Free In L.A.: The Dutch West Coast Sound (Mixcloud Exclusive)
Ethan Jones Like so many artists elsewhere, a lot of Dutch bands and musicians were influenced by the West Coast sound too. As my fellow Smooth Operator , Martijn Soetens, once wrote on his blog: “In the Netherlands an umbrella and a sweater are necessary almost any time of year. So it's quite natural that we need sunny music to get our vitamin D.” Dutch duo (although born in South Africa) Rob and Ferdi Bolland are best known for their work with Austrian singer Falco. They wrote, produced and sang on the Billboard number one Rock Me Amadeus in 1986. In the 1970s they started as a folk duo, sounding like Seals & Crofts, but by the end of the decade they tried several other styles, like disco and the West Coast sound. Free In L.A. is the b-side of their single Music Man , which did not make the Dutch charts at the time. “I can’t get enough Of that West Coast stuff” ( Free In L.A. / Bolland & Bolland) The duo also wrote and produced Presidential Suite by Tiffany (not to b