HENRY MARTINEZ AND A LONG COOL WOMAN IN A BLACK DRESS

Henry Martinez was Duarte High School's Assistant Cross Country coach in 1972 when I was a 10th grader.  The 11th grade was the only year that I did not run cross country.  All other years I ran.  One Saturday night, Henry drove a few of us from the Cross Country team to play basketball in the basement gym at Lake Avenue Congregation Church in Pasadena.  I will never forget riding in Henry Martinez's raised Chevy that night with a few teammates as Henry put in his 8-track of the Hollies' "Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress."  I didn't know the band.  Didn't even know they were British pop band, the Hollies, whose lead singer, Allan Clarke, is now 75.  Funny what you remember . . . .

This was interesting:

The Hollies had over 30 charting singles on the UK Singles Chart, and 22 on the Billboard Hot 100, with major hits on both sides of the Atlantic that included "Just One Look", "Look Through Any Window", "I Can't Let Go", "Bus Stop", "Stop Stop Stop", "On a Carousel", "Carrie Anne", "Jennifer Eccles", and later "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother", "Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress", and "The Air That I Breathe".

They are one of the few British groups of the early 1960s, along with the Rolling Stones, that have never disbanded and continue to record and perform. In recognition of their achievements, the Hollies were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010.^[2]

Not all of those singles are hot.  Bus Stop" is famous, as is "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother," and my favorite, "Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress."  

Released in 1972, the lyrics are not the most edifying. 

Saturday night I was down town
Working for the F.B.I.
Sitting in a nest of bad men
Whiskey bottles piling high

Boot legging boozer on the west side
Full of people who are doing wrong
Just about to call up the D.A. man
When I heard this woman singing a song.

A pair of forty fives made me open my eyes
My temperature started to rise
She was a long cool woman in a black dress
Just a five nine
Beautiful
Tall
With just one look I was a bad mess
Cause that long cool woman had it all.

Saw her heading to the table
With a tall walking big black cat
When Charlie said "I hope that you're able
Boy"
Well
I'm telling you she knows where it's at
Well suddenly we heard a siren
And every body started to run
A jumping out of doors and tables
Well I heard somebody shooting a gun.

Well the D.A. was pumping my left hand
And a she a holding my right
And I told her don't get scared
Cause you're gonna be spared
I gotta be forgiven
If I want to spend my living with
A long cool woman in a black dress
Just a five nine
Beautiful
Tall
With just one look I was a bad mess
'Cause that long cool woman had it all
Had it all
Had it all

Had it all