Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress

"Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress"
Cover of the 1972 French single
Single by the Hollies
from the album Distant Light
B-side	"Cable Car" (UK) "Look What We've Got" (US)
Released	17 April 1972
Recorded	16–30 July 1971
Studio	AIR, London
Genre	Swamp rock
Length	3:15
Label	Parlophone (UK) Epic (US)
Songwriter(s)	Allan Clarke Roger Cook Roger Greenaway
Producer(s)	The Hollies Ron Richards
The Hollies singles chronology
"The Baby" (1972) "Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress" (1972) "Magic Woman Touch" (1972)

"Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress" (also titled "Long Cool Woman" or "Long Cool Woman (in a Black Dress)") is a song written by Allan Clarke, Roger Cook and Roger Greenaway, and performed by the British rock group the Hollies. In an interview with Johnnie Walker on BBC Radio 2 on Sounds of the 70s in April 2023, Clarke said it had been written by himself and Cook. Cook had a long-standing agreement with Greenaway that any songs written by one of them should be credited to both.

Originally appearing on the album Distant Light, it was released as a single on 17 April 1972 (on Parlophone in the United Kingdom), selling 2 million copies worldwide, including 1.5 million in the United States. It reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in September 1972 for two weeks, behind Gilbert O'Sullivan's "Alone Again (Naturally)". Billboard ranked it as the No. 24 song for 1972.

Background and recording

On the day "Long Cool Woman" was recorded at AIR Studios, the group's producer, Ron Richards, was ill and, as a result, the song was produced by the group. "Long Cool Woman" is different from most other Hollies songs in that there are no three-part vocal harmonies. Allan Clarke's lead vocal is the only voice prominently heard. It also features lead guitar by Clarke. Upon his return, Richards mixed the recording.

The lyrics set a scene similar to a film noir crime-drama. The singer, who is an FBI agent, is in a speakeasy filled with criminals. He falls for an attractive 5 foot 9" woman in a black dress and helps rescue her when gun shots ring out.

The song was written initially in the country/rockabilly style of Jerry Reed then adapted over recording more to the swamp rock style of Creedence Clearwater Revival, in terms of the vocal, rhythm, and melodic style. Clarke imitated John Fogerty's vocal style, which was based on the Creedence song "Green River". According to Clarke, the song was written "in about five minutes".

Reception

U.S. music-business magazine Cash Box said of the song: "rockin' in the tradition of Creedence and T Rex, the Hollies at their most commercial since 'He Ain't Heavy.'" According to some sources, the similarity to Creedence Clearwater Revival was not lost on that group's lead singer, John Fogerty. He was of the opinion that the song was "too close" to his trademark sound, and allegedly sued the Hollies over the issue. The suit was settled out of court for an undisclosed sum of money.

In the Hollies' native United Kingdom, the song was only a modest success, peaking at number 32 on the charts. However, it was a much bigger hit in the United States, peaking at number 2 for two weeks, making it the group's highest-charting single ever in the U.S. It topped the charts in South Africa, and also reached number 2 in Australia and New Zealand. By that time Clarke had left the band, but he feels that "it wasn't unfortunate", for he had co-written the song. Clarke rejoined the Hollies in the summer of 1973, partly due to the success of the song.

Track listing

Personnel

• Allan Clarke – vocals, lead guitar
• Tony Hicks and Terry Sylvester – guitar
• Bernie Calvert – bass
• Bobby Elliott – drums

Chart performance

Certifications

In popular culture and cover versions

• Phantom, Rocker & Slick released their version on their 1986 album Cover Girl.
• "Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress" was the first song played by the band Phish. They also played the song at their 15th and 20th anniversary concerts.
• A cappella group Rockapella released a version on their 1995 album Primer. Their version often accompanied the map round on Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?.
• Country music singer T. G. Sheppard covered the song on his 1997 album Nothin' on But the Radio.
• The song was used in the films Remember the Titans, Amores Perros, The Longest Yard, The Lovely Bones, Trouble with the Curve, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows, Kong: Skull Island, and Air America.
• Country music singer Clint Black released his version of the song to country radio on 19 February 2008, under the title "Long Cool Woman". Black's version charted on the Hot Country Songs chart at #58.
• Heavy metal rocker Vince Neil released a heavier version of "Long Cool Woman", along with other covers and original material, on his third studio album, Tattoos & Tequila, on 22 June 2010.