EIGHT MILES HIGH

It's clear by the time Golden Earring was doing On the Double, they were obviously recording more credible pop/rock than their earliest material. There's some hints of their sound change with the original version of "Song of a Devil's Servant", but for the most part, the album stuck to a pop/rock format, but surprisingly intelligent and very good, with some of the songs showing progressive tendencies, but plenty just straight, but very good pop/rock. Late in 1969 comes Eight Miles High with a clear change to a heavy rock format with prog leanings. Jaap Eggermont had left the band, but he was in charge of Red Bullet Productions, which Golden Earring were part of. In comes Sieb Warner, with George Kooysman, Marinus Gerritsen, and Barry Hays. It's clear with a band like Led Zeppelin riding high that Gold Earring couldn't be a pop/rock band anymore, and it clearly shows with the opening cut, "Landing". No pop to be found at all, heavier guitars playing to be found. They do a remake of "Song of a Devil's Servant", this time starting off rather trippy and psychedelic, with some really nice flute and acoustic guitar playing. "Everyday's Torture" shows how much Golden Earring became a heavy rock band. I wouldn't be too far off to think of this as proto-metal, fans of metal who want to explore the roots of metal should try investigating this album. Then of course the title track, a 19 minute version of the famous 1966 hit from the Byrds. It starts off in rather familiar territory, then they go into similar territory to what Rare Earth did to "Get Ready" with extended solos from various band members, including a drum solo.

I know many people would say Moontan is their high point but for me, Eight Miles High is their high point. I am not as familiar with Golden Earring as I should be, but here in America they're pretty much associated with "Radar Love" and "Twilight Zone" and that's it. This album is really worth your time.