Experience the Magic: Cindy & Bert Take on Black Sabbath’s Paranoid with a Sherlock Holmes Twist in 1971!
Germany has produced a plethora of iconic music acts over the years, with Cindy & Bert being a standout pop duo from the 70s. While they may not have achieved the same level of global fame as some of their contemporaries, Cindy & Bert certainly left their mark on the music scene, particularly with an unexpected cover version that has stood the test of time.
Back in 1971, before they rose to prominence, Cindy & Bert released a single titled Holly Holy. On the b-side of the record was a hidden gem called Der Hund Von Baskerville. What made this song truly unique was the fact that it was a retelling of Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes story, The Hound of the Baskervilles, set to the tune of Black Sabbath’s classic Paranoid. Yes, you read that right – a pop duo singing a Sherlock Holmes mystery to the tune of a heavy metal anthem.
Fast forward to 1972, and Cindy & Bert performed Der Hund Von Baskerville on the Swiss TV show Hits à Gogo. The performance featured a swirling Hammond organ, a horror-themed backdrop, and even a cute dog. Despite the seemingly bizarre combination, the duo’s rendition of the song was nothing short of mesmerizing, infusing the original Black Sabbath track with a psychedelic twist that captivated audiences.
Even after Cindy & Bert’s career came to an end, the legacy of Der Hund Von Baskerville lived on. The song made an appearance on the duo’s 1995 greatest hits compilation, Gib Mir Zeit, and in 2022, the original single was re-released for Record Store Day. This time around, Der Hund Von Baskerville took center stage as the lead track, relegating Holly Holy to the b-side. Both versions of the single have become sought-after collector’s items, fetching impressive prices in the music memorabilia market.
For those curious about the lyrics of Der Hund Von Baskerville, they paint a vivid picture of mystery and intrigue:
Nebel zieht in dichten Schwaden
Ãœbers Moor von Forest Hill
Grün-gespenstig grinst ein Irrlicht
Es ist Nacht in Baskerville
Wer verbreitet Angst und Schrecken
Wer vernichtet, was er will
Jeder sucht sich zu verstecken
Vor dem Hund von Baskerville
Roughly translated, these lyrics evoke a sense of eerie atmosphere and impending danger, mirroring the dark themes of the original Sherlock Holmes tale.
Der Hund Von Baskerville may have started as an obscure b-side track, but it has since earned its rightful place as a cult classic in the music world. Cindy & Bert’s unexpected fusion of pop and heavy metal elements created a musical masterpiece that continues to captivate audiences to this day. So, next time you’re exploring your favorite record store, keep an eye out for this hidden gem – you never know what musical treasures you might unearth.
