Solution (band)

Solution were a Dutch symphonic 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.

History

Their first eponymous LP 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, especially in the tracks "A Song for You" and "Give Some More". "Third Line" from "Cordon Bleu" featured a motif which first appeared on "Solution" as "Preview", and on "Divergence" in the instrumental segment of "Second Line".

Despite some criticism for a more commercial direction, the next two albums, "...It's Only Just Begun..." (1980) and "Runaway" (1982) continued this trend, even dipping into pastiche on the latter LP ("Shame On You" mirrored the Eagles' "Life In the Fast Lane" while "Evil Love" was a straightforward blues song). On "Runaway" the four piece was joined by a full-time guitarist for the first time, Harry Hardholt. The two title tracks from these albums became hit singles in Europe.

Solution split in 1983, playing a final concert at the Paradiso in Holland 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.

Members

The band members included:
* Tom Barlage: saxophone, flute
* Willem Ennes: piano, organ, keyboards
* Hans Waterman: drums
* Guus Willemse: bass, vocals
* Harry Hardholt: guitars
* Peter van der Sande: bass guitar, vocals
* Steve Boston: congas 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

* "Solution" (1971)
* "Divergence" (1972)
* "Cordon Bleu" (1975)
* "Fully Interlocking" (1977)
* "...It's Only Just Begun..." (1980)
* "Runaway" (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 Collection" (2005)

ingles

* "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")

External links

* [http://www.solutionmusic.nl/ Official site run by Guus Willemse]
* [http://users.keyaccess.nl/~wemmg01/sol.htm "Dutch Progressive Rock" page]
* [http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Alley/8267/review06.htm "Focus Reviews" page]