Switch [Import, Original recording remastered]

Golden Earring | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 1, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import, Original recording remastered
• Label: MSI:RED BULLET
• ASIN: B00005UBN0
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #28,120 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Import remastered reissue of the long running Dutch rock act's 1975 album that's out-of-print domestically.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ONE OF GOLDEN EARRING'S BEST ALBUMS, November 9, 2006

By 

Choice Priviledges "Big Dog 327" (Nashville, TN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Switch (Audio CD)

I originally picked this album up in a budget bin in 1979 or 1980. They were phasing out 8 track tape players and everyone was converting to cassette tapes. My 1969 Olds Cutlass still had an 8 track player in it, so I was grabbing-up 8 track tapes for 99 cents each. Out of all the 8 tracks I picked up like that, this was the best one. After listening to this album, I became a big Golden Earring fan, and since then I have snatched up almost all their albums over the years (paying much more than 99 cents a piece because you could only get them as imports).

I can understand why this album did not do well as a follow-up to Moontan. In my opinion, Moontan is Golden Earring's best album, but Switch really grows on you. It just didn't have any hits and it doesn't have any hard rockers on it. But like I said, it really grows on you, and I would recommend it to anyone that wants to explore the Golden Earring sound beyound Radar Love or Twilight Zone.

One of the real problems with Golden Earring's album library is that their best of album "The Continuing Story of Radar Love" is truly flawed and the new "The Devil Made Me Do It" isn't any better. First of all the Continuing Story of Radar Love doesn't have "When the Lady Smiles" a sensational tune if you haven't heard it (and an even better video). And secondly, it doesn't have enough songs from Moontan, Switch, and Grab It for Second. They should release a 2 disc best of set, with the first disc concentrating on their 70's output (forget the 60's but maybe put the live version of Eight Miles High on it) and the second disc concentrating on their 80's (and maybe some 90's) output. Anyway, I don't think it's going to happen, so that's why I'm buying up the remastered versions of most of their albums.

I've heard some people say that Golden Earring is just a 2 hit wonder, and although that may be technically correct, if you are just listening to the hits then you really are missing out on some genuinely great music (try "Are You Receiving Me?" from Moontan, "Tons of Time" from Switch, and "Against the Grain" from Grab It For a Second).

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Switchin's Easy, September 14, 2006

By 

Ronnie O. "Critic at large" (North Smithfield, RI United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Switch (Audio CD)

When I first bought this album, I had to double check if it was the same band that I knew and loved from the 'Moontan' album. I was not impressed to say the least. But after it spent a couple of months in my 'unplayed' pile, I was telling someone about the album (and my disappointment) when songs from it started popping into my head. I dug it out and put it on when I got home, and it's like I heard it with a new set of ears. This was awesome!!!
Though the drums and bass always seem to hold up their end extremely well (Great work, Cesar and Rinus), it is George Kooymans lightning guitar work and Barry Hay's eclectic vocal stylings that propel this set. As a whole, it's more diverse and progressive than the Moontan album, and almost as flawless.
'Intro/Plus Minus Absurdio' is an instrumental showcase with Kooymans blazing his lead guitar work so fast that you may be tempted to slow the CD down just to take it all in. The song ends. and before you can catch your breath 'Love is a Rodeo' blasts in with an energy all its' own - it really rocks. 'The Switch' starts out with a sort of jazz feel to it, and changes gears back and forth from that to straight-ahead rock and back again. It's quite catchy.
'Ce Soir' is the most dramatic song on the CD, and sort of a throwback to their 'Moontan' style. The way that the song builds in volume and intensity is just plain gripping. 'Tons of Time' has sort of a reggae feel to it, and is a nice divrsion from some of the harder edge songs. 'Daddy's gonna Save My Soul' is probably my least favorite track. It starts out with a riff that sounds like it was twisted from 'Vanilla Queen', shifte aimlessly into a heavy guitar-laden verse, climbs a scale during the bridge, and has a chorus that doesn't go anywhere. Despite all this, it
is not a truly bad song, but it pales compared with the rest of the set.
'Troubles and Hassles' greets us with a wall of rock on the verses, and then backs off teasingly when it hits the bridge. This song really stays with me for a long time after hearing it, it's quite infections. 'The Lonesome DJ' is a George Kooymans lamenting ballad that comes off as sincere and mournful, before finishing off with an uptempo rock ending that really works well.
While 'Switch' is not Golden Earring's best CD, it definitely is not far from it. This is a fine, ambitions set from a great rock band, and it is a pity that both the album and the artist are grossly underrated. Do yourself a favor, and give this album a listen.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Album!!, February 11, 2005

By 

Nathan Laney (Northern Cambria, PA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Switch (Audio CD)

I bought this album in 1980 while on a Golden Earring binge. I was a happy man when I first slapped it on the turn table and it started to play. "Plus Minus Absurdio" is a great opening track, followed briskly by "Love is a Rodeo." I love this track! The opening guitar has a deceptive pattern going, making you think that the rhythm to the song is something different than what it actually is. It's neat to hear it slot into place when everything else comes in. The timing on the high-hat isn't the usual thing either. Great track!!! I'm afraid I have to deviate from the opinions of everyone else here though, as "The Switch" and "Kill Me (Ce Soir)" do absolutely nothing for me. "Tons of Time" is a great track. Definitely a reggae groove on the verses, and an almost Wings sounding chorus. The chorus is pretty and playful sounding. "Daddy's Gonna Save My Soul" is also good. I always thought that songs with this "feel" to them seemed to bring out some of their best lyric writing. In this case, it's not the music as much as the lyrics that grab me, but I do like the music too. "Troubles and Hassles" is good also. Again, I like the lyrics alot. "The Lonesome D.J." is a pretty good song. It uses a great line to close a rock album with: "I might as well have a ball and play some rock & roll." "Moontan," "To the Hilt," "Long Blonde Animal," "Cut" and so on are stronger than this album, but this is by no means a dud either. It's very strong when listened to with most of it's contemporaries (1975). It's for that reason that it receives 5 big ones!