Brainbox - Down Man - 1969

Details
Title | Brainbox - Down Man - 1969 |
Author | George 1010th |
Duration | 2:40 |
File Format | MP3 / MP4 |
Original URL | https://youtube.com/watch?v=fNjxQkDHylc |
Description
Down Man
Down Man is a song by the Dutch band Brainbox. The song did not officially appear on a studio album, but was released in 1969 as the band's debut single.
History
As a result of winning a talent show in Utrecht, Kaz Lux is allowed to record a number of demos and was paired up with Jan Akkerman (guitar) and Pierre van der Linden (drums). Bovema sees something in Down Man, but the recordings in the Bovema studio in Bovema end in failure. Jan Akkerman had to go back to work in his father's old iron shop when his manager John B. van Setten urges him to put together a Dutch supergroup after the example of The Cream. The band, then consisting of Kaz Lux (vocals), Jan Akkerman (guitar), André Reijen (bass guitar) and Pierre van der Linden (drums), in this case, together with Wim Jongbloed (keyboards), enter the Bovemastudio again on January 31, 1969. . The song by Luz and Akkerman was put on tape under the direction of music producer Tim Griek, then drummer with Ekseption. The re-recording of Down Man, essentially a blues song (according to Akkerman) mixed with country music and rock 'n' roll (according to Lux), was so well received that it was chosen as Brainbox's first single. 25,000 units would be sold in the first months.
The song was not originally on the debut album Brainbox, but on the reissue of the album in 1996 it was included as a bonus track. The song was used by director Anton Corbijn in his film A Most Wanted Man.
Story
The main character of the song is alone in a room (can be heard in the opening line "A man, a room, a man alone in a room"). The man is lonely and has nothing to live for.
Hit odds
Down Man was especially a hit in the Netherlands, where it reached thirteenth place in the Top 40 and seventh place in the Parool Top 20. It also became a modest hit in the United States, at a time when many Dutch bands, including Shocking Blue, George Baker Selection, Focus, Tee Set and Golden Earring had a number of hits in that country.