Shocking Blue's by far biggest hit was Venus, which went to #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in February 1970. 'Venus' returned to the top of the U.S. charts in 1981 as part of the Stars on 45 Medley and was also successfully covered by artists such as Greece's Olympians (1970), Bananarama (1986), Japanese singer Yoko Nagayama (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 'Venus' the group had only had two minor Dutch hits in 1969: Long Lonesome Road and Send Me A Postcard. In 1970 two more hits followed: Mighty Joe and Never Marry A Railroad Man, the latter almost provoking a strike by workers on the London Underground when posters advertising the single in the Underground stations were put on display.
Shocking Blue had several more hits in The Netherlands and beyond. The group started to dissolve in 1973 when Van Leeuwen called it quits. Singer Mariska Veres left the group to start a solo-career in 1974 and Shocking Blue folded.
Mariska Veres died on December 2nd, 2006, after a short battle with cancer. She was just 59 years old.
Members
The initial line-up consisted of
Robbie van Leeuwen (guitar, sitar and backing vocals) (1967–1973)
Fred de Wilde (vocals, 1967–1968)
Klaasje van der Wal (bass guitar, 1967–1972, deceased in 2018)
Cor van der Beek (drums) (1967–1974, deceased in 1998)
Later members were
Mariska Veres (vocals, 1968–1974, deceased in 2006)
Leo van de Ketterij (nl) (guitar, 1970–1971)
Martin van Wijk (guitar, 1973–1974)
Henk Smitskamp (nl) (bass guitar, 1972–1974)
Also
Wim Voermans
Jan Pijnenburg (nl)
Michael Eschauzier
André van Geldorp (nl)
Charles Pesch
Discography
Albums
1967 Shocking Blue (Polydor) also known as Beat with Us (German title) #31 US
1969 At Home (Pink Elephant)
1970 Scorpio's Dance (Pink Elephant) also known as Sally Was A Good Old Girl (Japanese title)
1971 Third Album (AKA Shocking You, Pink Elephant)
1972 Inkpot (Pink Elephant) – The official music of Mark Six
1972 Live in Japan (Pink Elephant)
1972 Attila (Pink Elephant) also known as Rock in the Sea (Japanese title)
1972 Eve and the Apple (Same as Attila with one different track, Polydor)
1973 Ham (Pink Elephant)
1974 Dream on Dreamer (Same as Ham, but with 3 different songs and 6 alternate versions, Polydor)
1974 Good Times (Pink Elephant)
Singles
Year Title US UK AUS NED NOR GER FRA NZ BEL JPN
1967 Love is in The Air / Fix Your Hair Darling - - - - - - - - - -
1968 Lucy Brown is Back in Town / Fix Your Hair Darling - - - 21 - - - - - -
1968 Send Me a Postcard / Harley Davidson - - - 10 4 - 4 - - -
1969 Long and Lonesome Road / Fireball of Love 75 - - 17 - - 6 - - -
1969 Venus / Hot Sand 1 3 1 3 1 2 1 1 - 15
1969 Mighty Joe / Wild Wind 43 45 43 2 - 6 8 - - -
1970 Never Marry a Railroad Man / Roll Engine Roll 102 - 40 1 5 10 1 4 19
1970 Hello Darkness / Pickin' Tomatoes - - - 4 - - - - 12 -
1971 Shocking You / Waterloo - - - 10 - - 1 - 21 -
1971 Serenade / Sleepless at Midnight 110 - - - - - - - - -
1971 Blossom Lady / Is This a Dream - - - 2 - - - - 3 -
1971 Out of Sight, Out of Mind / I Like You - - - 6 6 - - - 5 -
1972 Inkpot / Give My Love to The Sunrise - - - 5 - 21 1 - 4 -
1972 Rock in the Sea / Broken Heart - - - 14 - - 3 - 21 -
1972 Eve and the Apple / When I was a Girl - - - 15 - - 1 - 18 -
1973 Let Me Carry Your Bag / I Saw You in June - - - - - - 2 - - -
1973 Oh Lord / In My Time of Dying - - - 14 - - - - 6 -
1974 This America / I Won't be Lonely Long - - - - - - - - 16 -
1974 Dream on Dreamer / Where The Pick-Nick Was - - - - - - 4 - - -
1974 Good Times / Come My Way - - - - - - - - - -
1975 Gonna Sing My Song / Get It On - - - - - - - - - -
1980 Louise / Venus - - - - - - - - - -
1986 The Jury and The Judge / I am Hanging on to Love - - - - - - - - - -
1990 Venus '90 (UK Only) - 75 - - - - - - - -
1994 Body and Soul / Angel - - - - - - - - - -
Harley Davidson
Shocking Blue Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He's never strolling down and never takes a rest.
It's a hell out (...) like a devil (...) to (...)
It seem on this Harley, Harley Davidson.
Right in by day or in the middle of the night
What he's doing makes me feel alright.
It's a hell out (...) like a devil (...) to (...)
It seem on this Harley, Harley Davidson.
Cry, cry (...) mad in the sun,
Don't care about them.
Run, run (...) mad in the sun,
But on your Harley Davidson.
When he's taking on the time trembles and (...)
Although the (...) fire enourmous more than cycle makes.
It's a hell out (...) like a devil (...) to (...)
It seem on this Harley, Harley Davidson.
Cry, cry (...) mad in the sun,
Don't care about them.
Run, run (...) mad in the sun,
But on your Harley Davidson.
The lyrics to Shocking Blue's song "Harley Davidson" describe the persona of a motorcyclist who is always on the move, never taking a break or resting, and has a face that seems to embody both good and evil. The motorcycle, a Harley Davidson, is portrayed as an extension of the rider's personality, representing both the freedom and danger that comes with living life on the edge. The lines "It's a hell out, burning like a devil's flame / It seems on this Harley, Harley Davidson" suggest that the thrill of the ride is all-consuming, and the singer can't resist the temptation to join in.
The second verse of the song describes the singer's reaction to the rider and the motorcycle, ultimately expressing a sense of admiration and validation. The lyric "What he's doing makes me feel alright" suggests that there's something seductive about the bike and the rider's lifestyle that allows the singer to let loose and forget about all their cares. The chorus, which repeats the lines "Cry, cry out / Run, run out," seems to be an invitation to join in the wild, carefree spirit of the motorcyclist and to embrace the freedom that comes from living life on the edge. Ultimately, "Harley Davidson" celebrates the thrill and danger of living life in the fast lane and encourages the listener to embrace their inner rebel.
Line by Line Meaning
He's moving down and has half evil's face.
He moves confidently and with a hint of danger in his expression.
He's never strolling down and never takes a rest.
He's always on the move and never slows down or stops.
It's a hell out (...) like a devil (...) to (...)
It seem on this Harley, Harley Davidson.
Riding his Harley is an intense and thrilling experience that makes him feel like a devil riding through hell.
Right in by day or in the middle of the night
What he's doing makes me feel alright.
Whether it's daytime or nighttime, watching him ride his Harley brings a sense of excitement and pleasure.
Cry, cry (...) mad in the sun,
Don't care about them.
Run, run (...) mad in the sun,
But on your Harley Davidson.
Ride your Harley with abandon, ignoring the judgment of others and enjoying the freedom it brings.
When he's taking on the time trembles and (...)
Although the (...) fire enourmous more than cycle makes.
The power and speed of his Harley are enough to make the very fabric of time tremble, and it burns with more intensity than any other motorcycle.
Contributed by Daniel Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
pgh45rpms
Bought a 45 of this in Turkey, 1971. Still sounds good!
nothing here
Don't feel any bad spirit when laughing about this while listening to this great song. Makes me wanna dance naked in my backyard around some nice budding flowers *g*
William Wallace
Great comment
Сергей Ефимов
У этой группы все песни хорошие
ted kay_music
great
juan carlos ballesteros gomez
my royal enfield brought here