line up 1 (1964-65)

- Onno Bevoort (aka Tony Before) -- drums, percussion

- Jos de Jager -- bass

- Charles Kersbergen -- guitar

- Hans Vermeulen (RIP 2017)-- vocals, guitar, keyboards

- Jan Vermeulen (RIP 1999) -- rhythm guitar, bass

  line up 2 (1965-67)

- Onno Bevoort (aka Tony Before) -- drums, percussion

- Jos de Jager -- bass

- Hans Vermeulen (RIP 2017)-- vocals, guitar, keyboards

- Jan Vermeulen (RIP 1999) -- rhythm guitar, bass

  line up 3 (1970-71)

- Onno Bevoort (aka Tony Before) -- drums, percussion

- Henk Smitskamp -- bass

- Hans Vermeulen (RIP 2017)-- vocals, guitar, keyboards

- Jan Vermeulen (RIP 1999) -- rhythm guitar, bass

- Ron Westerbeek -- keyboards

  line up 4 (1972-73)

- Onno Bevoort (aka Tony Before) -- drums, percussion

- Marianne Noble -- vocals

- Henk Smitskamp -- bass

- Hans Vermeulen (RIP 2017)-- vocals, guitar, keyboards

- Jan Vermeulen (RIP 1999) -- rhythm guitar, bass

- Ron Westerbeek -- keyboards

- Autopilot (Hans Hollestelle)

- Beaugarde (Hans Hollestelle)

- Daddy's Act (Ron Westerbeek)

- Dutch Treat (Hans Hollestelle)

- Ekseption (Hans Hollestelle)

- Empty Vessels (Hans Hollestelle)

- The First International Sex Opera Band (Onno Bevoort and

  Ron Westerbeek)

- Flight 505

- It Takes (Hans Vermeulen)

- Livin' Blues (Henk Smitskamp)

- Musicians Union Band (Ron Westerbeek)

- Marianne Nobles (solo efforts)

- Rainbow Train  (Hans Hollestelle, Hans Vermeulen and

  Jan Vermeulen)

- Jan Reitman Band (Jan Vermeulen

- The Rest (Hans Vermeulen)

- Robinson Cruiser (Hans Hollestelle)

- The Sandy Coast Five

- The Sandy Coast Rockers

- The Sandy Coast Skiffle Group

- Shocking Blue (Henk Smitskamp)

- Slight Ache (Hans Hollestelle)

- Spin (Hans Hollestelle)

- Stars On 45 (Hans Vermeulen)

- The Eddy Starr Singers (Hans Vermeulen)

- The Torero's (Hans Hollestelle)

- Hans Vermeulen (solo efforts)

- Water (Onno Bevoort and Ron Westerbeek)

- Willy and His Giants

Genre: rock

Rating: 4 stars ****

Title:  Sandy Coast

Company: Polydor

Catalog:  2480 060

Year: 1971

Country/State: Voorburg, Holland

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: --

Available: 1

Catalog ID: --

Price: $75.00

Two years after the release of their last studio album, Holland's Sandy Coast final broke free of their contract with Larry Page and Dick James' Page One label.  That left the band free to sign a contract with Polydor.  Co-produced by Fred Haayen and Jaap Eggermont, 1971's "Sandy Coast" showcased the band performing as a quintet featuring drummer Onno Bevoort, former Livin' Blues Henk Smitskamp on bass, lead singer/guitarist Hans Vermeulen, rhythm guitarist Jan Vermeulen, and keyboardist Ron Westerbeek.  Hans Vermeulen served the band's front man and focal point.  In addition to lead vocals and guitar he was responsible for writing, or co-writing eight of the nine songs.  

Musically the album found the band making a concerted effort to broaden their musical footprint.  Powered by Vermeulen's nifty voice, tracks like the ballad 'It Must Be Spring' and singles 'Just a Friend' and 'True Love, That's a Wonder' underscored the band's strong commercial roots, but this time around there were stabs at other genres.  'Take Off' found the band toughening up their sound and even adding in a touch of progressive influences to the mix.  'Sorry' replicated the mix with even better results.  'Side Step' incorporated blues-rock.  Those experiments weren't always successful.  'You Gotta Do It Better' was a needless excursion into county territory.  Never understood why so many Dutch bands were attracted to the country genre.  You'll be hard pressed to discover anything particularly original across these grooves, but it was still an enjoyable set that should have brought the band the same level of attention as better known Dutch competitors such as Golden Earring and The Shocking Blue.

"Sandy Coast" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Just a Friend   (Hans Vermeulen) -   rating: **** stars

'Just a Friend' started the album off with a nice top-40 styled pop-rocker.  Great melody, nice Hans Vermeulen lead vocal and ever better backing vocals.  The icing on the cake was Vermeulen's Golden Earring-styled jangle rock lead guitar.  Released as the album's second single in a couple of European countries, it should have been a massive world-wide hit.  YouTube has a promotional clip that was recorded for the Dutch TopPop show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdJ81VvjWZI   

- 1971's 'Just a Friend' b/w 'Sorry' (Polydor catalog number 2050 127)

2.) Side Step   (Hans Vermeulen - R. Fenwick) -   rating: *** stars

As lead singer Vermeulen sang with a very light accent - rare for most Dutch bands.  A mid-tempo bluesy number, 'Side Step' wasn't bad, but lacked the zip, or commercial edge of the opener.   

3.) If   (Hans Vermeulen) -    rating: **** stars

'If' offered up a beautiful, if stark ballad that underscored the band's smooth harmony vocals.  CSN&Y would have been happy with the performance.  Shame the song was so short.

4.) Take Off   (Jan Vermeulen - Hans Vermeulen) -    rating: *** stars

Starting out with some stabbing electronic keyboards, the dark rocker 'Take Off' came as a surprise for anyone having acclimated to the band's more commercial direction.  While still commercial, the track found the band dipping their toes into a touch of progressive influence.  Quite nice.

(side 2)

1.) True Love, That's a Wonder   (Hans Vermeulen) -     rating: **** star

It may not have been one of their best selling singles, but in terms of quality, 'True Love, That's a Wonder' offered up won of their strongest melodies and was one of their standout performances.  Vermeulen seldom sounded as good and the backing harmonies were awesome.  YouTube has a curious promotional clip for the song.  Not quite sure what the decision to film in a bottling plant was all about: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsfOR2hpgRg 

- 1971's 'True Love, That's a Wonder' b/w 'If' (Polydor catalog number 2050 83)

2.) Nobody   (Hans Vermeulen) -     rating: **** star

Opening up with some pretty acoustic guitar, 'Nobody' quickly built up energy, ultimately truning into one of the record's toughest rockers.  Showcased the group's awesome harmony vocals, the tune's always reminded me a bit of CSN&Y's 'Ohio'.  

3.) You Gotta Do It Better   (Hans Vermeulen) -   rating: * star

The album's first true strike-out, 'You Gotta Do It Better' found them taking a stab at conventional country.  Never understood why so many Dutch bands were facsinated by the genre.

4.) Sorry   (Hans Vermeulen) -     rating: **** star

A Dutch take on Procol Harum ?  Nice power ballad with some interesting jazzy guitar moves and a killet Vermeulen solo.  The song also showcased what a great voice the late Hans Vermeulen had.

5.) Yes It Must Be Spring   (Ray Fenwick) -     rating: *** stars

The stark keyboard powered ballad 'Yes It Must Be Spring' may not be the album's strongest performance, but was interesting for a number of reasons. In addition to being the album's lone cover, it was the one tune where Vermeulen's accent was noticeable.  The lyrics also hinted at his forthcoming religious awakening.  Pretty, but inconsequential.