Shocking Blue was a Dutch rock band from The Hague formed in 1967. Their biggest hit, "Venus," went to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in February 1970, and the group disbanded in 1974.
Members
The initial line-up consisted of:
Robbie van Leeuwen (b. October 29, 1944) (vocals, guitar, sitar)
Fred de Wilde (vocals)
Klaasje van der Wal (b. December 1, 1949) (bass guitar)
Cor(nelius) van der Beek (d. April 8, 1948; drums)
In 1968, Mariska Veres (b. October 1, 1947 d. December 2, 2006) [1] replaced Fred de Wilde as lead singer.
History
The group charted a world-wide hit with the song "Venus," which reached #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in February 1970. This was an entirely different song than Frankie Avalon's 1959 hit of the same name.
Before the breakthrough of "Venus," the group had two minor hits in 1969: "Long Lonesome Road" and "Send Me A Postcard." "Hot Sand", the flip-side of "Venus" was also heavily plugged on Dutch radio.
In 1970 two more Dutch hits followed: "Mighty Joe" and "Never Marry a Railroad Man" (flip-side "Roll Engine Roll"). In 1971 came "Hello Darkness," "Shocking You" and "Blossom Lady." In 1972 "Inkpot," "Out of Sight Out of Mind" and "Eve and the Apple," and in 1973 "Rock In The Sea." None of these songs charted in the US, however.
In 1974 female singer Mariska Veres left the group to start a solo career. Her only solo hit was "Take Me High" in 1975. From the 1990s, Veres toured with a new group under the Shocking Blue banner, with permission of her former bandmates.
On December 2, 2006, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported that Mariska Veres had passed away from cancer at 59.
Cover versions
"Venus" was covered in 1970 by Greek pop band Olympians, with entirely different lyrics in Greek and retitled as "Το Κορίτσι Του Μάη" (To koritsi tou Mai - The girl of May).
"Venus" was also included as part of the Stars on 45 Medley (which put it at #1 in 1981).
British girl band Bananarama covered the song and took it back to #1 in (1986).
Estonian singer Tõnis Mägi covered the song in hard rock style. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUqnz3hS5fU&feature=related
Other covers have come from Russian band Mongol Shuudan, Steve Wynn on his 1997 album The Suitcase Sessions with members of Come. Lyrics and Japanese singer Yoko Nagayama (in 1986).
Nirvana covered Love Buzz for their first album Bleach (1989); it was also the "A" side of the band's first single, which was released in November 1988. The British group The Prodigy also sampled "Love Buzz" for their song 'Phoenix' on their 2004 album Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned.
Ladytron included the song 'Send Me a Postcard' on their compilation album 'Softcore Jukebox'.
"Venus" was remixed and re-released by dance producers 'The BHF (Bisiach Hornbostel Ferrucci) Team' in 1990, scoring the group a Top 10 hit in the U.K. and Australia 21 years after the release of the original. The remix featured a hip house rhythm and samples. Two versions appeared: An instrumental version credited to 'Don Pablos Animals' and a vocal version credited as 'Shocking Blue (BHF Remix)'. [2]
Albums
1968 Beat With Us (Polydor, Karussell)
1969 At Home (Pink Elephant)
1970 Scorpio's Dance (Pink Elephant)
1971 Third Album (AKA Shocking You, Pink Elephant)
1972 Inkpot (Pink Elephant)
1972 Inkpot (Polydor – West German release with several different tracks)
1972 Live in Japan (Pink Elephant)
1972 Attila (Pink Elephant)
1972 Eve And The Apple (Same as "Attila" with one different track, Polydor)
1973 Dream On Dreamer (Polydor)
1973 Ham (Same as "Dream On Dreamer" with 3 different tracks, Pink Elephant)
1974 Good Times (Pink Elephant)
All of these albums have been reissued on CD except "Beat With Us" and "Live in Japan." "Eve & The Apple" and "Ham" were not reissued as they feature tracklistings almost identical to "Atilla" and "Dream On Dreamer," respectively.
The initial line-up consisted of:
Robbie van Leeuwen (b. October 29, 1944) (vocals, guitar, sitar)
Fred de Wilde (vocals)
Klaasje van der Wal (b. December 1, 1949) (bass guitar)
Cor(nelius) van der Beek (d. April 8, 1948; drums)
In 1968, Mariska Veres (b. October 1, 1947 d. December 2, 2006) [1] replaced Fred de Wilde as lead singer.
History
The group charted a world-wide hit with the song "Venus," which reached #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in February 1970. This was an entirely different song than Frankie Avalon's 1959 hit of the same name.
Before the breakthrough of "Venus," the group had two minor hits in 1969: "Long Lonesome Road" and "Send Me A Postcard." "Hot Sand", the flip-side of "Venus" was also heavily plugged on Dutch radio.
In 1970 two more Dutch hits followed: "Mighty Joe" and "Never Marry a Railroad Man" (flip-side "Roll Engine Roll"). In 1971 came "Hello Darkness," "Shocking You" and "Blossom Lady." In 1972 "Inkpot," "Out of Sight Out of Mind" and "Eve and the Apple," and in 1973 "Rock In The Sea." None of these songs charted in the US, however.
In 1974 female singer Mariska Veres left the group to start a solo career. Her only solo hit was "Take Me High" in 1975. From the 1990s, Veres toured with a new group under the Shocking Blue banner, with permission of her former bandmates.
On December 2, 2006, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported that Mariska Veres had passed away from cancer at 59.
Cover versions
"Venus" was covered in 1970 by Greek pop band Olympians, with entirely different lyrics in Greek and retitled as "Το Κορίτσι Του Μάη" (To koritsi tou Mai - The girl of May).
"Venus" was also included as part of the Stars on 45 Medley (which put it at #1 in 1981).
British girl band Bananarama covered the song and took it back to #1 in (1986).
Estonian singer Tõnis Mägi covered the song in hard rock style. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUqnz3hS5fU&feature=related
Other covers have come from Russian band Mongol Shuudan, Steve Wynn on his 1997 album The Suitcase Sessions with members of Come. Lyrics and Japanese singer Yoko Nagayama (in 1986).
Nirvana covered Love Buzz for their first album Bleach (1989); it was also the "A" side of the band's first single, which was released in November 1988. The British group The Prodigy also sampled "Love Buzz" for their song 'Phoenix' on their 2004 album Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned.
Ladytron included the song 'Send Me a Postcard' on their compilation album 'Softcore Jukebox'.
"Venus" was remixed and re-released by dance producers 'The BHF (Bisiach Hornbostel Ferrucci) Team' in 1990, scoring the group a Top 10 hit in the U.K. and Australia 21 years after the release of the original. The remix featured a hip house rhythm and samples. Two versions appeared: An instrumental version credited to 'Don Pablos Animals' and a vocal version credited as 'Shocking Blue (BHF Remix)'. [2]
Albums
1968 Beat With Us (Polydor, Karussell)
1969 At Home (Pink Elephant)
1970 Scorpio's Dance (Pink Elephant)
1971 Third Album (AKA Shocking You, Pink Elephant)
1972 Inkpot (Pink Elephant)
1972 Inkpot (Polydor – West German release with several different tracks)
1972 Live in Japan (Pink Elephant)
1972 Attila (Pink Elephant)
1972 Eve And The Apple (Same as "Attila" with one different track, Polydor)
1973 Dream On Dreamer (Polydor)
1973 Ham (Same as "Dream On Dreamer" with 3 different tracks, Pink Elephant)
1974 Good Times (Pink Elephant)
All of these albums have been reissued on CD except "Beat With Us" and "Live in Japan." "Eve & The Apple" and "Ham" were not reissued as they feature tracklistings almost identical to "Atilla" and "Dream On Dreamer," respectively.
Compilations
1986 Best of Shocking Blue (CNR)
1986 Classics (21)
1997 Singles A's and B's (Repertoire)
1986 Best of Shocking Blue (CNR)
1986 Classics (21)
1997 Singles A's and B's (Repertoire)
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