SIMON PARK ORCHESTRA - "EYE LEVEL" *T*O*T*P*1973

[@fakerbaker1000]

2023 = 50 years on and still sounds as good 💓

[@lordelpus2099]

Hear, hear!

[@gremlinuk1968]

Yes, I was 5 year old back then,! Now a 55 year old, I still remember this song, tune ,! From northern Ireland UK 🤝

[@annalouisemurphy6024]

Love it@ 1:03

[@angelacooper2661]

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!

[@baddrivers6807]

watching it moment on tv, grew up with it in 70's

[@thedangler1754]

A grandad now and very happy, but I cannot help thinking the simple 70's were a very happy time.

[@wilco148]

mate, you're not wrong...

[@321bytor]

Ah yes, Jimmy Savile, Rolf Harris, Stuart Hall...halcyon days

[@JohnSmith-it6hj]

​@@321bytor Those 3 tossers didn't make much difference, 70's were the bomb.

[@markofsaltburn]

@@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…

[@philldavies7940]

Everybody over the age of about 50 knows and can hum this tune, it always brings a smile. The most memorable tv tune ever.

[@melgrant7404]

Yes remember this as a five year old!

[@heatherwhitworth9765]

Yes you're right it does bring a smile

[@gaygambler]

Absolutely 🍺👍😁

[@gbjanuary]

phill davies I'm under 50 years of age and know this tune 😀😀 New TV show now.

[@someadandlogochannel]

i'm 18 lol

[@Hensepens64]

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.

[@davidmorley2615]

One of the greatest tv theme tunes of all time.

[@thereverendjones6110]

Amen 🙏😀

[@Staceyatkinson4496]

Absolutely

[@kieronwillans4038]

Totally agree

[@user-ls8eu4sz4u]

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 😅

[@paullavan3097]

That really is Class. Good luck to you.

[@TheJimulike]

I’ve just bought and made it my ringtone thanks to your comment! 🙂

[@stc40]

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... !! 🙂

[@andyknight1]

Still sounds amazing in 2024

[@865nov]

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...

[@bbateson]

And one of them had a 'TV hat', and another one enjoyed himself way too much playing the tambourine

[@misswendy7298]

I have never seen anyone so happy playing a tambourine and it just makes me smile

[@47Suggs]

I love the conductor too. He just looks so damned happy to be doing his job.

[@philbethell2425]

I wonder who he was?

[@misswendy7298]

@@philbethell2425 I would love to know.

[@davidwardle5]

Simon park

[@bramleydragon]

@@RichieBedfellows she meant the other player.

[@dazauto1400]

Simon Park a genius for pulling this together and the happiest conductor in history.

[@MrSemiskilled]

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

[@revol148]

+mark summersgill a beautiful song to remember someone by.

[@folkkraft8906]

@@revol148 not sure that's what he was saying tbh :(

[@revol148]

@@folkkraft8906 hmm you're probably right.Well I personally think it's a great song !

[@claireorourke2707]

you will see your son again xx

[@popesarmyyeehaa5785]

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 ✌☘💚

[@lonesurvivalist8514]

How does this still sound so great after all these years and still evoke so many happy memories

[@notroll1279]

Gurss what... some still like Mozart...

[@MrTkeddo]

Music is a time machine hearing a song you haven’t heard in years can bring back memories.

[@trevorgreen125]

Definitely!!

[@captpicard6894]

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😁😁

[@davidsherman1206]

The recorder book to find it in is Abracadabra Book 2. I have it in front of me right now!

[@angelacooper2661]

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.

[@brocanova]

Propose, bro, don't let her slip away again

[@That_Random_Bloke]

It’s never too late mate

[@theobolt250]

If you were 7 and still in infant's school you were a retard! I think you mean prep school?

[@maryknight4823]

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!!!.

[@keithrich8373]

My sentiments exactly.Quality shows like this put today's drivel to shame

[@angelacooper2661]

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).

[@keithrich8373]

So very true and regrettable

[@davidblake5315]

Real musicians, playing real music.

[@isaacnewton6930]

you dont like Justin Bieber ? How about Lily Allen ? :)

[@garrynorris4478]

Exactly what I thought

[@beagle7622]

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.

[@David.L291]

@@isaacnewton6930 oh give over lol there not even in the same league let alone the same planet HAHAHAHA

[@davidsherman1206]

Shame there's not a drum machine, someone talking in incomprehensible rhymes and a noise like a burglar alarm once every seven seconds.

[@stephenpowell5912]

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 ❤️

[@andreacalvert9799]

I'm 59 and still love this tune 🎉 its in my youtube music library 😃

[@TonyWeaving]

I'm 61 and love this piece of music.

[@pangorban1]

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.

[@statementsnsentences6759]

😊yes indeed

[@laurencebell7755]

Love this,brings back so many good memories of 1974

[@Mark-ew1hn]

The only theme tune from a television series to top the U.K. in the 1970’s ….absolutely loved it

[@auronoxe]

Wonderful. I love this song since I was a little kid.

[@davidrayner9376]

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.

[@trevormoses5061]

Nice memories.

[@statementsnsentences6759]

People who know what music would perfectly match a particular scene... make wonderful videos or movies. You must be one of them.

[@adrianwainwright4360]

I live near there 👍👍

[@TheGreenManFJ]

Tales of Old North Staffordshire. Include me in

[@kaikito2348]

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.

[@mikehudson8884]

How diverse were those wonderful 1970's

[@revol148]

+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.

[@glynnevans1851]

@@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 🤝

[@Eltonlaleham]

The 70s was a safer more friendlier worldto live in than this shit century and shit decade no political correctness crap

[@kippersncustard2865]

@@Eltonlaleham Before forced, unnatural, unwanted "diversity" destroyed Britain!

[@statementsnsentences6759]

Life was so different back then

[@RM-lj8bv]

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.

[@Mr.Bassman]

Always enjoy an orchestra featuring electric bass, particularly in the 70's, what a beautiful sound.

[@29brendus]

precisely...Fender Precisely!

[@marclaw4511]

Takes me back to watching Van der Valk with Barry Foster as a kid.

[@stephenstrange529]

Did you go round to his house to watch it or did he come round to yours?

[@bonzodog6872]

Ross Gowland hahaha

[@DEC19775]

Marc Law good isn’t he

[@heatherwhitworth9765]

Yeah me to.Happy times. Barry Foster was hot 😍

[@leahall]

@@stephenstrange529 Nice one centurion

[@MikeDisbury]

Just downloaded it from Apple Music, brings back so many happy memories

[@Bigaitch]

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...

[@kurman4749]

One of the catchiest and one of the best instrumentals.

[@JS-ip8xm]

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.

[@L.Harris-oz4xt]

Same! Loved that commercial!

[@petesmoth6320]

And credit to a very enthusiastic conductor!

[@Jojoseahorse]

Ikr, he's so jolly! Makes me smile to see him :)

[@gezman65]

Amazing that I somehow remembered the tv series it was from! Van de Valk!! ♥️

[@johnmoulis9837]

Beautiful music. A timeless classic.

[@trevorgreen125]

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!!!!

[@gilliankingston8259]

Van der Valk, I remembered the series that "Eye Level" by the Simon Park Orchestra was from and it didnt take very long👍🌹

[@rosypalma4810]

That tune make me dream to travel to Netherlands since I was 17 , and I am 62 and still haven't gone there 😢

[@fishingdandan4788]

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

[@andybunyan649]

Taken a 49 year old back to his childhood - my dad loved this. Thanks most muchly!

[@skatesneakerlover]

What a lovely conductor. Such a lovely man, smiles all round for all. How people have changed since then.........

[@clarkedav1]

Yes very much so and sadly people have not changed for the better

[@davidsherman1206]

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?

[@skatesneakerlover]

@@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.

[@angelacooper2661]

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!

[@angelacooper2661]

​@@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!

[@Annie-ji7yf]

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

[@arminius4406]

I know i can't stop watching them...i was only 4 at the time!

[@GrandNationalMaster]

Don’t forget the new series on itv from tomorrow

[@digitalbroadcaster]

It would never be the same though. Reruns never work because they miss the vital ingredient. The original actors.

[@petesmoth6320]

That conductor knows how to CONDUCT.......! Propa ♥️

[@doinggreat9197]

It brings back wonderful memories. For me the king of all catchy tunes.

[@tonyj370]

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 :)

[@flipjin]

Me: "Why is this in my recommended?" Me: Watches video. Me: "You win this time, KZbin."

[@JohnAnderson-ms2cn]

Fact of The Day: This the last ever instrumental to get to Number 1 in the UK

[@deanwalker870]

Not The Floral Dance?

[@stephendawson6913]

I thought Mozart’s 40th made it. I guess not 🤔

[@colinbrown2907]

The floral dance got to number two Mozart forty got to number 5

[@martincole34]

that's a great fact

[@martinkelly6709]

@@deanwalker870 No, The Floral Dance was number 2 for six consecutive weeks behind Mull Of Kintyre.

[@lindagoodswin9519]

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]

👍

[@glynnevans1851]

@@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 🕊🤝

[@markbaker4708]

The First Time I Heard This I Was A Child In Australia And I Was Hooked Ever since

[@lingchan7877]

This has been in my head since I was 4. I just didn't know until now

[@heatherwhitworth9765]

Yeah I know what you mean .

[@altonandrews8496]

From a time when Great Britain's Charts were Eclectic.

[@thaiscottie65]

My Dad bought the single back in 73. Life seemed fun & easy. Miss those days...Miss my Dad

[@angelacooper2661]

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!)

[@randallsundeen3383]

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!!!!

[@karenelizabeth9989]

Forever associated with the equally brilliant original Van Der Valk (Barry Foster) from 1972-ish for a good many series!

[@richardshiggins704]

Noel Edmonds , the best of the bunch !

[@Zollamt2003]

What a great piece of TV-Music. The Van der Valk Album from Simon Park is one of the best!!!

[@BrodieScott27]

I played this on a playground xylophone in a park in Minneapolis and it felt sooooo good. I am 56.

[@gremlinuk1968]

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, 🤝

[@EIRHEAD1]

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.

[@suegreen9907]

This gives me SO much JOY everytime I hear it! Better times...!

[@radiosiesta]

Legendary and still beautiful song.

[@gremlinuk1968]

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,! 😔

[@ppauline1515]

Great memories for me, I had just given birth to my son! I still love it!

[@rovercoupe7104]

How are you both doing? M.

[@terryRBNF]

One of my earliest memories was of this song being used in a KLM TV ad, loved it then, love it now

[@gezman65]

My late mother bought this! Bless her ❤

[@petesmoth6320]

Yes my friend bless your late mother ❤ You listen to this beautiful piece of music and think of your mother x

[@sarahsparrow3246]

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.

[@gezman65]

My mum bought this. Brings back memories of her ❤❤

[@tnecklover]

I have this vision of the late Barry Foster walking through Amsterdam thanks to this!

[@kaikito2348]

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??!!!

[@davidsherman1206]

No worries, double digit inflation and industrial action are coming back into fashion ...

[@kaikito2348]

@@davidsherman1206 You sentimental old thing, you!

[@martinarthur2597]

love this since I heard it that year, great performance of this magic tune.Thank you for posting

[@Phiyedough]

I was one of those people who bought that single. My dad called it Eye Level Grill!

[@michaeltaylor6782]

It's great seeing the girls trying to find a way to dance to this.

[@famousoldsongs463]

Forever beautiful. Lively and entertaining. Never get tired of listening.

[@davidrobinson4400]

As earworms go, this tune has to be up there.

[@russefrance4869]

Barry Foster. What an actor.

[@OrganMusicYT]

You'd just never see an orchestra, light music, or instrumental music in the charts these days, or anything mainstream.

[@GokantheHusky]

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.

[@grahammurfitt4460]

Commisaris! Loved this n the series

[@deBGBT]

I've been looking for this for 50+ years, finally tonight, my humming successfully found the name for me. I'm beyond thrilled!😊

[@alantaylor4994]

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.

[@lisapiper7399]

Love love love,especially live..goosebumps

[@lisapiper7399]

Love the strings part,wish they had a longer part

[@kevinsimpson3374]

That shows how diverse it was in those days real musicians playing real music!

[@lynneharvey3462]

I’d go back there in a heartbeat.

[@lynneharvey3462]

So would I… so would I. 👍👍

[@biggusdickus5986]

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.

[@cottinghamcyclinggardener6822]

British light music tradition at its best!

[@barryandrews3206]

TV show with a fantastic theme tune

[@Jehovahsway]

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 !

[@karenbevan2454]

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.

[@andrewjeffrey9]

So beautiful. Thank you.

[@daveoneill8235]

Beautiful reminds me of my childhood hood where as everything gone wrong 😭😭😭😭😭

[@peterlawrie8766]

Brings back some great memories of 1973, traveling the country stock car racing with my then girlfriend now wife Wendy.

[@shmoostead5419]

Just shows how popular Van Der Valk was back in the day.

[@fitzgeraldparchment4480]

i loved this when i was a kid bring back the good old days

[@MrChubog]

Amazing piece. It's the tune that was used in the KLM Royal Dutch Airline that aired on TV in Nigeria in the late 1970s or early 1980s.

[@DavidJHarrisonEssex]

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.

[@Piginhatwoodcrafts]

I was 10 at the time, loved this then and still do as listen to it often to bring back wonderful memories 👍

[@statementsnsentences6759]

Great music from very different world...now gone

[@rphrph167]

Great great great tune!!!!......loved it from the first moment I saw Vander Valk....

[@bestrickie2]

A CLASSIC tune indeed and of course Matt Monroe added lyrics to this VERY tune also in the music key E flat. I were only 5 and a half years o young, was forever humming it to myself. These days I’m often playing it on the piano, .org and and singing the lyrics. Yes STIIL a CLASSIC oldie.

[@simonmoore2380]

Well…Matt Monroe did a vocal version, he didn’t write the lyrics though.

[@bestrickie2]

@@simonmoore2380 thats right and I’ve heard Matts version And You Smiled. I wonder who wrote the lyrics? I play that STUNNING tune on piano keyboard and sing the lyrics. It’s a FANTASTIC tune AMAZING in my opinion. I LOVE it a TRUE CLASSIC is Eye Level right from the word go when I first heard it way back in September 1973 when Eye Level entered the pop charts and soon got to number one which is NO surprise as again it’s EXCELLENT.

[@angelacooper2661]

I am an amateur string player in an orchestra and possess perfect pitch, so knew this theme tune was in Eb major. My musical memory is very good!

[@johnnymac8680]

I loved this introduction to Van Der Valk. Brings me back to the early 70's.

[@stephenmontague6873]

great show great music

[@lizdevich7192]

This tune "Eye Level" brings back such wonderful memories!