Over
ten years ago I ran a parallel blog to this one, dedicated to sharing
some of the best pop/rock hit singles of the seventies made by Dutch
acts. That blog has long gone the way of the dodo, but I'm reviving it
for the new lay-out of my art blog. There will be a number of posts,
each containing twelve songs by different acts, in chronological order
within one post. I will also be restricting myself in three aspects: no
songs that were huge hits in the UK and/or USA, maximum four songs total
for each act spread out over the various posts, and each song scores at
least a 4/6 on the Artrockometer. The illustrations will be the
original singles covers if I can find them, and each song description
will end with a little symbol that links to the corresponding YouTube
video (if available). The image above is by Rudy van der Veen and is in
the public domain. OK... enjoy!
Only Lies by Greenfield and Cook (1971)
Greenfield and Cook (a translation of their real family names: Rink Groenveld en Peter Kok) were a duo from The Hague that was also known as the Dutch Simon and Garfunkel. They scored seven top40 hits (three of them making the top ten) in the period 1971-1973. Only Lies was their biggest success, peaking at #4, and my favourite from their repertoire.
Memories by Earth and Fire (1972)
Earth and Fire were a band from the neighborhood of The Hague.
Their albums were clearly progressive rock, but their singles were radio
friendly and highly successful. In the period from 1970 until 1983 they
scored 18 top40 hits, including two that made it to number one - one of them being Memories. My favourite song
from one of my favourite bands.
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Mammoth by Kayak (1973)
Kayak are a progressive rock band, who in addition to their albums (which are of general high quality) scored nine top40 hits in the period 1973-1980, including one top 10 hit. Mammoth was their second hit, peaking at #18. It stands out because of the use of a Dutch street organ.
The Tandem by Smyle (1973)
Smyle were a band from The Hague and Voorburg. In the years 1972/1973 they had two top40 hits. Their sound was inspired by pre-1966 Beatles. Their second (and last) hit, The Tandem, made #12 in the top40. Lead singer Bas Muys sounded very much like John Lennon - and a decade later he was heard all over the world as the singer in the Stars on 45 Beatles medley (over 5 million sold, #1 in the USA).
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Father John by Lemming (1974)
Lemming were a shock rock band who were active from 1973 until 1977, and was resurrected as The Lemming in 2002. They scored three top40 hits in the period 1973-1975; Father John (a song about a possessed monk) was their biggest success, topping at #15.
100 Years by Joey Dyser (1975)
Joey Dyser (real name Josje Duister) is one of the most remarkable one hit wonders in the history of Dutch pop/rock. In 1973 Suriname singer Alberto Gemerts asked his neighbor, reporter and reviewer of children books Josje Duister, to sing something in order to test his new studio equipment. She sang a song she wrote herself, titled 100 Years. One year later, by accident, this recording ended up on the desk of a producer of the Delta record company, who decided to release it as single. Early 1975 it stormed up the charts, making the #1 spot in the Netherlands and Flanders. And that was it. The next single and an album made zero impact, and Joey Dyser never tried again.
Guitar King by Hank The Knife and The Jets (1975)
Hank The Knife and The Jets were a rock and roll band from the Arnhem/Nijmegen region. Lead man Henk Bruysten (Hank the Knife) was originally in Long Tall Ernie and the Shakers, but left in 1974 to start his own group. For a short time, they were very successful, scoring five top40 hits in the period 1975-1980, including one number one hit. Guitar King was their debut single, which reached #2 in the charts.
Rock and Roll Star by Champagne (1976)
Champagne were a pop group from the Rotterdam region. With a sound (and line-up) inspired by ABBA, and a twenties' style presence, they scored eight top40 hits between 1976 and 1980. Their first three singles made the top10, with their debut Rock and Roll Star topping at #2.
My Broken Souvenirs by Pussycat (1977)
Pussycat were a country pop group from the south of Limburg, formed around three singing sisters. With their debut single Mississippi from 1975 they scored an international hit, hitting the #1 position in many European countries, including the UK. All in all they charted with 15 songs in the Dutch top 40 in the period 1975-1983, including seven top ten hits, of which Mississippi and My Broken Souvenirs made #1. This is one of my two favourite songs from the band.
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| Marja by George Baker Selection (1977) |
The George Baker Selection was a pop group from the Zaanstad region, formed around lead singer George Baker (real name Hans Bouwens). Their 1969 debut single Little Green Bag was a hit in many countries, including the USA. Paloma Blanca from 1975 did even better. In the period 1969-1999 they charted with 28 songs in the Dutch top40, including 16 top 10 hits, and three number ones. As I'm not really interested in most of their hits, their appearance in these blog posts will be limited. I do like Marja, a love song that topped at number 11.
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U.O.Me (You Owe Me) by Luv' (1978)
Luv' was one of the first Dutch girls bands, the three members selected for their looks as much as their voices. From 1977 to 1993 they scored 13 disco-inspired top40 hits, including seven that reach the top ten and two that made number one. U.O.Me (You Owe Me) was their first top ten hit, and their real breakthrough thanks to its use as the title tune for the controversial comedy Waldolala, in which the band also performed. Most of their songs are of little interest to me, but I always liked this one.
Weekend Love by Golden Earring (1979)
Golden Earring (originally The Golden Earrings) were a rock band from the Hague. Their music was mainly melodious rock with progressive tendencies. They were one of the most successful Dutch bands, scoring international hits with Radar Love (1973) and Twilight Zone (1982). Their successes in the Netherlands were astonishing: 47 top40 hits from 1965 until 2005, 22 of which made the top10, and five the number one spot. Weekend Love, with guitar player George Kooymans rather than Barry Hay as singer, topped at #3, and is one of my personal favourites in their repertoire.
Copyright statement: posting lower quality single covers is deemed fair use.
