Musical Influences - Enter the Dutch

During the seventies a number of Dutch bands came onto the British scene. Probably the first I recall was Shocking Blue with their one and only hit single Venus (later covered by Bananarama in an almost unrecognisable form) but there were three other bands that developed a fomwing in the Prog Rock World.

First up would be Focus and their single Hocus Pocus which made yodelling mainstream though they had another memorable hit in the form of Sylvia. With limited pocket money I only ever had their Focus III double album and a couple of singles. 

Focus hit the charts in the UK in 1971 with the number 2 hit album Moving Waves and last charted in 1975 with Mother Focus which reached number 23,

Also around were Alquin whose album Marks was the first and only album I purchased of the four that they released between 1972 and 1976 .Their music is worth a listen even if they failed to hit the charts in the UK as far as I recall.

Last up is Golden Earring who are best remembered for their signature tune Radar Love which is a terrific piece of music though it was their only hit single in the UK reaching number 7 in 1973. Suprisingly this group was actually founded in 1961 as the Golden Earrings, though they eventually dropped the "s".

Focus - Hocus Pocus on the Old Grey Whistle Test (1973)

Alquin -  Dance on the Old Grey Whistle Test (1974)

Golden Earring- Radar Love (1973)