Promotional shot from Phonogram, early 1969
L-R: Paul van Melzen, Bobby Green, Sieb Warner, Leo Bennink, Rudy Bennett
Promotional shot from Phonogram, early 1969
L-R: Paul van Melzen, Bobby Green, Sieb Warner, Leo Bennink, Rudy Bennett
The Motions from The Hague were one of the bigger groups of the 1960s
Dutch beat explosion. They were formed in 1964 from the remnants of Ritchie Clark and the Ricochets
and went on to become hitmakers for the next several years. The Walker
Brothers even recorded "My Love Is Growing", a song The Motions' Robbie van Leeuwen had written (the
Motions had recorded it as a flipside to "Why Don't You Take It") and
the Walkers' manager John Stewart produced The Motions' second LP,
"In Their Own Way". The single, "Freedom", reached the lower
regions of the American charts in 1969. This song was sampled in the 1990s by
Japanese band Tokyo No.1 Soul Set on their track "Sunday".
Although the group disbanded in 1971, the most important members have met each
other again & again in new bands such as Crossroad, Greenhorn, Jupiter
and Galaxy
Lin.
From 1964 to 1967, the line-up was stable: Rudy
Bennett (i.r.l. Ruud van de Berg - vocals, earlier as Ritchie Clark and the Ricochets), Robbie van Leeuwen (guitar, ex-Atmospheres
& Ricochets, later the founder of both Shocking
Blue and Galaxy
Lin), Henk Smitskamp (bass, ex-Willy
& Giants, later to Livin' Blues) &
Sieb Warner (i.r.l. Siebolt Warntjes - drums, ex-Ricochets, later to Golden
Earring). This line-up had a string of hits in The Netherlands during
1965 and 1966 with singles like "Wasted Words" and "It's The Same Old
Song". Their first album, "Introduction To The Motions", is
considered one of the best albums of the era.
Early 1967, Robbie left to form Shocking
Blue and was replaced by Gerard Romeyn
(ex-Tee-Set, later with Nico Haak,
Image). Late 1967, Henk Smitskamp was ousted in favour of Leo Bennink (ex-Mack
and Jay-Jays). A fifth member was found
in multi-instrumentalist Jan Vennik (sax, flute & organ, also ex-Jay-Jays,
later to Rob Hoeke & Ekseption).
When in mid-1968 Gerard Romeyn
and Jan Vennik were busted for posession of marijuana and incarcerated, the band
took in Paul van Melzen (ex-Haigs, later in the Mailer McKenzie Band)
on bass and Bobby Green, (i.r.l. Bob van der Vaart - organ, ex-Bobby Green Selection,
also to Fisher & Friends). Bennink switched to
guitar. This line up recorded the album "Electric Baby" for Decca in
1969. The band then suffered another setback by the departure of drummer Sieb
Warner to rivals Golden Earring (who'd by then just
dropped the 's' off Earrings). His replacement was Han Cooper (i.r.l. Han
Gordinou de Gouberville). The last line-up of the group (up until 1971) was:
Rudy, Leo, Paul, Bobby and Han. They did a few gigs in England and went on a
trip to the USA (only playing at The Scene Club in New York), but international
success eluded them. They recorded one more album for the Simogram label of
supermarket chain Simon de Wit, but split up soon afterwards.
After the breakup, Rudy Bennett, Bobby Green
and Gerard Romeyn
all released solo singles. Bennett later joined Robbie van Leeuwen in Galaxy
Lin. In 1992, The Motions did a one-off reunion gig for Veronica
television with the original line-up, joined by Leo Bennink on guitar and
keyboards. Rudy Bennett regularly does
Golden Oldies gigs with pick-up bands under the moniker of The Motions,
often including Leo Bennink. Henk Smitskamp still plays with
Willy & his Giants.
1964 It's gone/I've got misery Havoc SH 105
1965 You bother me/We fell in love Havoc SH 107
For another man/I've waited so long Havoc SH 108
Love won't stop/No matter where you run Havoc SH 110
Wasted words/I'll follow the sun Havoc SH 111
EP I've waited so long/It's gone/For another man/
I've got misery [French EP] Vogue INT 18017
LP Introduction to the Motions Havoc HJH 2
1966 Everything that's mine/There's no place to hide Havoc SH 114
Why don't you take it/My love is growing Havoc SH 116
Every step I take/Stop your crying Havoc SH 121
The same old song/Someday child Havoc SH 122
EP Wasted words/I'll follow the sun/
There's no place to hide/Everything that's mine
[French EP] Vogue INT 18069
EP Every step I take/Hard time blues/
Stop your crying/Everything that's mine
[French EP] Vogue INT 18097
LP Their own way Havoc IHLP 2
1967 I want you I need you/Suzy baby Havoc SH 130
Wonderful impressions/Nellie the horse Havoc SH 137
Nellie the horse/Make it legal and Havoc SH 137
Tonight will be stoned/One million red balloons Havoc SH 139
LP Greatest hits Havoc HJH 136
LP Songbook Teenbeat APLP 101
1968 You're my adee/Hey conductor man Havoc SH 142
Take your time/Make it legal Havoc SH 146
I'm so proud/Rainbow [a-side Rudy Bennett] Decca AT 15091
I'm so proud/You're me adee [a-side Rudy Bennett] and Decca AT 15091
Miracle man/Something Decca AT 10327
I ain't got time/Fantasy club Decca AT 10337
What's your name/Little boy's life/Illusion Decca AT 10358
Take the fast train/Hamburg city Decca AT 10361
LP Live Marble Arch MALH 201
LP Impressions of wonderful Havoc HALP 021
1969 It's alright/Hey everybody Decca AT 10374
Freedom/Little boy's life/What's your name Decca AT 10382
Eliza/Wedding of the hundred brides Decca AT 10396
I can't help it/Look away Decca AT 10405
Take the fast train/Hamburg city [re] Negram NG 193
LP Electric baby Decca NU 370023
1970 Try to make you happy/We all come together Negram NG 195
1971 LP Sensation Simogram 00502
1972 Wasted words/The same old song/My love is growing Negram NG 292
1973 LP Terug in de tijd Negram HJN 205
1979 LP Golden greats Negram 5C 028-26153
1981 Wasted words/The same old song Negram 5C 006-26700
The Ricochets on 8 August 1964 opening for The Rolling Stones at the
Kurhaus, Scheveningen, with Sieb Warner on drums and Robbie van Leeuwen, second from left
A beat group from The Hague whose main claim to fame was that they opened the show for The Rolling Stones on 8 August 1964 at the Kurhaus in Scheveningen - only to find the concert hall smashed to smithereens about one hour after their performance (the Stones played for about 20 minutes before the police ended the concert). Ritchie was i.r.l. Rudy Bennett. The group was formed in 1963, featuring members: Rudy Bennett (v), Hans Emmerik (g, in 1964 replaced by Robbie van Leeuwen), Hans Hoogduin (b), Ton Lamet (g) and Gerard Melkert (dr, replaced by Sieb Warner). They released two singles, one vocal and one instrumental, as the Ricochets. Rudy, Sieb and Robbie found success in 1965 with the Motions.
1963 Ecstacy/Ever since you said goodbye Max Mackintosh Productions MMP 1014 The Honeymoon song/Spring time Max Mackintosh Productions MMP 1016 (Ricochets instrumental)
In 1970, the Motions were renamed into Crossroad. A year later, just one single, the group fell apart. Featured members: Rudy Bennett (v, to Jupiter), Leo Bennink (g, to Fisher & Friends), Bobby Green (o, p, to Fisher & Friends) & Han Cooper (dr, to Fisher & Friends).
1970 Watch it all the rain keeps falling/Dream world Negram NG 211
Bassist Jan Visser (ex-George Baker) started his own group in 1971 featuring ex-members of the Motions: Bobby Green (organ, piano), Han de Couberville (drums) & Leo Bennink (guitar). From late 1971 until breakup several months later, in 1972, they called themselves Greenhorn.
1971 Island of hope/Sometimes I'm crying Negram NG 234
Father/Ticket to nowhere 258
1973 Holadijee/ 315
The most important names featured in the swinging Bobby Green Selection, an up and coming band from from The Hague were organist Bobby Green & drummer Han Cooper (Couberville). When the group disbanded in 1969, they went to the Motions. The recordings made after 1969 are solo records by Bobby. In 1977, the Selection reunited for a short spell.
1967 The game of love/Everybody got a soul Decca AT 10289
1968 What's that sound/I never saw the love so clear 10328
It's allright/I'll never do it again ?
1971 Look at love/Movin' and groovin' 6100030
1977 Lady Maria/I wanna be loved Philips 6012693
Continuation of Fisher & Friends: Leo Bennink (guitar; in 1972 to Beehive), Bobby Green (vocals, organ & piano; re-starts his Selection in 1977), Han Copperfield (Cooper, Couberville) (drums; at the end of 1971 to Jupiter) & Jan Visser (bas; in 1972 to Beehive). The group existed in 1971-1972.
1972 Pappi de doo/Play the rhythm Decca 6100067
Featured line-up 1972: Chiel Pos (v, g, vi, s, fl) Leo Bennink (g, ex-Greenhorn) Paul van Wageningen (dr, ex-Groep 1850 & Ritmo Naturel, later to Sight) Huub Verstrate (b, ex-Mack). The line-up in 1973/74: Chiel, Leo, Eric Tagg (v, p), Nappy Noya (perc), Jan Visser (b, ex-Greenhorn, to Alquin) and Paul van Wageningen (dr). Guus Willemse from Solution played along for a short while, then formed Entire Choir with Chiel in 1974.
1973 Music is music/Open up Pink Elephant PE 22790
Pop-rock group from The Hague; line-up in 1971 - 1974: Rudy Bennett (vocals; ex-Crossroad, to Galaxy Lin), Wil Klumpers (bass; in 1972 replaced by Bas van der Poll), Peter Seilberger (keyboards; ex-Big Wheel), Martin van Wijk (guitar; ex-Fairy Tale, to Shocking Blue) & Han Copperfield (drums; ex-Greenhorn).
1971 Paper trees/Come little girl Philips 6012142
On my two-wheeler/ 6012174
1972 Showdown/You better believe in me 6012240
The Ricochets from The Hague were the forerunners of the
Motions. The band was founded in
1963 and consisted of Rudy Bennett (v, under the name of Ritchie
Clark), Hans Emmerik (g, in 1964 replaced by Robbie van Leeuwen, ex-Atmospheres),
Hans Hoogduin (b), Ton Lamet (g, in 1964 replaced by Kid van Ettinger, later in Incrowd)
and Gerard Melkert (dr, in 1964 replaced by Sieb Warner, ex-Willy
& Giants). In 1965, Rudy, Sieb and Robbie went on to the Motions.
1963 Ecstacy/Ever since you said goodbye [as Ritchie Clark & Ricochets] MMP 1014 1964 Honeymoon song/Springtime [instrumentaal] MMP 1015 Whiskey doodle/Gee whizz it's you [demo] Lumirex
An interesting jazz-rock outfit that used mandolin as their main instrument, instead of guitar. The group was launched in 1974 by Robbie van Leeuwen (vocals, mandoline; ex-Shocking Blue) and existed for two years. Other featured members: Rudy Bennett (vocals, ex-Jupiter), Dick Remelink (sax & flute; ex-Ekseption, in 1976 to Trace), Hugo van Haastert (mandoline; left the group temporarily in 1975 to work with his own band, Triad, but returned soon thereafter; his replacement was Hans van Vos, ex-Lemming), Peter Wassenaar (bass, ex-Blue Planet) & Peter Rijnvis (drums). In 1975, Skip van Rooy (organ, piano) was leading the group for a short while, but he left for the Buffoons.
1974 Travelling song/Utopia Polydor 2050333 LP Galaxy Lin 2925025 1975 Long hot summer/Fool 2050364 The hunting song/Don't 2050381 G 2925037
Ex-member of Galaxy Lin. Prior to that group, he had already been playing with the Bluebirds (1964), Shart (1966), Susie Q (1967), Talisman (1971) and solo as Hugh McHaze (1972).
1977 Frankfurt Main/Hör endlich auf zu träumen Hansa AT 17656 1979 I see a light/Can't keep it in Polydor 2050562 Dutch charts:
GALAXY-LIN 5-7-75 SINGLE 16 6 LONG HOT SUMMER HUGO VAN HAASTERT 30-6-79 SINGLE tip I SEE A LIGHT
1966 How can we hang on to a dream/Reason to believe Havoc SH 124 1967 Amy/Good night sleep tight Havoc SH 129 1968 I'm so proud/Rainbow [b-side Motions] Decca AT 15091 1973 Wheel of life/To run away Polydor 2050258 1981 How can we hang on to a dream/Amy EMI 5C 006-26693
1972 Give me love/Too hot to handle Polydor 2050146
1969 LP Decca XBY 846512
Rudy Bennett
14-1-67 SINGLE 5 10 HOW CAN WE HANG ON TO A DREAM
27-5-67 SINGLE 22 5 AMY
10-2-68 SINGLE 24 5 I'M SO PROUD
19-5-73 SINGLE tip THE WHEEL OF LIFE
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