The Dutch Remasters - Part One

The core of this podcast consists of Beatles tracks covered by Dutch artists, mostly form the 60's and 70's.

Some are exciting, some are just presented here for the completists........

The Beatles became popular in the Netehrlands at a very early stage in thier career; the Dutch have a fine ear for musical talent (and still do).

Friday 5 June 1964: Following the previous day's concerts in Copenhagen, Denmark, The Beatles flew to Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, Netherlands, arriving at 1pm.

They arrived at Hillegom's Café-Restaurant Treslong, situated at Vosselaan 15, at around 4pm. From 5.30pm they rehearsed for their appearance on VARA-TV, and recording began at 8pm. I pass by the Treslong studio regularly (although iyt is no longer in service as a studio) and then enjoy the lingering spirits of the Fab Four.

In the first part of the programme they answered questions from the 150-strong audience. The Beatles were seated in the bar with Berend Boudewijn, who translated their answers and relayed them to Herman Stok, who was
seated with the audience. This podcast contains some of the Q&A of that session.

Following their Amsterdam jaunt, The Beatles performed two shows in Veilinghal Op Hoop Van Zegen, an auction hall situated on Veilingweg in Blokker, a village 40km north of Amsterdam. Unfortunately, the aucytion hall was torn downsome years later. Their tour was organised by Ben Essink, a Dutch impressario, who happened to be the son of the mayor of Blokker....

Essink engaged the Beatles in 1963, when the Beatles were still 'just' an up and coming British band. By june 1964, they were fast becoming the first global popgroup. Brian Epstein did not renegociate the contract,
although they were now worth much more than the contract stipulated. Epstein did put a price on recording the Beatles shows in Blokker: 5000 guilders, equivalent to around $15,000 today. Later, the Beatles were offered millons for a single show, but - the Dutch being dutch - no radio or TV station splashed out to record the Blokker show. However, audience recordings survive, and these were used as ambiance for this podacst. You can hear the announcer tell the audience to sit down, or the show wil be stopped......