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From the Vault...
05/09/1999
#628 |
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info
Golden Earring
"Moontan"
© MCA Records
Year of Release: 1974
Rating:
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track listing
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Radar Love
Candy's Going Bad
Vanilla Queen
Big Tree Blue Sea
Are You Receiving Me
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Golden Earring related sites:
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Golden Earring
"Moontan"
If you're familiar with 1970s Classic Rock, I'm sure you've heard the song
"Radar Love", with its recognizable bass line, and incredible guitar
solos. And if you're familiar with the long version, the powering drum solo.
But you may (or may not know) the name of the band.
Golden Earring, a band from the Netherlands, recorded three albums prior
to their 1974 release Moontan, but "Radar Love" is probably
the only song most people remember when hearing the Golden Earring name.
(They did release another hit, "Twilight Zone", in 1982.)
But "Radar Love" is definitely the ultimate Golden Earring song,
and the original album the song came from was from their 1974 release,
Moontan, an album consisting of only five songs, that averages over
six minutes per song.
The album leads off with "Radar Love" which really needs no other
statement on how great it is. "Candy's Going Bad" is definitely 1970s
Classic Rock sounding, comparing to such other rock acts as Edgar Winter and
Grand Funk Railroad. This song clocks in just over six minutes, with its
rocking style and vocals, and towards the end, it has its instrumental break,
giving the song a different outlook. This is where most 70s bands recorded
well-known songs, where the original song may have been over five minutes,
the song was edited for radio airplay, leaving the long instrumental solos
and/or breaks omitted.
"Vanilla Queen" has a somewhat eerie approach, as this song keeps
your attention, with its different variations throughout the song. It has
the styles of Grand Funk's "Closer To Home", Lynyrd Skynyrd guitar solos,
and even a progressive sound towards the end of the song. This song is almost
10 minutes in length, and is quite impressive.
"Big Tree, Blue Sea" combines the likes of Edgar Winter, Jethro
Tull and Emerson, Lake & Palmer. Like "Vanilla Queen", it has its
different variations throughout the 8-minute song. Call it progressive
rock or classic rock, again, this song is another impressive one.
"Are You Receiving Me" ends the album with its Grand Funk-inspired
rock. And it also has its variations like the many songs heard before.
Moontan is a very impressive album. For Classic Rock fans, this
album will be enjoyed, likewise by the fans of great 1970s Classic Rock
groups mentioned throughout this review. Golden Earring may not have a
common name here in the U.S., but they are enormously popular in their native
European hometown. I don't remember seeing a Golden Earring section in the
"G" racks at the record stores, but it would be interesting to hear more of
their music after listening to Moontan. If they are popular in Europe
as they say they are, I'd love to hear more and find out why.
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Review or any portion may not be reproduced
without written permission. Cover art is the
intellectual property of
MCA Records
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