Hollies

Romany

Hollies & Mikael Rickfors

Review Score:

(10/10)
ROMANY has to be, without a doubt, the HOLLIES' most perfectly produced and executed pop rock album ever.Definitely their most listenable album, track by track from beginning to end.For an album or two, the addition of Swedish singer Mikael Rickfors as lead singer brought the band credibility as an "album band" on FM radio in the early 1970's(this was a goal the band wanted to accomplish) in addition to their long running reputation as an established "hit singles" band throughout most of the mid to late 1960's.The album has been beautifully remastered. The thundering melodic "WON'T WE FEEL GOOD" showcases Mikael Rickfor's undeniable ability to fulfill and surpass the void left by Allan Clarke's temporary departure.Rickfor's vocals propelled the band to an all time high on FM radio back in the day, as many of these tracks were played on ROCK stations often, this listener vividly recalls. Rickfors vocals added a new dimension of emotion and depth to ballads like "TOUCH", "WORDS DON'T COME EASY", and "DOWN RIVER" as the rest of the band's backing vocals additionally showcase their trademark choirboy harmonies perfectly. The gorgeous trademark HOLLIES' vocal style is maintained throughout the entire album on tracks like the hit single "MAGIC WOMAN TOUCH" as well as "BLUE IN THE MORNING", and Judy Sill's classic "JESUS WAS A "CROSSMAKER"...RICKFORS blended in very well. The "jewel" in this crown of an album is a Classic Rock ballad, the title track, "ROMANY". Tracks like "SLOW DOWN","DELAWARE TAGGETT AND THE OUTLAW BOYS" and the bold["Long Cool Woman"]sound alike, "COURAGE OF YOUR CONVICTIONS" are among the the finest Classic Rock songs ever recorded. Unfortunately, Allan Clarke subsequently returned, MIKAEL RICKFORS was unjustly released from the band[he has been a superstar recording artist in his homeland and Europe].Had the Hollies kept RICKFORS within the fold, they may have become even more huge and massively succesful in similar vein to what FLEETWOOD MAC experienced with the addition of Buckingham & Nicks later in the decade. ROMANY is Classic Rock in its finest and most supremely executed form.

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