Bonnie St. Claire started about five years ago as a solo singer and her first record "Tame me, Tiger" was a small hit. But in her country, Holland, it is rather difficult for a girl to be successful. She reached the top in the World Top Song Contest in Tokyo in 1971, and made hits like "Let Me Come Back Home, Mama", "I Won't Stand Between Them" and "Manana Manana," but the international breakthrough was still eluding her, and sometimes Bonnie was wondering if it ever would come. Peter Koelewijn, her songwriter/producer, always believed in the talents of his now 24-year-old pupil from Amsterdam, and when Bonnie told him that she had met the group Unit Gloria, he decided to write a rock song for the new combination, a step he has never regretted. For "Clap Your Hands And Stamp Your Feet" climbed high in the charts in Holland, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Germany and made the group Bonnie St. Claire & Unit Gloria immediately one of the best-selling items for Philips, Holland. It was a pity that several cover-versions of "Clap Your Hands..." reached the charts in countries like South Africa and in South America.
The follow-up, "Waikiki Man", was as successful as the first hit, and naturally the group had to tour, which they did in nearly every country in Europe with great success.
The third single "Voulez-Vous (Yes I Do, I Love You)" meant the hat trick had worked, and of course the world was waiting for an album. In 1973 Philips released an LP, "The Best Of Bonnie St. Claire", with a lot of "old" material from her solo period, but this album also contains original Bonnie & Unit Gloria material, including the hits.
It is a pity that B-sides of singles are seldom listened to, for the group did some very nice songs that "disappeared" on flip sides. Titles like "That's My Music" and "Will It Help Me" are wonderful and you'll find them on this album. And fantastic versions of real Rock'n'Roll classics like "Tallahassee Lassie" which made Freddy Cannon famous, and "Telephone Baby" the Johnny Otis "oldie," will make it clear why Bonnie St. Claire and Unit Gloria have called this LP "The Rock Goes On".
The group Left Side, which reached the international charts with "(Like A) Locomotion" even congratulated Unit Gloria (Albert "Muis" Hol - guitar / Gerry "Miep" Hol - drums / Ed "Swanny" Swanenberg - bass-guitar) on their version of "Locomotion", and said that it sounds even better than the original one! The same praise came from the composer/ producer of the Jackpot hit "Is Everybody Happy".
Listen to Bonnie St. Claire & Unit Gloria, it's your music, and everybody is happy, and when you hear this group you will agree: The Rock Goes On!
Bonny, born Cornelia Swart, in Rozenburg, started her career in the music business in 1966 as a member of an all-girl folk trio, the
Topsys. In 1967, she was discovered by Peter
Koelewijn. During the course of the next few years, she was accompanied by the
Jets (first single), the Nicols (till 1969),
Clover Leaf, Lotusland (1969-1972) and
Unit Gloria (1972-1976).
She also recorded together with D.C.Lewis, as Alias
Bonny & Lewis, in 1972 and Bonny
& Martin in 1970.
1968 Tame me tiger/It's still a secret [& Jets] Omega 35823
I'll confess/ ?
Come home/I surrender Philips JF 333993
1969 Don't let me down/I surrender ?
Marley Purt Drive/Let me come back home mama Philips JF 336102
I'm just a lonely girl/Cat and mouse ?
1970 It's still a secret/Tame me tiger [re] Ariola AT 14047
I won't stand between them/Cat and mouse Philips 6075107
1971 Planet of love/ ?
1972 Maņana maņana/Close the door Philips 6012188
Clap your hands and stamp your feet/Catch me driver Philips 6012283
LP The best of Bonny ?
1973 Tame me tiger/It's still a secret [re] Pink Elephant 22721
Waikiki man/Will it help me Philips 6012332
LP Clap your hands and stamp your feet Philips 6410053
1974 Voulez-vous/That's my music Philips 6012405
LP The rock goes on Philips 6401072
1975 Knock on my door/Do you feel Philips 6012505
Rocco don't go/Locomotion Philips 6012546
Een heel gelukkig kerstfeest [met vele anderen] Philips 6012570
1976 I won't stand between them/Close the door Philips 6012588
Dokter Bernhard/Sluit de deur Philips 6012633
Ik ben gelukkig zonder jou/ Philips 6012667
LP Dokter Bernhard en 11 andere grote successen Philips 6343269
1977 Stop me/Bonnie Philips 6012688
Als manna/Alles voor mij is alles voor jou Philips 6012724
1978 Stop the music/Do you feel alright Philips 6012788
1979 Sorry I'm leaving/Adieu amour fini Mercury 6013554
1980 Pierrot/Adieu amour fini Mercury 6017055
Keine Tränen Pierrot/Adieu amour ich geh' Mercury 6017079
Bonnie kom je buiten spelen/Sorry ik weet nu wat ik wil Mercury 6017105
De roos/Ik wou dat ik in de toekomst kon kijken Mercury 6017129
1981 Merlijn/'t Geluk is dichtbij Mercury 6017177
Vlieg nooit te hoog/Iemand die om me geeft Mercury 6017233
LP Op haar best Mercury 6423444
1982 Vreemdeling/Pierement Mercury 6017341
German singles (years unknown):
Der Sohn vom Backer aus der Backergasse 10/Rauchen im Walt ist verboten
Columbia 006-28703
In der Wuppertaler Schwebebahn/Ob Tell Aviv ob Timbuktu 28725
(& Ray Miller) Viele Koche verderben den Brei/Tschibidi dang dang 28732
This group from Utrecht was called the Yelping Yackals originally and changed their name into Gloria in 1966. By the end of 1969 they changed their name again into Unit Gloria, first with Robert Long as vocalist, after that with Bonny St.Claire.
Albert Hol (guitar), Gerrit Hol (drums), Marcel van Hardeveld (bass and piano). Singer-organist Robert "Long" Leverlang left the group in 1972 to devote his time to singing Dutch material. Before Gloria he was in the Mikrons and A-Ones. Listed below are the recordings under the name of Gloria.
1968 So good to dance/So it goes Philips JF 333997 Bitter sweet/Tides of life 334616 1969 The storm/So good to dance 336106 The last seven days/Merry dance Imperial IH 853 Our life/From the ends of earth 5C 006-24056 Wild bird/To make my father proud 24073
Unit Gloria was formed in Utrecht, and was originally called "The Yelping Yackals", changing their name to Gloria in 1966.
After the release of their debute single, "Bitter Sweet" in 1968 the name of the band was changed again, to Unit Gloria. Unit Gloria was, in fact, the backing group for a vocalist named Robert Leverlang, aka Robert Long. With him as the leader, the band scored hit singles in the late sixties, such as "The Last Seven Days" and "The Storm". After that, the band was rechristened as "Robert Long and Unit Gloria", at least for a while. After Long's departure in the mid-seventies he concentrated on building a successful solo career as a singer-songwriter, writing some of the decade's best and most thought-provoking Dutch songs (e.g. his solo albums such as "Vroeger of Later" selling in fairly big numbers). The line up of Unit Gloria stayed unchanged for a few years, before Bonnie St. Claire entered the picture…
In 1969 the Utrecht group Gloria changed their name into Unit Gloria. The members by that time were Robert Long (vocals), Albert Hol (guitar), Gerrit Hol (drums) and Marcel van Hardeveld (bass). In the years 1969-72 they made a number of hits, after which Robert went solo (see there). Singer became Bonny St.Claire, while Jan Rietman (keyboards, ex-Long Tall Ernie) was added.
1970 Our father/Shadows on the wall Imperial 5C 006-24124 Heartaches and sorrow/Jimmy Jackson 24213 (Robert Long &) Back in the sun/See that fool 24232 LP Mea semper gloria vivet 054-24072 1971 The leader/Don't upset yourself 006-24298 To you/Take a heart 24463 LP Ultrajectum 052-24392 1972 What's the use/Johnny B.Goode 006-24492
The Nicols from The Hague were the first accompanying group for Bonny St.Claire and they also were loved as a band on their own. The most important members were Cees Hogerheide (vocals, guitar, later to Big Wheel), Ed Koetsier (bass, vocals) and Harry Koetsier (drums, later in Big Rock Revival). The group was founded in 1966 and switched in 1966 in its entirety to Fairy Tale with lady-singer Ellen Zonruiter. They have always been proteges of the Golden Earrings.
1967 Lord I've been thinking/I can't forget her CNR TAR 61001
1968 Delighted to see you/It's easy to say Philips JF 333941
This world is my world/Fantasy girl 334561
1969 Gotta go/She had a name to find out 336024
Group from The Hague, not to be confused with the group from Tilburg. They existed from the end of 1969 till the end of 1971. Lineup 1969: Cees Hoogerheide (vocals, ex-Nicols; in 1970 replaced by Ellen Zonruiter; Cees went to Big Wheel), Herman Ansink (guitar; in 1970 to Blow Ball and replaced by one John Miles, who in turn got replaced by Martin van Wijk in 1971, later with Jupiter), Peter Seilberger (organ and piano, ex-Tee Set, later to Big Wheel and Jupiter), Ed Koetsier (bass, vocals, ex-Nicols) and Harry Koetsier (drums, ex-Nicols, later with Big Rock Revival).
1969 LP Once upon a time Blossom 17001 1970 A reason to stay/Oh boy Philips 6075101 1971 Story with no end/Streetnoise Philips 6075123 1980 Hilversumse kliek/Oh what a day [op LP Groeven uit Heerenveen] Friesche Haagje FH 001
Bonny St.Claire & D.C.Lewis.
1972 That's why/The winter of our love Philips 6012220
1970 I'll write your name through the fire (?)
Group from The Hague, begun with this lineup (1969): Peter Vink (b, temporarily from Q'65), Carel Hagemans (aka Cyril Havermans, v,h, ex-Heralds and Spatial Concept, later with Focus) Rob van der Zwan (g, ex-Haigs) Shel Schellekens (dr, to Drama). On the first record however, producer Hans van Hemert sings, ex-Caps. Later members: Peter Seilberger (p, ex-Fairy Tale, to Jupiter), Cees Hoogerheide (b,g, ex-Fairy Tale, became manager of Drama) Foort Verbrugge (v, to Mailer McKenzie Band) Aad van der Kreeft (g, ex-Blue Planet) and Peter van Dijk (b).
1969 If I stay too long/Little woman Decca AT 10387
What a day/Old songs new songs 10400
1970 Curly girl/Up side down Blossom 2103003
1971 World outside/Please excuse me Polydor 2050123
Groovy/Supposed 2050142
GLORIA 29-3-69 SINGLE 5 10 THE LAST SEVEN DAYS 14-6-69 SINGLE 23 4 STORM 26-7-69 SINGLE 29 2 OUR LIFE UNIT GLORIA 31-1-70 SINGLE 7 8 OUR FATHER 19-9-70 SINGLE tip BACK IN THE SUN 1-5-71 SINGLE 35 2 THE LEADER 11-12-71 SINGLE tip TO YOU UNIT GLORIA 16-12-72 SINGLE 3 12 CLAP YOUR HANDS AND STAMP YOUR FEET 19-5-73 SINGLE 4 9 WAIKIKI MAN [Alarmschijf op 12-5-73] 30-3-74 SINGLE 21 6 VOULEZ-VOUS BONNIE ST. CLAIRE 17-5-69 SINGLE 24 6 LET ME COME BACK HOME, MAMA 5-9-70 SINGLE 5 15 I WON'T STAND BETWEEN THEM 29-4-72 SINGLE 11 8 MANANA MANANA 16-12-72 SINGLE 3 12 CLAP YOUR HANDS AND STAMP YOUR FEET 19-5-73 SINGLE 4 9 WAIKIKI MAN [Alarmschijf op 12-5-73] 30-3-74 SINGLE 21 6 VOULEZ-VOUS 4-10-75 SINGLE 28 5 ROCCO (DON'T GO) 25-12-76 SINGLE 23 6 IK BEN GELUKKIG ZONDER JOU [Alarmschijf op 18-12-76] 19-2-77 SINGLE tip STOP ME 24-5-80 SINGLE 5 11 PIERROT [Alarmschijf op 17-5-80] 25-10-80 SINGLE 19 8 BONNIE KOM JE BUITEN SPELEN 3-1-81 SINGLE 26 5 DE ROOS 30-5-81 SINGLE 33 3 MERLIJN 10-10-81 SINGLE 34 4 VLIEG NOOIT TE HOOG 15-5-82 SINGLE tip VREEMDELING 17-12-83 SINGLE tip KWART VOOR EEN 5-10-85 SINGLE tip DOE ALLES NOG EEN KEER OVER 14-5-88 SINGLE tip HET LIJKT OF IK DROOM 29-6-91 SINGLE 17 8 MORGEN WORDT ALLES ANDERS 20-7-91 ALBUM 33 13 ALLES WAT IK WIL 7-9-91 SINGLE 32 3 ZEVEN JAREN 19-6-93 SINGLE tip IEDEREEN WEET DROMMELS GOED 2-10-93 SINGLE tip JIJ BENT NIET ALLEEN BONNIE, RONNIE, CISKA, NICO, WILLEKE, HARMEN, OME JAN & PETER 27-12-75 SINGLE 10 3 EEN HEEL GELUKKIG KERSTFEEST BONNIE ST. CLAIRE FEATURING RON BRANDSTEDER 10-7-76 SINGLE 7 8 DOKTER BERNHARD [Alarmschijf op 3-7-76] BONNIE, ALEXANDER, DIMITRI, WILLEM, LENNY & SHIRLEY 10-4-82 SINGLE tip EEN KIND EEN KIND BONNIE ST. CLAIRE & BENNY NEYMAN 19-3-83 SINGLE tip VERDER VALT 'T WEL MEE BONNIE & JOSE 7-7-84 SINGLE 24 5 CASSANDRA 2-2-85 SINGLE tip WEERZIEN 3-8-85 SINGLE 36 4 ZOALS VRIENDEN DOEN 25-2-95 SINGLE tip 'N ENGEL ALS JIJ BONNIE ST. CLAIRE & RON BRANDSTEDER & JOSE 7-12-85 SINGLE tip WAAROM
Submitted
by: Adri Verhoef (a3@a3.xs4all.nl-removespam)
Bonnie St. Claire article translated by: Louis Rentrop (uriahboz@zeelandnet.nl)
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