Well no I didn't buy this when it came out! Too busy listening to Canned Heat and The Doors! But if it's good enough for Bananarama then it's good enough for me!

Classic pop songs of all time and I actually do like the guitar on this . . . . . . just a tip though gentlemen do NOT tuck your trousers into your knee high boots . . . . . .EVER!

On this day in music history: February 7, 1970 - “Venus” by The Shocking Blue hits #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 1 week. Written by Robbie van Leeuwen, it is the first and biggest hit for the pop band from The Hague, The Netherlands. Originally formed in 1967, Shocking Blue have a few minor hits before Mariska Veres joins the band in 1968, becoming their new lead singer. The idea for what becomes the bands’ biggest hit comes from guitarist and bandleader Robbie van Leeuwen. The inspiration for “Venus” comes from the traditional folk song “Oh! Susanna”. Certain that it’s a hit, the band record the song in the Fall of 1969 releasing it in October of 1969. It quickly becomes a smash in The Shocking Blue’s native Holland, peaking at #3, hitting the top ten or topping the charts in several more countries across Europe, Asia and Australia. It is licensed for release in the US by Colossus Records in November of 1969, and hits the charts quickly. Entering the Hot 100 at #77 on December 13, 1969, it climbs to the top of the chart eight weeks later. In spite of this major success, the band only have two more chart singles in the US with the follow up “Mighty Joe” (#43 Pop) and “Long Lonesome Road” (#75 Pop). The Shocking Blue split in 1974 when Mariska Veres departs for a solo career. The band reunite in 1979, also recording throughout the 80’s. “Venus” reaches number one again in the US in 1986 when the UK pop trio Bananarama covers it in 1986, becoming the fourth time in chart history that the same song tops the pop chart by two different artists. The song “Love Buzz”, another track from Shocking Blue’s US debut album is covered by Nirvana in 1988, and is released as their debut single by Sub Pop Records. “Venus” is certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.

Mariska Veres

Thanks to Jeff Harris' wonderful blog - Behind The Grooves

HAH! Bananarama! She's got IT!

On this day in music history: September 6, 1986 - “Venus” by Bananarama hits #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 1 week. Written by Robbie Van Leeuwen, it is the biggest hit for the London based female vocal trio. Originally formed in 1979, Bananarama consists of childhood friends Keren Woodward and Sara Dallin, who meets Siohban Fahey when all three are college students. All have an avid interest in music, and are immersed in the punk rock and post punk scenes in London in the late 70’s and early 80’s, performing as an opening act, or singing backing vocals for numerous artists including The Jam and Iggy Pop. The trio become roommates, living above a rehearsal space used by former Sex Pistols Steve Jones and Paul Cook. Jones and Cook help the girls record a demo for the song “Aie a Mwana” (#92 UK Pop) which get them signed to Demon Records who release it as a single. It is enough of a hit to attract the attention of Decca Records who sign Bananarama in 1982. They have a string of top five hits in their native country, which also garners them a cult following in the US. They finally score a major hit in the US in the Fall of 1984, after their single “Cruel Summer” (#9 Pop), is featured in the film “The Karate Kid”. For their third album, Bananarama pair up with the production team of Mike Stock, Matt Aitken and Pete Waterman (Stock, Aitken & Waterman) after hearing their work on Dead Or Alive’s number one UK single “You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)”. The team produce two tracks for their album “True Confessions”. The group cover the pop classic “Venus”, originally recorded by the Dutch band The Shocking Blue, whose original version is a huge worldwide hit in late 1969/early 1970 hitting number one in the US in February of 1970. Bananarama’s version is released in early June of 1986, and quickly takes off. Entering the Hot 100 at #89 on June 28, 1986, it climbs to the top of the chart ten weeks later. When “Venus hits the top of the charts, it is only the fourth time in the history of the rock era that the same song has hit number one on the US pop singles chart by two different artists. The Bananarama version of "Venus” is later used in an episode of the animated series “American Dad!” in 2009. Titled “Moon Over Isla Island”, the song is declared the national anthem of a “banana republic” island also re-named Bananarama (making it a double in-joke), by Roger who is posing as the country’s dictator after the real one dies from accidentally choking to death on a corn dog.