That makes it as old as my friends Kate and Sarah - one born in March, the other in May. I am older than them both, as I was three back then and now 53!
@@JohnSmith-it6hjThe IRA bombing campaign, 23% inflation, strikes, the three-day week, the Yorkshire ripper, IMF bailouts, the collapse of British industry, football hooliganism, pollution…
I'm Dutch even for me this theme from Van der Valk brings back memory from old times. I remember this because in my early years I felt proud to have British actors acting in Amsterdam on locations I visited myself, but using Dutch names... I think it was on Sky Channel which in early 80's was also broadcasting as satellite channel in the Netherlands.
I'm also 61 Andrea and was born in March 1963. I remember my mum bought this record for me for my birthday. We as a family my mum gran and brother used to settle down on a Wednesday Evening to watch Van Der Valk.
I love that a bunch of beige turtleneck wearing 40 something classic musicians made it to number on Top of the Pops in an era of Bowie, Elton John et al...
In 1973 I was just three, so four years younger than you and watching Play School. Too young to understand or remember at that stage. It was a decade before I encountered Eye Level, at senior school, and I remember the tune well, because my musical memory is very good. Key of Eb major.
Fab Theme featured in Van Der Valk ❤️Gives whole new meaning to beautiful 🥺🎼🎶Miss Reruns of this so much ,R I P Barry Foster 1927-2002 who passed away at 74 ,He was great in this as Commisaris Piet Van Der Valk ❤️
A great tune for a great series!! Such a shame those days are gone!! These days it's all reality TV and game shows!!, nothing like the themes ie persuaders/the avengers that you could watch, listen too, and enjoy!!!.
I would have been just three and Play School age then, too young to understand or remember that period. The Van Der Valk tune I encountered a decade later, at senior school. My musical memory is very good and I have perfect pitch (tune is in Eb major).
They were studio musicians working for the BBC. I read that when the tune became a hit they had to find a band to play it. Don’t think they ever did a real live performance.
Hats off to whoever organised the filming and editing of this number. The film focused on each of the instruments in turn, even showing a creative shot through the harp strings at one point. Beautiful rendition of a timeless classic.
+Mike Hudson "Mouldy old dough" was the second biggest selling single in 1972 with the Royal band of the Scots Dragoon guards doing a bagpipe very of "Amazing grace" at number one of that year - always tread carefully when handling nostalgia.
@@revol148 Quite right sir, I remember buying Mouldy old dough for 50p. I remember correctly did the lead singers mom play with them ..Kind regards Glynn n greetings from Stourbridge West Midlands UK 🤝
This tune is a complex piece .. quite "gentle" to start...then up to "really forceful", then ... suddenly...gentle...only to "erupt" again at the end!! FABULOUS!!!!
Thanks a lot for posting this !!!!!! When I was a child ages ago, this tune was played in a KLM airlines TV commercial whose images of Amsterdam made me fall in love with the Netherlands. Much later, when I first visited the country, the tune kept sounding in my ears! It is still in my heart, full of bitter sweet memories of vanished times.
One of My favorites, Was played in the US on easy listening stations during the 70s and 80s and I never knew the title till now.....thank God for YT!!!!
Putting music to memories. “EYE LEVEL” by The Simon Park Orchestra. One late afternoon in September, 1973, I left my home at 7, Trevor Drive, Caverswall, and, walking down Trevor Drive, turned right into School Lane and strolled towards the Auctioneer's Arms at Cookshill. A dark blue Beresford's double decker bus, on contract to Blythe Bridge High School, drove past me going in the same direction. In the late afternoon sunlight, the bus stopped opposite the Auctioneer's Arms. There was a warm, blue haze about the whole setting. It unloaded its contingent of school children, one of whom was our paper boy, 12 years old Bryan Garner, who crossed the road carrying his school satchel and headed up The Green to Roughcote Lane. If that scene had been filmed and music put to the images, then this would have been it. As long as this music is played, Bryan will always be getting off that school bus at Cookshill and it will forever be a late sunlit afternoon in September, 1973.
David! You CAN'T just introduce someone and not say exactly who-the-hell they were/ are to you!!! Who the flipping hell is/ was Bryan Garner?!! Put me out of my misery. Or...put me out of my misery.
I heard a lovely old Guy, (JOHN) whistling this in Icelands today and I said I knew that tune and we got into a conversation. Music is a great thing to do this.
I was 9 when this charted. I remember being at Ipswich when it was in the charts watching football against Lazio from Italy. They played this over the PA and a couple of Italian guys near us loved it. So weird the things that I remember after half a century...
This piece of music remains my all-time favourite. I can listen to it over and over again. It brings back many happy memories of my childhood and never fails to cheer me up.
Dam , I was a 5 year old back then, born May 23rd 1968, from northern Ireland UK ♥️🇬🇧🤝 , remember this from back then,! Where has the years gone , just wish we could go back to then,! 😔
I was only three - too young to understand or remember that period first time round. The tune I learned at senior school a decade later (now in my early fifties!)
Van Der Valk great show in its day. Everything stopped in our house when it was on back in 70s remember dad buying 45 of Eye Level. Still a great tune to this day :)
@@markfindlay8636 Hi Mark .Me too and reminds me of the time n Fab to be young and luvly memories of my parents too. Fab programme and track. Kind regards Glynn n greetings from Stourbridge West Midlands UK 🕊🤝
@@davidsherman1206 A "real musician," you say. A conductor doesn't have to be a "real" musician, nor know how to play any instrument. His main functions are to unify the various performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble, and control the interpretation and pacing of the music. I can think of many "real" well-known musicians that didn't ever pull mentally retarded faces, never needed to turn up a guitar amp to a really loud volume to make a hit record. The problem is, this ridiculous face-contorting behavior has become accepted by a small niche market of followers who too pull ridiculous faces either while listening to this noise or as normal daily routine. In the past, this behavior would have gotten you beaten or stoned to death in public as it still should.
I would have been just three and Play School age at the time of this footage, so too young to understand or remember that period. This theme tune to Van Der Valk is in Eb major, and I encountered it at senior school a decade later!
@@clarkedav1 I'm not sure about that, as I was just three and Play School age at the time of this footage, but could only go on second hand observations of the period. Too young to understand or remember directly in 1973!
Oh god this brings back so many memories when I was at Berkeley Vale Public School. Our School Song is sung in tune to this musical piece. It brings a tear to my eye.
Wonderful memories and Van de Valk was a good programme with a great setting in Amsterdam! Good to see the program being re run on Talking Pictures UK channel
I remember my reaction to this when I was a child. I stared, and stared at the tv screen; hoping and wishing for the tune to come back!!!! ( It appears that some things never change! ). Why do I keep mourning for the Seventies sooo much these days??!!!
Marched onto every parade to this tune from the band at Strensall Barracks York, 1973/74 as a junior soldier, hey Scotty and Max, remember the clear nail varnish on the boots disaster, Hey Sergeant East, same too Christine from the NAAFI, And miss J Brayshaw from The Bop at Huntingdon. I miss you all. And Jamaica Joe the good guy from Jamaica and Manchester, hello Delaney from Moss Side.
Memories of the school band come flooding back. A good Christian Brother coaxing actual music out of a bunch of 10 year olds playing hand me down instruments. Those were the days.
I whistle this tune regularly it's a lovely tune . As a kid I used to watch this programme. My dad was particularly found of Holland. He was part of the liberating of Holland from the Nazis during the second world war. The Netherlands and England play tonight in the Euros good luck to both teams 2024 !
My boss Valerie Grey of Thames tv picked this music from a de Wolfe mood library disc for the show. She was given the platinum disc award for her selection. It became a huge hit.
I was 5 in '73 & remember this from my childhood along with Popcorn by Hot Butter, which I'm going to listen to after this. Such great memories, so much has changed, so many people have gone.
2023 = 50 years on and still sounds as good 💓
Hear, hear!
Yes, I was 5 year old back then,! Now a 55 year old, I still remember this song, tune ,! From northern Ireland UK 🤝
Love it@ 1:03
That makes it as old as my friends Kate and Sarah - one born in March, the other in May. I am older than them both, as I was three back then and now 53!
watching it moment on tv, grew up with it in 70's
A grandad now and very happy, but I cannot help thinking the simple 70's were a very happy time.
mate, you're not wrong...
Ah yes, Jimmy Savile, Rolf Harris, Stuart Hall...halcyon days
@@321bytor Those 3 tossers didn't make much difference, 70's were the bomb.
@@JohnSmith-it6hjThe IRA bombing campaign, 23% inflation, strikes, the three-day week, the Yorkshire ripper, IMF bailouts, the collapse of British industry, football hooliganism, pollution…
I'm Dutch even for me this theme from Van der Valk brings back memory from old times. I remember this because in my early years I felt proud to have British actors acting in Amsterdam on locations I visited myself, but using Dutch names...
I think it was on Sky Channel which in early 80's was also broadcasting as satellite channel in the Netherlands.
I'm 59 and still love this tune 🎉 its in my youtube music library 😃
I'm 61 and love this piece of music.
Ich bin 61 und hatte die Single
I'm also 61 Andrea and was born in March 1963. I remember my mum bought this record for me for my birthday. We as a family my mum gran and brother used to settle down on a Wednesday Evening to watch Van Der Valk.
Everybody over the age of about 50 knows and can hum this tune, it always brings a smile. The most memorable tv tune ever.
Yes remember this as a five year old!
Yes you're right it does bring a smile
Absolutely 🍺👍😁
phill davies I'm under 50 years of age and know this tune 😀😀 New TV show now.
i'm 18 lol
One of the greatest tv theme tunes of all time.
Amen 🙏😀
Absolutely
Totally agree
I love that a bunch of beige turtleneck wearing 40 something classic musicians made it to number on Top of the Pops in an era of Bowie, Elton John et al...
And one of them had a 'TV hat', and another one enjoyed himself way too much playing the tambourine
Music is a time machine hearing a song you haven’t heard in years can bring back memories.
Definitely!!
Still sounds amazing in 2024
Has been my ring tone for a number of years ,sometimes, I don't even answer the phone just so that I can listen to this fabulous tune 😅
That really is Class. Good luck to you.
I’ve just bought and made it my ringtone thanks to your comment! 🙂
Ha !! The same reason I have Jim Reeves as my ring tone. You can call me but whether I answer or not is something else entirely... !! 🙂
Simon Park a genius for pulling this together and the happiest conductor in history.
How does this still sound so great after all these years and still evoke so many happy memories
Gurss what... some still like Mozart...
That tune make me dream to travel to Netherlands since I was 17 , and I am 62 and still haven't gone there 😢
I have never seen anyone so happy playing a tambourine and it just makes me smile
I love the conductor too. He just looks so damned happy to be doing his job.
I wonder who he was?
@@philbethell2425 I would love to know.
Simon park
@@RichieBedfellows she meant the other player.
haven't been able to listen to this for 36 years, since my son died, always associate this with him, too painful, love you Jason
+mark summersgill a beautiful song to remember someone by.
@@revol148 not sure that's what he was saying tbh
:(
@@folkkraft8906 hmm you're probably right.Well I personally think it's a great song !
you will see your son again xx
Born early 70's remind's me of my childhood sorry for your loss and totally see your point stay strong my friend hope you're doing well ✌☘💚
1973:- I was about 7 and in infants school, saw the prettiest girl in my class playing this on the recorder. I still love her even today😁😁
The recorder book to find it in is Abracadabra Book 2. I have it in front of me right now!
In 1973 I was just three, so four years younger than you and watching Play School. Too young to understand or remember at that stage. It was a decade before I encountered Eye Level, at senior school, and I remember the tune well, because my musical memory is very good. Key of Eb major.
Propose, bro, don't let her slip away again
It’s never too late mate
If you were 7 and still in infant's school you were a retard! I think you mean prep school?
Fab Theme featured in Van Der Valk ❤️Gives whole new meaning to beautiful 🥺🎼🎶Miss Reruns of this so much ,R I P Barry Foster 1927-2002 who passed away at 74 ,He was great in this as Commisaris Piet Van Der Valk ❤️
A great tune for a great series!! Such a shame those days are gone!! These days it's all reality TV and game shows!!, nothing like the themes ie persuaders/the avengers that you could watch, listen too, and enjoy!!!.
My sentiments exactly.Quality shows like this put today's drivel to shame
I would have been just three and Play School age then, too young to understand or remember that period. The Van Der Valk tune I encountered a decade later, at senior school. My musical memory is very good and I have perfect pitch (tune is in Eb major).
So very true and regrettable
Love this,brings back so many good memories of 1974
Real musicians, playing real music.
you dont like Justin Bieber ? How about Lily Allen ? :)
Exactly what I thought
They were studio musicians working for the BBC. I read that when the tune became a hit they had to find a band to play it. Don’t think they ever did a real live performance.
@@isaacnewton6930 oh give over lol there not even in the same league let alone the same planet HAHAHAHA
Shame there's not a drum machine, someone talking in incomprehensible rhymes and a noise like a burglar alarm once every seven seconds.
Hats off to whoever organised the filming and editing of this number. The film focused on each of the instruments in turn, even showing a creative shot through the harp strings at one point. Beautiful rendition of a timeless classic.
😊yes indeed
The only theme tune from a television series to top the U.K. in the 1970’s ….absolutely loved it
Wonderful. I love this song since I was a little kid.
Always enjoy an orchestra featuring electric bass, particularly in the 70's, what a beautiful sound.
precisely...Fender Precisely!
Just downloaded it from Apple Music, brings back so many happy memories
How diverse were those wonderful 1970's
+Mike Hudson "Mouldy old dough" was the second biggest selling single in 1972 with the Royal band of the Scots Dragoon guards doing a bagpipe very of "Amazing grace" at number one of that year - always tread carefully when handling nostalgia.
@@revol148 Quite right sir, I remember buying Mouldy old dough for 50p. I remember correctly did the lead singers mom play with them ..Kind regards Glynn n greetings from Stourbridge West Midlands UK 🤝
The 70s was a safer more friendlier worldto live in than this shit century and shit decade no political correctness crap
@@Eltonlaleham
Before forced, unnatural, unwanted "diversity" destroyed Britain!
Life was so different back then
This tune is a complex piece .. quite "gentle" to start...then up to "really forceful", then ... suddenly...gentle...only to "erupt" again at the end!!
FABULOUS!!!!
Thanks a lot for posting this !!!!!! When I was a child ages ago, this tune was played in a KLM airlines TV commercial whose images of Amsterdam made me fall in love with the Netherlands. Much later, when I first visited the country, the tune kept sounding in my ears! It is still in my heart, full of bitter sweet memories of vanished times.
Same! Loved that commercial!
One of My favorites, Was played in the US on easy listening stations during the 70s and 80s and I never knew the title till now.....thank God for YT!!!!
One of the catchiest and one of the best instrumentals.
Putting music to memories. “EYE LEVEL” by The Simon Park Orchestra. One late afternoon in September, 1973, I left my home at 7, Trevor Drive, Caverswall, and, walking down Trevor Drive, turned right into School Lane and strolled towards the Auctioneer's Arms at Cookshill. A dark blue Beresford's double decker bus, on contract to Blythe Bridge High School, drove past me going in the same direction. In the late afternoon sunlight, the bus stopped opposite the Auctioneer's Arms. There was a warm, blue haze about the whole setting. It unloaded its contingent of school children, one of whom was our paper boy, 12 years old Bryan Garner, who crossed the road carrying his school satchel and headed up The Green to Roughcote Lane. If that scene had been filmed and music put to the images, then this would have been it. As long as this music is played, Bryan will always be getting off that school bus at Cookshill and it will forever be a late sunlit afternoon in September, 1973.
Nice memories.
People who know what music would perfectly match a particular scene... make wonderful videos or movies. You must be one of them.
I live near there 👍👍
Tales of Old North Staffordshire. Include me in
David! You CAN'T just introduce someone and not say exactly who-the-hell they were/ are to you!!! Who the flipping hell is/ was Bryan Garner?!! Put me out of my misery. Or...put me out of my misery.
Amazing that I somehow remembered the tv series it was from! Van de Valk!! ♥️
I heard a lovely old Guy, (JOHN) whistling this in Icelands today and I said I knew that tune and we got into a conversation. Music is a great thing to do this.
I was 9 when this charted. I remember being at Ipswich when it was in the charts watching football against Lazio from Italy. They played this over the PA and a couple of Italian guys near us loved it. So weird the things that I remember after half a century...
And credit to a very enthusiastic conductor!
Ikr, he's so jolly! Makes me smile to see him :)
This piece of music remains my all-time favourite. I can listen to it over and over again.
It brings back many happy memories of my childhood and never fails to cheer me up.
It brings back wonderful memories. For me the king of all catchy tunes.
Beautiful music. A timeless classic.
I was a 5 year old back then, 1973,, & here 51 years later making a comment for this tune,, born 23rd May 1968, from northern Ireland UK, 🤝
Takes me back to watching Van der Valk with Barry Foster as a kid.
Did you go round to his house to watch it or did he come round to yours?
Ross Gowland hahaha
Marc Law good isn’t he
Yeah me to.Happy times.
Barry Foster was hot 😍
@@stephenstrange529 Nice one centurion
Dam , I was a 5 year old back then, born May 23rd 1968, from northern Ireland UK ♥️🇬🇧🤝 , remember this from back then,! Where has the years gone , just wish we could go back to then,! 😔
Taken a 49 year old back to his childhood - my dad loved this. Thanks most muchly!
My Dad bought the single back in 73. Life seemed fun & easy. Miss those days...Miss my Dad
I was only three - too young to understand or remember that period first time round. The tune I learned at senior school a decade later (now in my early fifties!)
That conductor knows how to CONDUCT.......! Propa ♥️
Van Der Valk great show in its day. Everything stopped in our house when it was on back in 70s remember dad buying 45 of Eye Level. Still a great tune to this day :)
This gives me SO much JOY everytime I hear it! Better times...!
Noel Edmonds , the best of the bunch !
I went to a jazz concert tonight with Simon, such a humble man. I'm.sure he sends his regards to the comment section here
What a great piece of TV-Music. The Van der Valk Album from Simon Park is one of the best!!!
Me: "Why is this in my recommended?"
Me: Watches video.
Me: "You win this time, TH-cam."
Van der Valk, I remembered the series that "Eye Level" by the Simon Park Orchestra was from and it didnt take very long👍🌹
One of my earliest memories was of this song being used in a KLM TV ad, loved it then, love it now
my mum used to love this wish she was still here i miss her so much she was a big van der valk fan
👍
@@markfindlay8636 Hi Mark .Me too and reminds me of the time n Fab to be young and luvly memories of my parents too. Fab programme and track. Kind regards Glynn n greetings from Stourbridge West Midlands UK 🕊🤝
What a lovely conductor. Such a lovely man, smiles all round for all. How people have changed since then.........
Yes very much so and sadly people have not changed for the better
He can conduct, but can he turn a guitar amp up really loud and make ridiculous contorted faces while bending high notes, like a real musician?
@@davidsherman1206 A "real musician," you say. A conductor doesn't have to be a "real" musician, nor know how to play any instrument. His main functions are to unify the various performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble, and control the interpretation and pacing of the music.
I can think of many "real" well-known musicians that didn't ever pull mentally retarded faces, never needed to turn up a guitar amp to a really loud volume to make a hit record.
The problem is, this ridiculous face-contorting behavior has become accepted by a small niche market of followers who too pull ridiculous faces either while listening to this noise or as normal daily routine. In the past, this behavior would have gotten you beaten or stoned to death in public as it still should.
I would have been just three and Play School age at the time of this footage, so too young to understand or remember that period. This theme tune to Van Der Valk is in Eb major, and I encountered it at senior school a decade later!
@@clarkedav1 I'm not sure about that, as I was just three and Play School age at the time of this footage, but could only go on second hand observations of the period. Too young to understand or remember directly in 1973!
Oh god this brings back so many memories when I was at Berkeley Vale Public School. Our School Song is sung in tune to this musical piece. It brings a tear to my eye.
Wonderful memories and Van de Valk was a good programme with a great setting in Amsterdam! Good to see the program being re run on Talking Pictures UK channel
I know i can't stop watching them...i was only 4 at the time!
Don’t forget the new series on itv from tomorrow
It would never be the same though. Reruns never work because they miss the vital ingredient. The original actors.
The First Time I Heard This I Was A Child In Australia And I Was Hooked Ever since
I remember my reaction to this when I was a child. I stared, and stared at the tv screen; hoping and wishing for the tune to come back!!!! ( It appears that some things never change! ). Why do I keep mourning for the Seventies sooo much these days??!!!
No worries, double digit inflation and industrial action are coming back into fashion ...
@@davidsherman1206 You sentimental old thing, you!
Fact of The Day: This the last ever instrumental to get to Number 1 in the UK
Not The Floral Dance?
I thought Mozart’s 40th made it. I guess not 🤔
The floral dance got to number two Mozart forty got to number 5
that's a great fact
@@deanwalker870 No, The Floral Dance was number 2 for six consecutive weeks behind Mull Of Kintyre.
This has been in my head since I was 4. I just didn't know until now
Yeah I know what you mean .
Great memories for me, I had just given birth to my son! I still love it!
How are you both doing? M.
I played this on a playground xylophone in a park in Minneapolis and it felt sooooo good. I am 56.
Marched onto every parade to this tune from the band at Strensall Barracks York, 1973/74 as a junior soldier, hey Scotty and Max, remember the clear nail varnish on the boots disaster, Hey Sergeant East, same too Christine from the NAAFI, And miss J Brayshaw from The Bop at Huntingdon. I miss you all. And Jamaica Joe the good guy from Jamaica and Manchester, hello Delaney from Moss Side.
My mum bought this. Brings back memories of her ❤❤
Forever associated with the equally brilliant original Van Der Valk (Barry Foster) from 1972-ish for a good many series!
Memories of the school band come flooding back.
A good Christian Brother coaxing actual music out of a bunch of 10 year olds playing hand me down instruments. Those were the days.
love this since I heard it that year, great performance of this magic tune.Thank you for posting
I have this vision of the late Barry Foster walking through Amsterdam thanks to this!
As earworms go, this tune has to be up there.
wow IM 68 now. I want to time warp back to the seventies, best times of your life. todays teens have NO idea what they misssed.
I whistle this tune regularly it's a lovely tune . As a kid I used to watch this programme. My dad was particularly found of Holland. He was part of the liberating of Holland from the Nazis during the second world war. The Netherlands and England play tonight in the Euros good luck to both teams 2024 !
It's great seeing the girls trying to find a way to dance to this.
Legendary and still beautiful song.
That shows how diverse it was in those days real musicians playing real music!
I've been looking for this for 50+ years, finally tonight, my humming successfully found the name for me.
I'm beyond thrilled!😊
From a time when Great Britain's Charts were Eclectic.
je me rappelle très bien de ce feuilleton et de son générique, que j ai chercheé pendant des années
Great great great tune!!!!......loved it from the first moment I saw Vander Valk....
Commisaris! Loved this n the series
My boss Valerie Grey of Thames tv picked this music from a de Wolfe mood library disc for the show. She was given the platinum disc award for her selection. It became a huge hit.
My late mother bought this! Bless her ❤
Yes my friend bless your late mother ❤ You listen to this beautiful piece of music and think of your mother x
I was 10 at the time, loved this then and still do as listen to it often to bring back wonderful memories 👍
Great music from very different world...now gone
It's a brilliant tune I remember my Nan playing the record over and over Yes its a beautiful tune you never get bored of x
i loved this when i was a kid bring back the good old days
This tune "Eye Level" brings back such wonderful memories!
I know this tune very well from my mum, love it.
So beautiful. Thank you.
Barry Foster. What an actor.
Brings back some great memories of 1973, traveling the country stock car racing with my then girlfriend now wife Wendy.
Forever beautiful. Lively and entertaining. Never get tired of listening.
I was 5 in '73 & remember this from my childhood along with Popcorn by Hot Butter, which I'm going to listen to after this. Such great memories, so much has changed, so many people have gone.
I loved this introduction to Van Der Valk. Brings me back to the early 70's.
Beautiful reminds me of my childhood hood where as everything gone wrong 😭😭😭😭😭
Love love love,especially live..goosebumps
Love the strings part,wish they had a longer part
lovely ! nothing can beat this ...wonderful.
Takes me back to being 7. Made the hairs stand up on the back of my neck. Nostalgic memories of childhood. Happy Days.
I was just three and Play School age at the time of this footage. Encountered Eye Level a decade later at senior school!
Always loved this such a powerful piece of music best with headphones on and volume turned up
British light music tradition at its best!
I used to hum this walking home from school. It's probably the first tune I hummed.
Real musicians ❤
Absolutely.