ALQUIN jam session (april 1974): Freak out at Blaricum

ALQUIN performed a unique 13 minute long jam session, while recording a single at SOUNDPUSH studios at Blaricum, Holland. This is the digitized soundfile taken from the only existing stereo tape copy, combined with original pictures and other illustrations. 'Freak out at Blaricum' (12':55") ALQUIN visited the state of the art Soundpush studios in the Dutch town Blaricum on monday the 22nd of April 1974. They planned to record a single, called 'To wake up a friend'. After having had dinner in a local restaurant, in the middle of the recording sessions (afternoon and evening), part of the group went back to the studio earlier than scheduled, to do some jamming before finishing the single. Ferdinand Bakker (guitar), Paul Weststrate (drums), and Job Tarenskeen (on bass-guitar) set the pace, and Dick Franssen added his characteristic chords (on the Hammond organ) in an exciting rhythm. Recording technician Jan added a repeat, so that the musicians were more or less improvising with their own echo. After a few minutes Ron Ottenhoff joined the session (saxophone). This spontaneous jam session resulted in a unique recording: 'Freak out at Blaricum' (12':55"). The only existing tape copy (7,5 inches per second, 2-track stereo) is now digitized. The sound file is illustrated by pictures and illustrations, like logo's and clippings, some of which were never published before. The single 'To wake up a friend' was never released, by the way. Timetable of the Freak out recording After a very short soundbite and silence, the music fades in. The volume of the bass guitar, present from the beginning, is pushed up after 2''15. After a climax on 4'':00 Ron joins on saxophone at 4'25". Dicky's very recognizable Hammond organ handling and ''raw'' sound is very audible around 7'15". An interesting drum rhythm reversal appears at 9'13" together with a bass riff and interesting reaction on the organ. We go back to a hefty pace and screaming guitar around 10'00". At 10'50" there is a cooling off, with nice accents on hi-hat and centre cymbal, solo guitar, Job playing the bass guitar in the higher regions and a beautiful ground chord on the organ by Dickie. Almost at the end, at 12'30", technician Jan pulls a joke with the tape speed followed by a total fade out with some 'etheric tinckling' (how it was once described in a Dutch national newspaper review) until the last sounds around 12'55". ENJOY! ALQUIN live on tv in VARA's 'NEDERPOPZIEN' P.S. The next day Dutch television (VARA) made rehearsel recordings for the programme 'NEDERPOPZIEN' and taped interviews. The programme - a one hour television special about ALQUIN on national tv - was recorded as a live performance with audience on the 7th of May 1974 and was aired on the 8th of May.