The Golden Earrings - The early years (1965-1967)

In 1961 four schoolboys, all from one neighborhood in The Hague, The Netherlands, started a band 'The Tornadoes.' The band consisted of young Rinus Gerritsen (bass), George Kooymans (guitar), Hans van Herwerden (guitar) and Fred van der Hilst (drums). In their early phase the Tornadoes played mostly covers of instrumentals of The Ventures and The Shadows like so many other bands in that period. When, in November 1962, the British Tornadoes scored a huge hit with "Telstar," their counterpart from The Hague realized that a new name must be invented. "Golden Earrings," a 1961 instrumental of the British guitar band 'The Hunters,' and also on the playlist of the boys, offers the solution. The band renamed itself to 'The Golden Earrings,' and first in the line of shuffling took place; Van Herwerden was replaced by Peter de Ronde (guitar).

In 1963 the first beat sounds blew over from England and brought the Golden Earrings to their senses that popularity of instrumentals was over. Beat vocals did take their place, and the recruitment of a singer was their most logical next step. Frans Krassenburg became that new vocalist. At the end of 1964 also Fred van der Hilst was leaving the Earrings and the band recruited the more talented Jaap Eggermont. In the meantime the band worked on its own repertoire, supplemented with covers of The Kinks and The Zombies. Read on +/-

1965 Turned out to be a crucial year in the existence of the Golden Earrings. During a gig in Scheveningen, the band was discovered by Fred Haayen, who at that time was still a student with a part-time job in the warehouse of Polydor records. But nevertheless he brought the young group to a recording contract. With the growing success of his discovery, also the star of Fred Haayen was rising. Later on he became director of Polydor and made career in America in the music industry. Haayen would produce the Golden Earring (without the 's' at that time) till the mid-70s, and was -- until a decade later -- business adviser to the group.

The year sixty five also saw their debut LP, "Just Earrings." A charming, but also not really perfect beat record. You still can hear how close the band was with their examples. The Golden Earrings played the classic rhythm & blues song "Sticks And Stones" note for note like The Zombies covered it a few months earlier -- including the excited cries. One of their own songs, "Please Go," showed up as the first single release. It ends on #10 of the Dutch 'Veronica hit list.' The release of the second single, "Lonely Every Day," was withdrawn the last minute, because they found out that the b-side, "Not To Find," had a grammatically incorrect title. You see... 'Yesterday's Gold' is not the only place with bad English. (Sorry!)

The year 1966 began with a ringing top three hit, "That Day." The first Dutch pop single recorded in England. The breakthrough of the Earrings was a fact. The band was the figurehead of an exploding The Hague beat scene, which yields groups as Q 65, Shocking Blue, The Motions and hundreds of lesser known bands. The Hague was for for several years the 'Liverpool of Holland'. The Golden Earrings scored several other hits with fresh beat songs as: "If You Leave Me;" "Daddy Buy Me A Girl;" and "Don't Run Too Far." Shortly before the release of their second album, "Winter Harvest," guitarist Peter de Ronde left the band.

Just after the release of Winter Harvest, in 1967, also Frans Krassenburg disappeared from the band, but one year later he would still live on old glory by his #20 hit single "Golden Earrings." Krassenburg was replaced by Barry Hay, from 'The Haigs.' Hay refuses an offer of 'Shocking Blue,' and saw the Golden Earrings as a better choice . "Sound Of The Screaming Day" was the first single release with him in the band, but Barry was heard only on flute. George Kooymans handled the vocals. It was a new big hit for the band. The year ended with "Together We Live, Together We Love." But after all, The Golden Earring stood just at the beginning of a long international career.

The Golden Earrings - The Early Singles 1965-1967

The Golden Earrings - Please Go / 1965 Polydor S1181
The Golden Earrings - Chunk Of Steel / 1965 Polydor S1181
The Golden Earrings - Lonely Everyday / 1965 Polydor S1185 (withdrawn)
The Golden Earrings - Not To Find / 1965 Polydor S1185 (withdrawn)
The Golden Earrings - That Day / 1966 Polydor 421.023
The Golden Earrings - The Words I Need / 1966 Polydor 421.023
The Golden Earrings - If You Leave Me / 1966 Polydor 421.036
The Golden Earrings - Waiting For You / 1966 Polydor 421.036
The Golden Earrings - Daddy Buy Me A Girl / 1966 Polydor 421.050
The Golden Earrings - What You Gonna Tell / 1966 Polydor 421.050
The Golden Earrings - Don't Run To Far / 1966 Polydor 421.056
The Golden Earrings - Wings / 1966 Polydor 421.056
The Golden Earrings - In My House 1967 Polydor / S1223
The Golden Earrings - Smoking Cigarettes 1967 Polydor / S1223
The Golden Earrings - Sound Of The Screaming Day / 1967 Polydor S1244
The Golden Earrings - She Won't Come To Me 1967 Polydor / S1244
The Golden Earrings - Together We Live, Together We Love / 1967 Polydor S1250
The Golden Earrings - I Wonder / 1967 Polydor S1250

If you want to listen to the music... Look up in the right column.
Als je naar de muziek wilt luisteren... Kijk boven in de rechter kolom.

1965 LP Just Earrings (NL Polydor 007)

01. The Golden Earrings - Nobody But You
02. The Golden Earrings - I Hate Saying These Words
03. The Golden Earrings - She May Be
04. The Golden Earrings - Holy Witness
05. The Golden Earrings - No Need To Worry
06. The Golden Earrings - Please Go
07. The Golden Earrings - Sticks And Stones
08. The Golden Earrings - I Am A Fool
09. The Golden Earrings - Don't Stay Away
10. The Golden Earrings - Lonely Everyday
11. The Golden Earrings - When People Talk
12. The Golden Earrings - Now I Have

If you want to listen to the music... Look up in the right column.
Als je naar de muziek wilt luisteren... Kijk boven in de rechter kolom.

1967 LP Winter Harvest (NL Polydor Special 736.068)

01. The Golden Earrings - Another Man In Town
02. The Golden Earrings - Smoking Cigarettes
03. The Golden Earrings - In My House
04. The Golden Earrings - Don't Wanna Loose That Girl
05. The Golden Earrings - Impeccable Girl
06. The Golden Earrings - Tears And Lies
07. The Golden Earrings - You've Got The Intention To Hurt Me
08. The Golden Earrings - Dream
09. The Golden Earrings - You Break My Heart
10. The Golden Earrings - Baby Don't Make Me Nervous
11. The Golden Earrings - Call Me
12. The Golden Earrings - Happy And Young Together
13. The Golden Earrings - Lionel The Miser
14. The Golden Earrings - There Will Be A Tomorrow

If you want to listen to the music... Look up in the right column.
Als je naar de muziek wilt luisteren... Kijk boven in de rechter kolom.