Genre: rock
Rating: **** (4 stars)
Title: Earth and Fire
Company: Perception
Catalog: PRBLP-3000
Year: 1970
Country/State: Voorschoten, Holland
Grade (cover/record): VG+ / VG+
Comments: gatefold sleeve; US pressing; promo copy w/ DJ stamp on back cover
Available: 1
GEMM Catalog ID: 5099
Price: $75.00
Focus, Golden Earring, Shocking Blue ... all demonstrate that American audiences have repeatedly embraced Dutch bands. Naturally, not all Dutch acts enjoyed the same American success - witness Earth & Fire (not to be confused with Earth, Wind & Fire).
Living in the rock and roll hotbed of Voorschoten, Holland the mid-1960s saw twin brothers Chris and Gerard Koerts playing in a number of local bands including The Swinging Strings. 1968 saw the two decide form their own band. Recruiting drummer Cees Kalis (drums) and bassist Hans Ziech (both had been in the band Soul) and vocalist Liesette (aka Manuela
Berloth), as Earth and Fire (the name pulled from the band's astrologic
signs), the line up started gigging under the catchy name Opus Gainfull.
A chance to audition for Richard du Bois' Negram label went poorly and
within a matter of months problems with her eyes forced Liesette to drop out
of the band. She was subsequently replaced by former The Rangers vocalist Jerney Kaagman.
Continued local successes won the band an opening slot on a Golden Earring 1969 European tour. Following the tour, Golden Earring singer/guitarist George Kooymans offered the band an opportunity to record a song he'd recently written. 'Seasons' quickly attracted the attention of Polydor (coincidently Golden Earrings' label). Released as a single, the track b/w 'Hazy Paradise' (Polydor catalog number S1335) went top-10 in Holland.
Another personnel change saw Kalis replaced by ex-Summer drummer Ton Van Der Kelij. Penned by Chris Koerts, a follow up 'Ruby Is the One' b/w 'Mechanical Lover' (Polydor catalog number 2050 019) did equally well, convincing all five members to quit school and turn full time musicians.
With the band having enjoyed a pair of European hits, Polydor agreed to finance an album. 1970's "Earth & Fire" offered up a surprisingly impressive set of originals (the lone exception being the inclusion of Kooyman's 'Seasons'). Released as a single, 'Wild and Exciting' b/w 'Vividy Shady Land' provided the band with another top-10 Dutch hit (Polydor catalog number 2050 044).
Produced by Fred Haayen, the album featured a
mix of the earlier singles and new studio material. So what did this baby sound like? Well to
my ears it sounded a little bit like a tougher/rawer version of The Shocking
Blue. On material like 'Ruby Is the One' and 'Twilight Dreamer'
Kaagman's heavily accented English
certainly bore more than a passing resemblance to those of Mariska Veres. Similarly, like The Shocking Blue's
Robbie Van Leeuwen, prime Earth and Fire songwriters Chris and Gerald Koerts
had a penchant for crafting material that sounded good on FM radio, but
retained a commercial undertone. That said, exemplified by tracks like
'21th Century Show' (sic) the Koerts brothers were also willing to take a
stab at more progressive moves. Elsewhere my personnel favorite was
the rocker 'Love Quiver'. Their debut album also served as the only Earth & Fire set to see a formal American release; the small
Perception label somehow acquiring domestic distribution rights.
"Earth & Fire" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Wild and Exciting (Chris Koerts
- Gerard Koerts) - 4:22
2.) Twilight Dreamer ( Chris Koerts) - 4:10
3.) Ruby Is the One (Chris Koerts) - 3:20
4.) You Know the Way (Gerard Koerts) - 3:40
5.) Vivid Shady Land (Chris Koerts) - 4:08
(side 2)
1.) 21th Century Show (Chris
Koerts) -
2.) Seasons (George Kooymans) -
3.) Love Quiver (Chris Koerts - Gerard Koerts) -
4.) What's Your Name (Chris Koerts - Gerard Koerts) -
Here's a promotional clip off of YouTube clip showing the band playing 'Seasons':
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JufDw56HSwc
