Singles: A's & B's [Import]

Shocking Blue | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 21, 1997)
• Original Release Date: 2005
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Import
• Label: Repertoire
• ASIN: B000007VQ8
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #322,292 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Venus

2. Mighty Joe

3. Send Me a Postcard

4. Long and Lonesome Road

5. Never Marry a Railroad Man

6. Ink Pot

7. Rock in the Sea

8. Dream on Dreamer

9. Hello Darkness

10. Shocking You

See all 23 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Roll Engine Roll

2. Pickin' Tomatoes

3. Waterloo

4. Harley Davidson

5. Fireball of Love

6. Hot Sand

7. Wild Wind

8. Keep It If You Want It

9. Give My Love to the Sunshine

10. I Saw You in June

See all 24 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

47 track compilation featuring both sides of 23 singles from1969-1994 by the Dutch pop group! Includes their #1 smash'Venus', plus 'Mighty Joe', 'Oh Lord', 'Send Me A Postcard','Long And Lonesome Road' and 'Ink Pot'. Double slimlinejewelcase within a full color slipcase. 1997 Repertoirerelease.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Shocking Blue had great hooks to spare..., February 21, 2002

By 

rockland6674 (Massachusetts, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Singles: A's & B's (Audio CD)

...So why were they only able to score one real hit ("Venus") here in the U.S.A.? A fickle record-buying public? Radio station/disc jockey indifference? Poor record distribution? Who knows. The end result was that these songs didn't get the exposure they deserved.

Like most people on this side of the Atlantic, I only knew the Shocking Blue for "Venus," before I picked up this collection. I was pleasantly surprised to find that they recorded many songs that are just as good as, if not better than, this classic. Mariska Veres has a powerful voice which is a dead ringer for Grace Slick. My favorite songs on the "A-side" disc (besides "Venus"), are "Mighty Joe," "Inkpot," "Rock In The Sea" (unusual key and structure on this one), "Sally Was A Good Old Girl" and "Gonna Sing Me A Song," with a great hook which has been bouncing around in my head for the past week (The drum fills on this track sound just ever-so-slightly "off," which I think adds to its charm.) My favorites on the "B-side" disc are "Keep It If You Want It" (It would have made a great A-side, but was relegated to the B-side of a promo-only 45), the bongo-driven "Wild Wind," "Is This A Dream" and "Hot Sand" (I remember flipping my old "Venus" 45 over to check out this track.)

I do have one minor complaint with this collection: Repertoire has used fake-stereo masters for "Venus" and "Mighty Joe," with reverb added. Fortunately, the reverb isn't very noticeable. Since it isn't possible to present these songs in authentic stereo (I've read that "Venus" wasn't recorded on a multitrack machine--I'm not sure about "Mighty Joe"), I wish Repertoire had used the original mono masters for these songs.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars MORE THAN A ONE-HIT WONDER, June 19, 1999

By 

F. Barton "Forrest W. Barton" (Newport, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Singles: A's & B's (Audio CD)

This is an incredible two-cd set by the Dutch group, that is unfairly forgotten by the US, except for their smash "VENUS". But if you are like me, you know this group is one of the most versatile of ANY. Every track is a gem, some could be released TODAY, as they are, and they would be hits. From the plaintive "Never Marry A Railroad Man" to the almost country "Sally Was A Good Ole' Girl", you will be astounded at the sound this group has. One of the strongest female lead vocals in rock history, and yes that includes Grace Slick, and Janis Joplin. What can you say when even Nirvana covers "Love Buzz"? The remastering on this set is the best I've ever heard, making my living room rock, ROCK, ROCK. This set comes with a most informative liner note compilation, so you can pretend to know all about them, even if you've never heard of them. Attractive packaging, Great songs, and count how many, great sound, how CAN you go wrong?

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing, February 21, 2005

By 

zimmie57 "zimmie57" (Cary, Illinois United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Singles: A's & B's (Audio CD)

I recently have been revisiting groups from the 60's & 70's that I remembered as being a one or two hit wonder. I thought of "Venus" and the flip side "Hot Sand" by the Shocking Blue and went to Amazon to see if they had any CD's by them. I saw "Best Of" and "20 Greatest Hits". What caught my eye was "Singles A's & B's. I thought "How could a one hit wonder band have a double CD out with 47 tracks?" Curiousity got the best of me, and I ordered it. Within a few days the CD arrived and I played it. The first track "Venus" sounding as good as ever. What followed was "Shocking" to me. Every song seem to get better and better and when I reached that last track, I immediatly put disc 1 back in and hit "play" again. WOW! Why didn't this band catch on here in the U.S. 35 years ago? Songs that really stand out for me are "Venus", "Hot Sand", "Never Marry A Railroad", "Ink Pot",and "Angel". The Singer, Mariska Veres, reminds me at times of Grace Slick. I am really glad I purchased this title from The Shocking Blue.