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Shocking Blue
artist

Shocking Blue

Shocking Blue is a classic rock artist from Netherlands formed in 1967. 84 releases are catalogued on Riffiter.

Classic Rock · Netherlands · Best classic rock albums

3.5 /5
1 rating
84
Releases
1967–2024
Active years
1967
Formed

Discography

13Rank them 1 vs 1 →Two covers at a time. Pick the one you rate higher, we build the order.
3rd Album cover3.5

Most popular

3rd Album

1971 · 17 tracks

Singles & EPs

35

Live & compilations

36

Community

More about Shocking Blue

About

Shocking Blue were a Dutch rock band from The Hague that existed from 1967 to 1974. They had a hit world-wide with the song "Venus," which went to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in February 1970. The song was immediately covered at the year of its release 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). It was later part of the Stars on 45 Medley (which put it at #1 in 1981), and covered by British girl band Bananarama in the 1980s (1986) and Japanese singer Yoko Nagayama (also in 1986). Nirvana covered the song Love Buzz for their debut album Bleach in 1989, and it was released as their first single. The British Group The Prodigy also sampled Love Buzz for their song 'Phoenix' on their 2004 album Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned. Before the breakthrough of "Venus," the group had two minor hits in 1969: "Long Lonesome Road" and "Send me a postcard." The flip-side of "Venus" was also heavily plugged on Dutch radio ("Hot Sand").

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In 1970 two more hits followed: "Mighty Joe" and "Never Marry a Railroad Man" (flip-side "roll engine roll") - which almost provoked a strike by workers on the London Underground when it was proposed to display posters advertising the single in the Underground stations. In 1971 "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" - just to name the big hits. In 1974 female singer Mariska Veres left the group to start a solo-career. She had a hit, "Take me high" that same year. Mariska Veres died on December 2nd 2006 after a short battle with cancer. She was just 59 years old The Shocking Blue Memorial Website is now online at http://shockingblue.ning.com

Shocking Blue in brief

How many Shocking Blue releases are on Riffiter?
84 releases are catalogued, spanning 1967 to 2024.
When was Shocking Blue formed?
Shocking Blue formed in 1967, in Netherlands.
What genre is Shocking Blue?
Shocking Blue is catalogued under Classic Rock, Rock.
What is the most recent Shocking Blue release on Riffiter?
Single Collection (A’s & B’s) Part 1, released in 2024.

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