The Hollies eventually became one of the most successful British Invasion bands in terms of their ability to cross over to the American charts. But it took them a while to reach that status, as many of their early British hits failed to do any damage in the US.
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It took a song that was written by a British songwriting legend to finally get them over the hump of America. And it’s an early example of a slice-of-life pop song that didn’t need to be about romance to hit with the public.
In the Footsteps of The Fab Four
It turns out The Beatles (an insect group a la The Crickets) weren’t the only British band that owed such a debt to Buddy Holly that they named themselves in his honor. The Hollies simply took their moniker from the American legend’s surname.
They first called themselves that in late 1962, although core members Allen Clarke and Graham Nash had been playing together since the ‘50s. Ron Richards, who had been involved in early Beatles sessions, signed them to the Parlophone label, which also housed the records of the Fab Four.
There were some stark differences, however, between The Hollies and The Beatles. For one, Clarke served as a primary lead singer, even though, as history would prove, Nash could also handle himself quite well on the mike. In addition, The Hollies didn’t often write their own material, especially their singles. That left them reliant on outside writers.
Hit After Hit
None of that prevented them from becoming a British sensation pretty much right off the bat. Their 1963 debut single “(Ain’t That) Just Like Me” went to No. 25 in England, and subsequent songs did even better. They put together a stretch of six straight Top 10s, culminating in “I’m Alive”, their first No. 1, in 1965.
But none of those songs did any business of note in America. The breakthrough, and it was only a tepid one at that, came with a song written by Charles Silverman and Graham Gouldman. Silverman wouldn’t do much more in his writing career after that. But Gouldman was already establishing himself as a standout songwriter-for-hire by that time.
The Hollies were one of his top clients, along with other British acts like The Yardbirds and Herman’s Hermits. Much later, he’d become a stalwart member of the standout British band 10cc. One day, while riding on a train, he and a friend noted all the windows of the homes they were passing. A song idea was born.
“Window” Dressing
The Hollies recorded “Look Through Any Window”, the song written from that experience, as a non-album single in 1965. Featuring Clarke’s piercing lead, standout vocal harmonies, and Tony Hicks’ swirling guitar riffs, the song continued the band’s stretch of British success, landing at No. 4.
Perhaps more important to The Hollies’ career trajectory, “Look Through Any Window” squeaked into the American Top 40, landing at No. 32. Consider it a crucial stepping stone for the band. The next year, the band hit the Top 5 in the US with “Bus Stop”, another song written by Graham Gouldman.
The Hollies managed to sustain well past the 60s, scoring massive hits in the US in the 70s and even managing a No. 29 in 1983 with a cover of “Stop In The Name Of Love”. “Look Through Any Window” paved the way for all of it.
Photo by Barry Peake/Shutterstock
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