Alquin
Band members Related acts
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line up 1 (1971) as Threshold Fear - Ferdinand Bakker -- guitar, electric violin, piano, vocals - Dick Franssen -- organ, piano, electric piano - Hein Mars -- bass - Ronald Ottenhoff -- soprano sax, alto sax, tenor sax, flute - Job Tarenskeen -- vocals, alto sax, tenor sax, percussion - Bart Terlaak -- drums, percussion
line up 2 (1971-73) as Alquin - Ferdinand Bakker -- guitar, electric violin, piano, vocals - Dick Franssen -- organ, piano, electric piano - Hein Mars -- bass - Ronald Ottenhoff -- soprano sax, alto sax, tenor sax, flute - Job Tarenskeen -- vocals, alto sax, tenor sax, percussion NEW - Paul Weststrate -- drums, percussion (replaced Bart Terlaak)
line up 3 (1974-75) - Ferdinand Bakker -- guitar, electric violin, piano, vocals - Dick Franssen -- organ, piano, electric piano - Hein Mars -- bass - Ronald Ottenhoff -- soprano sax, alto sax, tenor sax, flute - Job Tarenskeen -- alto sax, tenor sax, vocals, percussion NEW - Michel van Dijk -- vocals - Paul Weststrate -- drums, percussion
line up 4 (1975-76) - Ferdinand Bakker -- guitar, electric violin, piano, vocals - Dick Franssen -- organ, piano, electric piano - Ronald Ottenhoff -- soprano sax, alto sax, tenor sax, flute - Job Tarenskeen -- alto sax, tenor sax, vocals, percussion NEW - Rob ten Bokum -- bass (replaced Hein Mars) - Michel van Dijk -- vocals - Paul Weststrate -- drums, percussion
line up 5 (1976-767) - Ferdinand Bakker -- guitar, electric violin, piano, vocals - Dick Franssen -- organ, piano, electric piano - Ronald Ottenhoff -- soprano sax, alto sax, tenor sax, flute - Job Tarenskeen -- alto sax, tenor sax, vocals, percussion - Michel van Dijk -- vocals NEW - Jan Visser (bass, (replaced Roeb en Bokum) - Paul Weststrate -- drums, percussion
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- Amsterdam (Michel van Dijk) - George Baker Selection (Jan Visser) - Ferdinand Bakker (solo efforts) - Beehive (Jan Visser) - Les Baroques (Michel van Dijk) - The Bismarck (Bart Terlaak) - Bintangs (Rob Ten Bokum) - Blue Zone (Ferdinand Bakker) - Blue Eyed Bluesband (Rob Ten Bokum) - Brainbox (Michel van Dijk) - Cake (Rob Ten Bokum) - Carlsberg ( Bart Terlaak) - Daddy's Act ( Bart Terlaak) - The Dizzy Man's Band (Jan Visser and Bart Terlaak) - Dominici\ Savio GIts (Jan Visser) - Ekseption (Michel van Dijk) - Emerald ( Ferdinand Bakker) - Fisher and Friends (Jan Visser) - Dick Franssen - Gerritsen and Van Dijk (Michel van Dijk) - Gigantjes ( Bart Terlaak) - Greenhorn (Jan Visser) - The Haigs ( Bart Terlaak) - Island ( Bart Terlaak) - Jay-Jays ( Bart Terlaak) - Klaassen and vam Dijk (Michel van Dijk) - Lone (Ferdinand Bakker and Bart Terlaak) - Mack ( Bart Terlaak) - Margriet Eshuijs Band (Rob Ten Bokum) - James Mean (Michel van Dijk) - The Meteors (Ferdinand Bakker, Job Tarenskeen and Bart Terlaak) - Modesty Blaise (Rob Ten Bokum) - Moody Sect ( Bart Terlaak) - The Noise-Makers ( Bart Terlaak) - Ongenode Gaste (Dick Franssen) - Panda (Rob Ten Bokum) - Penny Wise \(Michel van Dijk) - Ratala ( Bart Terlaak) - Red Cinder ( Ferdinand Bakker) - The Shacks ( Bart Terlaak) - Spectral DIsplay ( Ferdinand Bakker) - Tabasco Brand (Jan Visser) - Texx Laminaya (Rob Ten Bokum) - Third Ear ( Ferdinand Bakker) - Threshold Fear - The Two (Bart Terlaak) - Vitesse (Rob Ten Bokum) - Willie and His Giants (Bart Terlaak) - Youtsin (Dick Franssen)
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Genre: progressive Rating: ** (3 stars) Title: The Mountain Queen Company: Polydor Catalog: 2480
179 SUPER Country/State: Delft, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: gatefold sleeve; UK pressing Available: 1 Catalog ID: -- Price: $40.00
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Taking their name from a former monastery turned orphanage in the Dutch city Delft (the band used to rehearse in the building), Alquin is one of those European (Dutch) bands I've been curious about for years, but I've just never come across any of their catalog. Well, until I found one of their albums at a used record store on the Eastern Shore.
Recorded
in London's De Lane Lea Studios 1973's "The
Mountain Queen" found
the band working with producer Derek Lawrence. Their sophomore
collection featured a largely original set of compositions with all six band
members contributing to songwriting chores. Clocking in at thirteen
and fifteen minutes respectively the opener "The Dance" and
"Mountain Queen" were
In support of the album Polydor put the band on the road for a brief UK tour opening for Golden Earring. The band also recruited an additional vocalist in former Les Baroques member Michel van Dijk.
"The
Mountain Queen" track listing: 1.) The Dance (Dick Franssen - Ferdinand Bakker - Job Tarenskeen) - 13:10 rating: *** stars Typically an extended opening track doesn't do much for me, but powered by the combination of Dick Franssen's Hammond B-3 and Ferdinand Bakker's thick guitar tone "The Dance" started out with a bang. From there the song bounced all over the musical spectrum. Three minutes in and the tune shifted into softer territory complete with English vocals (I've always had a hard time understanding the words) and Ronald Ottenhoff's fluid flute work. Around the six minute mark the song trotted out the Ronald Ottenhoff and Job Tarenskeen horn section and dove into horn-rock territory. From there the song shifted into a pretty ballad section highlighting Tarenskeen's fragile, heavily accented vocals. With each member getting a shot at the spotlight the rest of the track was surprisingly funky. 2.) Soft-Eyed Woman (instrumental) (Ferdinand Bakker - Job Tarenskeen) - 2:39 rating: **** stars Powered by some of Bakker's most melodic guitar, the instrumental "Soft-Eyed Woman" was the album's most commercial offering and one of the album highlights. 3.) Convicts of the Air (Dick Franssen - Ferdinand Bakker - Hein. Mars - Job Tarenskeen - Paul. Weststrate - Ronald Ottenhoff) - 4:32 rating: **** stars The combination of Bakker's jittery guitar and Ottenhoff's flute fills gave "Convicts of the Air" an interesting melody. Combined with the multi-tracked vocals, this one could easily have been released as a single.
(side
2) Normally you wouldn't expect a fifteen minute track to be particularly commercial, but that wasn't the case for "Mountain Queen". Yeah, melodically it bounced around, but even Bakker's flute powered segments and the sax solo segment proved catchy. 2a.) Don and Dewey (Don Bowman - David LaFlamme) - 0:55 rating: ** stars Their instrumental cover of It's a Beautiful Day's "Don and Dewey" was the album's lone cover. Musically it didn't sound all that different from the Don Bowman and David LaFlamme original. Clocking it at under a minute, their arrangement served as a spotlight for Bakker's electric violin (David LaFlame handled the violin on It's a Beautiful Day's version.. 2b.) Mr. Barnum Jr.'s Magnificent and Fabulous City (Part 1) (instrumental) (Dick Franssen - Ferdinand Bakker - Hein. Mars - Job Tarenskeen - Paul. Weststrate - Ronald Ottenhoff) - 4:32 rating: *** stars Who knows what inspired the title, but "Mr. Barnum Jr.'s Magnificent and Fabulous City (Part 1)" was a remake of an instrumental track that had appeared on their 1972's "Marks" debut album. Unlike the earlier live version, the remake featured a studio take and it's hard to realize this is the same tune. About all I can tell you is the track gives each member a shot at the spotlight. The live version actually had more energy than the remake.
© Scott R. Blackerby January 2026
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extended pieces. "The Dance" showcased the band at their most
progressive. In contrast the title track was unexpectedly melodic and
commercial. Exemplified by the pretty instrumental "Soft-Eyed Woman",
the rocking "Convicts
of the Air" and their needless cover
of It's a Beautiful Day's "Don and Dewey", the rest of the album
was composed of shorter pieces. And I guess that musical diversity is
simultaneously the album's chief selling point and major short coming.
If you bought the album based on their credentials as one of those
early-'70s progressive acts, then tracks like "The Dance"
and "Mr. Barnum Jr.'s Magnificent And Fabulous City"
fit the bill. complete with a bit of Canterbury jazz thrown in the mix
courtesy of sax players Ronald Ottenhoff and Job Tarenskeen. At
the same time "The Mountain Queen", the commercial instrumental
ballad "Soft-Eyed Woman"
and the jittery rocker "Convicts of the Air" demonstrated
they were equally comfortable handling other musical genres.
Hardcore progressive fans were probably less enthused by those more
mainstream moves. To my ears the album was an enjoyable, if not
awe-inspiring journey. Will definitely need to check out some more to
their catalog.