THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD
2,033) The Motions — “Everything (that’s Mine)”
The Netherlands’ Motions (see #1,224, 1,260) give us a “[s]uperb song, [a] real garagekiller” (Nederbeat, https://rateyourmusic.com/music-review/Nederbeat/the-motions/everything-thats-mine-theres-no-place-to-hide/49130142). It is “scorching . . . a mod masterpiece . . . just as exciting as the early Who [see #119, 548, 833, 976, 1,912] or Small Faces [see #969, 1,024] (Richie Unterberger, https://www.allmusic.com/album/introduction-to-the-motions-their-own-way-mw0001020112), a “positively ferocious mod stomper” (Richie Unterberger, https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-motions-mn0000479965) that “explod[es] into a destructive pop art bridge on which Robbie Van Leeuwen’s clanging power chords and moaning feeback pay raucous homage to Pete Townshend”. (Mike Stax, liner notes to the CD comp Nuggets II (Original Artyfacts From The British Empire And Beyond 1964-1969))
Richie Unterberger is dismissive of the Motions:
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. . . . 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, 1,292], and penned that group’s international smash, “Venus.”
I disagree. Had they been English, the Motions would have been huge in the UK and revered to this day.
Alex Gitlin goes through the Motions:
The Motions from The Hague were one of the bigger groups of the 1960s Dutch beat explosion. . . . formed in 1964 from the remnants of Richie Clark and the Ricochets . . . . The single, “Freedom” [see #1,260] reached the lower regions of the American charts in 1969. . . . From 1964 to 1967, the line-up was stable: Rudy Bennett (i.r.l. Ruud van de Berg – vocals . . . ), Robbie van Leeuwen (guitar . . . later the founder of both Shocking Blue and Galaxy Lin), Henk Smitskamp (bass . . . later to Livin’ Blues) & Sieb Warner (i.r.l. Siebolt Warntjes – drums . . . later to Golden Earring [see #63, 163, 319, 1,215, 1,504, 1,560, 1,572]). This line-up had a string of hits in The Netherlands during 1965 and 1966 . . . . Their first album, Introduction To The Motions, is considered one of the best albums of the era. Early 1967, Robbie left to form Shocking Blue and was replaced by Gerard Romeyn ( . . . later with Nico Haak, Image). Late 1967, Henk Smitskamp was ousted in favour of Leo Bennink . . . . A fifth member was found in multi-instrumentalist Jan Vennik (sax, flute & organ . . . later to Rob Hoeke & Ekseption). When in mid-1968 Gerard Romeyn and Jan Vennik were busted for posession of marijuana and incarcerated, the band took in Paul van Melzen (ex-Haigs [see #138], later in the Mailer McKenzie Band) on bass and Bobby Green, (i.r.l. Bob van der Vaart – organ . . . ). Bennink switched to guitar. This line up recorded the album Electric Baby for Decca in 1969. The band then suffered another setback by the departure of drummer Sieb Warner to rivals Golden Earring . . . . His replacement was Han Cooper (i.r.l. Han Gordinou de Gouberville). The last line-up of the group (up until 1971) was: Rudy, Leo, Paul, Bobby and Han. . . . They recorded one more album for the Simogram label of supermarket chain Simon de Wit, but split up soon afterwards. After the breakup, Rudy Bennett, Bobby Green and Gerard Romeyn all released solo singles. Bennett later joined Robbie van Leeuwen in Galaxy Lin.
Here is Shocking Blue’s interpretation:
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