Earth & Fire: Song of the Marching Children (1971)
Earth & Fire (do not confuse with the well-known American R&B band Earth, Wind & Fire), was one of the leading prog rock bands to come out of the Netherlands, along with Focus, Ekseption, Kayak, Trace, Supersister, and Alquin. 1971’s Song of the Marching Children is their second album and is by far their best, as far as I’m concerned.
The band featured female vocalist Jerney Kaagman, twin brothers Chris and Gerard Koerts (Chris handled the guitars and Gerard handled the keyboards), bassist Hans Ziech, and drummer Ton v.d. Kleij. The band sounded something like a Dutch version of the Moody Blues fronted by a female vocalist. They also sound like how Shocking Blue (another Dutch band, they’re the ones that gave us “Venus”) might have sounded like if they were a prog rock band (Jerney Kaagman does sound a bit like Mariska Veres).
Surprisingly Earth & Fire had quite a few hits in their native Holland, like “Seasons” (1969), “Ruby is the One” (1970), “Wild & Exciting” (1970), “Invitation” (1971, released only as a single at that time), “Memories” (1972), and many more. In fact, Song of the Marching Children had a Dutch hit as well, “Storm & Thunder” (but was edited for single release). When this album came out, the band started to include the Mellotron and synthesizers to their keyboard setup (as well as the Hammond organ, which they used from the beginning), as well as including a side length epic.
The album opens up with “Carnival of the Animals” which, unsurprisingly, has a rather circus-like atmosphere. The next cut, “Ebbtide” is a rather pleasant, atmospheric number, with flute. “Storm & Thunder” is the next song, in its entirety (the single version omits the organ intro, and the Mellotron outro). The Mellotron makes its first appearance on this song.
“In the Mountains” is an all-instrumental piece that sounds a whole lot like their countrymen Focus (similar guitar work that sounds like something Jan Akkerman would do). Just listen to Focus 3 (1972), especially the song “Focus III” on that album and you’ll see how similar that is to “In the Mountains”. It’s hard telling whether E&F ripped off Focus or the other way around (given Song of the Marching Children came out a year before Focus 3, I’m willing to say Focus stole from E&F).
The album then closes with the side length title track. This song was previously released as a three minute single earlier in 1971 as the flip side to “Invitation”. The band simply re-recorded “Song of the Marching Children” (the song, that is) and turn it in to a 17 minute prog epic, loaded with suites and Mellotron. This is simply one of the greatest prog epics I’ve heard out of Holland.
By the way, if you’re an LP collector, here’s some things you need to know. The album was released on Polydor. Later versions of this album do not feature the gatefold. The original version features a gatefold, with some stunning psychedelic artwork. The original LP features the catalog number Polydor 2925 003, if the numbering is different, you have a later version. Also there’s a German version of this album released in 1972 called Memories/Song of the Marching Children which featured the entire album, as well as “Memories” which was the hit single for the band at that time.
Earth & Fire amazes me, because, while they were able to rack up the hits in Europe (specifically Holland, of course, and Germany), they were able to make some great prog albums in the process. Atlantis (1973) is much in the similar vein to Song of the Marching Children, and is recommended. To the World of the Future (1975) finds the band exploring more synthesizers, and disco tendencies were starting to surface, but still worth having. I have not heard Gate to Infinity (1977) or anything after (1979’s Reality Fills Fantasy, 1981’s Andromeda Girl, 1982’s In State of Flux, and their 1989 reunion album Phoenix). Those albums are said to be of a more commercial, pop-oriented direction (i.e. the band was concentrating more on the singles market, which is little surprise when prog rock went downhill by the late 1970s) and are probably to be passed up unless you’re a completist. Still, Song of the Marching Children finds Earth & Fire at their absolute finest, and is totally essential to your prog collection.
Year of release: 1971
Original Label: Polydor, Holland (2925 003)
– Jerney Kaagman: lead vocals
– Chris Koerts: guitars
– Gerard Koerts: organ, synthesizers, virginal, Mellotron, flute
– Hans Ziech: bass
– Ton v.d. Kleij: drums