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Switch

Golden Earring - Switch Audio CD

A fair review of the Golden Earring "Switch" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Golden Earring reviews here, or go back to the Golden Earring tabs.

Band: Golden Earring
Title: Switch
Rating:

Release Date: 2001-11-01
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Intro: Plus Minus Absurdio 2: Love Is a Rodeo 3: Switch 4: Kill Me (Ce Soir) 5: Tons of Time 6: Daddy's Gonna Save My Soul 7: Troubles and Hassles 8: Lonesome D.J.

"Switch" and "To The Hilt" Golden period
They had matured as a band, they weren't yet beaten into the ground as they later were with that poor excuse for a hit "Twilight Zone", and they still sounded fresh and exciting. In my humble opinion, "Switch" and "To The Hilt" represent Golden Earring's GOLDEN PERIOD. This is only my opinion, but I always thought those two albums were unique and the mid-70s truly produced some wonderful albums which will be long remembered throughout history. .

"Switch" to a CD copy and rediscover this gem!

Not only the cynics from the critic world misconstrued the 1975 release from Golden Earring called "Switch" but some of their fans. As the author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent" and a former radio disc-jockey, I am often asked to write and or discuss various music supplies and recordings from the 60's and 70's.

The same comment would become prevalent, why did they take a step back? After the success of the 1973 "Mountain" with the monster airplay of "Radar Love" and a good amount of spins from "Candy's Going Bad" many clamored for the same thing.

The clue is in the title "Switch. " The band did not go backwards in the least. It was a decision to opt for a new approach. "Intro: Plus Minus Absurdio" is not the typical opening track for a record but something about the guitar and keyboard peak your interest. "Love Is A Rodeo" is the three minute rock and roll song that should go on forever. It is well constructed and the more you listen the more you appreciate the nuances. "The Switch" is more of the same but with a bit of boogie to further solidify the enjoyment. "Kill Me (Ce Soir)" is one of the most underrated songs the band would pen. The delivery of the lyrics and the music blend into one powerful force. "Tons of Time" takes you to another realm. It almost sounds as if it could come from a progressive rock album. "Daddy's Gonna Save My Soul" gets in your face and has no attention of leaving. Clever lyrics and nice licks! "Troubles and Hassles" gives us four minutes of a rock and roll joy ride. "Lonesome D. J. " is a tremendous closing song the guitar shines as brightly as the lyrics.

If this record didn't get your attention the first time, try this- Give it a fresh chance on CD and don't compare it to other Golden Earring albums judge it on the merits of the material included here.

Enjoy the music and be well,
Craig Fenton
Author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent"

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the groups best
THIS SECOND RECORDING IS THE TOP OF THEIR MUSIC COLLECTION. I HAVE FOLLOWED THE GOLDEN EARRING FROM BEGINNING. THE ALBUMS THAT FOLLOWED WENT DOWNHILL EXCEPT FOR THE SINGLE [TWILIGHT ZONE].

ONE OF GOLDEN EARRING'S BEST ALBUMS
They were phasing out 8 track tape players and everyone was converting to cassette tapes. I originally picked this album up in a budget bin in 1979 or 1980. My 1969 Olds Cutlass still had an 8 track player in it, so I was grabbing-up 8 track tapes for 99 cents each. Out of all the 8 tracks I picked up like that, this was the best one. After listening to this album, I became a big Golden Earring fan, and since then I have snatched up almost all their albums over the years (paying much more than 99 cents a piece because you could only get them as imports).

I can understand why this album did not do well as a follow-up to Moontan. In my opinion, Moontan is Golden Earring's best album, but Switch really grows on you. It just didn't have any hits and it doesn't have any hard rockers on it. But like I said, it really grows on you, and I would recommend it to anyone that wants to explore the Golden Earring sound beyound Radar Love or Twilight Zone.

One of the real problems with Golden Earring's album library is that their best of album "The Continuing Story of Radar Love" is truly flawed and the new "The Devil Made Me Do It" isn't any better. First of all the Continuing Story of Radar Love doesn't have "When the Lady Smiles" a sensational tune if you haven't heard it (and an even better video). And secondly, it doesn't have enough songs from Moontan, Switch, and Grab It for Second. They should release a 2 disc best of set, with the first disc concentrating on their 70's output (forget the 60's but maybe put the live version of Eight Miles High on it) and the second disc concentrating on their 80's (and maybe some 90's) output. Anyway, I don't think it's going to happen, so that's why I'm buying up the remastered versions of most of their albums.

I've heard some people say that Golden Earring is just a 2 hit wonder, and although that may be technically correct, if you are just listening to the hits then you really are missing out on some genuinely great music (try "Are You Receiving Me?" from Moontan, "Tons of Time" from Switch, and "Against the Grain" from Grab It For a Second).
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Switchin's Easy
I was not impressed to say the least. When I first bought this album, I had to double check if it was the same band that I knew and loved from the 'Moontan' album. But after it spent a couple of months in my 'unplayed' pile, I was telling someone about the album (and my disappointment) when songs from it started popping into my head. I dug it out and put it on when I got home, and it's like I heard it with a new set of ears. This was awesome!!!
Though the drums and bass always seem to hold up their end extremely well (Great work, Cesar and Rinus), it is George Kooymans lightning guitar work and Barry Hay's eclectic vocal stylings that propel this set. As a whole, it's more diverse and progressive than the Moontan album, and almost as flawless.
'Intro/Plus Minus Absurdio' is an instrumental showcase with Kooymans blazing his lead guitar work so fast that you may be tempted to slow the CD down just to take it all in. The song ends. and before you can catch your breath 'Love is a Rodeo' blasts in with an energy all its' own - it really rocks. 'The Switch' starts out with a sort of jazz feel to it, and changes gears back and forth from that to straight-ahead rock and back again. It's quite catchy.
'Ce Soir' is the most dramatic song on the CD, and sort of a throwback to their 'Moontan' style. The way that the song builds in volume and intensity is just plain gripping. 'Tons of Time' has sort of a reggae feel to it, and is a nice divrsion from some of the harder edge songs. 'Daddy's gonna Save My Soul' is probably my least favorite track. It starts out with a riff that sounds like it was twisted from 'Vanilla Queen', shifte aimlessly into a heavy guitar-laden verse, climbs a scale during the bridge, and has a chorus that doesn't go anywhere. Despite all this, it
is not a truly bad song, but it pales compared with the rest of the set.
'Troubles and Hassles' greets us with a wall of rock on the verses, and then backs off teasingly when it hits the bridge. This song really stays with me for a long time after hearing it, it's quite infections. 'The Lonesome DJ' is a George Kooymans lamenting ballad that comes off as sincere and mournful, before finishing off with an uptempo rock ending that really works well.
While 'Switch' is not Golden Earring's best CD, it definitely is not far from it. This is a fine, ambitions set from a great rock band, and it is a pity that both the album and the artist are grossly underrated. Do yourself a favor, and give this album a listen.
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You can see a complete list of all Golden Earring discography, or go back to the Golden Earring tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.