About the song
The Hollies’ “Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress”, a tune that evokes the heady days of early 1970s rock and roll. Released in 1972, it stands as a testament to the band’s ability to evolve with the times, even amidst a period of significant personnel changes.
The Hollies, for those unfamiliar, were a true British Invasion success story. Emerging in the mid-1960s alongside the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, they carved their niche with a sound that was both melodic and harmonically rich. Hits like “Bus Stop” and “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother” showcased their knack for crafting catchy tunes with a sophisticated edge.
However, by the dawn of the 1970s, the musical landscape had shifted. Bands like Creedence Clearwater Revival and Bad Company were injecting a heavier, blues-influenced sound into rock and roll. The Hollies, with their founding vocalist Allan Clarke having recently departed, needed to adapt to remain relevant.
“Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress” marked this adaptation. The song’s driving rhythm guitar riff, courtesy of Clarke himself in one of his last contributions to the band, was a clear nod to the burgeoning Southern rock sound. It’s a departure from their earlier, more pop-oriented work, with a stronger emphasis on a powerful groove.
Listen closely, and you’ll hear echoes of Creedence Clearwater Revival in the instrumentation, particularly the prominent use of Hammond organ. Yet, The Hollies manage to retain their own identity. The vocal harmonies, a hallmark of their sound, remain a captivating feature.
Lyrically, the song is a lighthearted, tongue-in-cheek ode to a captivating woman. The narrator, an undercover FBI agent (yes, you read that right!), finds himself smitten by a mysterious beauty encountered during a raid on a speakeasy. The imagery is vivid – the smoky bar filled with “whiskey bottles piling high,” the woman herself a vision in black, described as “a long cool woman… just a 5’9″ beautiful tall.”
“Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress” wasn’t just a stylistic shift for The Hollies; it became their biggest hit in the United States, reaching number two on the Billboard Hot 100. It’s a testament to their ability to stay relevant, a quality that has ensured their place as one of the most influential British bands of the rock and roll era. The song remains a classic, a reminder of a time when rock and roll embraced a more rootsy sound, and The Hollies, ever the chameleons, delivered a hit that perfectly captured the changing musical tide.
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Lyrics
“Long Cool Woman (In A Black Dress)”
Working for the FBI
Sittin’ in a nest of bad men
Whiskey bottles piling high
Bootlegging boozer on the west side
Full of people who are doing wrong
Just about to call up the DA man
When I heard this woman sing a song
A pair of 45’s made me open my eyes
My temperature started to rise
She was a long cool woman in a black dress
Just-a 5’9, beautiful, tall
With just one look I was a bad mess
‘Cause that long cool woman had it all
[Instrumental Interlude]
I saw her heading to the table
Like a tall walking big black cat
When Charlie said I hope that you’re able boy
‘Cause I’m telling you she knows where it’s at
Then suddenly we heard the sirens
And everybody started to run
A-jumping out of doors and tables
When I heard somebody shootin’ a gun
Well the DA was pumping my left hand
And a-she was a-holding my right
Well I told her don’t get scared
‘Cause you’re gonna be spared
I’ve gotta be forgivin’ if I wanna spend my living
With a long cool woman in a black dress
Just a 5’9 beautiful tall
Yeah, with just one look I was a bad mess
‘Cause that long cool woman had it all
Had it all
Had it all