Earth and Fire

Last updated

Earth and Fire
Earth & Fire.png
Earth and Fire in 1971
Background information
OriginNetherlands
Genres
Years active1968 (1968)–1983, 1987–1990
Past membersGerard Koerts
Chris Koerts
Hans Ziech
Cees Kalis
Manuela Berloth
Jerney Kaagman
Ton van der Kleij
Theo Hurts
Bert Ruiter
Ab Tamboer
Johan Slager
Ronnie Meyjes
Age Kat
Jons Pistoor
Ton Scherpenzeel
Mark Stoop

Earth and Fire [1] were a Dutch rock and pop band. Formed in the Netherlands by twin brothers Chris and Gerard Koerts, and most popular in 1970, after adding a female singer, turning frontwoman, Jerney Kaagman.

Contents

Earth and Fire's first eight singles were a practically uninterrupted string of top-5 hits in the Netherlands (1970-1974). Also charting in continental Europe, primarily in neighboring Belgium and Germany, the band never gained much popularity in the United Kingdom or the United States. After moving to pop, their biggest hit was "Weekend" (1979), a number one disco track in the Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, Portugal, and Switzerland. American copies they were labeled as E & F [Polydor 2118].

History

Early history: The Singing Twins and The Swinging Strings

Earth and Fire originated with the brothers Chris and Gerard Koerts from Voorschoten. As "The Singing Twins" they made music for family and friends since 1960, achieving a breakthrough of sorts at a talent show in 1962, at which future bass player Hans Ziech was present—Ziech, at the time, was already interested in rock and roll and thought The Singing Twins a bit on the mild side, Jan & Kjeld-like. In 1963, influenced by beat music, they joined a local beat band, playing mostly instrumental music until early 1965; the Koerts brothers were remembered as musical perfectionists even at an early age. They changed their name to The Swinging Strings in 1965 and began singing and covering hits by the Beatles, the Byrds, and others. They played regularly and saved enough money to buy equipment and add three female dancers. While they played all over the provinces of North and South Holland, they rarely performed in their area as The Hague had its scene of beat bands. [2] By the end of 1966, however, they had won a few talent shows near their hometown, had a fan club with over 250 members, and had drawn the attention of radio DJ Willem van Kooten. [3]

Opus Gainfull, transition to Earth and Fire

Chris Koerts (left) and Jerney Kaagman of Earth and Fire on TopPop television program, 1973 Earth & Fire - TopPop 1973 03.png
Chris Koerts (left) and Jerney Kaagman of Earth and Fire on TopPop television program, 1973

By 1967 the Koerts brothers were dissatisfied with playing cover music and were looking to increase the technical level of their music. Somewhat abruptly, according to the other members, they broke up the Strings and renamed the band Opus Gainfull, and were looking for a rhythm section. They found a bass player in Hans Ziech (born 1943) of the local band The Soul, and also picked up that band's drummer, Cees Kalis. The Soul's guitar player, Eric Wenink, also joined, for a couple of years. Throughout 1968 and 1969 the band practiced new music while listening to the music of Jimi Hendrix, Moby Grape, Jefferson Airplane. The decision was made to look for a singer, and Manuela Berloth joined them.

Meanwhile, their music continued to evolve, with ideas for concept albums brought in from the US West Coast and improvisational practice sessions. In 1968, before a show in Beverwijk, the band's name was changed to Earth and Fire. The band recorded two songs as the prize for winning a talent show in 1969, but were not offered a record contract; by the end of the year, Berloth, who in Gerard Koerts' words "was not a rock 'n roll woman", left. The Koerts brothers, who were graduating from school at the time, took over on vocals, and the band continued touring, opening for established beat band Golden Earring. In September 1969, they met and hired Jerney Kaagman. [4]

The band's first album, Earth and Fire (1970), produced three hits: "Seasons" reached no. 2 on the Dutch charts, with an estimated 60,000 copies sold; the second single, "Ruby Is the One" (later covered by the Claw Boys Claw for Hitkillers ) reached no. 4 and sold 40,000 copies. [5]

By 1977, after four albums and nine hits, particularly songs such as "Memories" (which became their first number one single, and was named song of the year in Israel) and "Maybe Tomorrow, Maybe Tonight", the band found the Dutch musical atmosphere had changed considerably: new bands, influenced by disco, punk, and new wave, threatened to render many of the previously popular Dutch groups obsolete. They therefore moved away from the heavier pop sound they had been making and moved to a more mainstream style, focusing on Disco. 1977's Gate to Infinity suffered a cool reception and the album's lead single, "78th Avenue", failed to break into the Dutch top 10. Drummer Ton van der Kleij left in August 1978, followed shortly thereafter by bass player Theo Hurts. Despite rumors that Kaagman would go solo or take a job at TopPop (the leading pop-music TV-show in Holland and Flanders), she stayed with the Koerts brothers, who quickly found another drummer, Ab Tamboer, and another bass player, Bert Ruiter (Kaagman's partner in life and formerly with Focus). In 1979 they achieved their second number one single "Weekend", but soon afterwards, Chris Koerts left, feeling that he had achieved everything he wanted with the band. [6]

The band split in 1983, with Kaagman moving onto a solo career, before a short lived reunion in 1987. Later, Kaagman became a judge on the very successful Dutch "Idols" adaptation of the Idols franchise. Ton van der Kleij died in 2015. Gerard Koerts died in 2019. Bert Ruiter and Chris Koerts died in 2022.

Personnel

Members

Timeline

Earth and Fire

Discography

Albums

Singles

YearSingleChart positionsAlbum
NL
[9]
BEL
(Vl)

[10]
GER
1969"Seasons"24Earth and Fire
1970"Ruby Is the One"511
"Wild and Exciting"521
1971"Invitation"4non-album single
"Storm and Thunder"6Song of the Marching Children
1972"Memories"1231non-album single
1973"Maybe Tomorrow, Maybe Tonight"3944Atlantis
1974"Love of Life"220To the World of the Future
1975"Only Time Will Tell"16
"Thanks for the Love"928non-album single
1976"What Difference Does It Make"10
1977"78th Avenue"14Gate to Infinity
1979"Weekend"111Reality Fills Fantasy
1980"Fire of Love"201329
1981"Dream"1920Andromeda Girl
"Tell Me Why"37
1982"Love Is an Ocean"
"Twenty Four Hours"152372In a State of Flux
1983"Jack Is Back"42
"The Two of Us"32
1989"French Word for Love"44Phoenix
1990"Keep on Missing You"
"Good Enough"

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Disco</span> Music genre

Disco is a genre of dance music and a subculture that emerged in the 1970s from the United States' urban nightlife scene. Its sound is typified by four-on-the-floor beats, syncopated basslines, string sections, brass and horns, electric piano, synthesizers, and electric rhythm guitars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Funk</span> 1960s music genre

Funk is a music genre that originated in African-American communities in the mid-1960s when musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music through a mixture of various music genres that were popular among African-Americans in the mid-20th century. It deemphasizes melody and chord progressions and focuses on a strong rhythmic groove of a bassline played by an electric bassist and a drum part played by a percussionist, often at slower tempos than other popular music. Funk typically consists of a complex percussive groove with rhythm instruments playing interlocking grooves that create a "hypnotic" and "danceable" feel. It uses the same richly colored extended chords found in bebop jazz, such as minor chords with added sevenths and elevenths, and dominant seventh chords with altered ninths and thirteenths.

The Netherlands has multiple musical traditions. Contemporary Dutch popular music is heavily influenced by music styles that emerged in the 1950s, in the United Kingdom and United States. The style is sung in both Dutch and English. Some of the latter exponents, such as Golden Earring and Shocking Blue, have attained worldwide fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amen break</span> Widely sampled drum break

The Amen break is a drum break that has been widely sampled in popular music. It comes from the 1969 track "Amen, Brother" by the American soul group the Winstons, released as the B-side of the 1969 single "Color Him Father". The drum break lasts seven seconds and was performed by Gregory Coleman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manfred Mann's Earth Band</span> British rock group

Manfred Mann's Earth Band are an English rock band formed by South African musician Manfred Mann. Their hits include covers of Bruce Springsteen's "For You", "Blinded by the Light" and "Spirit in the Night". After forming in 1971 and with a short hiatus in the late 1980s/early 1990s, the Earth Band continues to perform and tour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Light My Fire</span> 1967 song by the Doors

"Light My Fire" is a song by the American rock band the Doors. Although it was principally written by the band's guitarist, Robby Krieger, songwriting was credited to the entire band. Recognized as one of the earliest examples of psychedelic rock, it was recorded in August 1966 and released in January 1967 on their eponymous debut album. Due to its erotic lyrics and innovative structure, the track has come to be regarded as synonymous with the '60s psychedelic and sexual revolutions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Tremeloes</span> English beat group

The Tremeloes are an English beat group founded in 1958 in Dagenham, England. They initially found success in the British Invasion era with lead singer Brian Poole, scoring a UK chart-topper in 1963 with "Do You Love Me".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bert Ruiter</span> Dutch bass guitarist (1946–2022)

Bert Ruiter was a Dutch bass guitarist, record producer, and composer. He was best known for being the bassist for Focus from 1971 to 1978.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Let's Groove</span> 1981 single by Earth, Wind & Fire

"Let's Groove" is a song by American band Earth, Wind & Fire, released as the first single from their eleventh studio album, Raise! (1981). It is written by Maurice White and Wayne Vaughn, and produced by White. The song was a commercial success, and was the band's highest-charting single in various territories. It peaked inside the top 20 in countries including the United States, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Canada and other component charts in America. In 1979 and the early 1980s, there was a severe backlash against disco music. In spite of this, the band decided to revive the disco sound that was included on their previous works and later records. Musically, "Let's Groove" is post-disco, pop and funk which includes instrumentation of synthesizers and keyboards along with live electric guitars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tee-Set</span> Dutch pop rock band

Tee-Set was a pop rock band formed in 1965 by singer Peter Tetteroo in Delft, Netherlands. The band is best-known for their single "Ma Belle Amie", which was a No. 5 hit in the United States and No. 3 in Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Crazy World of Arthur Brown</span> English rock band

The Crazy World of Arthur Brown are an English rock band formed by singer Arthur Brown in 1967. The original band included Vincent Crane, Drachen Theaker (drums), and Nick Greenwood (bass). This early incarnation were noted for Crane's organ and brass arrangements and Brown's powerful, wide-ranging operatic voice. Brown was also notable for his unique stage persona such as extreme facepaint and burning helmet.

Idols 4 was the fourth season of the Dutch version of Idols hosted by Martijn Krabbé & Wendy van Dijk and held in 2007-2008. The winner was Nikki Kerkhof, with Nathalie Makoma as runner up.

<i>Atlantis</i> (Earth and Fire album) 1973 studio album by Earth and Fire

Atlantis is a 1973 concept album by Dutch rock and pop band Earth and Fire. The first half of the album comprises a suite based on the story of the greedy and corrupt island of Atlantis, which is ultimately destroyed by the four elements: earthquakes represent Earth, volcanoes represent Fire, volcanic gases represent Air and finally the island is inundated by Water.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Weekend (Earth and Fire song)</span> 1979 single by Earth and Fire

"Weekend" is a song by Dutch band Earth and Fire. It was released by Earth and Fire as a single in November 1979 and reached the number one spot in the singles charts in the Netherlands, Switzerland, West Germany, Denmark and Portugal. It was written by keyboard player Gerard Koerts for the album Reality Fills Fantasy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerney Kaagman</span> Dutch singer (born 1947)

Christina Henriette "Jerney" Kaagman is a Dutch singer-musician and music executive best known as the lead singer for the progressive rock group Earth and Fire, with whom she scored a slew of international hits between 1969 and 1990. She recorded as a solo artist also, and after her career, as a singer worked for the music industry, as president of the Dutch musicians' union BV Pop; as a public relations manager for a radio station; and on television, as a judge on television talent show Idols.

Dutch rock is a form of rock music produced in the Netherlands, primarily in the English language as well as in Dutch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bintangs</span> Dutch rhythm and blues band

The Bintangs are a Dutch rhythm and blues band. Founded in 1961 in Beverwijk as an indorock band, they soon began playing a rougher, rhythm and blues-inflected style. The band had a four-year hiatus in the 1980s but reunited and are still active. The band has gone through many members, with Frank Kraaijeveld as a constant element. They scored one hit, in 1970, and though commercial success has eluded them nationally and internationally they remain a popular live act.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Polle Eduard</span> Dutch singer

Polle Eduard is a Dutch singer. Eduard is best known for the hit "Ik wil jou ".

<i>Earth and Fire</i> (album) 1970 studio album by Earth and Fire

Earth and Fire is the first studio album by the Dutch rock and pop band Earth and Fire. Released in 1970, the album contains the first single "Seasons" written by Golden Earring singer and guitarist George Kooymans. Other singles released are "Ruby Is the One" and "Wild and Exciting".

Martin Circus was a French band formed in the late 1960s, whose musical style developed over time from progressive rock through pop to disco and new wave music in the 1970s and 1980s.

References

  1. Earth and Fire adopted their name about a year before Earth, Wind & Fire.
  2. Hermsen and Hermsen, 6-8.
  3. Hermsen and Hermsen, 9, 11.
  4. Hermsen and Hermsen, 14-17.
  5. Hermsen and Hermsen, 26.
  6. Hermsen and Hermsen, 4-6.
  7. "Den Haag FM » Haagse drummer Ab Tamboer (Earth and Fire) overleden". Denhaagfm.nl. 24 January 2013. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  8. "Earth and Fire - De biografie 1969-1983". Eburon.nl. 9 November 2006. Archived from the original on 29 June 2009. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  9. "Single Top 100".
  10. "Ultratop Belgian Charts". Ultratop.be. Retrieved 29 August 2016.

Bibliography