"Cassandra" by Bonnie & José: 35th anniversary!!!

A tribute to the music of ABBA

35 years ago exactly, on July 7th, 1984, "Cassandra", a duet single by Bonnie St. Claire and José Hoebee entered the Dutch Top 40. Let's celebrate the 35th anniversary of this iconic track...

History

After Luv's first break-up in 1981, José Hoebee was the former member of the girl group who enjoyed the most successful solo career. She scored two big hits in the Netherlands and Belgium, the #1 song "I Will Follow Him" and "Secret Love" in 1982 as well as a couple of lesser-known singles: "The Good Times" (1982), "I Can Hear Music" (1983) and "Time Goes By" (1984). She experienced a new phase of her career thanks to the popular duet single "So Long, Marianne" with Ron Brandsteder in early 1984 (see article posted on January 10th, 2019). 

Bonnie St. Claire had been a household name in the Netherlands and Flanders (Belgium) since the early 1970s. Among her greatest hit singles were: "I Won't Stand Between Them" (1970), "Claps Your Hands And Stamp Your Feet" (with Unit Gloria - 1972), the chart-topper "Rocky" (with Don Mercedes - 1976), "Dokter Bernhard" (with Ron Brandsteder - 1976) and "Pierrot" (1980). 

José and Bonnie had known each other since 1978 because they were under the same management (Interlinde, a company owned by Pim ter Linde). They rapidly became friends.

The artists of Interlinde Management:  Saskia & Serge, Luv', Pim ter Linde (head of the company), Bonnie St.Claire, Riny van der Lee, Ciska Peters (Pim's wife) and Lee Towers in 1979

In 1983, Bonnie had the opportunity to cover "Wrap Your Arms Around Me" in Dutch. This song was originally performed by former ABBA singer Agnetha Fältskog. Will Hoebee (José's husband) produced the track. Bonnie's version entitled "Sla Je Arm Om Me Heen"  was a hit: #13 on the Dutch Top 40 and #11 on the Nationale Hitparade in Holland. 

Agnetha Fältskog: Wrap Your Arms Around Me (1983)

Bonnie St. Claire: Sla Je Arm Om Me Heen (1983)

In 1984, long before the revival of interest in ABBA's music (ABBAesque by Erasure, ABBA Gold, Mamma Mia! musical...), Bonnie and José decided to form a duo to record songs of the Swedish Fab Four in Dutch. Their first collaboration was "Cassandra" (originally the B-side of ABBA's hit "The Day Before You Came" in late 1982). 

ABBA performing "Cassandra" on ZDF's Show-Express on November 11th, 1982

Will Hoebee supervised the recording of Cassandra by Bonnie & José at the Wisseloord Studios in Hilversum, Netherlands. Eurovision Song Contest conductor Harry van Hoof arranged the track. Benny Neyman (a famous artist from Will's roster) wrote the text of this song in Dutch. His lyrics dealt with the movement of Argentinian mothers (Las Madres de La Plaza de Mayo) who marched in 1977 in Buenos Aires to protest against the disappearance of their children (who were actually arrested by the military and eventually died). 

In June 1984, Philips Records released Bonnie & José's Cassandra. The duet single premiered on the TROS TV show "Op Volle Toeren" on June 7th, 1984. 

Article posted by Karin Angeleyes on the "Herinnering - Bonnie & José" Facebook Page

Commercial performance

On July 7th 1984, "Cassandra" entered the Dutch charts. It later peaked at #24 on the Top 40 and #19 on the Nationale Hitparade. 

Tracklisting - Credits

• A side: Cassandra - 4:55

Lyrics by Benny Neyman, Music by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus

• B side: Ik Blijf Wachten  - 4:00

Written by Albert Hol  and Joost Timp 

Recorded at Wisseloord Studios, Hilversum, Netherlands
Arranged by Harry van Hoof
Management – Interlinde Management
Producer – Will Hoebee
Sound Technician – Pieter Boer

TV performances

June 7th, 1984: Op Volle Toeren (TROS)

July 15th, 1984: Nederland Muziekland (Veronica)

* Unknown broadcast date in 1984: Op Volle Toeren (TROS)

* November 26th, 1984: Een Voor Afrika (Nederland 1)

After Cassandra's respectable success on the charts, the ladies decided to continue their professional relationship. But that's another story...

Sources: 

• Top 40 Hitdossier 1956-2005 (9e editie) by Johan van Slooten, publ: Gottmer Bech 
• Dutch hit parade: www.dutchcharts.nl 
• www.discogs.com
• Herinnering - Bonnie & José (Facebook Page)