The Motions — “For Another Man”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — May 30, 2024

THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD

1,224) The Motions — “For Another Man”

This ‘65 A-side is a “simple but compelling ballad” (Mike Stax, liner notes to the CD comp Nuggets II: Original Artyfacts from the British Empire and Beyond 1964-1969) that is also “the best and most tuneful track” (Richie Unterberger, https://www.allmusic.com/album/an-introduction-to-the-motions-mw0001199444) on their first LP. I daresay that John and Paul would have been proud to write this Merseybeat gem (written by guitarist Robby van Leeuwen, yeah that Robby van Leeuwen).

Richie Unterberger calls the album — Introduction to the Motions — “fair but derivative mainstream British Invasion-style rock, neither too pop nor too R&B-oriented. . . . usually . . . brash rock with echoes of both Merseybeat and early mod rock . . . . simultaneously moody and exuberant, yet a little anonymous-sounding”. (https://www.allmusic.com/album/an-introduction-to-the-motions-mw0001199444)

As to the Motions, Unterberger is similarly dismissive:

A pretty typical Dutch “beat” group of the 1960s, the Motions were pretty popular in their native land, releasing seven albums and over 27 singles in their eight-year career. Far from the best Dutch group, and far from the worst, most of their hits were fairly ordinary fare, ranging from dippy folkish ballads to tough mod rockers. Their best cut is the positively ferocious mod stomper “Everything That’s Mine” (1966), with a searing feedback break worthy of the early Who. They’re really most remembered for their lead guitarist and songwriter, Robby van Leeuwen, who left in 1967 to form Shocking Blue [see #1,214], and penned . . . “Venus.”

https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-motions-mn0000479965#biography

I disagree. Had they been an English group, the Motions would have been huge in the UK and revered to this day.

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