Henk's gotta know this guy from the Netherlands...George Baker Selection -  Una Paloma Blanca

I had forgotten all about this song and for only charting at 153 in the US, it sure was on the radio a lot, although it was #1 in some other countries. it's kinda ABBA-ish, but with a Polka like flare and this silly song makes me wanna put on some clogs and laugh and dance like a clogging fool  :D
....and you know what?  

I like it!!   :)      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UWXgpv2v2Q&feature=related

good Rock and Roll songs came out in 75' like Sweet Emotion, Bohemian Rhapsody, Feel Like Makin' Love, Slow Ride and yet this song rooted in and is among them and that's kinda cool  8)

Henk's gotta know this guy from the Netherlands...George Baker Selection -  Una Paloma Blanca

I had forgotten all about this song and for only charting at 153 in the US, it sure was on the radio a lot, although it was #1 in some other countries. it's kinda ABBA-ish, but with a Polka like flare and this silly song makes me wanna put on some clogs and laugh and dance like a clogging fool  :D
....and you know what? 

I like it!!  :)      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UWXgpv2v2Q&feature=related

good Rock and Roll songs came out in 75' like Sweet Emotion, Bohemian Rhapsody, Feel Like Makin' Love, Slow Ride and yet this song rooted in and is among them and that's kinda cool  8)

Don't know what it charted in Canada, but it was on the radio pretty often. Nice song.
It's a happy song.
Makes me think of other songs around that time period, "Save your kisses for me" and "Fly Robin Fly"

Don't know what it charted in Canada, but it was on the radio pretty often. Nice song.
It's a happy song.
Makes me think of other songs around that time period, "Save your kisses for me" and "Fly Robin Fly"

                                                                                               ^
do you mean this song?  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Szavq0lrFtg

oh man, I love the dancing in Fly Robin Fly..those chicks rock!  ;D  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RM72iWami9M

That #153 US chart position was for the album 'Paloma Blanca'.  The Song itself reached US #26 :)


Don't know what it charted in Canada, but it was on the radio pretty often. Nice song.
It's a happy song.
Makes me think of other songs around that time period, "Save your kisses for me" and "Fly Robin Fly"


Paloma Blanca, #10 in Canada, February of 1976

That #153 US chart position was for the album 'Paloma Blanca'.  The Song itself reached US #26 :)

Paloma Blanca, #10 in Canada, February of 1976

#10, ..I figured it was up there...got a lot of airplay back then.

In the UK we got this version

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsqnG-w3zIk

do you mean this song?  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Szavq0lrFtg

oh man, I love the dancing in Fly Robin Fly..those chicks rock!  ;D  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RM72iWami9M

Yup, "Save you kisses for me" by "Brotherhood of man"...The same group that reached the top 40 with "United we stand" a few years earlier.

Yup, "Save you kisses for me" by "Brotherhood of man"...The same group that reached the top 40 with "United we stand" a few years earlier.


I can still do the funky dance  :-[

That #153 US chart position was for the album 'Paloma Blanca'.  The Song itself reached US #26 :)

Paloma Blanca, #10 in Canada, February of 1976
thanks Jason.  as usual, I skimmed as I read my info  :-
Yup, "Save you kisses for me" by "Brotherhood of man"...The same group that reached the top 40 with "United we stand" a few years earlier.
another good song that was on a lot

In the UK we got this version

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsqnG-w3zIk
i saw this version and for a moment thought maybe he was the flute player subbing in for George  ::)

In the UK we got this version

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsqnG-w3zIk

The same guy who sang "Everyone's gone to the moon?"

The same guy who sang "Everyone's gone to the moon?"


The very same...

Not to be outdone, George's version also made the Top 10 in Britain...quite a rarity for a song to do that!

Henk's gotta know this guy from the Netherlands...George Baker Selection -  Una Paloma Blanca

I had forgotten all about this song and for only charting at 153 in the US, it sure was on the radio a lot, although it was #1 in some other countries. it's kinda ABBA-ish, but with a Polka like flare and this silly song makes me wanna put on some clogs and laugh and dance like a clogging fool  :D
....and you know what?  

I like it!!   :)      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UWXgpv2v2Q&feature=related

good Rock and Roll songs came out in 75' like Sweet Emotion, Bohemian Rhapsody, Feel Like Makin' Love, Slow Ride and yet this song rooted in and is among them and that's kinda cool  8)


I remember this song from my youth!  :D

But the highest-charting 'version' in Britain came the following year... ::)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5SX3A-ifME

Yup, "Save you kisses for me" by "Brotherhood of man"...The same group that reached the top 40 with "United we stand" a few years earlier.
Save your Kippers For Tea!

Just to see what George Baker was up against, here's what was in the Canadian Top 50 chart during the week that 'Paloma Blanca' reached it's peak ...

01 | 01 | Convoy - C.W. McCall
02 | 03 | Love Roller Coaster - Ohio Players
03 | 13 | Love to Love You Baby - Donna Summer
04 | 05 | Breaking Up is Hard to Do - Neil Sedaka
05 | 02 | Fox on the Run - The Sweet
06 | 09 | Squeeze Box - The Who
07 | 08 | Evil Woman - Electric Light Orchestra
08 | 10 | Love Hurts - Nazareth
09 | 20 | 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover - Paul Simon
10 | 14 | Paloma Blanca - George Baker Selection
11 | 11 | You Sexy Thing - Hot Chocolate
12 | 16 | Fanny (Be Tender With My Love) - The Bee Gees
13 | 17 | Sing A Song - Earth, Wind and Fire
14 | 19 | Loving You Baby - Wednesday http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y7/whistledog/canada-1.png
15 | 16 | General Hand Grenade - Trooper http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y7/whistledog/canada-1.png
16 | 04 | Do You Know Where - Diana Ross
17 | 22 | Take it to the Limit - The Eagles
18 | 26 | Love Machine - The Miracles
19 | 23 | All By Myself - Eric Carmen
20 | 29 | December Night in 1963 - The Four Seasons
21 | 05 | Saturday Night - Bay City Rollers
22 | 07 | I Write the Songs - Barry Manilow
23 | 12 | I Love Music - O'Jays
24 | 33 | Golden Years - David Bowie
25 | 15 | Let's Do it Again - The Staple Singers
26 | 21 | Fly Away - John Denver
27 | 49 | Baby Face - Wing and A Prayer
28 | 24 | Over My Head - Fleetwood Mac
29 | 32 | Somewhere in the Night - Helen Reddy
30 | 38 | Lady Bump - Penny McLean
31 | 25 | Eighteen With A Bullet - Pete Wingfield
32 | 35 | Breakaway - Art Garfunkel
33 | 44 | Wake Up Everybody - Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes
34 | 39 | Tracks of My Tears - Linda Ronstadt
35 | 42 | Chain Gang Medley - Jim Croce
36 | 41 | Love or Leave - Spinners
37 | 74 | Lonely Night - Captain and Tenille
38 | 45 | Grow Some Funk of Your Own - Elton John
39 | 40 | Slow Ride - Foghat
40 | 38 | Winners and Losers - Hamilton, Joe Frank and Reynolds
41 | 43 | Country Boy - Glen Campbell
42 | 52 | Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen
43 | 51 | Roll You Over - Marty Simon http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y7/whistledog/canada-1.png
44 | 27 | Fly Robin Fly - Silver Convention
45 | 30 | Walk Away From Love - David Ruffin
46 | 31 | Times of Your Life - Paul Anka http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y7/whistledog/canada-1.png
47 | 47 | Let it Shine - Olivia Newton-John
48 | 64 | Wow - Andre Gagnon http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y7/whistledog/canada-1.png
49 | 46 | Rock 'N' Roll All Night - Kiss
50 | 48 | Hurricane (Part 1) - Bob Dylan

Just to see what George Baker was up against, here's what was in the Canadian Top 50 chart during the week that 'Paloma Blanca' reached it's peak ...

01 | 01 | Convoy - C.W. McCall
02 | 03 | Love Roller Coaster - Ohio Players
03 | 13 | Love to Love You Baby - Donna Summer
04 | 05 | Breaking Up is Hard to Do - Neil Sedaka
05 | 02 | Fox on the Run - The Sweet
06 | 09 | Squeeze Box - The Who
07 | 08 | Evil Woman - Electric Light Orchestra
08 | 10 | Love Hurts - Nazareth
09 | 20 | 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover - Paul Simon
10 | 14 | Paloma Blanca - George Baker Selection
11 | 11 | You Sexy Thing - Hot Chocolate
12 | 16 | Fanny (Be Tender With My Love) - The Bee Gees
13 | 17 | Sing A Song - Earth, Wind and Fire
14 | 19 | Loving You Baby - Wednesday http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y7/whistledog/canada-1.png
15 | 16 | General Hand Grenade - Trooper http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y7/whistledog/canada-1.png
16 | 04 | Do You Know Where - Diana Ross
17 | 22 | Take it to the Limit - The Eagles
18 | 26 | Love Machine - The Miracles
19 | 23 | All By Myself - Eric Carmen
20 | 29 | December Night in 1963 - The Four Seasons
21 | 05 | Saturday Night - Bay City Rollers
22 | 07 | I Write the Songs - Barry Manilow
23 | 12 | I Love Music - O'Jays
24 | 33 | Golden Years - David Bowie
25 | 15 | Let's Do it Again - The Staple Singers
26 | 21 | Fly Away - John Denver
27 | 49 | Baby Face - Wing and A Prayer
28 | 24 | Over My Head - Fleetwood Mac
29 | 32 | Somewhere in the Night - Helen Reddy
30 | 38 | Lady Bump - Penny McLean
31 | 25 | Eighteen With A Bullet - Pete Wingfield
32 | 35 | Breakaway - Art Garfunkel
33 | 44 | Wake Up Everybody - Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes
34 | 39 | Tracks of My Tears - Linda Ronstadt
35 | 42 | Chain Gang Medley - Jim Croce
36 | 41 | Love or Leave - Spinners
37 | 74 | Lonely Night - Captain and Tenille
38 | 45 | Grow Some Funk of Your Own - Elton John
39 | 40 | Slow Ride - Foghat
40 | 38 | Winners and Losers - Hamilton, Joe Frank and Reynolds
41 | 43 | Country Boy - Glen Campbell
42 | 52 | Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen
43 | 51 | Roll You Over - Marty Simon http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y7/whistledog/canada-1.png
44 | 27 | Fly Robin Fly - Silver Convention
45 | 30 | Walk Away From Love - David Ruffin
46 | 31 | Times of Your Life - Paul Anka http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y7/whistledog/canada-1.png
47 | 47 | Let it Shine - Olivia Newton-John
48 | 64 | Wow - Andre Gagnon http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y7/whistledog/canada-1.png
49 | 46 | Rock 'N' Roll All Night - Kiss
50 | 48 | Hurricane (Part 1) - Bob Dylan
nice work Jason and looking at that list of great songs/hits, it's a bit hard to believe it was so high, and yet it happened. and where is george now?

With excellent timing, both Jonathan & George hit their peaks on the British chart on the same week! 11th October 1975...

01 | 01 | Hold Me Close - David Essex
02 | 04 | I Only Have Eyes For You - Art Garfunkel
03 | 03 | There Goes My First Love - Drifters
04 | 08 | I'm On Fire - 5000 Volts
05 | 10 | Una Paloma Blanca - Jonathan King
06 | 15 | It's Time For Love - Chi-Lites
07 | 06 | Funky Moped/Magic Roundabout - Jasper Carrott
08 | 09 | Fattie Bum Bum - Carl Malcolm
09 | 14 | Who Loves You - Four Seasons
10 | 11 | Paloma Blanca - George Baker Selection
11 | 02 | Sailing - Rod Stewart
12 | 13 | Scotch On The Rocks - Band Of The Black Watch
13 | 16 | SOS - Abba
14 | 23 | Feelings - Morris Albert
15 | 27 | L-L-Lucy - Mud
16 | 07 | Heartbeat - Showaddywaddy
17 | 19 | Big Ten - Judge Dread
18 | 05 | Moonlighting - Leo Sayer
19 | 18 | Like A Butterfly - Mac & Katie Kissoon
20 | 26 | Feel Like Makin' Love - Bad Company

Some strange ones here...Jasper's record sold on the strength of a 'banned' B-Side...
Despite mentioning 'Fat Bums', Carl Malcolm wasn't banned!
Judge Dread was banned...mind you, all of his smut-laden records were!
The Black Watch number was a bagpipe/brass band freakout!
And the song everyone loves to hate was making good progress at #14... ::)

Henk's gotta know this guy from the Netherlands...George Baker Selection -  Una Paloma Blanca

I had forgotten all about this song and for only charting at 153 in the US, it sure was on the radio a lot, although it was #1 in some other countries. it's kinda ABBA-ish, but with a Polka like flare and this silly song makes me wanna put on some clogs and laugh and dance like a clogging fool  :D
....and you know what?  

I like it!!   :)      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UWXgpv2v2Q&feature=related

good Rock and Roll songs came out in 75' like Sweet Emotion, Bohemian Rhapsody, Feel Like Makin' Love, Slow Ride and yet this song rooted in and is among them and that's kinda cool  8)


Well, of course I know George Baker (or Hans Bouwens, for that's his real name). The guy's had a total of 35 Top 40 hits in The Netherlands. ::)

"Una Paloma Blanca" was one of three consecutive #1 hits for George Baker Selection. The other two were "Sing A Song of Love" and "Morning Sky". Fifteen more of the band's songs made Dutch Top 10, including this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0L1hD5OlPtw

Well, of course I know George Baker (or Hans Bouwens, for that's his real name). The guy's had a total of 35 Top 40 hits in The Netherlands. ::)

"Una Paloma Blanca" was one of three consecutive #1 hits for George Baker Selection. The other two were "Sing A Song of Love" and "Morning Sky". Fifteen more of the band's songs made Dutch Top 10, including this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0L1hD5OlPtw
wow, and here i thought it was a one hit wonder  :o 

'Little Green Bag' also reached #16 in Canada and was George's biggest hit (of the two he had) in America where it reached US #21.  I actually prefer it over Paloma Blanca

'Little Green Bag' also reached #16 in Canada and was George's biggest hit (of the two he had) in America where it reached US #21.  I actually prefer it over Paloma Blanca

I prefer Little green bag as well.
I once bought an album and it had that song on it. I think the album was "Goofy Greats". Must have been a mid-70s album, a guess. I have forgottten, it's so long ago.

I prefer Little green bag as well.
I once bought an album and it had that song on it. I think the album was "Goofy Greats". Must have been a mid-70s album, a guess. I have forgottten, it's so long ago.


Could very well be a 1970's album. "Little Green Bag" was originally released in 1969, but it resurfaced after being used in "Reservoir Dogs" (1992). Oddly, it took another 7 years before the song made Dutch charts again... :-\\


I must say I kinda prefer George's earlier works (pre-1974) over his later works (1974 onward), when he switched to a much more commercial / MOTR style of music.

Well, of course I know George Baker (or Hans Bouwens, for that's his real name). The guy's had a total of 35 Top 40 hits in The Netherlands. ::)

"Una Paloma Blanca" was one of three consecutive #1 hits for George Baker Selection. The other two were "Sing A Song of Love" and "Morning Sky". Fifteen more of the band's songs made Dutch Top 10, including this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0L1hD5OlPtw
hold the phone Henk!  I do know this song and it's cool. I thought I didn't know it and after a listen, realized I did but had forgotten all bout it. George had some hits, to be sure  8)

hold the phone Henk!  I do know this song and it's cool. I thought I didn't know it and after a listen, realized I did but had forgotten all bout it. George had some hits, to be sure  8)


He sure had, but trust me - you don't wanna hear his 1980's sheeshe. ;D