Solution (band)
Encyclopedia
Solution were a Dutch
progressive rock
band that existed from 1970 to 1983, during which time they released six studio albums and one live album. They incorporated jazz, rock, pop and soul influences, becoming more commercial on their fifth and sixth albums.
comprised mainly instrumental pieces, complex yet repetitive in structure, with bassist Peter van der Sande singing on one track. He was succeeded by Guus Willemse around the time of its release, and immediately the band began recording more vocal songs; three of the tracks on second album Divergence
featured lyrics.
The third album Cordon Bleu
(1975) was released on Elton John
's label Rocket Records
, as was its follow-up Fully Interlocking
(1977). Both albums were produced by John's producer Gus Dudgeon
, and featured a crisper sound and more concise songwriting.
Despite some criticism for a more commercial direction, the next two albums, ...It's Only Just Begun... (1980) and Runaway
(1982) continued this trend. The two title tracks from these albums became hit singles in Europe.
Solution split in 1983, playing a final concert at the Paradiso in Amsterdam and releasing a double live album. They have since regrouped (in March 2006) for two concerts at Panama, Amsterdam (released as a DVD
in July 2007), while a triple CD compilation (The Ultimate Collection
, comprising almost every track they released) was issued in 2005. Also, a 1976 pairing of Solution and Divergence (simply titled Solution) was reissued by EMI
in February 2007, featuring "Fever" (left off the original CD edition) and "Divergence", the studio version of which was omitted from The Ultimate Collection in favour of the 1983 live recording.
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...
progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
band that existed from 1970 to 1983, during which time they released six studio albums and one live album. They incorporated jazz, rock, pop and soul influences, becoming more commercial on their fifth and sixth albums.
History
Their first eponymous LPSolution (album)
Solution is the first album by the Dutch symphonic rock group Solution. It was released in 1971 on the Decca label.-History:It is the only Solution album to feature original vocalist and bassist Peter van der Sande, who was replaced by Guus Willemse around the time of the LP release. Van der Sande...
comprised mainly instrumental pieces, complex yet repetitive in structure, with bassist Peter van der Sande singing on one track. He was succeeded by Guus Willemse around the time of its release, and immediately the band began recording more vocal songs; three of the tracks on second album Divergence
Divergence (album)
Divergence is the second album by the Dutch symphonic rock group Solution. It was released in 1972 on the EMI subsidiary Harvest Records.-History:This album is among the most progressive by the group...
featured lyrics.
The third album Cordon Bleu
Cordon Bleu (album)
Cordon Bleu is the third album by the Dutch symphonic rock group Solution. It was released in 1975 on Elton John's label Rocket Records.-History:...
(1975) was released on Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
's label Rocket Records
Rocket Records
The Rocket Record Company was a record label founded by Elton John, with Bernie Taupin, Gus Dudgeon and Steve Brown among others, in 1972. The name is from the hit, "Rocket Man"...
, as was its follow-up Fully Interlocking
Fully Interlocking
Fully Interlocking is the fourth album by the Dutch symphonic rock group Solution. It was released in 1977 on Rocket Records. The line "Fully interlocking" appears on jigsaw puzzle boxes, as referenced on the album cover.-History:...
(1977). Both albums were produced by John's producer Gus Dudgeon
Gus Dudgeon
Angus Boyd Dudgeon , most commonly known as Gus Dudgeon was an English record producer, most notable for production of many of Elton John's recordings.-Early career:...
, and featured a crisper sound and more concise songwriting.
Despite some criticism for a more commercial direction, the next two albums, ...It's Only Just Begun... (1980) and Runaway
Runaway (Solution album)
Runaway is the sixth and last studio album by the Dutch rock group Solution. It was released in 1982 on CBS Records.-History:Runaway featured eight songs in a shorter, more direct format than previous recordings...
(1982) continued this trend. The two title tracks from these albums became hit singles in Europe.
Solution split in 1983, playing a final concert at the Paradiso in Amsterdam and releasing a double live album. They have since regrouped (in March 2006) for two concerts at Panama, Amsterdam (released as a DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
in July 2007), while a triple CD compilation (The Ultimate Collection
The Ultimate Collection (Solution album)
The Ultimate Collection is a three-CD compilation of music by the Dutch symphonic rock band Solution. The first in-depth retrospective of the group, it was released by Universal and Hunter Entertainment in 2005. The sound is digitally remastered.-Contents:...
, comprising almost every track they released) was issued in 2005. Also, a 1976 pairing of Solution and Divergence (simply titled Solution) was reissued by EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
in February 2007, featuring "Fever" (left off the original CD edition) and "Divergence", the studio version of which was omitted from The Ultimate Collection in favour of the 1983 live recording.
Members
The band members included:- Tom Barlage: saxophoneSaxophoneThe saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
, fluteFluteThe flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening... - Willem Ennes: pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, organOrgan (music)The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
, 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... - Hans Waterman: 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 ....
- Guus Willemse (named Gus on 'It's only just begun' and 'Runaway'): bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, vocals - Harry Hardholt: 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...
s - Peter van der Sande: bass guitar, vocals
- Steve Boston: congaCongaThe conga, or more properly the tumbadora, is a tall, narrow, single-headed Cuban drum with African antecedents. It is thought to be derived from the Makuta drums or similar drums associated with Afro-Cubans of Central African descent. A person who plays conga is called a conguero...
s on the first album - Jaap van Eik: bass
- Adri Klohne: bass
- Jan Akkerman: guitar on 'It's only just begun'
- Michiel Pos, vocals, acoustic guitars, flute on 'Cordon Bleu'
- Neppy Noya, percussion on 'It's only just begun'
Albums
- SolutionSolution (album)Solution is the first album by the Dutch symphonic rock group Solution. It was released in 1971 on the Decca label.-History:It is the only Solution album to feature original vocalist and bassist Peter van der Sande, who was replaced by Guus Willemse around the time of the LP release. Van der Sande...
(1971) - DivergenceDivergence (album)Divergence is the second album by the Dutch symphonic rock group Solution. It was released in 1972 on the EMI subsidiary Harvest Records.-History:This album is among the most progressive by the group...
(1972) - Cordon BleuCordon Bleu (album)Cordon Bleu is the third album by the Dutch symphonic rock group Solution. It was released in 1975 on Elton John's label Rocket Records.-History:...
(1975) - Fully InterlockingFully InterlockingFully Interlocking is the fourth album by the Dutch symphonic rock group Solution. It was released in 1977 on Rocket Records. The line "Fully interlocking" appears on jigsaw puzzle boxes, as referenced on the album cover.-History:...
(1977) - ...It's Only Just Begun... (1980)
- RunawayRunaway (Solution album)Runaway is the sixth and last studio album by the Dutch rock group Solution. It was released in 1982 on CBS Records.-History:Runaway featured eight songs in a shorter, more direct format than previous recordings...
(1982) - Solution Live (1983)
- Reunionconcert Solution (DVD, 2006)
Reissues
- Solution (1976 - actually a double repackage of the first two albums)
- The Best of Solution Live (1991)
- The Ultimate CollectionThe Ultimate Collection (Solution album)The Ultimate Collection is a three-CD compilation of music by the Dutch symphonic rock band Solution. The first in-depth retrospective of the group, it was released by Universal and Hunter Entertainment in 2005. The sound is digitally remastered.-Contents:...
(2005)
Singles
- "Divergence" (EMI, 1973)
- "A Song for You" (Rocket Records, 1975)
- "Chappaqua" (Rocket Records, 1976)
- "Give Some More" (Rocket Records, 1977/78)
- "Empty Faces" (Rocket Records, 1977)
- "On My Own" (CBS, 1980)
- "It's Only Just Begun" (CBS, 1980)
- "Runaway" (CBS, 1982)
- "Downhearted" (CBS, 1982)
- "Bad Breaks" (SKY, 1983 - from Solution Live)