Mike Tingley, Drama, Brainbox, Cuby + Blizzards, Golden Earring, and many more
The Netherlands was the first non-English speaking country to score a string of international hits back when pop music was still in its infant stage. Just think about Shocking Blue, Focus, Mouth And MacNeal, Tee-Set, or The Golden Earring. Of course, many more great bands and artists emerged from this country behind the dykes. Some are well known, others are true gems. Here's a selection of some of the finest Dutch artists from that era and their albums.
Mike Tingley's album The Abstract Prince is a great late 60's Orchestral Baroque Pop album with psychedelic sounds all over it. The album focuses on different aspects of life, such as love, loneliness, finding your own truth, but also the ongoing Vietnam war during the time this album was recorded.
The legendary Dutch blues formation Cuby + Blizzards, founded by vocalist Harry Muskee and guitarist Eelco Gelling, released their fifth studio album in 1970. It was the successor to Appleknockers Flophouse and consists of more of their energetic blues rock they were famous for.
Livin' Blues was a Dutch blues rock group formed in The Hague in 1967 by guitarist and front man Ted Oberg. During the early 70s they were considered, together with Cuby & The Blizzards, as the absolute top of the Dutch blues scene. The Rocking At The Tweed Mill album was recorded in the United Kingdom and produced by Mike Vernon, who was working with British blues artists and groups like the Bluesbreakers, David Bowie and Peter Green amongst others.
The Dutch progressive rock group Drama comprised a number of individuals who had already made their marks in the past in several different bands: Polle Eduard (Tee Set, After Tea), drummer Ton 'Shell' Schellekens (Brainbox, In Crowd), Ulli Grün (Boots, After Tea), and the young guitar virtuoso Frank van der Kloot (Bobby's Children). In 1972 they released their only album Drama.
Sandy Coast was a Dutch rock band fronted by Hans Vermeulen, who achieved chart success in the '60s and '70s. In 1968 they released their second album From the Workshop, which includes their well-known songs “Capital Punishment” and “My Friend Abdullah”.
Brainbox is a Dutch rock group that was initially active from 1968 until 1972, and then reformed in 2009. Brainbox is best described as a progressive blues rock band infused with jazz elements. Their eponymous debut album, released in 1969, is also the only Brainbox record that features founding guitarist Jan Akkerman, who left the band in late 1969 to join Focus.
As the record was pressed in limited quatities back in the days, the album is now heavily sought after. Finally available again, Music On Vinyl is pressing the first 500 individually numbered copies on transparent green vinyl.
27-04-2020