line up 1 (1970-72) 

- Polle Eduard -- vocals, bass, acoustic guitar

- Ulli Grun (aka UlyGrun) (RIP 2004) -- vocals, keyboards,

   synthesizers

- Frank van de Kloot -- vocals, guitar

- Ton "Shell" Schellekens -- drums, percussion

  supporting musicians:

- Sasha Van Geest -- flute

  line up 1 (1972-73) 

- Polle Eduard -- vocals, bass, acoustic guitar

- Frank van de Kloot -- vocals, guitar

- Ton "Shell" Schellekens -- drums, percussion

- After Tea (Polle Eduard and Ulli Grun)

- Big Wheel (Ton "Shell" Schellekens)

- Bobby's Children (Frank van de Kloot)

- The Boots (Ulli Grun)

- Brainbox (Ton "Shell" Schellekens)

- Cashmere (Ton "Shell" Schellekens)

- Polle Eduard (solo efforts)

- Fontessa

- In Crowd (Ton "Shell" Schellekens)

- Meistersinger und Ihre Kinder (Ulli Grun)

- Peter und Polle (Polle Eduard)

- Powerful Tramps (Ulli Grun)

- Rainbow Train (Ton "Shell" Schellekens)

- Tee Set (Polle Eduard)

- The Rest

- Steptrack (Ulli Grun)

- Frank van de Kloot (solo efforts)

Genre: rock

Rating: 3 stars ***

Title:  Drama

Company: Music On Vinyl

Catalog:  MOVLP2596
Year: 2020

Country/State: The Hague, Holland; Berlin, Germany

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: 180 gram audiophile pressing; reissue

Available: 1

Catalog ID: --

Price: $50.00

Holland is a country that had a population of about 13 million in 1970.  That makes the number of late-'60s and '70s bands coming out of the country amazing.  Sometimes it seems there are more bands than tulip fields.

Singer/bassist Polle Eduard and keyboardist Ulli Grun had been members of After Tea.  When that entity called it quits, the pair decided to continue their musical collaboration, recruiting ex-In Crowd drummer Ton "Shell" Schellekens to start Drama in 1970.  They quickly added former Bobby's Children guitarist Frank van de Kloot to the line-up and found a supporter in the late producer Hans Van Oosterhout.  Van Oosterhout championed their cause, helping them sign a deal with Philips Records.  They subsequently made their recording debut with a 1971 Dutch single:

- 1971's 'Down' b/w 'Hard To Believe' (Philips catalog number 6075129)

While the single did little commercially, Philips went ahead and financed an album.  Produced by Van Oosterhout and Peter Koelewijn, 1971's "Drama" was an interesting, if uneven debut.  The band attracted considerable attention with the release of their second single: the Nederpop-styled track 'Mary's Mamma.'  Unfortunately while the single sounded like something The George Baker Selection, or The Tee Set might have recorded, it was not indicative of the rest of the album which featured a harder, occasionally more rock oriented sound.  All four members proved accomplished musicians, with each contributing to the writing chores.  Eduard was more than capable as the prime vocalist and while his performances were occasionally accented, it wasn't anything major and you quickly adapted to it.   van de Kloot didn't get a great deal of time in the spotlight, but he used the time well.  Check out his performance on the instrumental 'Melodrama.'   Similarly Grun and Schellekens provided tasteful fills when needed.  The set was far from perfect.  Ulli's country-tinged 'Tell the World I'm Coming' was a throwaway and made it clear why Eduard handled most of the vocals.  Their Willie Dixon cover 'I'm Your hoochi-coochi Man' was professional, but not inspiring.  Far better were Schellekens's rocking 'Dreamed I was the President', the suite 'No Doctor' and 'Melodrama,' and side two's ' Brains or Not.'   The album certainly had its moments, but would I pay $500 - $800 for an original copy?  Hum, roughly $100 a song ...   Nope.  Buy one of the authorized reissues instead.

"Drama" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Mary's Mamma   (Peter Koelewijn - Peter Schoonhoven) -  rating: *** stars

Released as a single throughout Europe, 'Mary's Mamma' was an atypical number for these guys.  A typical slice of mid-'70s Nederpop, the track was highly commercial - imagine a Dutch version of American bubblegum pop.  Imagine something released by The George Baker Selection, Mouth and McNeal, or The Shocking Blue (without a female lead singer).  I'm not throwing shade at the song since it was quite radio friendly in a goofy, sing-along fashion, but anyone expecting to hear an album of similar sounding pop tunes was going to be disappointed. The band were reportedly furious over being forced to record the track and refused to play it in their live shows.   The opening Spanish countdown always makes me smile.  It's also the album's one non-original co-written by producer Peter Koelewijn  and singer Peter Schoonhoven.

- 1972's 'Mary's Mamma' b/w 'Mademoiselle' (Philips catalog number 6012 028)

2.) Dreamed I was the President   (Ton "Shell" Schellekens)   rating: **** stars

Penned by drummer Schelleken who also took the opportunity to showcase his nice percussion work, 'Dreamed I was the President' was a far more typical performance.  Showcasing the band's rock roots, Frank van de Kloot  turned in some taste heavy metal guitar.  One of the album's best numbers.

3.) I'm Your hoochi-coochi Man   (Willie Dixon) -   rating: *** stars

Kudos for a Dutch band deciding to do a Muddy Waters cover.  It takes a certain amount of courage to put yourself out on the line like that.  Anyhow, their molten, blues-rock cover had more in common with Paul Rodgers and Bad Company that Waters' original, but it wasn't half bad.  I've heard far worse versions.

4.a) No Doctor   (Frank van de Kloot) -    rating: **** stars

van de Kloot's beautiful acoustic guitar opening has always reminded me of something from a Jan Akkerman solo album.  When Grun's Hammond B3 kicked in the song turned into an enjoyable and atmospheric ballad.  The song also featured the album's best electric guitar solo.

4.b.) Melodrama (instrumental)   (Polle Eduard - Uly Grun - Frank van de Kloot - Ton "Shell" Schellekens) -    rating: **** stars

The album's sole group composition, 'Melodrama' offered up a pleasant, atmospheric instrumental that grew in intensity as it rolled along.  van de Kloot's spidery lead guitar (recalling David Gilmour), took the spotlight.

(side 2)

1.) Smile Or Yell   (Polle Eduard) -   rating: *** stars

Showcasing Eduard's heavily accented vocals, 'Smile Or Yell' opened up as a pretty ballad.   It took a while for the song's main melody to kick into gear, but it was worth the wait with the song shifting into a series of more up-tempo phases with a more commercial feel. Not a knockout performance, but worth hearing again.

2.) Tell the World I'm Coming  (Uly Grun) -   rating: ** stars

Opening up with pedal steel guitar and Grun's shrill and warbly voice was an instant turnoff.  While I quickly became acclimated to his voice, the country-tinged ballad didn't get much better.

3.) Brains or Not  (Polle Eduard) -   rating: **** stars

Opening up with some jazzy Eduard guitar, 'Brains or Not' the song quickly morphed into one of the album's most enjoyable FM rockers.  Towards the end of the track Eduard also turned in one of his prettiest guitar solos.  One of the album highlights.

4.) Give Up and Go  (Polle Eduard) -   rating: *** stars

'Give Up and Go' closed the album with a pretty acoustic folk ballad and I didn't even mind the flute solo.  It wasn't anything special, but Eduard turned in one of his strongest vocals on the tune.

Powered by the second single the parent album sold well in the Benelux.  They band released a non-LP single at which point  Grun quit, returning to Germany.  Only 60, Grun passed away in April, 2004.   The other members continued on as a trio, releasing a one final 45 before calling it quits in 1973.

- 1972's 'Daddy Won't Le Me' b/w 'Everywhere' (Philips catalog number 6075 133)

- 1973's 'Stop That Now' b/w 'Bring Back the Money' (Philips catalog number 6012 315)

van de Kloot and Schellekens continued their musical partnership releasing an album under the name Fontessa.  Polle embarked on a sporadic solo career.  By my count, he's released five album's over the ensuing years.