WHO DID WHAT by Ray Stiles

THEN, NOW, ALWAYS (DOLPHIN DAYS)
Tony - All guitars, these were acoustic (Parker Fly) plus a special tuning setup called ‘Nashville tuning’ (info at the end), electric guitar through a TC Electronics guitar processor – for special guitar effects.
Bobby - Drums plus congas on the guitar solo.
Ray - Fender Precision bass
Ian  -  Hammond organ, bells, celeste
Vocals  -  Tony sang lead vocals and also all the harmonies, Peter and Tony sang “forever” at the end of the song

IF YOU SEE HER
Tony  -  All guitars, acoustic, Nashville tuning, vibrato electric guitar
Bobby  -  Drums
Ray  -  Fender P bass
Ian  -  Hammond organ and Wurlitzer electric piano
Vocals  -  Peter sang lead vocal and also did all the harmonies
Percussion  -  Tambourine and shaker were programmed by me on Stylus RMX (see the techno information bit at the end)

ONE TOUCH
Tony  -  Acoustic, electric through TC processor, Nashville tuning, electric sitar
Bobby  -  Drums
Ray  -  Fender P bass
Ian  -  Bosendorfer acoustic piano, synthesizer pads (a carpet of sound used to prevent a song going ‘dead’ at various points). Ian also scored the full string arrangement.
Steve  -  ‘Funky’ style rhythm guitar (that we nearly forgot about from our rehearsals)
Vocals  -  Peter sang lead vocal, the harmonies were by Tony (bottom line), Pete (middle line), Steve (top line). This harmony formation is used throughout, as it was on Staying Power.
Percussion  -  Various unfathomable percussive effects programmed by me through Stylus RMX

PASSENGERS
Tony  -  All guitars, electric through TC processor, acoustic Nashville tuning,
Bobby  -  Drums
Ray  -  Fender P bass
Ian  -  Hammond organ,  bells, synth pads
Vocals  -  Peter sang lead vocal, chorus harmonies were by Tony, Pete and Steve in the usual formation. Various vocal repeat lines were by Tony and Steve.
Percussion   -  Shaker was me using Stylus RMX

I WOULD FLY
Tony  -  All guitars, acoustic Nashville tuning, electric through TC rack.
Bobby  -  Drums, brushes were used at first (on snare drum) then full kit from guitar solo to the end of the song.
Ray  -  Fender P bass, also additional high string lines
Ian  -  Bosendorfer acoustic piano, synth pads. Also scored the full string arrangement
Vocals  -  Pete sang lead vocal, chorus harmonies were by Tony, Pete and Steve as usual.
Percussion  -  Tambourine, maracas, shaker, triangle and wind chimes were all programmed by me using Stylus RMX

COMING HOME
Tony  -  Electric slide and overdrive guitars, Nashville acoustic guitar
Bobby  -  Drums
Ray  -  Fender P bass, also tom tom, drums and cymbals overdubs.
Ian  -  Hammond organ, all synthesized effects and pads, tubular bells.
Steve  -  Electric rhythm guitar
Vocals  -  Steve sang lead vocal, harmonies were by Tony, Pete and Steve as usual.
Percussion  -  Shaker, cowbell, slap and chops were programmed by me using Stylus RMX

I LIED
Tony  -  All guitars, electric through TC rack, Nashville acoustic tuning,
Bobby  -  Drums
Ray  -  Warwick Thumb bass,
Ian  -  Hammond organ thro the song, also played synthesized ‘falling’ guitar lines on the front and middle of the song, Fender Rhodes electric piano.
Vocals  -  Peter sang lead vocal and also sang all the harmonies

ONE WAY TICKET
Tony  -  Electric through the TC rack and  Nashville acoustic tuning
Bobby  -  Drums
Ray  -  Fender P bass,  congas
Ian  -  Hammond organ, synthesizer figures, sand-bells
Vocals  -  Peter sang lead vocal, chorus harmonies were by Tony, Pete and Steve
Percussion  -  Cabassa, triangle and tambourine by me using Stylus RMX

TOO MUCH TOO SOON
Tony  -  All guitars, acoustic and electric
Bobby  - Kit, finger cymbals and tambourine
Ray  -  Fender P bass
Ian  -  Steinway acoustic piano, synthesized strings
Vocals  -  Peter sang lead vocal, chorus harmonies were by Tony, Pete and Steve. The quiet-ish middle background vocals (where the song leaves a full tempo), these were sung by Peter.
Percussion  -  The backward cymbal was from Stylus Classic

UNFORGIVABLE
Tony  -  All guitars, electric through the TC rack for special effects, and acoustic Nashville
Bobby  -  Drums
Ray  -  Warwick Thumb bass
Ian  -  Bosendorfer acoustic piano. He also scored the full string arrangement
Vocals  -  Peter sang lead vocal, chorus harmonies were Tony, Pete and Steve. The high repeat line “Unforgivable” was Peter

HEARTS DON’T LIE
Tony  -  All uitars, electric through the TC rack including a staccato, cello, type of sound (very interesting)
Bobby  -  Drums
Ray  -  Fender P bass
Ian  -  Bosendorfer acoustic piano, single, mellow synth pad
Vocals  -  Peter sang lead vocal. The harmonies were all Tony, very close miked to give a very warm sound. Peter added a subtle high line on “Hearts Don’t Lie”. Peter and Tony sang the repeat “together we can run away”
Percussion  -  Tambourine from Stylus RMX

The album was mastered by Peter Mew at Abbey Road whilst the cover artwork was adapted from Mark Nelson's 'Milltown'.

BORING TECHNICAL BIT (for those who are interested – and I am assured there are people out there who like to know these things)

TC Rack  - A guitar processor that is great in the studio – zillions of effects - and equally usable on stage (as Tony already does)

VERY BORING BIT
The album was recorded digitally at a sample rate of 44.1 Khz at a bit depth of 24. All recording, and mixing was carried out using the IK Multimedia ARC system. Simply put, this amazing system clarifies the sounds being recorded, which in turn makes the final mix more accurate and pleasing.

Only analogue compressors, limiters and equalisers were used throughout. Interestingly, two of these types – the Fairchild 670 compressor and the Pultec EQP1A equaliser were used on original Hollies recordings back in the 60s.

These ‘holy grail’ units are still used at Abbey Road Studios to this day. They were designed in the mid 50s and are worth a fortune. They have ‘the sound’ and are revered throughout the recording world. We were very fortunate to have access to these for this album.

SO there you have it – hope it has been of interest to some of you at least

Regards - Ray