Close to the Fire
Encyclopedia
Close To The Fire is a studio album by Dutch progressive rock
band Kayak
, released in 2000. It was a comeback album, the first since their split in 1982. The line-up was almost the same as the one that recorded the album Royal Bed Bouncer
in 1975. Only guitarist Johan Slager
was not involved. He was replaced by Rob Winter.
By 1997, Kayak founder members Ton Scherpenzeel
and Pim Koopman
decided to work on new material. They had no name for their project yet, and it was not their intention to release the songs as Kayak. Apart from Scherpenzeel and Koopman, no former Kayak members were involved at this stage. Lead singer on the demo versions was Alex Toonen, from Dutch progressive rock
band "For Absent Friends". Record companies were not immediately interested, and the songs were not developed further. Then, original Kayak singer Max Werner
offered to have a go at the demo's. With his vocal sound the songs got a genuine Kayak feel, and it was decided to release the songs as the new Kayak album.
The album was relatively successful, reaching # 54 in the Dutch album top-100 and staying in that top-100 for 6 weeks. More important was that media and fans were interested in the band again. Scherpenzeel and Koopman decided to continue the 'new' Kayak. Max Werner left after a short tour in 2000.
The last song on the album is a newly recorded version of "Ruthless Queen", Kayak's biggest hit from 1978. Lead vocalist on the new version is Syb van der Ploeg. He was lead-singer of Dutch band "De Kast". Members of that band were big Kayak fans, and in 1999 De Kast asked Kayak to join them in a TV-special. That was one of the things that encouraged Kayak to reunite. Apart from Syb van der Ploeg, Kast-members Sytze Broersma and Peter van der Ploeg also play on "Ruthless Queen".
The song "Full Circle" has a guitar solo by Andrew Latimer
, leader of the British progressive rock
band Camel
. Ton Scherpenzeel played in Camel, though not constantly, from 1984 until 2003.
Bonus tracks on Japanese CD release:
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
band Kayak
Kayak (band)
Kayak are a Dutch progressive rock band formed in 1972 in the city Hilversum by Ton Scherpenzeel and Pim Koopman. In 1973, their debut album "See See The Sun" was released, including 3 hit singles. Their main popularity was in the Netherlands, with their top hit reaching #6 on the Dutch charts in...
, released in 2000. It was a comeback album, the first since their split in 1982. The line-up was almost the same as the one that recorded the album Royal Bed Bouncer
Royal Bed Bouncer
Royal Bed Bouncer is the third album by Dutch progressive rock band Kayak, released in 1975. Their progressive approach from the first two albums was mixed with a more basic pop/rock sound. Nine of the ten songs were written by Ton Scherpenzeel, with Pim Koopman only contributing the instrumental...
in 1975. Only guitarist Johan Slager
Johan Slager
Johan Slager is the original guitar player of the Dutch Progressive Rock band Kayak. He co-founded the band along with Ton Scherpenzeel, Pim Koopman and Max Werner in 1972. He left the band in 1982 after 9 albums, and returned briefly for a couple of performances in the 1990s...
was not involved. He was replaced by Rob Winter.
By 1997, Kayak founder members Ton Scherpenzeel
Ton Scherpenzeel
Ton Scherpenzeel is a keyboardist and a founding member of the Dutch rock band Kayak, together with Pim Koopman and Max Werner whom he met whilst at the Hilversum Muziek Lyceum ....
and Pim Koopman
Pim Koopman
Wilhelmus Frederikus Koopman was the drummer and percussionist of the Dutch Progressive rock band, Kayak.-Biography:...
decided to work on new material. They had no name for their project yet, and it was not their intention to release the songs as Kayak. Apart from Scherpenzeel and Koopman, no former Kayak members were involved at this stage. Lead singer on the demo versions was Alex Toonen, from Dutch progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
band "For Absent Friends". Record companies were not immediately interested, and the songs were not developed further. Then, original Kayak singer Max Werner
Max Werner
Max Werner was lead singer, drummer and percussionist of the Dutch Progressive rock band Kayak. He co-founded the band along with keyboardist Ton Scherpenzeel, guitarist Johan Slager and drummer Pim Koopman in 1972....
offered to have a go at the demo's. With his vocal sound the songs got a genuine Kayak feel, and it was decided to release the songs as the new Kayak album.
The album was relatively successful, reaching # 54 in the Dutch album top-100 and staying in that top-100 for 6 weeks. More important was that media and fans were interested in the band again. Scherpenzeel and Koopman decided to continue the 'new' Kayak. Max Werner left after a short tour in 2000.
The last song on the album is a newly recorded version of "Ruthless Queen", Kayak's biggest hit from 1978. Lead vocalist on the new version is Syb van der Ploeg. He was lead-singer of Dutch band "De Kast". Members of that band were big Kayak fans, and in 1999 De Kast asked Kayak to join them in a TV-special. That was one of the things that encouraged Kayak to reunite. Apart from Syb van der Ploeg, Kast-members Sytze Broersma and Peter van der Ploeg also play on "Ruthless Queen".
The song "Full Circle" has a guitar solo by Andrew Latimer
Andrew Latimer
Andrew Latimer is an English musician and one of the original members of the progressive rock band Camel. He is mainly a guitarist and singer, but also a flautist and keyboardist....
, leader of the British progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
band Camel
Camel (band)
Camel are an English progressive rock band formed in 1971. An important group in the Canterbury scene, they have been releasing studio and live recordings steadily, with considerable success, since their formation.-1970s:...
. Ton Scherpenzeel played in Camel, though not constantly, from 1984 until 2003.
Track listing
- "Close To the Fire" (Scherpenzeel/Linders) - 8:11
- "When Hearts Grow Cold" (Scherpenzeel/Linders) - 3:08
- "Dream Child" (Scherpenzeel/Linders) - 3:30
- "Frozen Flame" (Scherpenzeel/Linders) - 6:34
- "Forever" - 4:48 (Koopman)
- "Worlds Apart" (Scherpenzeel/Linders) - 5:12
- "Crusader" (Scherpenzeel/Linders) - 4:39
- "Two Wrongs (Don't Make A Right)" (Scherpenzeel/Linders) - 3:35
- "Anybody's Child" - 5:01 (Koopman)
- "Here Today" (Scherpenzeel/Linders) - 3:34
- "Just A Matter Of Time" - 3:34 (Koopman)
- "Full Circle" (Scherpenzeel/Linders) - 5:55
- "Ruthless Queen (new version)" (Scherpenzeel/Linders) - 5:00
Bonus tracks on Japanese CD release:
- "Cried For Love" (Scherpenzeel) - 3:23
- "Love Lies" (Scherpenzeel) - 3:42
Members
- Ton ScherpenzeelTon ScherpenzeelTon Scherpenzeel is a keyboardist and a founding member of the Dutch rock band Kayak, together with Pim Koopman and Max Werner whom he met whilst at the Hilversum Muziek Lyceum ....
- keyboards, backing vocals, accordion - Pim KoopmanPim KoopmanWilhelmus Frederikus Koopman was the drummer and percussionist of the Dutch Progressive rock band, Kayak.-Biography:...
- drums, backing vocals - Max WernerMax WernerMax Werner was lead singer, drummer and percussionist of the Dutch Progressive rock band Kayak. He co-founded the band along with keyboardist Ton Scherpenzeel, guitarist Johan Slager and drummer Pim Koopman in 1972....
- lead and backing vocals, percussion - Bert Veldkamp - bass guitar
- Rob Winter - guitars, backing vocals
Guest musicians
- Andrew LatimerAndrew LatimerAndrew Latimer is an English musician and one of the original members of the progressive rock band Camel. He is mainly a guitarist and singer, but also a flautist and keyboardist....
- guitar on "Full Circle" - Syb van der Ploeg - lead vocal on "Ruthless Queen"
- Sytze Broersma - backing vocals on "Ruthless Queen"
- Peter van der Ploeg - acoustic guitar on "Ruthless Queen"
- Annet Visser - flute, recorder
- Femmes Vattaal - percussion
- Lorre Trytten - violin on "Full Circle"
- Arthur Polini - additional vocals (miscredited as "Arthur van Pol")
- Holger Schwedt - additional percussion