THE STORY

The story of Rarity Records actually starts in 1991 when Hans Smit alias Hans van Haarlem, a well-known Dutch R&R collector and dealer of this kind of music in the 70's and 80's, releases all singles of Pim Maas (The Dutch Elvis Presley from the 60's) on LP. The well-known collector/author George Evers helpes him with this first release and takes care of the sleeve note. As a bonus a reproduced poster from 1959 was added to the LP. The label Rarity Records was born..

It was George Evers too who arranged the contact between Hans and Frank Verkerk of Al Capone Records. A CD could be made under license as Frank was able to provide him with the mastertapes of the Indo-group The Entertainers.

Henk van Broekhoven (John Spencer/The Dynamic Rockers), who was acquainted with Hans too, supplied him with tapes under license for CD's with tracks of The Dynamic Rockers, The Tielman Brothers and The Black Devils. Hans van Haarlem himself contacted the record companies CNR and EMI/Bovema, where original unreleased tracks were found. This resulted in CD releases of Electric Johnny & His Skyrockets, John Lamers, Lydia & The Melody Strings and the Collector's Items series.

In 1991 the first contacts with Piet Muys, a well-known collector of RI music, were established. He supplied Hans with an instrumental rehearsal tape of The Explosion Rockets (Bart Strik) and took care of the sleeve notes. From that time Piet would take care of most of the texts for Rarity CD releases.

A business agreement with former owner of DSR Records, Gerard van Dijk, was drawn up in 1991 as well. DSR Records is known as the most popular instrumental Dutch record label of the 70's and 80's. As a result of the agreement, CD's of amongst others The Blue Stars (Danish guitar group), The Playing Rockets and Danny & The Electro Strings followed.

Because of the growing popularity and reputation of Rarity Records Leo Meijer (at that time bass guitarist of Rocking Jojo & His Red Angels and ex-Explosion Rockets member) offered him material of Rocking Jojo & His Red Angels, which was released on CD by Hans. Later on another 2 productions with the band followed.

The first own production of Rarity in "The Session Sound Recording Studio" in Rosmalen took place in October 1993 with the band The Rocking Birds from Tilburg.

In 1993 the Belgian collector Werner Arijs came in contact with Rarity and since that time also projects with old and new Belgian acts have been released.

The following Dutch and Belgian collectors, which have not been mentioned above, have helped and supported Rarity by supplying material, information and advises.

Hans de Raay, Dirk ten Dam, Hans Seegers, Leon Donnars (Indo Rock), Riny Bade, Rinus Ras, Bert & Cunny de Vries, Hennie Korsten (Session Sound Recording Studio), Piet Muys and Marco Buschman (MCB Imagery).

Werner Arijs, Willy Opdebeeck, Frans Verhagen, Vic van Dessel, Luc Kennis, Victor van Cutsem and Eddy Nevens.