quite a bit post-Nash.

I have the box set that did a very good job (forget the name Long Road Home maybe?), but bizarrely did not include original versions of the 60's classics, only live ones.

I don't want the Nash-only box.

I've been wanting a career-spanning comp for years that covered all eras and featured all hits, but this one is missing some too.

Mind boggling.

I am shocked to see the original "Stop! In The Name Of Love" from 1983 which to my knowledge has never been on a comp?

As suggested by Renny and Pete:

     

Those last two boxes on the right are so collectible at this point, it's cheaper to just get all of the '70s albums individually. The EMI 6CD collection (the first one on the left) is far and away the most economical way to jump into Hollies collecting, but as Pete says, it's all from the Graham Nash years, and the group did another decade's worth of excellent material following his departure.

beware of "the long road home" box set.

many of the big songs are live.

Bump: The British pressing has been pushed back to September 22nd. (The American one remains scheduled for October 21st.)

Confirmation that "Skylarks" is new:

Published: 2014/08/20
The Hollies to Release 50 At Fifty 3-CD SetThe Hollies are celebrating the 50-year anniversary of the their 1964 debut album Stay With The Hollies with the launch of their European Fall tour, and a three-disc collection 50 at Fifty. The 50-track collection spans through the band’s entire career, and even includes “Skylarks,” an unreleased track that was recorded just this year. The British group released their debut album on Parlophone back in 1964. After almost two dozen hits in the U.S, and even more in the U.K., the band has already been recognized for their achievements in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.50 At Fifty tells the band’s history beginning with The Hollies’ first single “ (Ain’t That) Just Like Me” and ending with the newly recorded “Skylarks” written by Elliot and Howarth. In addition to some of their top hits, the collection also limelights gems like “ Hey Willy” and “Boulder to Birmingham.” To top it all off, the set features various live recordings, including performances of the 1967 single “On A Carousel” and “Too Young To Be Married”, from 1970’s Confessions Of The Mind.The collection will be available at retail outlets beginning October 21. A digital version will also be available.50 At Fifty Tracklist:Disc One1. “(Ain’t That) Just Like Me”2. “Searchin’”3. “Stay”4. “Just One Look”5. “Here I Go Again”6. “We’re Through”7. “Yes I Will”8. “I’m Alive” 9. “Look Through Any Window”10. “If I Needed Someone”11. “I Can’t Let Go”12. “Bus Stop”13. “Pay You Back With Interest”14. “Stop! Stop! Stop!”15. “On A Carousel”16. “Carrie Anne”17. “King Midas In Reverse”18. “Jennifer Eccles”19. “Listen To Me”20. “Sorry Suzanne”Disc Two1. “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother”2. “I Can’t Tell The Bottom From The Top”3. “Gasoline Alley Bred”4. “Hey Willy” 5. “The Baby”6. “Long Cool Woman (In A Black Dress)”7. “Magic Woman Touch”8. “The Day That Curly Billy Shot Down Crazy Sam McGhee”9. “The Air That I Breathe”10. “Lonely Hobo Lullaby”11. “4th of July Asbury Park (Sandy)” 12. “I’m Down”13. “There’s Always Goodbye”14. “Boulder To Birmingham”15. “Too Young To Be Married” (Live)16. “Daddy Don’t Mind”Disc Three1. “Hello To Romance”2. “Amnesty”3. “Soldiers Song” 4. “Heartbeat”5. “If The Lights Go Out” (First version)6. “Take My Love And Run” (First version)7. “Stop In The Name Of Love”8. “Let Her Go Down”9. “Too Many Hearts Get Broken”10. “Laughter Turns To Tears”11. “So Damn Beautiful”12. “On A Carousel” (Live)13. “Then, Now Always (Dolphin Days)” (Live)14. “Skylarks” (New 2014 Recording)

Excellent. Now the big question is, will "Skylarks" be on the American pressing or not?

Nice to see "Stop In the Name Of Love" from the '83 reunion album on there. No "Holliedaze" medley, but Linda already tracked that one down for me.

Okay, the solicitation info from Warner Bros. does show "Skylarks" as being included on the American pressing as well. In fact, it's specifically talked about in the product description, which I've now added to the first post.

Why, oh why doesn't this have "Another Night"?

I frickin' love that song and it was a minor US hit.

"Long Dark Road" and "Dear Eloise" are also inexcusable omissions.

I have the very good 2 CD best of from 1993 and I will get this, but I'm still disappointed.

I agree - on all 3 songs mentioned here. How can you leave these out??!?? "Long Dark Road" charted to #26 in the US & was on the charts for 11 weeks! Now, it would great if these were re-mastered, but I doubt that will happen.

By the way, regarding the 30th Anniversary set, it should be noted that most of the stereo tracks on that collection were remixed by Ron Furmanek specifically for that release. Most of them sound fantastic, but if you are a stickler for original mixes...just letting you know...

Hey, anyone know if The Hollies ever cut a complete version of "Sandy"? I love their arrangement of the song! If they ever cut the whole thing, we know it was never released - I just wonder if one exists.

Found this on YouTube -- The Hollies did a lot of television performances during the 1970s, but here's an actual promo video for their 1977 single "Hello To Romance":