Lost/Forgotten Album #340

[Jon]

Even though you're hoping that this is the next album in that series you're really into, it's not. Instead, it's the third album in the series of albums that having nothing to do with the other series. 

For this week's selection it's the debut album from Golden Earrings, Winter-Harvest, released in 1967. Some of you might be thinking, "Hey, didn't they release an album before this?" and I would say, "Yes" and then go on to say that THAT album was released by The Golden Ear-Rings. You'll then see where I'm comin' from and walk away satisfied. But then they'll come back and ask if this is the same band known as Golden Earring and I won't answer so they'll walk away again, but this time they'll be very confused.

Wow, I'm now thinking of a new series.......

....and while I'm thinking about that, why don't you check out the allmusic.com review?

Holland's the Golden Earrings still sounded like a crack British Invasion-era outfit who had made a wrong turn somewhere when they cut their second album, 1966's Winter Harvest, but they were inarguably a stronger and more ambitious group a year after releasing their debut. All 14 songs on Winter Harvest were originals (primarily written by bassist Rinus Gerritsen and guitarist George Kooymans), and the stylistic range of this collection is noticeably wider, with the Northern soul-influenced "Smoking Cigarettes," the darkly witty character study "Lionel the Miser," and the spare but sophisticated "You Break My Heart" all exploring sounds and styles the band had not pursued before. (They could also rock harder than ever before, as evidenced by the swaggering "You've Got the Intention to Hurt Me.") The Golden Earrings clearly had the confidence to try new things when they recorded Winter Harvest, and with good reason -- they sounded good on Just Earrings, but they're tighter and sharper here, hitting a more consistent groove and making the most of the possibilities of the studio. Gerritsen began playing keyboards as well as bass on these recordings, and the added tonal colors serve the material well, and vocalist Frans Krassenburg had picked up a lot of nuance after a year of steady recording and performing. If Just Earrings was the Golden Earrings' Please Please Me, Winter Harvest is their Rubber Soul, an album that masterfully consolidates their old strengths while revealing many new ones. This LP isn't quite up to the lofty level of the Fab Four's early masterpiece, but it stands comfortably beside the work of most of the better-known English acts of the period, and remains impressive more than four decades after it was released.

Winter-Harvest

1. Another Man In Town
2. Smoking Cigarettes
3. In My House
4. Don't Wanna Loose That Girl
5. Impeccable Girl
6. Tears And Lies
7. You've Got The Intention To Hurt Me
8. Dream
9. You Break My Heart
10. Baby Don't Make Me Nervous
11. Call Me
12. Happy And Young Together
13. Lionel The Miser
14. There Will Be A Tomorrow

Availability: The remastered version with bonus tracks (not featured here) can be had for around $32.

[Yngve J. Chapleen]

What?

I always wanted to hear more from this band, other than Radar Love and Twilight Zone, but never got around it. I'm glad this album wasn't the first thing I heard from them. How they got another record deal on the "strength" of this album is beyond me, but I'm glad someone had more faith in them than I would have. I though "Don't Wanna Loose That Girl" was the most pathetic, banal song I ever heard until I got to hear "You Break My Heart" (which screams of -Look we just came up with this song right now, and recorded it without any rehearsals whatsoever, including the lyrics-)

I had to listen to White Lion's version of Radar Love, just to regain my senses.

Since they are still around, and I'm sure reading this, I have a suggestion for them: Make a do-over. CD titled: Summer Skiing, play variations of the song titles such as 12. Miserable, Old and Divorced 14.Tomorrow Never Comes 11. F**K OFF 9. I Broke Your Figurine 5. Peccable Inamorata 3. In My Dungeon 8. Nightmare 6. Spit And Condor 2. Smoke This! etc.

[Scott]

[Scott]

Confused?  Uh ya!!  Is this THE GOLDEN EARRING or does the ending "S" mean a different band.  I dont know enough about either one (if there is such a thing as either one) to know.  I do know this...

• I love Moontan
• I love CUT better

And there your have the full picture of my Golden Earring knowledge (at least the one without the ending "s")...

Big Beatles vibe on that opener even the drum sound is a complete knock off of Ringos sound.  But they abandon that completely on the second track, the poorly titled Smoking Cigarettes, you know thats a really bad influence as kids may hear this and want to start smoking.  No wonder they dropped the "s" ...  they didn't want to be associated with giving children COPD!  But what the heck!  Its the best song so far, but I will not play it around my kids!  no way!

And were back in the Beatles feeling tunes ... 

You know, In My House had a weird ending.  Not sure that ending complies with stringent rules of the RED song worthiness rules, or whatever that means!  Baby Dont Make Me Nervous was pretty good, kinda dig the groovy feel of that one, and Lionel The Miser was quirky-cool, but Smoking Cigarettes is the true RED song here today, RED not only for being the best song, but RED for warning children about smoking!

[Jon]

You still have no say on what the red song is.

Just try to put in your two scents on what the red song should be next time and suffer the consequences.

[Scott]

Then I'll make it a GREEN song!

[Jon]

That's cool. Everyone knows that RED song means "stop, you need to listen to THIS one" while GREEN means "go on, nothing to listen to here".

[Scott]

DANGIT!!!  I'll have to switch it up then ...  lets see; Maroon?, Rosewood?, Crimson?, Burgundy?, Cardinal?, Lava?  I just dont know, stay tuned...

[RJhog (Admin)]

My Golden Earring knowledge consists entirely of 2 songs.  You know what they are, no need to name them here.  But I do own a couple of albums.  I can't remember if I've listened to them or not.  I was even thinking about picking up that new huge box set they just released.  Just because I like buying stuff like that.  Just checked, it's 125 bucks for 29 CD's.  Guess I'll wait for now.

This sounds nothing like their two well known tracks.  This is definitely British Invasion stuff.  That third track sounds like the Monkees though and the following song sounds like The Beatles.  Well, pretty much all of 'em sound like the Fab Four.  

There is nothing that sounds like it was earth shattering back then, just straight forward 60's British Invasion.  Best song for me was You Break My Heart.  That one has a certain mood to it and I like it.  Interesting post.