Motions

The Motions was a Nederbeatband from The Hague, founded in 1964 by Henk Smitskamp (bass guitar), Robbie van Leeuwen (guitar), Rudy Bennett (vocals) and Sieb Warner (drums). The band was disbanded in 1970.

The Motions emerged from Ritchie & the Ricochets in late 1964, in which Bennett and van Leeuwen played. This group played as support act for the Rolling Stones at the Kurhaus on August 8, 1964. The Motions’ first single was It’s gone (written by Van Leeuwen) in December 1964. The single was placed in the Veronica Top 40 at number 39 for one week in early 1965 by Joost den Draaijer and associates without the sales figures giving cause to do so. This made The Motions the first Dutch beat group to land in the charts.

Van Leeuwen left the band on March 1, 1967 to form their own band: Shocking Blue. His place was taken by Gerard Romeijn (Tee Set). It seemed that with the departure of Van Leeuwen the band had lost the most important composer and designer, but Sieb Warner and newcomer Romeijn also wrote and composed a strong repertoire.

On the LP Impressions of Wonderful (released in October 1967) the band got a piece of the flower power and this album was by Dutch magazine Hitweek ‘the Dutch Sgt. Pepper’s’. Praising reviews appeared all over the country and The Motions prospered. Smitskamp was released from the band in November 1967 and replaced by Leo Bennink from the Jay Jays (on solo guitar, Romeijn switches to bass). Smitskamp would play in After Tea for some time and later join Livin ‘Blues.

In 1968, Romeijn and the recently joined Jan Vennik (keys, saxophone and flute) were arrested for drug possession and had to go to prison. New names in the band were Paul van Melzen (bass guitar) and Bobby Green (organ). Sieb Warner left in May 1969 and went to the Golden Earrings in July. He was replaced by Han Cooperville on drums. The LP Electric Baby (still with Sieb) appeared in June 1969 and was the penultimate LP. From June 12 to 17, 1969, The Motions went to America where Electric Baby was also released at the time and the single Freedom received a lot of airplay. Unfortunately, there was no breakthrough in the United States. Also in the Netherlands the hits failed to materialize, but the musical level of The Motions remained high.

In June 1970 the LP Sensation came out, but it was only for sale at Simon de Wit’s supermarkets. A few months later, the group made another single for Negram and then gave it up. The band members went their own way, but would meet again in various other bands. Rudy Bennett tried to establish a solo career and had some hits.

It’s the same old song

I’ve made a rarfile with the most well-known songs in the 60s that were published on a single-format,
most of the time the b-side is also included.
You can find this download below the covers.

Motions – Eliza
Motions – Every Step I Take
Motions – Everything That’s Mine
Motions – For Another Man
Motions – I Ain’t Got Time
Motions – I Follow The Sun
Motions – I Want You I Need You
Motions – It’s Alright
Motions – It’s Gone
Motions – It’s The Same Old Song
Motions – Love Won’t Stop
Motions – Miracle Man
Motions – Take The Fast Train
Motions – Take Your Time
Motions – Tonight Will Be Stoned
Motions – Why Don’t You Take It
Motions – Wonderful Impressions
Motions – You Bother Me
Motions – You’re My Adee