ALLAN CLARKE TEAMS UP WITH GRAHAM NASH FOR NEW SINGLE ‘BUDDYS BACK’
Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
‘BUDDY’S BACK’ is the new single from the legendary Allan Clarke and Graham Nash, made all the more special and poignant, as it’s the first time they have been heard harmonising on a new track together in decades.
Both from Salford, Allan and Graham were founder members and original vocalists of Manchester band, The Hollies. The song has been written by Graham and reflects their childhood friendship and musical influences,
Buddy’s Back is the lead track taken from his forthcoming new album I’ll Never Forget, due for release on April 7th by BMG.
Watch ‘Buddy’s Back’ below:
“When we’re sharing a joke, Graham’s voice can go pure Salford again. When we were teens, we did music for fun. All these years later, this record has been a lot of fun too.” – Allan Clarke
Speaking about working again with Nash – his childhood friend and Hollies bandmate who between them helped shape pop music throughout the ‘60s – Allan says, “Graham said: ‘I’ll write something about when we were first together.’ And Buddy’s Back is fantastic, it takes me back to starting with skiffle and into Buddy Holly and The Everly Brothers.” He continues, “Graham writes brilliantly about what is happening today, and I take a more personal approach.”
The album cover features the Fender guitar that was gifted to Allan in 2010 by The Buddy Holly Education Foundation, the Buddy guitar continues to be a connection with Allan’s hero. He smiles, “I play Peggy Sue whenever I pick up that guitar to warm up. I write all my songs on it – it’s inspiration from Buddy Holly. Maybe he’s around somewhere, offering that help.” Joining Allan in the studio on production duties is old friend Francis Haines, previously The Hollies’ keyboardist from 1983-90. Allan explains, “We have an energy between us. When I want to say something with a guitar or piano part, Francis instantly seems to know what it needs. He brings my songs to magic.”
Allan and Graham began working together again thinking the result would either be a joint album or Allan’s next solo record.
Not wanting to force attempts to sound like The Hollies again 55 years on, they soon decided Allan would write the songs and Graham would sing harmonies. “We’ve still got that sound,” smiles Allan. “It’s a sound nobody else has. Me and Graham being back together again, it’s great. What I wanted to do on this record is have the two of us getting together to make that sound again. The songs Graham sings on are worthy of that.”
