(Country/ Rock) The Cats - Love Cats -25 Years Love Songs - 2002, MP3, 192 kbps

Straight outta Amsterdam, the Cats were one of those bands that were huge in Europe and not-so-huge in the States, and this CD set makes one wonder why.
Slowly but surely, the Cats from Volendam turned themselves into one of Holland's top-selling musical acts. Their first record is now a real collectors item! Already in 1962, the nucleus of the Cats was performing under the name of The Mystic Four. In 1963, the name changed to The Blue Cats. Together with some other bands, the Cats were responsible for making the "Palingsound" very popular in Holland for many years. ( "eel-beat", "palingbiet" or "eel-sound" is a Dutch name invented by Dutch top DJ Joost den Draayer ). The popularity of the band, which had been releasing three hit singles per year since 1966, rapidly spread into Germany as well. This could be due to the way the Cats were concentrating more and more on writing melodic, sentimental songs. The harmony vocals were simply outstanding! It's those early songs, including "Times Were When", "Lea", "Why", "Scarlet Ribbons", "Marian" that had brought the band so many fans throughout Europe. In 1975, Cees Veerman left the band temporarily, due to problems with his voice. For a year, he was replaced by an ex-roadie, Piet Keizer. One year prior to that, their album, "Love In Your Eyes", produced by Al Capps and recorded in the USA, failed to attract attention of the record buying public. However, despite performing what was announced as their farewell gig in Purmerend on May 19th 1974, they continued to gig and record sporadically all the way up through the year 1977. That same year, another album, "Like The Old Days" was released. Both, Piet Veerman and Cees Veerman (no relation) recorded solo albums in 1976. Jaap Schilder followed the suit in 1978.
The real split came in 1980, despite the success of their first single that year, "The End Of The Show", and the album with the same name, "The End Of The Show" (EMI, 1980). After that, for a few years, the only 'commotion' heard from the Cats camp was Piet Veerman's solo work. In 1983, the Cats worked together once again, producing the "Stars On 45" single, which became very successful in many countries. In 1985, Piet Veerman decided to retire from the Cats for good, and two years later scored his first Number 1 hit single with "Sailin' Home". In 1994, the Cats recorded their last album, called "Shine On", for Polydor.

Arnold Muhren basgitaar
Jaap Schilder gitaar, piano
Cees Veerman gitaar, zang
Theo Klouwer drums
Piet Veerman gitaar, zang
Piet Keizer gitaar (c 1975)