Dizzy Man's Band
Band members Related acts
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line up 1 (1968-70) as Take Five - Dick Buysman -- bass - Karl Kalf -- trumpet, flugelhorn, cello - Bob Kisser -- vocals - Jacques Kloes (RIP 2005) -- vocals - Herman Smak (RIP 2004) -- keyboards - Dirk van der Horst -- guitar - Joop Tromp -- drums, percussion - Klaus Versteeg -- flute, sax
line up 2 (1970-73) as Dizzy Man's Band - Dick Buysman -- bass - Karl Kalf -- trumpet, flugelhorn, cello - Bob Kisser -- vocals - Jacques Kloes (RIP 2005) -- vocals - Herman Smak (RIP 2004) -- keyboards - Dirk van der Horst -- guitar - Joop Tromp -- drums, percussion - Klaus Versteeg -- flute, sax
line up 3 (1973) - Karl Kalf -- trumpet, flugelhorn, cello - Bob Kisser -- vocals - Jacques Kloes (RIP 2005) -- vocals - Herman Smak (RIP 2004) -- keyboards - Dirk van der Horst -- guitar - Joop Tromp -- drums, percussion - Klaus Versteeg -- flute, sax NEW - Jan Visser -- bass (replaced Dick Buysman)
line up 4 (1973-75) - Karl Kalf -- trumpet, flugelhorn, cello - Bob Kisser -- vocals - Jacques Kloes (RIP 2005) -- vocals - Herman Smak (RIP 2004) -- keyboards - Dirk van der Horst -- guitar - Joop Tromp -- drums, percussion - Klaus Versteeg -- flute, sax NEW - Hands de Zwart -- bass (replaced Jan Visser)
line up 5 (1975-78) - Bob Kisser -- vocals - Jacques Kloes (RIP 2005) -- vocals NEW - Franks Meinecke -- bass (replaced Hands de Zwart) - Herman Smak (RIP 2004) -- keyboards - Dirk van der Horst -- guitar - Joop Tromp -- drums, percussion - Klaus Versteeg -- flute, sax
line up 6 (1978-81) NEW - Steve Allett -- vocals (replaced Jacques Kloes) NEW - Ton Dijkman -- drums, percussion (replaced Joop Tromp) - Bob Kisser -- vocals NEW - Franks Meinecke -- bass (replaced Hands de Zwart) - Herman Smak (RIP 2004) -- keyboards - Dirk van der Horst -- guitar - Joop Tromp -- drums - Klaus Versteeg -- flute, sax
line up 7 (1981-83) - Ton Dijkman -- drums, percussion - Bob Kisser -- vocals - Jacques Kloes (RIP 2005) -- vocals NEW - Rini Oudhuis -- vocals (replaced Steve Allett) - Herman Smak (RIP 2004) -- keyboards - Dirk van der Horst -- guitar - Joop Tromp -- drums, percussion NEW - Erwin van Lighten -- bass (replaced Franks Meinecke)
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- A Girl Called Johnny (Erwin van Ligten) - Dean Allen Set (Steve Allett) - Steve Allett (solo efforts) - The Big Deal (Klaus Versteeg and Joop Tromp) - BZN (Dirk van der Horst) - Chestercard (Bob Kisser) - Ton Dijkman (solo efforts) - Ekseption (Steve Allett) - The Fellows - Ginger Ale (Steve Allett) - Bob Kisser (solo efforts) - Jacques Kloes (solo efforts) - Ko'Ko She Bang! (Erwin van Ligten) - Erwin van Ligten (solo efforts - Pick Pocket (Ton Dijkman) - Showbusters (Jacques Kloes) - Take Five (Jacques Kloes) - Texx (Ton Dijkman) - Vintage Future (Ton Dijkman)
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Genre: pop Rating: 3 stars *** Title: The Opera Company: EMI Catalog: 5C 0050-25195 Year: 1975 Country/State: Zaandam, Holland Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: -- Available: 1 Catalog ID: -- Price: $50.00
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Supposedly Holland's funniest band, The Dizzy Man's Band evolved out of the group Take Five. Fronted by lead singer Jacques Kloes and keyboard player Herman Smak, the original line-up included bassist Dick Buysman, trumpet player Karl Kalf, second vocalist/road manager Bob Kisser, lead guitarist Dirk van der Horst, drummer Joop Tromp and woodwind player Klaus Versteeg. Going through a never ending stream of personnel changes the band released a couple of early 1970s albums, but were essentially a singles band. I'd also tag them as one trick ponies since many of their songs followed the same general recipe, mixing goofball subjects with light pop tunes..
On the heels of their enormous Benelux success with the 1975 single 'The Opera', the band released their third collection entitled "The Opera." Featuring twelve tracks, this was essentially a "best of" compilation pulling together eleven earlier singles stretching back to 1970's 'Tickatoo.' The only non-45 was 'Asterix and Obelix.' Mostly penned by lead singer Jacques Kloes and keyboardist Herman Smak, nothing here was going to be considered a great artistic statement. That said, the band was a real dichotomy. At one end of the spectrum were the throwaway novelty tunes like 'Tickatoo', 'The Show', 'The Opera' and 'Jumbo'. These were clearly written to appeal to the lowest common denominator and score as much publicity as possible. Coupled with a never ending stream of television appearances, these were the songs that made them popular throughout the Benelux and Germany. Those are also the tracks likely to irritate most American listeners. The real surprise came in the form of more conventional pop and rock songs. When he dropped the clowning routine Kloes actually had a nice voice that reminded me of David Clayton-Thomas, or perhaps Tom Jones. Similarly, on songs like 'A Matter of Facts', 'Fire' and the blatantly pro-ecology statement 'Shocking' the band demonstrated they were more than capable of playing it relatively straight, showing an obvious infatuation with Blood, Sweat and Tears-styled horn-rock.
"The Opera" track
listing: 1.) The Opera (Jacques Kloes) - 3:37 rating: *** stars Even though it was largely a retread of 1973's 'The Show', 'The Opera' was just too cute (or cloying), to ever make it in the US, or English markets. I guess I can understand why it never had a chance given the song wasn't very good. Still, part of the fun was just listening to Jacques Kloes heavily accented vocals. Surrounded by his band of stoned buffoons, you could help but smile at how goofy this whole thing was. Imagine Monty Python and The Muppets combining their talents to take a stab at 'Bohemian Rhapsody' and you'll get an idea of what to expect. In case pat of the tune sounded familiar, the operatic sections were appropriated from Franz van Suppe's light opera 'Leichte Kavallerie' (translated as "light calvary"). Released as a single it sold truckloads in the Benelux and Germany.
- 1975's 'The Opera' b/w 'Money' (EMI catalog number 5C 006-25 096) YouTube has a couple of television performances where they band goofs their way through a lip-synched performance of the tune: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JWT7rACq6g 2.) A Matter of Facts (Herman Smak - Jacques Kloes) - 3:20 rating; **** stars After sitting through 'The Opera' I have to admit I was surprised at how good 'A Matter of Facts' was. It turned out Kloes actually had an impressive voice. On this rocker he sounded like David Clayton-Thomas. The horns have it a distinctive Blood, Seat & Tears vibe. Well, Kloes sounded like David Clayton-Thomas had the singer been born and raised in Holland. This one had been previously released as a single:
- 1971's 'A Matter of Facts' b/w 'Who Is Who' (Injection catalog number 134.547) 3.) The Show (Herman Smak - Jacques Kloes) - 3:13 rating: *** stars It was clear 'The Show' had been the inspiration for 'The Opera'. Musically and thematically the two songs sounded very similar. 'The Opera' just wasn't as good. This one had also previous been released as a single:
- 1973's 'The Show' b/w 'Why Don't You Dance' (Harvest catalog number 5C 006-24699) YouTube has a television performance of the tune at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyVnVFca_9c 4.) Asterix and Obelix (Jacques Kloes) - 3:46 rating: **** stars I know they're a pair of famous French cartoon characters ... Gauls fighting off the Roman invaders. Regardless, this was another tune where Kloes totally surprised me. This time around he sounded like a Dutch Tom Jones fronting Blood, Sweat and Tears. Here's another clip of the band lip-synching for an unknown television program: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4HVLSV5-ZM 5.) Mony the Phoney (Herman Smak - Jacques Kloes) - 3:27 rating: *** stars The horns were present again, but this time the melody and goofball lyrics (basically the title repeated time after time and time), gravitated towards throwaway bubblegum
- 1974's 'Mony the Phoney' b/w 'Fire' (EMI 5C 006-24 894) 6.) Fire (Herman Smak - Jacques Kloes) - 4:23 rating: *** stars A 1973 single, 'Fire' found the band playing it relatively straight forward. Almost a conventional rock tune, it was enough to make you wonder what they could have done had the dropped the goofball image.
- 1973's 'Fire' b/w 'Mickey Mouse' (EMI catalog number 5C 006-24 87) Here's a clip of a promotional video for the 45: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_y6gKW4crQM
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2) A 1973 single, 'Dizzy On the Rocks' appeared to mix two thirds Tommy James and the Shondells with one part Elvis Presley.
- 1974's Dizzy On the Rocks' b/w 'Run Run Run' (EMI catalog number 5C 006-25 053) Here's a clip of the band from the Dutch TopPop television show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDyDE3CdLVE 2.) Tickatoo (Jacques Kloes - Richard de Bois) - 2:32 rating: *** stars The band's first major hit, aside from the occasional growls and a horn arrangement, 'Tickatoo' was a straight nick of Creedence Clearwater Revival's 'Down On the Corner'. The were lucky that John Fogerty didn't sure them for plagiarism. The song was eventually released in 18 countries, including their lone US release when Reprise issued it as a promotional 45. It may have been pulled because of fear of a lawsuit from CCR.
1970's 'Tickatoo' b/w 'My Love' (Negram catalog number NG 187) The band's Dutch label apparently released a promotional video for the song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0g_IBsjRH4 3.) Shocking (Jacques Kloes) - 3:23 rating: **** stars Another rocker that recalled BS&T, 'Shocking' was interesting for its hardcore pro-environmental lyrics. Very impressive for 1972.
- 1972's 'Shocking' b/w 'Pretty Kitty' (Harvest catalog number 5C-006 24-686) 4.) Let's Go To the Beach (Jacques Kloes) - 2:55 rating: **** stars If I was going to pick one of their songs to exemplify the Nederbeat tag, it would be this 1971 single. Mindless, good-time pop 'Let's Go to The Beach' was catchy and totally inane. Pop music your parents would enjoy. Think along the lines of The George Baker Selection, or The Tee Set and you'll know what to expect.
- 1971's 'Let's Go To the beach' b/w 'Let's Stick Together (Injection catalog number 134.538) 5.) Jumbo (Herman Smak - Jacques Kloes) - 2:50 rating: *** stars The 1972 single 'Jumbo' didn't even try to hide their BS&T infatuation.
- 1972's 'Jumbo' b/w 'Crazy Summer' (Harvest catalog number 5C 006-24 623) 6.) Zig Zag City (Jacques Kloes - Richard de Bois) - 2:47 rating: *** stars Musically completely forgettable, the '70s lyrics were worth an extra star.
- 1971's 'Zig Zag City' b/w 'Point of No Return' (Indigo catalog number IG 221)
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