Holly Golightly: 7 Albums 1995 - 2003

 

Holly Golightly, started her musical career as a founder member of all girl garage band Thee Headcoatees, a Billy Childish / Thee Headcoats splinter group in 1991. After four years as a

Headcoatee she also found time to release a debut solo record, The Good Things, in 1995. Where the Headcoatees sound was a blend of girl group sounds and three-chord garage-rock with all the original songs coming from the pen of Billy Childish, Holly’s solo sound is more a blend of pre-rock electric blues, folk rock, and less frantic rock & roll. In addition to Holly’s original songs, she’s also covered a wide range of artists including Willie Dixon, Ike Turner, Lee Hazelwood, Wreckless Eric, and Bill Withers.
                               

She is one of the most interesting and diverse artists to come out of the Billy Childish school and is

certainly one of the better singer/songwriters of the post-grunge era who seems to get better with every album. Since her debut in 1995, Holly has been very prolific, releasing twelve solo albums, one with Billy Childish (In Blood), one with Dan Melchior (Desperate Little Town), and eight albums alongside The Brokeoffs plus loads of singles for a wide variety of labels. She has toured the world many times, the US being a particular favourite as well as Australia & Europe. 
                   

Holly’s sound has remained remarkably consistent throughout, but each record has a quality that sets it apart from the others. In 1999 she released an album, In Blood, with her friend Billy Childish, on which

the two sound like a scuffed-up British version of Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazelwood. Over the years Holly has been guest vocalist on various other band projects, including live with Mudhoney, on a couple of Greenhornes releases, and on a couple of Rocket From The Crypt tracks including their hit single ‘Lipstick’. She’s been busy living and working at her home in the US with her animals as well as heading back to Europe for a few tours in the 2020s and finally got back in the studio while in London at the end of 2024 to record ten new original songs for her brand-new album Look Like Trouble.

                        

01. HOLLY GOLIGHTLY - THE GOOD THINGS 1995

                      

Holly Golightly's solo debut is quite a departure from her usual gig as a member of the garage-rocking,

Billy Childish-sponsored group Thee Headcoatees. But for a couple of tracks, Golightly and Thee Headcoatees drummer Bruce Brand create a low-key and introspective musical mood. The overall sound is still raw and live, but the tempos and performances are relaxed. Good Things is a strong debut that definitely points the way to good things to come from Holly Golightly.
                               

Holly Golightly – The Good Things
Label: Damaged Goods – DAMGOOD CD-65
Format: CD, Album
Country: UK
Released: 1995
Genre: Rock
Style: Garage Rock

TRACKS

                       

01.Virtually Happy    3:30
02. Listen    2:25
03. Wherever You Were    2:39
04. The Good Things    3:09
05. Expert    3:08
06. Comedy Time    3:00
07. Hold On    2:17
08. Without You    3:02
09. Any Other Way    3:00
10. The Ride #2    3:31
11. Every Word    3:14
12. The Last Time    2:20
13. Charm    2:54
14. Headstart    1:13

LINE - UP

Bass, Other [Teaboy] – Rick Appleby
Drums, Bass, Guitar, Blues Harp [Harp], Percussion – Bruce Brand
Drums, Other [Enthusiasm] – Woodie Taylor
Guitar, Shaker – Ed Shadoogie
Handclaps – Teddy Slazenger
Organ [Hammond], Other [Spacewear] – Parsley The Lion
Organ [Hammond], Thumb Piano – Vanessa Widdup
Vocals [Uninvited Guest Vocalist] – Baine Watson
Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Piano, Percussion, Producer – Holly Golightly
Written-By, Arranged By – Holly Golightly (tracks: A1, A2, A4, A5, A7 to B7)

Flac Size: 252 MB

02. HOLLY GOLIGHTLY - THE MAIN ATTRACTION 1996

                                

By the time of her second solo release -- issued the same year Holly Golightly hung up her Thee

Headcoatees go-go boots -- she had already established a separate identity from that lively garage rock combo. Sure, you'll still recognize that unmistakably cool, acerbic voice, but like her debut, The Good Things, Main Attraction falls into another genre altogether. It's eclectic, to be sure, but slick or boring -- never. Main Attraction was reissued by the U.K.'s Damaged Goods in 2001. 
                           

Holly Golightly – The Main Attraction
Label: Teenage Kicks – KICK CD-7
Format: CD, Album
Country: Germany
Released: 1996
Genre: Rock
Style: Garage Rock

TRACKS

                                 

01. So Far Up There
02. I Thought Wrong
03. Just Once
04. Dropsy
05. If I Should Ever Leave
06. The Sign
07. An Eye For An Empty Heart
08. King Of Everything
09. The Better Of Me
10. Fallapart
11. Seashells
12. Gullible's Travels

LINE - UP

Vocals – Holly
Drums – Bruce, Ed, Woodie
Engineer – Ed, Liam
Guitar – Bruce, Ed, Holly, Liam, Rick
Performer [Fancy Stuff] – Dave, Josh, Parsley, Planet Of The Apes
Performer [The Rest] – Chris, Sexton
Written-By – Holly Golightly

Flac Size: 179 MB

03. HOLLY GOLIGHTLY - LAUGH IT UP! 1996

                        

With the help of a circle of like-minded U.K. roots rockers and the recording facilities of the legendary

Toerag Studios in London, Golightly whipped up a great collection of covers for Laugh It All Up! Hitting on everything from blues and country traditionals to newer folks like Ray Davies and Van McCoy, Golightly and company strike the right balance between reverence and playful reinterpretation, never letting down the side.
                           

Holly Golightly – Laugh It All Up!
Label:Vinyl Japan – ASKCD 74
Format:CD, Album, Mono
Country:UK
Released:1997
Genre:Rock, Blues
Style:Garage Rock, Rhythm & Blues, Rock & Roll

TRACKS

                             

01. Sally Go Round The Roses    3:44
Written-By – Abner Spector
02. If I Could Just Be Loved By You    2:49
Written-By – Kirkland, Thomas
03. Mellow Down Easy   2:37
Written-By – Willie Dixon
04. I Can't Stand It   4:07
Written-By – McAllister
05. Candy Man   3:21
Written-By – Ross, Neil
06. Look For Me Baby   2:26
Written-By – Ray Davies
07. Don't Lie To Me   3:14
Written-By – Hudson Whittaker
08. Too Much Going For You   3:39
Written-By – Unknown
09. It's All Over Now   3:47
Written-By – B. Womack, S. Womack
10. Troubles On My Mind   2:35   
Written-By – Ike Turner
11. Getting Mighty Crowded   2:35
Written-By – Van McCoy    
12. You Ain't No Big Thing  2:55 
Written-By – Unknown    
13. Sand   3:46
Written-By – Lee Hazlewood    
14. Hold Me Baby   3:14
Written-By – Willie Dixon
    

BONUS TRACKS        

    
15. This Happens   2:02
Written-By – Holly Golightly    
16. Candle Song   2:26
Written-By – Holly Golightly
17. If I Should Ever Leave   2:37
Written-By – Holly Golightly    
18. Mary-Ann    2:22
19. Hold Me Baby   2:40
Written-By – Willie Dixon
20. Good Enough   3:33
Written-By – Mudhoney
21. High Times    2:32
22. Until I Find You   2:18
Written-By – Holly Golightly
    

LINE - UP

Vocals, Guitar, Percussion – Holly Golightly
Bass [Fender] – 'Big' Rick Appleby
Double Bass [Bass Fiddle] – 'Planet' Matt 'Cloth-ears' Radford
Drums, Congas, Vocals [Featured Vocalist] – Brian 'Sand' Nevill
Drums, Guitar, Percussion – Bruce Brand
Guitar, Harmonica, Backing Vocals – 'Little' George Sueref
Guitar, Slide Guitar [Bottleneck] – Ed 'Shadoogie' Deegan
Harmonica [Harp] – Johnny 'Tub' Johnson
Tom Tom, Percussion – Woodie Taylor

Flac Size: 340 MB

04. HOLLY GOLIGHTLY - PAINTED ON 1997

                           

Golightly's 1997 album happily kept her own playful vibe going just as it should, combining home and Toerag Studio recordings into another stew of bluesy garage rock and R&B sass. Handling production and

keeping everything sounding just the way she wants, Golightly comes up with some fun and atmospheric touches, like her self-duet on "Indeed You Do," switching between direct mic singing and from-one-room-over compression. Individual kudos: Brand's swinging drums on the romantic warning sign "A Length of Pipe," Melchoir's own songwriting contribution to the album, Mat Radford's "whistlin'" on the agreeably twangy "One Kiss," and the group instrumental "Snake Eyed," with fine slide guitar from Ed Deegan. 
                        

Holly Golightly – Painted On
Label: Sympathy For The Record Industry – SFTRI 474
Format: CD, Album
Country: US
Released: 1997
Genre: Rock, Folk, World, & Country
Style: Country, Indie Rock, Country Rock

TRACKS

                     

01. Run Cold    3:01
02. Indeed You Do    3:13
03. I Let My Daddy Do That    2:20
04. For All This    4:06
05. Painted On    4:30
06. A Length Of Pipe    2:36
07. One More Fact    4:36
08. Snake Eyed    2:32
09. One Kiss    4:22
10. Anyway You Like It    3:48

LINE - UP

Vocals, Guitar, Percussion – Holly Golightly
Acoustic Bass, Whistling – Matt Radford
Bass Guitar – Rik Appleby (tracks: 2, 4, 8)
Drums, Cymbal – Brian Nevill (tracks: 2)
Drums, Guitar, Percussion – Bruce Brand
Guitar, Slide Guitar – Ed Deegan (tracks: 4, 5, 8)
Guitar, Vocals – Dan Melchior
Harp, Vocals – George Sueref (tracks: 6, 10)

Flac Size: 222 MB

05. HOLLY GOLIGHTLY - SERIAL GIRLFRIEND 1998

                             

Recorded while still a member of Thee Headcoatees (she would leave the following year), Holly Golightly's sixth solo release is another winner from start to finish. If the production is a little rougher and

more garagey than on subsequent efforts, her earthy charm, sardonic -- sometimes feisty -- attitude, and sure way with a catchy chorus are in full effect. For anyone who's ever wondered what the early Beatles or Rolling Stones might have sounded like with a female front person, Serial Girlfriend -- in which drummer Bruce Brand channels Charlie Watts (circa "Get off of My Cloud") for "Down Down Down" -- is the highly enjoyable answer. 
                              

Holly Golightly – Serial Girlfriend
Label: Damaged Goods – DAMGOOD 156 CD
Format: CD, Album, DOCdata UK
Country: UK
Released: 1998
Genre: Rock
Style: Garage Rock

TRACKS

                          

01. I Can't Be Trusted    2:43
02. You Shine    2:22
03. Want No Other   2:56
Written-By – Holly Golightly, M. Delanian
04. Your Love Is Mine  4:40 
Written-By – Ike Turner
05. Grandstand    2:03
06. Clean In Two    3:08
07. Down Down Down    2:28
08. Come The Day    2:43
09. Serial Girlfriend    2:12
10. My Own Sake    2:15
11. Where Can I Go    2:23
12. 'Til I Get    3:57
13. Now    4:48

LINE - UP

Vocals [Singing], Guitar, Double Bass, Piano – Holly Golightly
Vocals [Singing], Guitar, Harmonica – Dan Melchior
Double Bass – Matt Radford
Drums, Guitar, Piano, Percussion – Bruce Brand
Drums, Percussion – Woodie Taylor
Drums, Piano – Brian Nevill
Electric Bass – John Gibbs, Rick Appleby
Guitar – Ed Deegan, George Sueref
Piano – Mike Delanian
Written-By – Holly Golightly (tracks: 1, 2, 5 to 13)

Flac Size: 201 MB

06. HOLLY GOLIGHTLY - GOD DON'T LIKE IT 2000

                                            

Don’t get me wrong — it isn’t Motown-style sweetness and harmony that this former member of garage-

gal outfit Thee Headcoatees is dishing out. Rather, her sound is closer to the tough-chick ’tude and reverb-soaked pop of classic distaff combos such as The Shangri-Las or Ronettes. That is, when Holly isn’t wandering around in the trailer park, lazily crooning trashy countrybilly ballads in a voice that switches between the world-weary snot of a modern-day punkette and the fiery sass of Wanda Jackson. God may not dig it, but you gotta figure the devil is grooving to it right now.
                            

Holly Golightly – God Don't Like It
Label: Damaged Goods – DAMGOOD 180-CD
Format: CD, Album, Mono
Country: UK
Released: 2000
Genre: Rock, Blues
Style: Garage Rock, Rhythm & Blues, Rock & Roll

TRACKS

                        

01. I Hear You
02. Feel Something
03. Give Back Time
04. Pretty Good Love
Written By – Copyright Control
05. I Don't Know
06. Overtaking
07. Nothing You Can Say
08. Easy On Me
09. Here Beside You
10. Second Place
Guitar [2nd Guitar] – Baine Watson
11. Can't Stand To See Your Face
Guitar [2nd Guitar] – Ed Deegan
Written-By – D. Melchior
12. Use Me
Guitar [2nd Guitar] – Bruce Brand
Written-By – Withers

LINE - UP

Vocals, Guitar [Rhythm Guitar], Percussion, Producer – Holly Golightly
Bass [Electric Bass], Double Bass – John Gibbs 
Drums, Percussion – Bruce Brand
Guitar [Lead Guitar], Guitar [Bottle Neck], Vocals, Harmonica [Harp] – Dan Melchior
Written-By – H. Golightly (tracks: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)

Flac Size: 183 MB

07. HOLLY GOLIGHTLY - TRULY SHE IS NONE OTHER 2003

                   

Holly Golightly's Truly She Is None Other is another fine slice of low-key bluesy garage pop from the

former Headcoatee and current White Stripes crony. Unlike that band, however, Golightly doesn't have much truck for noise and clatter; she is more apt to use honey and guile to capture her listeners. Truly She Is None Other is one of Golightly's best albums; packed with great songs and performances, it re-establishes Golightly as a beacon of grace and restraint in a world sadly bereft of both. 
                    

Holly Golightly – Truly She Is None Other
Label: Damaged Goods – DAMGOOD 213-CD
Format: CD, Album
Country: UK
Released: 2003
Genre: Rock, Blues
Style: Rock & Roll, Rhythm & Blues, Indie Rock, Garage Rock

TRACKS

                                 

01. Walk A Mile    2:44
02. All Around The Houses    4:02
03. Without You Here    2:58
04. One Neck    2:55
05. Time Will Tell   2:41
Written-By – R. Davies
06. Black Night    4:08
Written-By – Robinson    
07. It's All Me    2:18
08. She Said    2:04
09. Tell Me Now So I Know   2:02
Written-By – R. Davies
10. You Have Yet To Win    3:26
11. Sent    3:44
12. This Ship    4:38
13. There's An End   3:34
Written-By – C. Fox
    

LINE - UP

Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Percussion – Holly Golightly
Drums, Percussion, Guitar, Concertina – Bruce Brand
Guitar – Ed Deegan
Guitar, Bass – Eric Stein, Baine Watson
Guitar, Bass, Double Bass – John Gibbs 
Guitar, Double Bass – Sir Bald Diddley
Written-By – Holly Golightly (tracks: 1 to 4, 7, 8, 10 to 12)

Flac Size: 280 MB

  Holly Golightly: Singles Round Up 2001 On Urban Aspirines HERE

 Thee Headcoatees Discography On Urban Aspirines HERE

Epitaph: Epitaph 1971 + Stop, Look And Listen 1972 + Ouside The Law 1974

 

Along with Lucifer's Friend, Blackwater Park, and other bands even more obscure, Epitaph were members of a curious fraternity of '70s German bands that featured British singers. The history of

EPITAPH begins in the winter of 1969/70 in his time hippest music club Dortmund Fantasio, in the basement Britain's Cliff Jackson (vocals, guitar), his compatriot James McGillivray (drums) and bassist Bernd Kolbe practiced and worked on her program, while the weekly Fantasio between sizes like Black Sabbath, Rory Gallagah, Yes and Argent occurred. Even at this time showed his full professional epitaph formality. Their big chance came when Champion Jack Dupree and his performance in Fantasio cancelte stepped in the famous Blue with pianist Günter Boas EPITAPH as a backing group.
                                

Günter Boas producer realized the potential of this band and it's not long and EPITAPH signed their first

contract with Polydor took subjected then to Hanover, shortened their band name of Fagin's EPITAPH in EPITAPH and began Klaus Walz (later Jane) as a second guitarist in London Wessex studio recording their first LP and the same epitaph, which was published in the autumn of 1971.
This was followed by concerts in Germany and an invitation to the legendary Beat Club, in 1972 the first television appearance had the effect of Epitaph.
                       

Epitaph wound up recording their third and most critically acclaimed LP, 1974's Outside the Law, in Chicago, afterwards embarking on a tour of the U.S. with ex-Karthago drummer Norbert Lehmann -- only

to have it rudely interrupted when Billingsgate went bankrupt. Drained by their string of bad luck and feeling lucky simply to escape back to Germany without being held responsible for Billingsgate's debts, Epitaph called it quits in January of 1975. But Cliff Jackson couldn't resist reviving Epitaph just a few months later, gradually rebuilding their damaged reputation until a revamped band -- rounded out by guitarist Heinz Glass, keyboardist Michael Karch, bassist Harvey Janssen, and drummer Fritz Randow -- finally re-emerged with 1979's Return to Reality album. 
                          

1978 EPITAPH plays as support for OMEGA three legendary concerts in Budapest, who were cheered on by more than 30,000 spectators frantically. With the new lineup recorded the band's fourth album, Return to Reality, published in April 1979 on the cult label Brain. The first couple of albums

(while they were signed to Polydor) had prog leanings indeed, but they then sold out to a fairly predictable type of 'Arena Rock'. The early stuff reminds me of Wishbone Ash a lot, and perhaps early Uriah Heep too. Uriah Heep are filed away in Heavy Prog on Progarchives, but Wishbone Ash are only in Prog-Related...and that's where I think I'd personally place these guys too. Excellent music, don't get me wrong (before they copped out to the wishes of the American record company, and similarly later on with the German 'Brain' label), but I don't think that overall they produced sufficient prog to merit inclusion in one of the 'proper' sub genres. 
                                              

ALBUMS ON THIS POST

Epitaph (1971, Polydor)
Stop, Look and Listen (1972, Polydor)
Outside the Law (1974, Billingsgate)

LINE - UP

Cliff Jackson (lead guitar, acoustic guitar, vocals) 
Bernd Kolbe (bass, vocals, 1970-77, 1981-88, 2000-present) 
Jim McGillivray (drums, 1970-72, 1976-77, 2000-01) 
Klaus Walz (guitar, 1971-77, 1981-88) 
Achim Wielert (drums, percussion, 1972-75, 2001-present) 
Fritz Randow (drums, 1977-81) 
Heinz Glass (guitar, vocals, 1977-81, 2000-present)
Luitjen Jansen (bass, 1977-81)
Michael Karch (keyboards, vocals, 1977-80)
Norbert Lehmann (drums, vocals, 1981-88)

 Interview With Cliff Jackson (It's Psychedelic Baby Magazine)

01. EPITAPH - EPITAPH 1971

                           

Very good first album by the german band Epitaph. This album alternate prog-ish hard rock tunes with good dual lead guitars solos, with slower moments and use of mellotron. The lead vocals by the

englishman Cliff Jackson are clean and a bit dreamy. A quite varied album with elements of Wishbone Ash, T2, Nektar, Eloy with a touch of King Crimson. Really strong unknown early 70's album. The guitar sound and drum sound on this record are absolutely top quality. The record is outstanding, sometimes mind-blowing. And the best thing about it is mood, emanating largely from chords (particularly so on 'Hopelessly' and 'Early Morning', with the latter's memorable, evocative arpeggio in A minor).
                       

Epitaph – Epitaph
Label: Polydor – 060249827537, Revisited Rec. – SPV 49582 CD, Universal Music Group – 060249827537
Format: CD, Album, Reissue, Digipak
Country: Germany
Released: 2005
Genre: Rock
Style: Hard Rock, Prog-Rock

TRACKS

                        

01. Moving To The Country    5:10
02. Visions    5:25
03. Hopelessly    9:07
04. Little Maggie    8:40
05. Early Morning    9:58

BONUS TRACKS        

    
06. London Town Girl    3:27
07. Autumn 71    4:28
08. Are You Ready    4:25
09. I'm Trying    5:31
10. Changing World    5:50

LINE - UP

Bass, Mellotron, Vocals – Bernd Kolbe
Drums, Vocals – Jim McGillvray
Guitar, Vocals – Cliff Jackson , Klaus Walz
Composed By [All Titles] – Epitaph 

Flac Size: 436 MB

02. EPITAPH - STOP, LOOK AND LISTEN 1972

                                

This second Epitaph album follows in the same footsteps as their debut. Stop, Look and Listen is a very

guitar driven progressive rock record with some elements from hard rock and blues rock as well. This one is even less krautrock oriented than it's predecessor. Their S/T first LP has some krautrock elements but this second album is just a prog rock record.
                                           

Epitaph – Stop Look And Listen
Label:Alcinous Ltd – AL 0077/B
Format:CD, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Unofficial Release
Country:?
Released:1998
Genre:Rock
Style:Classic Rock

TRACKS

                    

01. Crossroads    4:49
02. Nightingale    5:53
03. Uptight    5:53
04. Fly    8:50
05. Stop Look And Listen    9:55

BONUS TRACKS        

    
06. Autumn 71    4:28
07. Are You Ready    4:25
08. We Love You Alice    3:38
09. Paradise For Sale    3:16

LINE - UP

Bass, Mellotron, Vocals – Bernd Kolbe
Drums, Vocals – Jim McGillivray
Guitar, Vocals – Cliff Jackson, Klaus Walz
Written-By – Kolbe (tracks: 5, 9), Jackson (tracks: 1 to 5, 6 to 8), McGillivray (tracks: 5), Walz (tracks: 5, 9)

Flac Size: 336 MB

03. OUTSIDE THE LAW 1974

                               

Epitaph's best album (actually, many would argue it's their only good album), 1974's Outside the Law, was

produced during the German-based, English-fronted quartet's brief sojourn in America, while benefiting from the patronage of tiny independent label Billingsgate Records. Having just lost their deal with mighty Polydor the bandmembers now seemed motivated to edit themselves, and emerged from Chicago's Omega Studios with a far more focused and engaging set of songs, marked by fluid, mid-paced grooves, radio-friendly choruses, and dual-guitar harmonies often backed by acoustic rhythm guitars for added sweetening. 

                     

Epitaph – Outside The Law
Label: Repertoire Records – REP 4885
Format: CD, Album, Reissue
Country: Germany
Released: 2000
Genre: Rock
Style: Hard Rock, Prog Rock, Krautrock

TRACKS

           

01. Reflection    5:15
02. Woman    4:16
03. Big City   5:53
Grand Piano – Fred Kaz    
04. In Your Eyes   2:50
Grand Piano – Fred Kaz
05. Outside The Law    6:07
06. Tequila Shuffle   4:58
Organ – Billy Shaw    
07. Fresh Air    9:01

LINE - UP

Bass, Vocals – Bernd Kolbe
Drums, Percussion – Achim Wielert
Lead Guitar – Klaus Walz
Lead Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals – Cliff Jackson
Words By – Bernd Kolbe (tracks: 6), Cliff Jackson (tracks: 1 to 5, 7)
Written-By – Kolbe (tracks: 2, 6, 7), Jackson, Walz (tracks: 5 to 7)

Flac Size: 253 MB