35th anniversary of "Secret Love" by José!!!

Photo by Govert de Roos - thanks Co Rnz and Jos Theuns

35 years ago exactly, "Secret Love" by José Hoebee entered the Dutch Top 40 at #24 and later became a hit single in the Netherlands and Belgium. 1982 was a fabulous year in the solo career of José. One year after Luv's break-up, the singer scored a #1 hit with her cover version of "I Will Follow Him" (see article posted on July 2nd, 2017). The follow-up single "Secret Love" was also popular. José's recipe for success was to perform American classic hits from the 1950s and 1960s. Indeed, the artist was nicknamed "the cover queen".

Song History

Secret Love was a song originally performed by Doris Day in the film "Calamity Jane" in 1953. The track was written by Sammy Fain and Paul Francis Webster. It received an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1954. It reached the number one spot on both the Billboard and Cash Box charts in the USA. The record was also a chart topper in the UK. Many international recording artists (including Connie Francis, Kim Weston & Marvin Gaye, Freddy Fender, George Michael, Viola Wills, Mandy Moore, Engelbert Humperdinck and K.d Lang) covered the song. 

Release and production

Secret Love was released as a 7-inch 45 rpm record by CNR/Carrere Records in September 1982 with the country track "Mr Jones" on the B-side. It was later included on José's first solo album "The Good Times" that came out in late 1982 and on her compilation "Alle Hits & Unieke Bonustracks" (released by WVS Music in 2005). 

Pim Koopman (formerly of Dutch band Kayak and producer of the iconic sister duo "Maywood") supervised the recording sessions of the song. British singer July Forsyth (member of "Guys 'n Dolls" between 1974 and 1985) recorded the backing vocals. Renowned photographer Govert de Roos took a beautiful picture of José for the front cover of the single. 

Tracklisting:

• A side: Secret Love ( Webster, Fain) - 3:04
• B side: Mr. Jones (W. Helmus) - 3:06

Produced by Pim Koopman for  Purple Eye Productions B.V.
Marketed and distributed by  B.V. Grammofoonplatenmaatschappij CNR
Management: Interlinde Management
Photography by  Govert de Roos

Styling: Stinx - Hilversum - Amsterdam

Recently I asked José to tell me her feelings about this classic hit. "After "I Will Follow Him", I was named the "cover queen"...I've always been a fan of Doris Day...My husband, who came up with the idea of recording "I Will Follow Him", thought that "Secret Love" would fit me like a glove. Record producer Pim Koopman chose an uptempo dance-pop orchestration and it worked. I remember performing the song on Tineke de Nooij's show on TV. American actor Howard Keel was a guest on this program. He co-starred with Doris Day in the movie "Calamity Jane" that included "Secret Love". He talked to me very gently," the songstress told. 

Secret Love is always part of José's solo performances to this day. 

Record promotion of Secret Love in the media

José performed the track on several Dutch TV shows:

September 15th, 1982: Nederland Muziekland (Veronica)

September 25th, 1982: Met de TROS de winter door (TROS)

José on "Met de TROS de winter in" - Montage by Co Rnz

October 4th, 1982: Tineke Show (Veronica) 

José on "Tineke Show"

She even performed the song live on NCRV radio program "Los Vast" on October 2nd, 1982 and on Veronica radio show "Mijn Idool" on Juni 29th, 1983.

Secret Love (live) on "Mijn Idool" (Veronica, June 29th, 1983)

The youth and musical press (including Hitkrant) published articles about José's single. 

Chart performance

José's version of Secret Love entered the Dutch singles chart on September 18th, 1982 at #24. 

 Dutch Top 40 published on September 18th, 1982

The hit single later peaked at #11 on the Dutch Top 40 and #14 on the Nationale Hitparade in Holland as well as on #3 on the BRT Top 30 and #4 on the Flemish Ultratop 50 in Belgium. It even reached #19 on the Europarade (a list combining the charts of ten European countries).

To know more about José's first solo releases, please visit Karin's Facebook Page about "The Good Times" era (1982-1983): https://www.facebook.com/TheGoodTimesAlbum/

Thanks José, Co Rnz, Karin Angeleyes and Jos Theuns for making this article possible!!!

Photo by Govert de Roos - Montage by Co Rnz

Source: Wikipedia, Discogs.com, Dutchcharts, Facebook

Bibliography: Top 40 Hitdossier 1956-2005 (9e editie), 2006 by Johan van Slooten published by Gottmer Becht Groep