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 - - - - - - - - - -
Long And Lonesome Road
Shocking Blue Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the sky a fallin' star
Tellin' myself I don't go too far
And trust by the sound of the rain
[Chorus]
Well I wonder, well I wonder where I am
Cause there's a long and lonesome road
There's a long and lonesome road
That will find our world like it used to be babe
Somebody there to show me the way
Yes, I'm willin' to pay
And this dear old man can tell me any day
Know what happens to me
[Chorus]
The lyrics in Shocking Blue's song Long and Lonesome Road tells of a journey, both literally and figuratively, that the singer is taking. The first stanza conjures up an image of the singer driving on a Sunday night while a falling star streaks across the sky. The lyrics reveal that the singer is hesitant to venture too far, but is hopeful that the sound of the rain will guide them on their travels. In the chorus, the singer wonders where they are heading because the journey is a long and lonesome one. The journey, however, is one that the singer is committed to taking because they believe it will lead them to a better place. The chorus also speaks to a sense of nostalgia for a world that once existed, but has now been lost.
The second stanza appears to be a cry for help from the singer, who is looking for someone to guide them on their journey. The singer is willing to pay for guidance and turns to an elderly person who appears to have knowledge that will help them reach their destination. The chorus repeats the message that the journey is long and lonesome, but there is hope that it will eventually lead to a better place - one that resembles a world that is no longer present.
Overall, the lyrics in Long and Lonesome Road speak to the universal human experience of searching for meaning and purpose in life. The message of the song is a hopeful one, as it suggests that although the journey may be difficult, it is worth taking if it leads to a better world.
Line by Line Meaning
On a Sunday night while driving my car
On a quiet evening, I drive my vehicle.
In the sky a fallin' star
A meteor passes by above me.
Tellin' myself I don't go too far
I remind myself not to stray too far from home.
And trust by the sound of the rain
I rely on the sound of the rain as a familiar comfort.
[Chorus]
The chorus repeats that there exists a long and desolate road that can bring together the singer and their loved one, just like before.
Well I wonder, well I wonder where I am
I question where I am in life and what my journey means.
Cause there's a long and lonesome road
There exists a difficult and solitary path.
That will find our world of you & me babe
This road can reconnect us, my love.
There's a long and lonesome road
The path is long and challenging.
That will find our world like it used to be babe
It can bring us back to the way things used to be.
Somebody there to show me the way
I need someone to guide me along the journey.
Yes, I'm willin' to pay
I am willing to offer compensation for help.
And this dear old man can tell me any day
An elderly person could impart wisdom and knowledge.
Know what happens to me
I want to understand my destiny.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: ROBBIE VAN LEEUWEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@acmemasteri
@@prschuster They were. I have vinyl collection of their hits 1969-1973 and it was suprise to me that so many of those songs was translated/relyric to Finnish, seven & singer's one solo song.
I knew four translated/remaked song before I bought that vinyl ~20 years ago.
And last year I found out one more "Never Marry a Railroad Man" is "Jos Konduktöörin Nait" = If you Marry a Conductor... by Paula Koivuniemi.
https://youtu.be/g01A22fy9JQ
---
For some reason their popularity fell so much that their record flopped and they separated.
Singer made some solo releases without any bigger success and died ... over 17 years ago. Sad.
That their "golden era" were 1969-1973. I guess. Real facts can be readed like... Wikipedia etc.
After 1974 they weren't popular anymore -I just wonder why.
That Best Of I have has 0 poor songs... whole LP is brilliant.
That was a time latest hits were everything because it's pop(-rock) -but to me there's almost hard rock songs within.
But yeah, maybe the most forgotten band in the world.
@NikaTkeshelashvili.jr.
lyrics:
On a Sunday night while driving my car
In the sky a fallin' star
Tellin' myself I don't go too far
And trust by the sound of the rain
Well I wonder, well I wonder where I am
Cause there's a long and lonesome road
That will find our world of you & me babe
There's a long and lonesome road
That will find our world like it used to be babe
Somebody there to show me the way
Yes, I'm willin' to pay
And this dear old man can tell me any day
Know what happens to me
Well I wonder, well I wonder where I am
Cause there's a long and lonesome road
That will find our world of you & me babe
There's a long and lonesome road
That will find our world like it used to be babe
@BohdanKokovych
On a Sunday night while driving my car
In the sky a fallin' star
Tellin' myself I don't go too far
And trust by the sound of the rain
Well, I wonder
Well, I wonder where I am
'Cause there's a long and lonesome road
That will find a world of you and me, babe
There's a long and lonesome road
That will find our world like it used to be, babe
Somebody there to show me the way
Yes, I'm willin' to pay
And this dear old man who can tell me the date
Don't know what happens to me
Well, I wonder
Well, I wonder where I am
'Cause there's a long and lonesome road
That will find a world of you and me, babe
There's a long and lonesome road
That will find our world like it used to be, babe
On a Sunday night while driving my car
In the sky a fallin' star
Tellin' myself I don't go too far
But trust by the sound of the rain
Well, I wonder
Well, I wonder where I am
'Cause there's a long and lonesome road
That will find a world of you and me, babe
There's a long and lonesome road
That will find our world like it used to be, babe
@krinzhelina
On a Sunday night while driving my car
In the sky a fallin' star
Tellin' myself I don't go too far
And trust by the sound of the rain
Well, I wonder
Well, I wonder where I am
'Cause there's a long and lonesome road
That'll find a world of you and me, babe
There's a long and lonesome road
That'll find our world like it used to be, babe
Somebody there to show me the way
Yes, I'm willin' to pay
And this dear old man who can tell me the date
Don't know what happens to me
Well, I wonder
Well, I wonder where I am
'Cause there's a long and lonesome road
That'll find a world of you and me, babe
There's a long and lonesome road
That'll find our world like it used to be, babe
On a Sunday night while driving my car
In the sky a fallin' star
Tellin' myself I don't go too far
But trust by the sound of the rain
Well, I wonder
Well, I wonder where I am
'Cause there's a long and lonesome road
That'll find a world of you and me, babe
There's a long and lonesome road
That'll find our world like it used to be, babe
@gionnizagno2096
One of the most underrated groups in the world.
@user-su1ll9dl1h
I think the same!
@valleyofk.yu.s.s.inmyhead8359
I guess that was one reason Cobain wanted Love Buzz to be finded.
@prschuster
@@valleyofk.yu.s.s.inmyhead8359 The music business is funny that way. Why didn't some of these songs get on the charts?
@acmemasteri
@@prschuster They were. I have vinyl collection of their hits 1969-1973 and it was suprise to me that so many of those songs was translated/relyric to Finnish, seven & singer's one solo song.
I knew four translated/remaked song before I bought that vinyl ~20 years ago.
And last year I found out one more "Never Marry a Railroad Man" is "Jos Konduktöörin Nait" = If you Marry a Conductor... by Paula Koivuniemi.
https://youtu.be/g01A22fy9JQ
---
For some reason their popularity fell so much that their record flopped and they separated.
Singer made some solo releases without any bigger success and died ... over 17 years ago. Sad.
That their "golden era" were 1969-1973. I guess. Real facts can be readed like... Wikipedia etc.
After 1974 they weren't popular anymore -I just wonder why.
That Best Of I have has 0 poor songs... whole LP is brilliant.
That was a time latest hits were everything because it's pop(-rock) -but to me there's almost hard rock songs within.
But yeah, maybe the most forgotten band in the world.
@acmemasteri
@@prschuster I guess looping or sample these songs could make this wonderful band even knewn again.
"Venus" were U.S. BB List NO1, for god's sake.
But I don't want to hear that horrible Madonna even try to sing these songs, ever.
This band had a magnificent singer, Mariska Veres, we miss you - and I as much as Dusty Springfield.
@dwightclark7627
The fact that Mariska Veres could sing a song in English this well without being able to speak English at the time is just amazing! How did she get the phrasing, cadence, etc., so perfect?
@ricnyc2759
She spoke Dutch that's a Germanic language like English.
That helps a lot, don't you think?
Anyway: she was an amazing singer.
@KozakPoltavskyiKurin
Considering that his father was Hungarian-Ukrainian Gypsy and mother French-Russian, I suppose that Marishka (it's correct pronunciation) knew except Dutch also one of the Slavic language. For example if you know Ukrainian, you can pronounce all the sounds that are in English, especially if you know Dutch, that is also Romano-Germanic language.
@dustinhatfield22
Idk, Ozzy Osborn can sing in english but can't speak it at all and he does just fine