Golden Earring's Moontan Remastered Expansion

[westen44]

https://musictap.com/2021/09/09/classic-golden-earring-album-moontan-gets-2cd-remastered-expansion/

[uwe]

Way to go! Van Duitsen bloed, no less ...

[westen44]

I just found this article which may be better.

https://outsiderrock.wordpress.com/tag/dutch-rock/

[uwe]

It's their best album - in typical GE mode, they refused to follow it with something similar and suffered for it saleswise in the US.

[westen44]

"Switch" which followed "Moontan" was definitely too different for me.  Next to "Moontan" my favorite is probably "Tits 'n Ass."  I think that one is an intentional attempt to capture the mood of aging rockers.  They did several songs from that album when I saw them in 2013 near Rotterdam. 

[uwe]

I liked Switch, but it sounded like a different band, it had none of Moontan's immediacy. For one, you couldn't dance to it, stuff like Radar Love, Candy's Going Bad and Instant Poetry (the stop-gap single between Moontan and Switch) had populated the dance floors of rock discos, but Kill Me Ce Soir all of the sudden sounded like Lou Reed. And that was even one of the more accessible songs on Switch.

[westen44]

I'm glad Golden Earring finally moved out of that "Switch" phase.  Some of that was okay, but it wasn't the band at its best, IMO.  That mid to late 70s period was not my favorite.  Soon after that they caught on fire again especially with "Cut" in 1982.  It was really the early 80s that I became interested in them. 

[uwe]

Listening to the double CD remaster right now. Lovely. Rinus' organic bass playing is always a joy to hear. I really like these guys. And unlike their German counterpart (Scorpions) there is nothing cringeworthy about them. Mind you, I like the Scorps, but there is always an element of cringe to them. The Golden Earring guys, however, are just cool.

[westen44]

Like I've said before, I've always liked Klaus Meine's voice.  I'm just way more familiar with Golden Earring.  They're going to remaster more albums, although I don't know which ones.  The remastered "Moontan" though is already getting a little scarce in the U.S.  Obviously, something like that is usually easier to find in the EU. 

[Basvarken]

Listening to the double CD remaster right now. Lovely. Rinus' organic bass playing is always a joy to hear. I really like these guys. And unlike their German counterpart (Scorpions) there is nothing cringeworthy about them. Mind you, I like the Scorps, but there is always an element of cringe to them. The Golden Earring guys, however, are just cool.

George's singing makes me cringe. He's often trying to sing beyond his reach.

Rinus is by far the coolest band member.

It's really sad they had to stop because George fell ill.

[uwe]

No one is a prophet in their own land, especially if it's by nature largely under water.

George might have had a limited range, but he was pretty like a girl! He would have had a great and lasting career in jail.

For decades I thought that nasal voice was (also) Barry Hay, wrong!



And Barry sure made a tall second guitarist, especially with his 'fro!

[uwe]

You Yank prudes - typically wouldn't even allow the Roxy Music style cover ....

[westen44]

On most songs it's easy to tell the difference between Barry's and George's vocals.  But that's not always the case.  For example, on their "Tits 'n Ass" album I thought both "This Love" and "Wanted by Women" were by Barry Hay the first time I heard them.  But that's George Kooymans singing both songs.  Barry Hay isn't even singing backing vocals, although on the rest of the album he sings lead vocals on all the other songs. 



WANTED BY WOMEN
I feel the blood caking like syrup
Mudslide in my vein
Another tired racehorse
without a stirrup and a mane

Give me one last hangover
before it’s closing time
Don’t look for any teeth no more
Just pour a bucket of your best wine

Lay the whip upon another back
of a young buck who needs taming
If you think I’m lying again
It’s been my fate to tell the truth
at the wrong moment

I used to be wanted by women
Used to be loved and forgiven
Used to be wanted by women
Used to be wanted but not by you

Wanted by women
Used to be loved and forgiven
Used to be wanted by women
Used to be haunted all day by you

There’s a path I discovered
After cutting all the reins
Leading somewhere peaceful, safe and warm
to watch the sun go down again

Chewing on a four leaf clover
Bet my last lucky dime
After all it’s just make believe
riding high ‘gainst a nick of time

So you can sing me one last lullaby
Make me believe that I’m dreaming
I hang my head and I regret
that I’ll never get to see
the sparkle in your eyes again

I used to be wanted by women
Used to be loved and forgiven
Used to be wanted by women
Used to be wanted but not by you

Wanted by women
Used to be loved and forgiven
Used to be wanted by women
Used to be haunted all day by you

[uwe]

I liked their rejuvenated image in the 80ies!



Actually, this is pretty good. A good song is a good song. Not a legless performance by any means.

[westen44]

That one will remain unsurpassed as the leggiest version.