Hi El Supernautico Most of the reasons mentioned in the documentary involve poor career decisions in the view of management & roadcrew eg losing money due to the massive cost of their production & insisting on shipping their equipment all over America, say, instead of hiring equipment. Another was leaving too long a gap between Moontan, which was a big hit album in America, & it's follow-up, so that their audience dwindled. Probably if Moontan II had been released six months later that would have helped momentum. Obviously the band didn't & Switch was very different. They were always homesick(!) This meant instead of living in America & keeping a touring presence there, there big gaps between tours because they wanted to go home. It is suggested that by living & touring the US more after Moontan they could have really hit the motherlode. Instead, although their shows were successful every tour lost money, so they reached a point where they felt like they were starting all over again. They were almost bankrupt at one point.
Hi Slim Zooms, Thanks for the info! So the substance abuse is elegantly circumnavigated, and they're sort of their own kind... Yeah, I agree the gap between "Moontan" and "Switch"was much too long and (artistically) too big to gain momentum. Poor management and bankrupcy also are often big issues of course... Okay, but all in all, I think and hope they felt (and still feel) comfortable with their career. Cheers!
Obviously I don't know the 'whole' story' & I'm sure that regarding substance abuse the various books about the band eg Barry's book would detail that but the documentary shows the guys as pretty tight, creative & supportive of each other. It seems like the lack of support over promoting When The Lady Smiles ie censoring the promo video & failing to chart it in America was the tipping point. In the documentary the band are interviewed after coming off stage after Madison Square Gardens on the tour to support Grab It For A Second. How many bands get to play that gig, even as a support? They come across as pretty happy & accepting of where they are at now. For a bunch of guys 70+ they still put on a great show & play to big crowds in Holland.
Absolutely dig the heck out of this band and still listen to them on a regular basis. Some of my favorites besides the obvious are GE (Wall of Dolls), Seven Tears, Together, To The Hilt (a favorite), Contraband (alternative title "Mad Love", which had I Need Love instead of Faded Jeans) Long Blond Animal/Prisoner of The Night, Bloody Buccaneers, Millbrook USA, and Tits n' Ass...sorry, they have many records that are very good! If more people would listen beyond the hits, I believe they would discover one amazing Rock band!
I bought the Complete Studio Collection three years ago. It’s a gift that keeps on giving, GE have made many great records I echo that sentiment brother In addition to the ones you mentioned I’m also a fan of Eight Miles High & Face It. The live albums are great also. Still a great live band too.
Oh yes, some great live records and especially that first 2 LP set from the 70's, wow! Like the other titles you mentioned also. And a special callout to that awesome pinball machine that @vinylshadow has!
Saw them open for Rush, I think in a mid-90s tour.....dude I don't remember .....but I remember it was great, loud and I was happy to finally see them live.
Open for Rush? Wow great double bill. Might’ve been 80s though, I don’t believe they played America after the mid-80s.
YESSSSSS. This was my first introduction. The POWERBALL riff would get stuck in my head for weeks..just like the background music to life.. dum dada da dum dada da dum..over and over..
I know! And hearing Rod Serling speak and Golden Earring singing lines of Twilight Zone is such a gas.
Hey @Man at C&A , have you ever heard 1965 "Just Ear-rings"? It's really good. Very early Kinks but better than their first two albums!
Recently acquired Millbrook, USA. Music on Vinyl press. What a great album. I had heard Kingfisher online, which immediately got my attention. Why the long absence from the U.S. before and after? Surely they could have done some smaller, limited tours.
The early Golden Earrings albums are very interesting & contain some very nice pop songs. The Sound Of The Screaming Day is great. They do sound very Kinks but also reminiscent of Herman’s Hermits/Hollies to me. However, I prefer their post Neder-beat material after Barry Hay joins. I really love the song I’ve Just Lost Somebody.