Vinyl Record Architect

I made a new contact today, a new vinyl record blog and Paul has some very interesting features and posts. Here's one from a recent trip to Holland, I have not seen this cover before, I though I'd share his post:


Nederbeat - for collectors only: Modern Records 110 891 L


I've already written about how much I like collections - especially when they're as good as 'for collectors only...' Released in 1967, this Modern Records compendium of Dutch garage, proto-punk, and early psychedelia includes the music of several classic Dutch bands such as De Maskers and Golden Earring - like you haven't heard them before. The song titles are covers and originals including one Dylan cover ('Masters of War' by De Maskers) and Gene Vincent's 'Baby Blue.'

I found this on the floor of a little record store in Leiden, Holland. The records on the floor - and there were thousands - were Two Euros each. So, I got this little treasure for less than four bucks! Not in the best shape, granted, but eminently playable. The front cover has but a single small tear, the back inscribed by a former owner with the word 'Blues' in large red ballpoint - ironic or accidental? - and in smaller blue ballpoint letters 'Revolutie.' Helpfully, this same former owner has labeled the photos so I know which band is which. Making the record less valuable to a serious collector perhaps, but full of charm for me!

One of my favorite cuts is the second one on the second side, 'That's Your Problem,' by the Outsiders. Unlike some of their contemporaries like Tee Set - also on this record - and Shocking Blue, The Outsiders never hit it even somewhat big in the States and their music is known best by garage band and 'Nederbeat' fans. Nederbeat, Holland's uniquely raw and direct British Invasion-inspired interpretation of Rock 'n' Roll, is definately worth a listen. The Outsiders are known to be one of the best Nederbeat bands and Kurt Cobainis said to have been a fan who unsuccessfully tried to meet Wally Tax, the Outsiders' lead singer.

You can find them on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIVAFcVpnf8

Another highlight is Golden Earring's 'Daddy buy me a girl.' The video - Golden Earring's first - features the band playing the song while riding elephants - there is even a go-go girl on elephant, the English dancer, Felicity. Really, what's not to like! You can find them on YouTube, too:
http://www.youtube.com/user/ThommyCortina.

See members.ziggo.nl/casper.roos/story60.html for the whole story.

The song was also included in Nuggets II. Reviewer George Starostin gave the song an A+ and called it 'pop perfection.' He continued:

'These Dutch lads (later simply 'Golden Earring') werechart darlings in Europe for quite a long time, and if this song is a goodindication, they're well worth investigating. The liner notes justly indicatethe non-trivial lyrical subject (rich boy suffers because all the girlsonly love him for his dough), but as good as the lyrics are, it's the melodythat deserves the most accolades - a terrific exercise in Brit-pop, drivenby the obligatory harpsichord, of course, but with chord changes and vocalmodulation all its own, and an insanely catchy verse melody as wellas middle-eight. Plus, Krassenburg's lead vocals just ring withclassic Sixties' "radio freshness", and at the same time conveyjust the right tinge of sadness and moodiness. I can't help but admireevery second of this thing.'

Well, finally, there is the matter of the album cover. Hard to overlook. At one time, depicting body-painted female nudes on record albums seemed to have been the rage. Now, it just seems more than vaguely wrong. But this was released in another era and free love and nudity were part of the revolution, political and sexual.

And, after all, it was 'for collectors only...'


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