Bonnie St.Claire (i.r.l. Cornelia Swart) and
Unit Gloria got together when the latter's lead
singer Robert Long left for a solo career in 1972 and Bonnie's
career seemed to have stalled. Unit Gloria
members at the time were: Albert "Mouse" Hol (guitar), Gerrit "Meep" Hol (drums)
and Marcel "Hoss" van Hardeveld (bass). Until late 1973,
Unit Gloria performed with both
Robert Long and Bonnie St.Claire, alternating as lead singers in concert (in a
package called The Family), but on records the exclusive act was
Bonnie St.Claire & Unit Gloria. They came under the guidance of
producer/songwriter Peter Koelewijn and
the first fruit of their collaboration was "Clap Your Hands And Stamp Your
Feet". The single climbed the charts in The Netherlands (#3 in January
1973), Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Germany. The song was a hit in many
more countries in cover versions. The follow-up, "Waikiki Man", continued
the success in the similar glam-rock style (although Koelewijn
seemed to have listened to "Painter Man" by The Creation
beforehand), reaching #4. That same year their first album was released.
The third single, "Voulez-Vous (Yes I Do, I Love You)", went to #21, by
which time Hoss had left and been replaced by Ed Swanenburg (ex-Mother's Love,
to Rob Hoeke). In 1974, they recorded a second
album, "The Rock Goes On", but then Gerrit Hol quit and was replaced by
Frans Meijer (ex-Peter & his Rockets, to Bots).
They also added Jan Rietman (ex-Long Tall Ernie & the
Shakers) on keyboards. Finally, in 1975, the last original
Gloria member Albert Hol left (he became the band's
manager and later married Bonnie) and was replaced by Rob Metz (ex-Parklane),
after which the band called it a day and Bonnie went back to her solo
career.
1972 Clap your hands and stamp your feet/Catch me driver Philips 6012283 1973 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
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 Philips 6075126
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 Mañana mañana/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 formed in 1966, naming themselves after the Them song that seemed to be in the set list of every Dutch band at the time. Albert Hol (guitar), Gerrit Hol (drums) and Marcel "Hoss" van Hardeveld (bass and piano) had played together before in the Yelping Jackals, whose career had been cut short by the military draft. Fourth member was another Hol brother, Geert (ex-Mods), who played guitar and sang. In 1967, Geert was replaced by singer Robert Long (i.r.l. Bob Leverman, ex-Bob Revvel & the A-ones and Mikrons), who had also been in the Yelping Jackals. In 1968, they were contracted by the new production company, Red Bullet. Their first single was produced by George Kooymans of the Golden Earrings but didn't chart. Next they recorded a few songs with producer Peter Koelewijn. Due to the lack of success, Red Bullet and Phonogram dropped the band and so they went to Bovema, who assigned them English producer Bobby Graham (known for his work with The Buffoons). When their first Imperial single, "The Last Seven Days", went to #5, Phonogram hastily released the 1968 recording, "The Storm", as the supposed follow-up and in the wake of the success of "Seven Days" it got to #23 in the Top 40. They released an album and two singles were taken from that. With an eye on international markets they changed their name to Unit Gloria by the end of 1969 and continued on until mid-1972 with Robert Long as the lead vocalist and after that - with Bonnie St.Claire. They existed until 1975.
1968 So good to dance/So it goes Philips JF 333997 Bitter sweet/Tides of life Philips JF 334616 1969 The last seven days/Merry dance Imperial IH 853 The storm/So good to dance Philips JF 336106 LP Mea semper gloria vivet Imperial 5C 054-24072 Wild bird/To make my father proud Imperial 5C 006-24073 Our life/From the ends of earth Imperial 5C 006-24056
In late 1969, Utrecht group Gloria changed their name to Unit Gloria. The members at that time were Robert Long (i.r.l. Bob Leverman, vocals), Albert Hol (guitar), Gerrit Hol (drums) and Marcel van Hardeveld (bass). The latter was nicknamed "Hoss" and as a result the rest of the group decided to take on nicknames too: the tall Bob Leverman was called "Long" (hence Robert Long), Gerrit became "Meep" (because he was so tidy) and Albert - "Mouse" because of his mouse-like facial features. In the years 1969-72, they made a number of hits, the biggest of which was "Our Father" (a reversal of “The Lord's Prayer”), reaching #7, but the following singles failed to chart, after which Robert went solo. Bonnie St.Claire (i.r.l. Cornelia Swart) became their new singer and they continued as Bonnie St.Claire & Unit Gloria. To avoid confusion, the former line-up would hence be known as Robert Long & Unit Gloria.
1970 Our father/Shadows on the wall Imperial 5C 006-24124 Heartaches and sorrow/Jimmy Jackson Imperial 5C 006-24213 Back in the sun/See that fool Imperial 5C 006-24232 1971 The leader/Don't upset yourself Imperial 5C 006-24298 To you/Take a heart Imperial 5C 006-24463 LP Ultrajectum Imperial 5C 052-24392 1972 What's the use/Johnny B.Goode Imperial 5C 006-24492 1976 LP Robert Long & Unit Gloria EMI Emigold 1A 034-2642 1995 CD The original hit recordings and more EMI 077779447725
The Nicols from The Hague were the first accompanying group for Bonny St.Claire and they also were known as a band in its own right. Rob Grell founded The Nicols in 1965 together with lead guitarist Herman Ansink.
The line-up was: Cees Hoogerheide (vocals, later to Big Wheel), Eddy Koetsier (bass, vocals), Harry Koetsier (drums, later in Big Rock Revival), Herman Ansink (lead guitar) and Rob Grell (acoustic/electric guitars, keyboards and vocals).
In 1969, the band became known as Fairy Tale with female singer Ellen Zonruiter.
Between 2001 and 2008, Rob has participated in the band Flight 505, together with members of Earth and Fire, The Motions, Shocking Blue, Sandy Coast, Rainbow Train and The Torreros.
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, 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
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