"Slipstream" by Allan Clarke

Song#:  0181
Date:  05/24/1980
Debut:  90
Peak:  70
Weeks:  4
Genre:  Pop, Soft Rock



Pop Bits:  Along with his good friend Graham Nash, Clarke formed The Hollies in 1962. The UK group was far more popular in their homeland than in the US. They already had eight Top 10 hits, including a #1, by the time they finally hit the US Top 10 in 1966 with "Bus Stop" (#5). When Graham Nash left the group in 1968, Clarke basically took lead of the group doing most of the writing and lead vocals. Clarke also left the group in 1971, but soon after he left, the group had their biggest US hit with "Long Cool Woman (In a Black Dress)" (#2), which Clarke co-wrote and sang the lead vocal before his departure. He returned to the fold in 1973 and remained in the group until his retirement in 1999. Along the way, he released several solo albums, none of which made much of an impact. But this single from 1980's "Legendary Heroes" nicked the chart.

ReduxReview:  Although lacking some of the recognizable harmonies of The Hollies, this is not too far from the material the group was doing around this period. So even though it is Clarke solo, I could hear this as a Hollies tune. It's got a pretty good chorus and has a bit of an ELO-ish feel to it. Not terrific, but solid.

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia:  The Hollies' album "Distant Light" was not successful in the UK, not even charting, and Clarke left the group. They signed with a new label and released the single "The Baby" with new lead singer Mikael Rickfors. Their old label decided to lift Clarke's "Long Cool Woman" from "Distant Light" as a competing single. It did not do well in the UK (#32), but in the US where "Distant Light" had yet to be released, it became a gold record and the album even hit #21.

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