René & His Alligators — “I Can Wait”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — April 22, 2025

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

1,564) René & His Alligators — “I Can Wait”

A lost Beatles ballad from ’65? Sounds like it, except it comes from a formerly instrumental Dutch group that was big in the Netherlands. The moral of the song? Girl, don’t worry, René is not going to walk away.

The band’s website notes that (courtesy of Google Translate):

In 1965 it is time for a different approach. René decides to sing his own compositions. The Nederbeat songs released in this year “She Broke My Heart” and “I Can Wait” were even released in England, but unfortunately the sales figures were rather disappointing.

https://www.reneeandthealligators.com/home_biografie_ra_4.html, https://www.reneeandthealligators.com/Q home_biografie_ra_5.html

As to René and his Alligators, Renee-Alligators Artists Club tells us (courtesy of Google Translate):

René and his Alligators was founded in 1959 by, according to many . . . the best guitarist in the Netherlands: René Nodelijk. . . . [H]e managed to score many instrumental hits including the radio staples “Guitar boogie” and “In the mood”. The band has taken on several forms in the decades of its existence. . . . The history of this famous band goes back to the mid-fifties; as (The Hague) Rocking Sensation Boys they belong to the first rock ‘n roll groups of the country. The group existed from 1956 to 1959 . . . . In 1959 the[y] became the backing band of Rein de Vries, which led to conflicts. René left the band and formed his own group, The Alligators. . . . As René & his Alligators they participate in a talent show in which the Rocking Sensation Boys and several renowned . . . bands also participate. They win and become formidable competitors . . . . The group consists of: René Nodelijk (guitar), Pim Veeren (bass), Ton van de Graaf (guitar), Richard van de Kraats (drums). In 1960 René Nodelijk is proclaimed ‘Netherlands roughest rocker’ but Tuney Tunes nevertheless states that he is ‘definitely not a hoot’ but studies guitar and violin at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague. In that same year the first single appears . . . “So Mad”. In November 1961 the group leaves for West Germany for three months. It does not work out and the group returns home without bassist Pim Veeren, who switches to the Crazy Rockers . . . . He is replaced by Ruud Schoonewelle. Between 1964 and 1967 the line-up changes constantly. . . . In this instrumental era, this legendary band from The Hague had a lot of hits. Especially “Guitar Boogie” also known as “Alligator Boogie” has become a standard work in Dutch pop history. In that period up to 1967 they had many more hits: “Limelight”, “Gipsy Rock” (1962) – “Heisser Sand”, “In the Mood”, “Guitar Boogie” (1963) – “La Comparsa”, “Two Guitars”, “My Happiness” (1964) – “Black Swan”, “Dansevise”, “Telstar” (1965) – “Eurovisie Mars”, “12th Street Rag”, “She Broke My Heart” (1966). In 1967 the LP Guitar Boogie is released. . . . In 1977, singer Renée (the wife of Rene Nodelijk) joined the group and changed the name of the band to Renée. From 1978 onwards, the group did well and they broke through at home and abroad and were often seen on television with international hits . . . . Renée opts for a solo career. After a few years, she joins the re-established Alligators, who now operate as Renée & the Alligators.

https://renee-alligators.artiesten.club/index.htm, https://renee-alligators.artiesten.club/biografie.htm

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