Dutch men with Big hair, melancholy lyrics, falsetto's, 80's style, on paper it seems like the makings for schlock. But to me it's morning music sublime. The Time Bandits had several releases which tugged at my heart strings and warmed the cockles of my very soul.
From 1981's "Live it Up" to 1986's "I won't steal away" they rode the U.S. dance charts and European pop charts with varying degrees of success. With their two biggest being 1982's Live it Up making it up to #6 and 1985's I'm only Shooting Love making it all the way up to #2. And was a #1 pop hit in New Zealand.
Australia was one of their biggest markets. Endless Road made it to #5 there in 1984 and became a morning music staple at The Saint and on Fire Island. It remains my very favorite Time Bandits song. I'm not embarrassed to say that the yearning in Alides Hidding's voice has brought me to tears. My friend Paul Goodyear did a tasty edit which you can find in the zip.
But when they hit it right they hit home-runs. Perfect synth-pop that summed up an era and a feeling and will always hold a special place in my heart.
The Bandits remind me that it can feel so right to love a chirpy, poppy, light song. To love it and to want to hear it again and again and again.
if you can read Dutch this talks about the chart action in their homeland
In the states we had the fortune of never being allowed to feel sick of them. They never had a U.S. pop hit. But punters in clubs like The Saint and Danceteria knew them well.
Alides Hidding the main songwriter in the band moved to L.A. in 1989 and had his songs covered by many artists including Jennifer Rush and The Nylons.
Endless Road
Time can only whisper truth for both of us
All the answers I can find, I put my trust
In a never ending road that leads to my door
I don't want you to go, my love
That's all you have to know
And I want you to help my soul
Somebody show me the way
And I want you to know, my love
It's an endless road till love finally comes our way
My love, uuhhh
My love
It's an endless road till love finally comes our way
My love, uuhhh
Now, we fought against the wall where love was back before
We tried to make it flow but love wouldn't let us go
Crazy us, for all those wasted words
I don't want you to go my love
That's all you have to know
And I want you to heal my soul
Somebody show me the way
And I want you to know, my love
It's an endless road till love finally comes our way
My love, uuhhh
My love
It's an endless road till love finally comes our way
My love, uuhhh