So much better than you probably think they are.
If I can get YSI to work for me, I will give you a couple of examples of why.

Basically, it's just perfect pop music, with outstanding harmonies.
Everything you like about 60's AM radio pop from England.
Of course, if you don't like 60's AM radio pop from England, you'll hate them. But you'll be wrong.

hey Carrie Ann
what's your game now
can anybody play?

That was the song in my ears as I read your post.
Great song.

who could not know this already?

Somebody who just thinks of them as one of those bands on their parents' oldies station. (Which is who I used to be.)

I guess the point of this thread is that their catalog is a lot deeper than one might expect. Yes, they were a singles band but damn they had a lot of great songs. More than I ever imagined.

I was always partial to Bus Stop and Carousel. Funny you should mention them, as last night I pulled out their Abbey Road Sessions and was rocking that. Love me some Hollies action. The fact that Graham Nash's songwriting is attached makes them a viable commodity for 60s jangle pop.

I love that song they did that is on the Virgin Suicide soundtrack, I think it is "The air that I breathe". That song is ripe for an indie cover.

"He Ain't Heavy" sucks, but a lot of their other songs don't.

The Hollies suck ass.

"Stop! Stop! Stop!" is a great stalker song.

See the girl with cymbals on her fingers
Answering through the door
Ruby glistening from her navel
Shimmering around the floor

Bells on feet go ting-a-ling-a-linging
Going through my head
Sweat is falling just-a like-a tear drops
Running from her head

Now she dancing, going through the movements
Swaying to and fro
Body moving, bringing back a memory
Thoughts of long ago

Blood is rushing, temperature is rising
Sweating from my brow
Like a snake, her body fascinates me
I can't look away now

{Refrain}
Stop, stop, stop all the dancing
Give me time to breathe
Stop, stop, stop all the dancing
Or I'll have to leave

Now she's moving all around the tables
Luring all in sight
But I know that she cannot see me
Hidden by the light

Closer, closer she is getting nearer
Soon she'll be in reach
As I enter into a spotlight
She stands lost for speech

{Refrain, mandolin solo, refrain}

Now I hold her, people are staring
Don't know what to think
And we struggle, knocking over tables
Spilling all the drinks

Can't they understand that I want her
Happens every week
Heavy hand upon my collar
Throws me in the street

The Hollies get a big MEH from me. In the early '60s they were sort of that bridge between the Beatles and Pat Boone, proving to squarehead parents that this new rock "revolution" could indeed be as safe and sanitized as the fluff that came before it.

And Graham Nash needs to choke on his own moustache.

Probably a lot of people.

Dear Eloise is scary good.

my favorite hollies songs are:

Dear Eloise
Step Inside
Would You Believe

"the air that i breathe" and "jennifer eccles" are awesome. i've never liked "bus stop" nearly as much as everyone else i know, but it's alright. they've got a lot of good singles, yeah.

True.

some I remember liking from my brother Tim's record collection:

"King Midas In Reverse," "Jennifer Eccles." "What's Wrong With The Way I Live," "Clown, "Crusader, ""Tell Me To My Face, "High-Classed, " "Pay You Back With Interest," "I Take What I Want," "I Can't Let Go," "Charlie And Fred," "Butterfly," "Man Without A Heart," "Pull Down The Blind," Look Out Any Window."

Probably some more, but can't recall. Do remember a lot of holier-than-thou pontificating songs and a lot of bad attempts at being psychedelic and, later, Euro-funky.

this song makes me cringe.

Despite it's overuse in the current Gatorade/NASCAR ad campaign, "Long Cool Woman (in a Black Dress)" is one of the greatest songs of all time.

Ever since I saw The Jayhawks play "He Ain't Heavy" I've been hooked on The Hollies. Nice to see this post.

There is a song by them my dad played for me a year or so ago that I really liked. I think it was track one off of whatever CD it was he played me.

the hollies are classic, love em or hate em I guess. I tend to do both

bus stop = me likey