C. C. Catch
Quick Facts
Leo
Biography
Caroline Catherine Müller (born 31 July 1964), known professionally as C. C. Catch, is a Dutch-born German pop singer, best known for her collaboration with Dieter Bohlen in the 1980s.
Early life
C. C. Catch was born in the Netherlands to a German father and a Dutch mother and moved to Germany in the late 1970s with her family. She was supported by her parents from an early age, when they recognised her talent and encouraged her wish to be a famous singer. Her father was especially supportive and played a very important role in her successful career as her manager and tour-manager.
From an early age, the up-and-coming singer took part in talent contests and was originally a member of the German girl quartet Optimal, which consisted of four female members.
Musical career
Müller was discovered by Dieter Bohlen (one half of Modern Talking) in one of her performances in Hamburg. Bohlen signed her to BMG, effectively launching her solo career. Bohlen gave her the stage name C. C. Catch, the two "C"s standing for the first initials of her two first names, and "Catch" which she thought was a good idea and looked great with the initials.
In the summer of 1985, Catch released her debut single "I Can Lose My Heart Tonight". The single entered the Top 20 in some European countries, including Germany and Switzerland.
Bohlen and Catch worked together until 1989, during which time twelve singles and four albums were released. Eight of those singles entered the Top 20, whereas one of the albums entered the Top 10. Catch wanted to bring more personal input to her songs, but Bohlen refused. As a result, in 1989, she parted ways with him and BMG. However, it took some court hearings for her to win the rights to her stage name.
On a New Year's Eve television show in Spain, Catch met Simon Napier Bell (former manager of Wham!'s George Michael). Shortly thereafter, Bell became her manager and signed her to Polygram subsidiary Metronome. Her 1st (and only) album in the label, Hear What I Say, was released at the end of 1989 and was Catch's last album to date. It was produced by Andy Taylor (ex-Duran Duran), Dave Clayton (who has worked with George Michael and U2), and Jo Dworniak. Seven of the songs were co-written by her, in which Catch was able to collaborate more. It sold more than her previous two albums, Big Fun and Diamonds, demonstrating her abilities as an artist working on her own terms.
From this album, "Big Time" was released as a single in 1989, and peaked at No. 26 in Germany. During this time, BMG also released the single "Baby I Need Your Love", along with the compilation Classics.
In 2003 C. C. Catch charted in Spain with Shake Your Head 2003 on nr. 12 in official charts.
Hiatus
Afterwards, C. C. Catch parted with Metronome on good terms to take time out from the music industry. During this time she focused on her spiritual growth, practicing yoga and a form of meditation; she also started writing her own songs.
Discography
Studio albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GER | AUT | NOR | SPA | SWE | SWI | ||||
| Catch the Catch |
| 6 | 24 | 6 | 21 | 25 | 8 | ||
| Welcome to the Heartbreak Hotel |
| 28 | — | — | 22 | 44 | — |
| |
| Like a Hurricane |
| 30 | — | — | 25 | — | — | ||
| Big Fun |
| 53 | — | — | 22 | — | — |
| |
| Hear What I Say |
| 75 | — | — | 46 | — | — | ||
| "—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart. | |||||||||
Compilation albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GER | SPA | ||||||||
| Diamonds: Her Greatest Hits |
| 43 | 25 |
| |||||
| Super 20 |
| — | — | ||||||
| Backseat of Your Cadillac |
| — | — | ||||||
| Super Disco Hits |
| — | — | ||||||
| Best of '98 |
| 76 | — | ||||||
| Heartbreak Hotel |
| — | — | ||||||
| Best of C. C. Catch |
| — | — | ||||||
| In the Mix |
| — | — | ||||||
| Catch the Hits |
| — | — | ||||||
| The 80's Album |
| — | — | ||||||
| Maxi Hit Sensation-Nonstop DJ |
| — | — | ||||||
| Ultimate C. C. Catch |
| — | — | ||||||
| 25th Anniversary Box (5CD) |
| — | — | ||||||
| "—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart. | |||||||||
Singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GER | AUT | BEL (FLA) | SPA | SWI | UK | ||||||||
| "I Can Lose My Heart Tonight" | 1985 | 13 | 24 | — | 7 | 19 | — | Catch the Catch | |||||
| "'Cause You Are Young" | 1986 | 9 | 28 | — | 6 | 8 | — | ||||||
| "Strangers by Night" | 9 | 15 | 33 | 10 | 11 | — | |||||||
| "Heartbreak Hotel" | 8 | 22 | 23 | 3 | 13 | — | Welcome to the Heartbreak Hotel | ||||||
| "Heaven and Hell" | 13 | — | — | 2 | 19 | — | |||||||
| "Are You Man Enough" | 1987 | 20 | — | — | 5 | 28 | — | Like a Hurricane | |||||
| "Soul Survivor" | 17 | — | — | 1 | — | 96 | |||||||
| "Good Guys Only Win in Movies" | 1988 | — | — | — | 6 | — | — | ||||||
| "House of Mystic Lights" | 22 | — | — | 7 | — | — | Non-album single | ||||||
| "Backseat of Your Cadillac" | 10 | — | — | 6 | — | — | Big Fun | ||||||
| "Summer Kisses" | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| "Nothing but a Heartache" | 1989 | 39 | — | — | 14 | — | — | ||||||
| "Baby I Need Your Love" | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| "Big Time" | 26 | — | — | — | — | — | Hear What I Say | ||||||
| "Midnight Hour" | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| "C. C. Catch Megamix '98" | 1998 | 33 | — | — | — | — | — | Best of '98 | |||||
| "Soul Survivor '98" | — | — | — | 8 | — | — | |||||||
| "I Can Lose My Heart Tonight '99" | 1999 | 72 | — | — | 12 | — | — | ||||||
| "Shake Your Head" | 2003 | — | — | — | 12 | — | — | Non-album singles | |||||
| "Silence" (featuring Leela) | 2004 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| "Unborn Love" | 2010 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| "Another Night in Nashville" (with Chris Norman) | 2014 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| "—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart. | |||||||||||||
