SHOCKING BLUE's Debut Album

Original released on LP Polydor 236173

(NETHERLANDS 1967, November 27)

This is a sort of transition album between The Motions and Shocking Blue (pré Mariska Veres). I hear rock 'n' roll, beat & even progressive rock influences. Although not so radical and groundbreaking as The Motions on their 1st album and certainly not as catchy and full of hit-potential like the later Shocking Blue LPs (hence the addition of Mariska), the songs on this record are quite diverse, sounding really warm & deep. An interesting late sixties album with at times rather straight forward tunes but with that typical atmosphere that I can not shake off after listening... (in RateYourMusic)

The SHOCKING BLUE Third Album

Original released on LP Pink Elephant PE 877.010

(NETHERLANDS 1971, April 15)

The opening track of Shocking Blue's "3rd Album", "Shocking You", is very powerful and very good. It is followed by "Velvet Heaven" which, on the other hand, is beautiful. "Love Sweet Love" is nice as well, "I Saw Your Face" is positively different... well, I must be losing some enthusiasm... The unfortunate truth about "3rd Album" is that there doesn't seem to be enough really worthy material to cover the whole record. Many tracks (including "The Bird of Paradise" and "Moonlight Night", for example) are definitely OK, there is nothing wrong about them, but "3rd Album" is not the best Shocking Blue album. (in rateyourmusic)

SHOCKING BLUE: "Scorpio's Dance"

Original released on LP Pink Elephant PE 877 002

(NETHERLANDS 1970, August 29)

Shocking Blue's third album was partly recorded in New York and continues the band's exploration of Americana and country music, although its style is firmly rooted in rock. "Alaska Country" is one of the most obvious references to America, but "Sally Was a Good Old Girl" is a cover of an early-'60s country hit by songwriter Hank Cochran; Shocking Blue's rendition chugs along in a rock groove that reveals the source of its material with a touch of banjo. As always, the focal point is the inimitable voice of Mariska Veres, but songwriter/guitarist Robby VanLeeuwen shows no sign of a sophomore slump. There isn't an obvious hit single candidate but "Scorpio's Dance" makes up for it with solid consistency. "Daemon Lover" is moody and mesmerizing, and the title track is a spaghetti western soundtrack in search of a film (the cover photo, appropriately enough, was shot in a cactus field). "I Love Voodoo Music" is colored with bongos and jungle sound effects, while "Water Boy" sees the return of VanLeeuwen's sitar. It's a diverse collection of songs that reveals the group's artistic growth but, in America at least, saw no chart action. (Greg Adams in AllMusic)

SHOCKING BLUE: The Original 2nd Album

Original released on LP Pink Elephant PE 888.001

(NETHERLANDS 1969, September 30)

American listeners tend to remember Shocking Blue as the one-hit wonder behind the chart-topper "Venus," a melting pot of rock rhythms, country guitar licks, organ riffs, and Mariska Veres' heavily accented vocals. Sounding something like a cross between "96 Tears" and "Sugar, Sugar," "Venus" was not entirely representative of the group's "At Home" album. Like their fellow countrymen Golden Earring, Shocking Blue purveyed a mild strain of psychedelic rock, but leaned more toward country and folk music than bubblegum. Guitarist and principal songwriter Robby Van Leeuwen was already preoccupied with Americana at this early stage, from "Harley Davidson" and "California Here I Come" to a surprising rendition of the folk song "Boll Weevil" that sets the traditional lyrics to music reminiscent of the Easybeats' "Good Times." (The group's country music fixation would manifest itself more overtly on later albums). Van Leeuwen's sitar is pictured on the album cover and dominates the instrumental "Acka Raga," but, thankfully, is not overused. "Love Buzz" gained a measure of fame decades later when Nirvana covered it. Veres has great presence - like a gypsy incarnation of Grace Slick - but Van Leeuwen's English-language lyrics can be awkward at times. On single "Venus," all the components clicked perfectly into place, but there is much more to Shocking Blue than their biggest hit. (Greg Adams in AllMusic)

NOTE: The album presented here is the original album, released in the Netherlands. "At Home" was released in the USA (December 1969) as a self-titled album, "Shocking Blue" (peaking at #31 in the Billboard Album Chart) but with major changes in the tracklisting, leaving out "I'll Write Your Name Through the Fire" and adding the domestic hits including the Dutch #1 "Mighty Joe" and of course the USA #1 "Venus". The album was released worldwide as well. From Argentina to China and Vietnam, and from Canada to South Africa and Iran. Until today, it is still their best selling album and it has seen many releases under many different titles and labels.