Even if we don't know the lyrics

Here was Billboard's Top 5 heading into September 1972:

1. Brandy (You're a Fine Girl), Looking Glass
2. Alone Again (Naturally), Gilbert O'Sullivan
3. Long Cool Woman (In a Black Dress), Hollies
4. I'm Still in Love With You, Al Green
5. Hold Your Head Up, Argent

One of the great songs of that year, "Long Cool Woman" never made it No. 1, falling just short (although it did top the Cashbox chart). And that's a shame. For Allan Clarke, who had just left the Hollies to consider a solo career. For the Hollies, who never notched a Billboard No. 1. And for the state of rock 'n' roll.  A peek at Billboard's year-ending Top 10 is telling:

1. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, Roberta Flack
2. Alone Again (Naturally), Gilbert O'Sullivan
3. American Pie, Don McLean
4. Without You, Nilsson
5. Candy Man, Sammy Davis Jr.
6. I Gotcha, Joe Tex
7. Lean On Me, Bill Withers
8. Baby Don't Get Hooked On Me, Mac Davis
9. Brand New Key, Melanie
10. Daddy Don't You Walk So Fast, Wayne Newton

Wayne Newton?  Meanwhile, "Long Cool Woman," with its great guitar hook and some indecipherable lyrics, finished at No. 24, just ahead of Mouth & MacNeal's "How Do You Do." Of course these rankings mean nothing, but still.  "Long Cool Woman" is the one you want to hear when you're rocking down the highway, not "Candy Man"!  The song doesn't track with the video above, but we love it just the same. As someone commented on YouTube:

"If you don't like this song you suck."