Teach-In (band)

Summary

Teach-In was a Dutch band active from 1967 until 1980. After scoring several top 20 hits in their home country by the early 1970s, the band came to international attention by winning the 1975 Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Ding-a-dong”.[1] Throughout the band's career, there were several changes in line-up.[2][3]

Teach-In
Teach-In in 1975
Teach-In in 1975
Background information
OriginEnschede, Netherlands
GenresPop
Years active1967–1980, 2007, 2021
MembersKoos Versteeg
Rudi Nijhuis
Stora Combo
Chris De Wolde
Betty Vermeulen
Marianne Wolsink
Nick De Vos
Past membersHilda Felix
Henk Westendorp
John Snuverink
Frans Schaddelee
Getty Kaspers
John Gaasbeek
Ard Weenink
Hans Nijland

History edit

The group was formed in 1967 in Enschede. The first lineup: Hilda Felix (vocals), Henk Westendorp (vocals, later in Superfly), John Snuverink (vocals, guitar), Frans Schaddelee (bass), leader Koos Versteeg (vocals & keys) and Rudi Nijhuis (drums).

In 1971, only Koos and Rudi remained in the group, and the rest of the band comprised Getty Kaspers (vocals, in 1976 solo as Getty), John Gaasbeek (bass, already in 1964 in the Stora Combo (later known as Orkest Freddie Golden, he also left in 1976), Chris De Wolde (guitar) and Ard Weenink (also until 1976). A recording contract was signed with CNR Records and Eddy Ouwens became their producer and co-composer.

Their first single was "Spoke the Lord Creator" (originally a song by Focus), released in 1972, which didn't chart.

In 1974 the band had three top 15 hits in the Netherlands: "Fly Away", "In the Summernight" (which even did reach number 5 in a South African charts)[4] and "Tennessee Town".

In March 1975, Teach-In participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 1975 with the song "Ding-a-dong" (written by Will Luikinga and Eddy Ouwens) and won.[5] Teach-In broke a Eurovision convention that favours songs performing later in the program by winning the contest despite performing first. This was a first for the competition and was repeated a year later by Brotherhood of Man in the 1976 Eurovision Contest. This feat has only been repeated by one further act; the Herreys in 1984. "Ding-a-Dong" had a chart entry in nearly every European country, as well as a number 22 placing in the USA on the Easy Listening chart. In the Netherlands it reached number 3 in the charts. In October 1975 "Goodbye Love" became another Dutch top 10-hit. "Rose Valley", released in February 1976, reached just the top 20. Tensions due to the busy concert scheme made Getty Kaspers leave the band, after which she pursued a solo career. Also John Gaasbeek and Ard Weenink quit. Hans Nijland (bass, in 1977 replaced by Nick De Vos), Betty Vermeulen (vocals), Marianne Wolsink (vocals, ex-Head) were included as new members. The group's next single "Upside Down" reached number 2 in the Netherlands.

In 1978 the Disco rage nearly destroyed Teach-In's popularity. A new look and sound had to be adopted and "Dear John" became a top 10 hit in October. In 1979 a theme song for a Dutch TV charity show supporting Greenpeace hit the top 10. 1980's single "Regrets" proved to be the group's swan song as the group disbanded soon after.

In 1997, news came that the original line up (with Getty Kaspers) had re-recorded some of their old hits and had plans to tour again.

In June 1979, two ex-members of the group, Getty and John Gaasbeek, joined by Wilma van Diepen, formed the Balloon trio. Later on, Getty tried a new solo career, recording a couple of discs including the Getty Album (features De Eerste Liefde is Een Feest with lyrics in Dutch, originally När du tar mig i din famn/The Queen of Hearts by Agnetha Fältskog in Swedish and English). Her vocals can also be heard on Rick van der Linden's Cum Laude album and on recordings made by Radio Veronica.

The band reunited to sing "Ding-a-Dong" at a show in Maastricht on 31 August 2007.

The band reunited to perform at the final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 as an interval act.[6]

Discography edit

Studio albums edit

Year Title Details Peak chart
positions
NL
[7]
1974 Roll Along
  • Released: 1974
  • Label: CNR
1975 Festival
  • Released: March 1975
  • Label: CNR
8
1976 Get On Board
  • Released: 1976
  • Label: CNR
1977 See the Sun
  • Released: 1977
  • Label: Negram
1979 Teach In
  • Released: 1979
  • Label: CNR
1980 Room 115
  • Released: 2018
  • Label: Red Bullet
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Compilation albums edit

Year Title Details
1975 Our Sings
  • Released: 1975
  • Label: Telefunken
  • Germany-only release
1991 Ding-A-Dong
  • Released: 1991
  • Label: EMI
The Original Teach In Hit Collection
  • Released: 1991
  • Label: PPF
1992 The Very Best Of
  • Released: 1992
  • Label: Diamond
2005 Teach In
  • Released: 2005
  • Label: CNR Music
2010 Best of Teach In
  • Released: 26 April 2010
  • Label: Red Bullet

Singles edit

Year Single Peak chart positions
NL 40
[8]
NL 100
[9]
BE (FLA)
[10]
BE (WA)
[11]
FRA
[12]
GER
[13]
IRE
[14]
NOR
[15]
SPA
[16]
SA
[4]
SWE
[17][18]
SWI
[19]
UK
[20]
US AC
[21]
ZIM
[22]
1971 "Spoke the Lord Creator (Chorale St. Anthony's)" [A]
"Can't Be So Bad"
1972 "So Easy to Sing (Cord di Schiavi Ebrei)"
1974 "Fly Away" 5 6 8 49 1
"In the Summernight" 5 3 3 44 5 19
"Tennessee Town" 13 9 22
1975 "Ding-A-Dong" 3 3 2 7 4 9 8 1 3 4 1 13 22 13
"Goodbye Love" 5 5 18 48
"Rose Valley" 17 19 13
1976 "Upside Down" 2 3 1 24
1977 "A Ride in the Night" 31 [B]
"See the Sun" 26 26
"(Do You Wanna Play) My Rock and Roll Song" [C]
1978 "Dear John" 5 5 2 22 20
1979 "The Robot" 20 16 18
"Greenpeace" 10 5 30
1980 "Regrets" [D] 31
"Bad Day"
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Notes edit

  1. ^ "Spoke the Lord Creator (Chorale St. Anthony's)" didn't enter the Dutch Top 40, but did peak at number 2 on the Tipparade.[23]
  2. ^ "A Ride in the Night" did enter the Dutch Single Top 100 (then a Top 30), but did peak at number 7 on the Single Tip chart.[24]
  3. ^ "(Do You Wanna Play) My Rock and Roll Song" didn't enter the Dutch Top 40, but did peak at number 5 on the Tipparade.[25]
  4. ^ "Regrets" didn't enter the Dutch Top 40, but did peak at number 6 on the Tipparade.[26]

References edit

  1. ^ Recalling Sweden's first staging of the contest in 1975, Eurovision
  2. ^ "Long lost Teach-In album to be released for the first time". Escxtra.com. January 8, 2018. Archived from the original on July 5, 2019. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
  3. ^ Gijssel, Robert van (April 28, 2019). "Spanningen op het Songfestival? In het 'Ding-a-dong'-jaar 1975 was het zeker niet beter". Volkskrant.nl.
  4. ^ a b "South African Rock Lists Website - SA Charts 1969 - 1989 Acts (T)". www.rock.co.za. Archived from the original on 2013-10-19. Retrieved 2021-12-03.
  5. ^ "Interview met Getty Kaspers (zangeres Teach-In) | Songfestival 1975". Eurostory.nl. April 24, 2018. Archived from the original on July 5, 2019. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
  6. ^ "Rotterdam ready to 'Rock the Roof'". Eurovision.tv. 2021-03-25. Archived from the original on 2021-05-06. Retrieved 2021-04-10.
  7. ^ "Dutch Charts - dutchcharts.nl". dutchcharts.nl. Archived from the original on 2021-12-03. Retrieved 2021-12-03.
  8. ^ "Teach In". Top40.nl (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 2023-06-04. Retrieved 2021-12-03.
  9. ^ "Dutch Charts - dutchcharts.nl". dutchcharts.nl. Archived from the original on 2021-12-03. Retrieved 2021-12-03.
  10. ^ "ultratop.be - ULTRATOP BELGIAN CHARTS". www.ultratop.be. Archived from the original on 2021-12-03. Retrieved 2021-12-03.
  11. ^ "ultratop.be - ULTRATOP BELGIAN CHARTS". www.ultratop.be. Archived from the original on 2021-12-03. Retrieved 2021-12-03.
  12. ^ "InfoDisc : Les Tubes de chaque Artiste commençant par T". infodisc.fr. Archived from the original on 2021-12-03. Retrieved 2021-12-03.
  13. ^ "Suche - Offizielle Deutsche Charts". www.offiziellecharts.de. Archived from the original on 2015-11-02. Retrieved 2021-12-03.
  14. ^ "The Irish Charts - All there is to know". irishcharts.ie. Archived from the original on 2011-07-21. Retrieved 2021-12-03.
  15. ^ "norwegiancharts.com - Norwegian charts portal". norwegiancharts.com. Archived from the original on 2021-12-03. Retrieved 2021-12-03.
  16. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  17. ^ "Teach-In - Se alla låtar och listplaceringar". NostalgiListan (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 2021-12-03. Retrieved 2021-12-03.
  18. ^ "swedishcharts.com - Swedish Charts Portal". swedishcharts.com. Archived from the original on 2021-12-03. Retrieved 2021-12-03.
  19. ^ "Die Offizielle Schweizer Hitparade - hitparade.ch". swisscharts.com. Archived from the original on 2021-12-03. Retrieved 2021-12-03.
  20. ^ "TEACH-IN | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Archived from the original on 2021-12-03. Retrieved 2021-12-03.
  21. ^ "Teach-In". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-12-03.
  22. ^ Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: singles chart book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000
  23. ^ "Teach In - Spoke The Lord Creator". Top40.nl (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 2021-12-03. Retrieved 2021-12-03.
  24. ^ "Teach-In - A Ride In The Night". dutchcharts.nl. Archived from the original on 2021-12-03. Retrieved 2021-12-03.
  25. ^ "Teach In - (Do You Wanna Play) My Rock And Roll Song". Top40.nl (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 2021-12-03. Retrieved 2021-12-03.
  26. ^ "Teach In - Regrets". Top40.nl (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 2021-12-03. Retrieved 2021-12-03.

External links edit

  Media related to Teach-In at Wikimedia Commons

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Winner of the Eurovision Song Contest
1975
Succeeded by
Preceded by Netherlands in the Eurovision Song Contest
1975
Succeeded by