Mouth & MacNeal
Encyclopedia
Mouth & MacNeal was a pop
duo
from the Netherlands
. They are best known for their million selling recording of "How Do You Do".
Hans van Hemert
brought together the solo
talent of Mouth (born Willem Duyn, March 31, 1937; died December 4, 2004) and Maggie MacNeal
(born Sjoukje van't Spijker, May 5, 1950). Mouth had previously sung in a number of 1960s bands
, including Speedway. MacNeal had released one solo single before teaming up with Mouth, a cover
of Marvin Gaye
's "I Heard It Through the Grapevine
", also produced by van Hemert.
The duo released their first single
, "Hey You Love", which reached #5 in the Dutch Top 40, while the next two singles "How Do You Do" and "Hello-A" both reached #1
. In 1972, Mouth & MacNeal reached the top of the charts
throughout Continental Europe and Scandinavia
. "How Do You Do" was made popular in the United States
by radio
personality Jim Connors
and the song eventually reached #8 in the U.S. in July 1972. "How Do You Do" spent 19 weeks in the Billboard Hot 100
and won the R.I.A.A.
gold disc
on 2 August 1972. Selling over a million copies in the U.S. alone, global sales exceeded two million.
This propelled their 1972 album
How Do You Do into the Billboard 200
(US #77). More hit singles followed in 1973, and in 1974 Mouth & MacNeal represented the Netherlands in the Eurovision Song Contest
placing third, behind ABBA
and Gigliola Cinquetti
with their song "I See a Star
", which went on to be a #1 hit in Ireland
.
In December 1974, shortly after their success with "I See a Star", Mouth and MacNeal split up. Mouth continued with his wife Ingrid Kup as Big Mouth & Little Eve, whereas MacNeal resumed her solo career. MacNeal went on to represent the Netherlands again at the Eurovision Song Contest 1980
held in The Hague
, singing "Amsterdam", finishing fifth in a field of nineteen.
By then, Mouth was pursuing a solo-career too; under his own name he charted with Dutch-language versions of Frankie Miller
's Darlin and Chattanooga Choo Choo
(based on German singer Udo Lindenberg
's adaptation). In 1992 Duyn joined forces with rural-conscious rockers Normaal
for Tenpole Tudor
's Wunderbar when their own frontman Bennie Jolink recovered from a motorcycle-accident.
Duyn died from a heart attack in his hometown of Roswinkel
on December 4, 2004 at the age of 67.
MacNeal too dropped her pseudonym and became Sjoukje Smit; in 2008 she reformed Mouth & MacNeal with Arie Ribbens replacing Duyn.
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
duo
Duet (music)
A duet is a musical composition for two performers. In classical music, the term is most often used for a composition for two singers or pianists; with other instruments, the word duo is also often used. A piece performed by two pianists performing together on the same piano is referred to as...
from the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. They are best known for their million selling recording of "How Do You Do".
Career
They were formed in 1971 when record producerRecord producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
Hans van Hemert
Hans van Hemert
Hans van Hemert is a Dutch ASCAP award winning record producer and songwriter. Mouth & MacNeal and Luv' are among the pop acts he produced...
brought together the solo
Solo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
talent of Mouth (born Willem Duyn, March 31, 1937; died December 4, 2004) and Maggie MacNeal
Maggie macneal
Maggie MacNeal is a Dutch singer.-Biography:After her first solo record in 1971, she teamed up with Willem Duyn, and the duo became known as Mouth & MacNeal...
(born Sjoukje van't Spijker, May 5, 1950). Mouth had previously sung in a number of 1960s bands
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
, including Speedway. MacNeal had released one solo single before teaming up with Mouth, a cover
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye
Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. , better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye, was an American singer-songwriter and musician with a three-octave vocal range....
's "I Heard It Through the Grapevine
I Heard It through the Grapevine
"I Heard It Through the Grapevine" is a landmark song in the history of Motown. Written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong in 1966, the single was first recorded by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles...
", also produced by van Hemert.
The duo released their first single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
, "Hey You Love", which reached #5 in the Dutch Top 40, while the next two singles "How Do You Do" and "Hello-A" both reached #1
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
. In 1972, Mouth & MacNeal reached the top of the charts
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
throughout Continental Europe and Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
. "How Do You Do" was made popular in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
by radio
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
personality Jim Connors
Jim Connors
Jim "JC" Connors was a popular radio personality of the 1960s through 1980s in the United States.-Highlights:...
and the song eventually reached #8 in the U.S. in July 1972. "How Do You Do" spent 19 weeks in the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
and won the R.I.A.A.
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
gold disc
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
on 2 August 1972. Selling over a million copies in the U.S. alone, global sales exceeded two million.
This propelled their 1972 album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
How Do You Do into the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
(US #77). More hit singles followed in 1973, and in 1974 Mouth & MacNeal represented the Netherlands in the Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
placing third, behind ABBA
ABBA
ABBA was a Swedish pop group formed in Stockholm in 1970 which consisted of Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Agnetha Fältskog...
and Gigliola Cinquetti
Gigliola Cinquetti
Gigliola Cinquetti is an Italian singer, TV presenter and journalist.-Biography:At the age of 16 she won the Sanremo Music Festival in 1964 singing "Non ho l'età" , with music composed by Nicola Salerno and lyrics by Mario Panzeri...
with their song "I See a Star
I See a Star
"I See a Star" was the Dutch entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1974, performed in English by Mouth & MacNeal....
", which went on to be a #1 hit in Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
.
In December 1974, shortly after their success with "I See a Star", Mouth and MacNeal split up. Mouth continued with his wife Ingrid Kup as Big Mouth & Little Eve, whereas MacNeal resumed her solo career. MacNeal went on to represent the Netherlands again at the Eurovision Song Contest 1980
Eurovision Song Contest 1980
The Eurovision Song Contest 1980 was the 25th Eurovision Song Contest and was held on 19 April 1980 in The Hague. The presenter was Marlous Fluitsma, although each song was introduced by a presenter from the nation represented...
held in The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
, singing "Amsterdam", finishing fifth in a field of nineteen.
By then, Mouth was pursuing a solo-career too; under his own name he charted with Dutch-language versions of Frankie Miller
Frankie Miller
Frankie Miller is a Scottish rock singer-songwriter, who had his biggest success in the 1970s. Miller was raised at Colvend Street, Glasgow with his parents, Cathy and Frank, and elder sisters Letty and Anne. Miller attended Sacred Heart Primary school. He was an altar boy in Sacred Heart Chapel...
's Darlin and Chattanooga Choo Choo
Chattanooga Choo Choo
"Chattanooga Choo Choo" is a song by Harry Warren and Mack Gordon . It was recorded in a big-band/swing manner by Glenn Miller and his orchestra and featured in the 1941 movie Sun Valley Serenade, which starred Sonja Henie, John Payne, Glenn Miller and his orchestra, The Modernaires, Milton Berle...
(based on German singer Udo Lindenberg
Udo Lindenberg
Udo Lindenberg is a German rock musician and composer.-Career:Lindenberg started his musical career as a drummer. In 1969 Lindenberg founded his first band Free Orbit and also appeared as a studio and guest musician . In 1970 he collaborated as a drummer with jazz-saxophonist Klaus Doldinger in...
's adaptation). In 1992 Duyn joined forces with rural-conscious rockers Normaal
Normaal
Normaal is a rock band from the Netherlands, more specifically from the Achterhoek region, and sing in the local dialect. The band started in 1975 as a reaction to disco and glamrock. They have since gained national fame, and have had more top 40 hits in the Dutch chart than any other band, despite...
for Tenpole Tudor
Tenpole Tudor
Tenpole Tudor are an English punk band fronted by Edward Tudor-Pole. The band has been active intermittently since 1977.-Origins:Tenpole Tudor formed in 1977 when Tudor-Pole met guitarist Bob Kingston , bassist Dick Crippen, and drummer Gary Long...
's Wunderbar when their own frontman Bennie Jolink recovered from a motorcycle-accident.
Duyn died from a heart attack in his hometown of Roswinkel
Roswinkel
Roswinkel is a village in the Netherlands. It is part of the Emmen municipality in Drenthe, and lies alongside the border with Germany. Roswinkel has an altitude of 12 meters and a population of 863 .-External links:*...
on December 4, 2004 at the age of 67.
MacNeal too dropped her pseudonym and became Sjoukje Smit; in 2008 she reformed Mouth & MacNeal with Arie Ribbens replacing Duyn.