Shocking Blue
Shocking Blue (Beat With Us) - Polydor 1967
Tracks: 1. Love Is In The Air / 2. Ooh Wee There's Music In Me / 3. What You Gonna Do / 4. Whisky don't wash my brains / 5. Little Maggie / 6. Jail My Second Home / 7. What's Wrong Bertha / 8. League of Angels / 9. Rockin' Pneumonia And The Boogie Woogie Flu / 10. That's Allright /11. Crazy Drunken Man Dreams / 12. Beggarman / 13. Hold Me, Hug Me, Rock Me / 14. Where My Baby's Gone
Comments:
Many people probably do not realize that Shocking Blue released an album before breaking through in 1969 with the single "Venus" and the album "At Home". Already in 1967, the group released their selftitled debut album, without the involvement of the group's otherwise Important frontier, singer Marijska Veres. This is probably the main reason why the album is often forgotten. Moreover, it must be acknowledged that neither production nor songwriting reaches the heights of the group's classic albums from the early 1970s.
The group's idea man and songwriter Robbie van Leeuwen has written most of the songs, which in many cases are solid enough, and with Veres on vocals, more of them would certainly have been really good. Singer Fred de Wilde is simply too far from her level. Stylically, the album is also a little like a red shop, ranging from classic rock'n roll (Gene Vincent) over Merseybeat to more psychedelically inspired songwriting.
One of the best songs is from the latter category, "Love is in the Air", which was also released as single. A few tracks have the simple clear sound that characterizes Shocking Blues best period; such as the "League of Angels" and "Where My Baby's Gone" both of which would have fought perfectly for Veres.
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