Shocking Blue
| Company type | Rock band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1967 |
| Founder | Robbie van Leeuwen |
| Defunct | 1974 |
| Headquarters | The Hague , Netherlands |
| Products | Music (albums, singles) |
Shocking Blue was a rock group originating from The Hague, Netherlands, in 1967, recognized as a prominent figure within the Nederbeat genre. They gained worldwide recognition in the late 1960s and early 1970s with tracks such as "Send Me a Postcard" and their hallmark hit "Venus", which reached the pinnacle of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1970. By 1973, the band had achieved sales of 13 million records before disbanding in 1974. Together with Golden Earring and the George Baker Selection, Shocking Blue is considered one of the most commercially successful Nederbeat bands, particularly due to their international chart achievements, notably in the United States.
Initial period
Established in 1967 by Robbie van Leeuwen, previously a member of the Motions, Shocking Blue's original lineup included Fred de Wilde, Klaasje van der Wal (1949–2018), and Cor van der Beek (1949–1998). Their early sound, featuring De Wilde's vocals, was influenced by groups like the Beatles and Brothers Four.
When De Wilde departed in 1968 to fulfill military obligations, van Leeuwen brought in Mariska Veres as the new lead vocalist. This formation created "Venus," which climbed to No. 3 on the Dutch Veronica top 40 and subsequently attained No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in February 1970—marking the first Dutch track to achieve this feat—selling over five million units globally and securing a gold certification from the RIAA. Other significant singles included "Send Me a Postcard" (1968) and "Long and Lonesome Road" (1969).
After "Venus," the band released million-selling singles such as "Mighty Joe" (1969) and "Never Marry a Railroad Man" (1970), both reaching top ten positions internationally. Later releases like "Hello Darkness," "Demon Lover," "Shocking You," and "Blossom Lady" enjoyed popularity throughout Europe, Latin America, and Asia but did not make major impacts on U.S. or U.K. charts.
Klaasje van der Wal exited following their inaugural tour of Japan in 1971, which resulted in a live album recording. In 1974, both Robbie van Leeuwen and subsequently Mariska Veres left the group, leading to its breakup. Veres embarked on a solo career lasting until 1982.
Reunions
In 1979, Shocking Blue reunited with its most renowned lineup and recorded "Louise," intended as their first single after their 1974 split; however, it was never officially released. They performed live in 1980, showcasing hits including "Venus" and "Never Marry a Railroad Man."
The band made another attempt at revival in 1984, issuing the single "The Jury and the Judge" with "I Am Hanging on to Love" as its B-side in 1986.
In 1994, they released another single titled "Body and Soul."
Legacy
Drummer Cor van der Beek passed away on April 2, 1998, at age 49 in Rotterdam. Lead singer Mariska Veres died from gallbladder cancer on December 2, 2006, aged 59 in The Hague. Bassist Klaasje van der Wal died on February 12, 2018, aged 69.
Bananarama produced a cover version of "Venus" in 1986 that reached number one positions in the United States, Canada, and Australia, while peaking at number eight on the U.K. charts.
Nirvana released their rendition of "Love Buzz" as their debut single in 1988 and later included it on their first album Bleach (1989).
Core members
- Cor van der Beek – drums and percussion (1967–1974; passed away 1998)
- Robbie van Leeuwen – guitar, sitar, mandolin, backing vocals (1967–1973)
- Klaasje van der Wal – bass guitar (1967–1971; passed away 2018)
- Mariska Veres – lead singer (1968–1974; passed away 2006)
Additional members
- Fred de Wilde – lead vocals and guitar (1967–1968)
- Leo van de Ketterij – guitar (1970–1971; passed away 2021)
- Martin van Wijk – guitar (1973–1974)
- Henk Smitskamp – bass guitar (1972–1974)
Timeline
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Colors =
id:Lvocals value:red legend:Lead_vocals id:Lguitar value:teal legend:Lead_guitar id:Rguitar value:brightgreen legend:Rhythm_guitar id:Bass value:blue legend:Bass_guitar id:Sitar value:skyblue legend:Sitar id:Keys value:purple legend:Keyboards id:Drums value:orange legend:Drums id:studio value:black legend:Studio_albums
BarData =
bar:Wilde text:"Fred de Wilde" bar:Veres text:"Mariska Veres"
bar:Robbie text:"Robbie van Leeuwen" bar:Leo text:"Leo van de Ketterij" bar:Martin text:"Martin van Wijk" bar:Andre text:"André van Geldorp"
bar:Wal text:"Klaasje van der Wal" bar:Henk text:"Henk Smitskamp" bar:Wim text:"Wim Voermans"
bar:Michael text:"Michael Eschauzier"
bar:Beek text:"Cor van der Beek" bar:Jan text:"Jan Pijnenburg" bar:Gerben text:"Gerben de Bruijn" bar:Michel text:"Michel Schreuder"
PlotData=
width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(11,-4) color:Lvocals bar:Wilde from:start till:31/10/1968 bar:Veres from:01/11/1968 till:30/06/1975 bar:Veres from:01/10/1980 till:end
color:Lguitar bar:Robbie from:start till:14/01/1974 bar:Martin from:01/02/1974 till:30/06/1975 bar:Robbie from:01/10/1980 till:30/11/1987 bar:Andre from:01/12/1987 till:end
color:Rguitar bar:Wilde from:start till:31/10/1968 width:3 bar:Robbie from:start till:30/11/1968 width:3 bar:Robbie from:01/11/1968 till:15/12/1969 width=7 bar:Leo from=01/01/1970 till=14/01/1972 bar:Robbie from=01/02/1972 till=15/06/1973 width=7 bar=Martin from=01/07/1973 till=14/01/1974 bar=Martin from=15/01/1974 till=30/06/1975 width=3 bar=Robbie from=01/10/1980 till=30/11/1987 width=7 bar=Andre from=01/12/1987 till=end width=3
color=Bass bar=Wal from=01/01/1967 till=14/01/1972 bar:Henk from=01/02/1972 till=30/06/1975 bar=Wal from=01/10/1980 till=31/01/1984 bar=Wim from=31/01/1984 till=31/12/1986
color=Keys bar=Michael from=01/01/1993 till=end
color=Drums bar=Beek from=start till=30_06_1975 bar=Beek from=01_10_1980 till=31_01_1984 bar=Jan from=01_01_1985 till=31_12_1986 bar=Gerben from=01_01_1993 till=01_01_1998 bar=Michel from=01_01_1998 till=end
color=Sitar width=3 bar=Robbie from=01_11_1968 till=14_01_1974 bar=Robbie from=01_10_1980 till=30_11_1987
LineData =
color=studio layer=back at=22_11_1967 at=30_09_1969 at=29_08_1970 at=15_04_1971 at=20_03_1972 at=01_09_1972 at=01_06_1973 at=30_10_1974
</timeline>
Studio albums
- Shocking Blue (also issued as Beat with Us, German edition) (1967)
- At Home (known in the U.S. as The Shocking Blue, 1970 release) (1969)
- Scorpio's Dance (released in Japan under the title Sally Was a Good Old Girl) (1970)
- Third Album (alternatively titled Shocking You) (1971)
- Inkpot (1972)
- Attila (also called Rock in the Sea in Japan and known as Eve and the Apple) (1972)
- Ham (1973)
- Dream on Dreamer (1974)
- Good Times (1974)
Live albums
- Live in Japan (Recorded July 28 and 30, 1971, at Tokyo Kōsei Nenkin Kaikan) (1971)
Compilation albums
- Charted or certified compilations
| Title | Album details | Highest chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| NED | ||
| The Golden Years of Dutch Pop Music |
|
39 |
- Additional compilation albums
- 1969 Sensational Shocking Blue (Discofoon)
- 1970 Shocking Blue (Pink Elephant)
- 1971 Hello Darkness (Pink Elephant)
- 1972 The Shocking Blue, Perfect Collection (Polydor)
- 1972 The Best of Shocking Blue (Pink Elephant)
- 1973 Shocking Blue's Best (Metronome)
- 1973 With Love from... Shocking Blue (Capri)
- 1978 The Shocking Blue Double Deluxe (Polydor)
- 1980 Venus (Piccadilly)
- 1981 The Shocking Blue Greatest Hits (CNR)
- 1986 Best of Shocking Blue (CNR)
- 1986 Classics (21 Records)
- 1986 The Best of Shocking Blue (Victor)
- 1990 The Very Best of Shocking Blue (Red Bullet), reissued by Arcade in 1993
- 1990 Shocking Blue 20 Greatest Hits (Repertoire)
- 1990 Venus (Castle Communications AG)
- 1994 A Portrait of Shocking Blue (Castle)
- 1995 The Golden Hits (Red Bullet)
- 1997 Singles A's and B's (Repertoire)
- 1997 Shocking Blue Grand Collection (A.R.O.)
- 1998 Shocking You (Laserlight)
- 2000 Shocking Blue Golden Collection 2000 (Lighthouse)
- 2000 All Gold of the World Shocking Blue (Mekkophone & Castle Communications)
- 2004 Shocking Blue Greatest Hits (Red Bullet)
- 2011 Two-part release: The Very Best of Shocking Blue (Part One - The A Sides) and Part Two - The B Sides) (Red Bullet)
- 2022 Limited edition 10" pink vinyl RSD release: At Home (The Singles) (Music on Vinyl)
Box sets
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| NED | ||
| The Blue Box |
|
83 |
Singles
Eve and the AppleLet Me Carry Your BagOh LordThis AmericaDream on DreamerGood TimesGonna Sing My SongThe Jury and the JudgeVenus '90Body and Soul| Year | Single | Highest chart rankings | Certifications | Album | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NED | AUS | AUT | BEL | CAN | GER | NOR | SWI | UK | US | ||||
| 1967 | "Love Is in the Air" b/w "What You Gonna Do" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Shocking Blue | |
| 1968 | "Lucy Brown Is Back in Town" b/w "Fix Your Hair Darling" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | |
| "Send Me a Postcard" b/w "Harley Davidson" | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | — | — | |||
| 1969 | "Long and Lonesome Road" b/w "Fireball of Love" | 16 | — | — | — | 72 | — | — | — | — | 75 | ||
| "Venus" b/w "Hot Sand" | "2" | "1" | "2" | "1" | "1" | "2" | "2" | "1" | "8" | "1" |
|
'At Home' (international version & reissues) | |
| "Mighty Joe" b/w "Wild Wind" | "2" | "43" | "16" | "3" | "22" | "5" | "—" | "6" | "43" | "43" | 'Non-album single' | ||
| "Never Marry a Railroad Man" b/w "Roll Engine Roll" | "1" | "40" | "15" | "1" | "—" | "12" | "5" | "6" | "—" | "102*" | |||
| "Sally Was a Good Old Girl" b/w "Long and Lonesome Road" | "—" | "—" | "—" | "—" | "—" | "—" | "—" | "—" | "—" | "—" | 'Scorpio's Dance' | ||
| "Hello Darkness" b/w "Pickin' Tomatoes" | "4" | "—" | "—" | "14" | "—" | "44" | "—" | "—" | "—" | "—" | 'Non-album single' | ||
| '1971' | 'Shocking You' b/w 'Waterloo' | '10' | '—' | '—' | '29' | '—' | '45' | '—' | '—' | '—' | '—' | 'Third Album' | |
| 'Serenade' b/w 'Sleepless at Midnight' | '—' | '—' | '—' | '—' | '—' | '—' | '—' | '—' | '—' | '—' | |||
| 'Blossom Lady' b/w 'Is This a Dream' | '2' | '78' | '—' | '4' | '—' | '41' | '—' | '—' | '—' | '—' | 'Non-album single' | ||
| 'Out of Sight, Out of Mind' b/w 'I Like You' | '6' | '—' | '—' | '13' | '—' | '—' | '—' | '—' | '—' | '—' | |||
| '1972' | 'Inkpot' b/w 'Give My Love to the Sunrise' | '5' | '97' | '—' | '4' | '—' | '12' | '—' | '—' | '—' | '—' | 'Inkpot' | |
| 'Rock in the Sea' b/w 'Broken Heart' | '14' | '–' | '–' | '23' | '–' | '31' | '–' | '–' | '–' | '–' |
Attila | ||
Videos
- 2004 Greatest Hits Around the World (Red Bullet)
See also
External links
- Articles with short description
- Dutch psychedelic rock groups
- Nederpop
- Musical groups formed in 1967
- Musical groups disbanded in 1974
- 1967 establishments in the Netherlands
- 1974 disestablishments in the Netherlands
- Female-fronted bands
- Mixed-gender musical groups
- Colossus Records artists
- Musical groups disestablished in 1974