In the Dutch Mountains
Encyclopedia
In the Dutch Mountains is an album
by The Nits
. It was released in October 1987 by Columbia Records
.
in their own rehearsal space to, in their own words, "reproduce the special atmosphere of a Nits concert". As a result, the songs sound far more sparkling without becoming rough or rushed.
Lyrically, singer Hofstede delves into his childhood memories
, conjuring up a vision of childhood
life in the Dutch
Fifties and Sixties. The album cover
reflects this, featuring actual historical Children's Benefit stamps
. Even though they resemble young versions of all four band members, they are in fact real Dutch stamps from 1951.
In the Dutch Mountains was the Nits' most successful album to date and the first to gain a UK
and U.S.
release. Its lead single and title track was a reasonable hit across the Europe
an continent, and is considered their signature song
. In the Netherlands
, two more singles were pulled off the album, "J.O.S. Days" and "The Panorama Man".
In 2010 a legal vinyl re-release came out on the Music On Vinyl label which added three extra bonus tracks, also available on the cd release, and an etching.
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by The Nits
The Nits
Nits are a Dutch pop group, founded in 1974. Their musical style has varied considerably over the years, as has their line-up with the core of Henk Hofstede , Rob Kloet, drummer, Robert Jan Stips , keyboards.Their biggest hit in the Netherlands was "Nescio" , a tribute to...
. It was released in October 1987 by Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
.
About the album
After the release of their meticulously assembled and produced previous album, Henk (1986), which ended up sounding somewhat lifeless, the band decided to go back to basics and record this, their next album, live to two-trackMultitrack recording
Multitrack recording is a method of sound recording that allows for the separate recording of multiple sound sources to create a cohesive whole...
in their own rehearsal space to, in their own words, "reproduce the special atmosphere of a Nits concert". As a result, the songs sound far more sparkling without becoming rough or rushed.
Lyrically, singer Hofstede delves into his childhood memories
Memory
In psychology, memory is an organism's ability to store, retain, and recall information and experiences. Traditional studies of memory began in the fields of philosophy, including techniques of artificially enhancing memory....
, conjuring up a vision of childhood
Childhood
Childhood is the age span ranging from birth to adolescence. In developmental psychology, childhood is divided up into the developmental stages of toddlerhood , early childhood , middle childhood , and adolescence .- Age ranges of childhood :The term childhood is non-specific and can imply a...
life in the Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
Fifties and Sixties. The album cover
Album cover
An album cover is the front of the packaging of a commercially released audio recording product, or album. The term can refer to either the printed cardboard covers typically used to package sets of 10" and 12" 78 rpm records, single and sets of 12" LPs, sets of 45 rpm records , or the front-facing...
reflects this, featuring actual historical Children's Benefit stamps
Postage stamp
A postage stamp is a small piece of paper that is purchased and displayed on an item of mail as evidence of payment of postage. Typically, stamps are made from special paper, with a national designation and denomination on the face, and a gum adhesive on the reverse side...
. Even though they resemble young versions of all four band members, they are in fact real Dutch stamps from 1951.
In the Dutch Mountains was the Nits' most successful album to date and the first to gain a UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
release. Its lead single and title track was a reasonable hit across the Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an continent, and is considered their signature song
Signature song
A signature song is the one song that a popular and well-established singer or band is most closely identified with or best known for, even if they have had success with a variety of songs...
. In the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, two more singles were pulled off the album, "J.O.S. Days" and "The Panorama Man".
Side A
- In the Dutch Mountains – 3:26
- J.O.S. Days – 3:13
- Two Skaters – 6:51
- Pelican and Penguin – 3:57
- In a Play (Das Mädchen im Pelz) – 3:35
- Oom-Pah-Pah – 1:21
Side B
- The Panorama Man – 3:29
- Mountain Jan – 4:41
- One Eye Open – 3:16
- An Eating House – 5:53
- The Swimmer – 3:50
- Good Night – 2:42
In 2010 a legal vinyl re-release came out on the Music On Vinyl label which added three extra bonus tracks, also available on the cd release, and an etching.
Side C
- Strangers Of The Night - 4:27
- The Magic Of Lassie – 1:37
- Moon And Stars – 4:31
CD release
- In the Dutch Mountains – 3:26
- J.O.S. Days – 3:13
- Two Skaters – 6:51
- Pelican and Penguin – 3:57
- In a Play (Das Mädchen im Pelz) – 3:35
- Oom-Pah-Pah – 1:21
- The Panorama Man – 3:29
- Mountain Jan – 4:41
- One Eye Open – 3:16
- An Eating House – 5:53
- The Swimmer – 3:50
- Good Night – 2:42
- Strangers of the Night – 4:27
- The Magic of Lassie – 1:37
- Moon and Stars – 4:31
The band
- Henk Hofstede – vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - Robert Jan StipsRobert Jan StipsRobert Jan Stips is a Dutch musician born in The Hague the 4 February 1950.He initially found fame as a keyboard player, arranger and producer with the group Supersister. This led to an invitation to join Golden Earring, one of the most successful Dutch groups of the time.In 1975 Stips appeared on...
– keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, backing vocals - Joke Geraets – double bassDouble bassThe double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
- Rob Kloet – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
Additional musicians
- Jaap van Beusekom – steel guitarSteel guitarSteel guitar is a type of guitar or the method of playing the instrument. Developed in Hawaii in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a steel guitar is usually positioned horizontally; strings are plucked with one hand, while the other hand changes the pitch of one or more strings with the use...
- Jolanda de Wit – backing vocals
- Saskia van Essen – backing vocals
- Lieve Geuens – backing vocals
Technical staff
- The NitsThe NitsNits are a Dutch pop group, founded in 1974. Their musical style has varied considerably over the years, as has their line-up with the core of Henk Hofstede , Rob Kloet, drummer, Robert Jan Stips , keyboards.Their biggest hit in the Netherlands was "Nescio" , a tribute to...
– producersRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music... - Paul Telman – engineer