The Unofficial George Baker Selection Homepage

L-R: Sjaak Greuter, George The, Hans Bouwens, Jan Hop, Lydia (Linda) Bont, Martin Schoen

George Baker is the stage name of Dutch singer, songwriter, musician Hans Bouwens (vocals, guitar, piano, block flute, organ, mandolin). The group began in 1967 under the name Soul Invention, changing in 1969 to The George Baker Selection, at the time featuring a more rock-oriented sound. By 1974, the group switched to a more European middle-of-the-road style and burst onto the international scene with the single, Paloma Blanca. (The first single in 1969, Little Green Bag, a psychedelic rock-style tune, made it into the high teens of the Billboard American Top 100, but the second release, a more countryish tune called Dear Ann, fared less well, staying on the chart a mere two weeks and peaking at #93. The group seemingly disappeared until 1975 when Paloma Blanca hit the top twenty in the US. But the group had been far from idle. In their native Holland they scored successful single after successful single, racking up sales in the millions with numerous gold and platinum albums. George has gone solo twice, recording his last new album, Memories, that way in 1992. At present he is on tour with the Volendam Music Show with Anny Schilder (ex-BZN) and Piet Veerman, and has recently purchased his own studio.

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Much thanks goes to Casper Janssen of EMI for up to date Baker release info!

***The Latest Baker News!***
Item: 8/16/04 EMI Music Netherlands have now released George Baker Selection's 1977 album "Summer Melody" on CD. The CD is part of their series "Hit Expresse", which also includes the Christmas album "Another Lonely Christmas". Catalogue number: 8647462

Item: George Baker has a number of German songs on the recent (06/28/2002) CD, Die Goldenen Stimmen(with Jantje Smit & Piet Veerman) released by KOCH Germany;

Tracks Include:

1. Drei Stimmen für ein Halleluja - George Baker [03:13]
2. Paloma blanca - George Baker [03:00]
3. Weil Wunder möglich sind - George Baker [03:51]
4. Tanze heut nur mit mir (Let's dance) - Piet Veerman [03:26]
5. Santa Lucia by night - George Baker [03:59]
6. Hier sind wir - George Baker [03:52]
7. Du bist nicht mehr da (Where I have been wrong) - Piet Veerman [03:50]
8. Der Wind und das Meer und die Liebe - George Baker [04:02]
9. Te quiero - George Baker [03:48]
10. Abendwind (One way wind) - Piet Veerman [03:34]
11. Die zärtlichen Mädchen der Welt - George Baker [03:16]
12. Morning sky (Blauer Himmel, blaue Augen) - George Baker [03:16]
13. Sailin' home (Wir sind jung) - Piet Veerman [04:24]
14. Solang im Herzen Träume sind - George Baker [03:44]
15. Veronika - George Baker [03:40]
16. Sandy river - Piet Veerman [03:14]
17. Jeder braucht ein bisschen Glück - Jantje Smit [03:30]
18. Und diese Rosen sind

Item: The Christmas album has been released on CD with bonus tracks just in time for the holiday season. The album contains one of the most beautiful and haunting intrumentals written, and a number of other nice songs. (Many thanks to Rob for the information)

Item: The new three CD set is out and includes a bunch of extra material from B-sides, plus unreleased versions of George Baker's songs. Some rare and excellent material. Especially nice are Say You Love Me, Jessalina, Mademoiselle, Bye Bye My Love. The best part is a DVD that includes a slew of videos, many rare. The disc provides a wonderful retrospect of his career.  The video for Marja is worth the price of the DVD alone. My only criticism is that it stops at Santa Lucia By Night. I would love to see some of the solo and later Selection material but perhaps this means another volume is on the way? Keep your fingers crossed. The DVD is also available separately from CDzone.co.uk It's a must have for all Baker fans! (The DVD is in PAL/Region 2 format, so is playable in Euro DVD players but not US ones. I was lucky enough to have a player that handles Euro DVDs, but for American fans there are multi-region players available from JVC and others.) It is a fine tribute to a wonderful artist and truly unique talent.

I have heard rumors of a possible Dutch CD coming from George Baker, as well as possible back catalog releases, but they are uncomfirmed at this time. My only hope is there will be a new CD soon!

George Baker Selection Discography:

Little Green Bag 1969

  1. Little Green Bag
  2. Winter Time
  3. Funny Girl
  4. The Prisoner
  5. Road of Peace
  6. Fly
  7. Dear Ann
  8. Impressions
  9. I Wanna Love You
  10. Have Another Drink
  11. I'll Be Your Baby Tonight
  12. Goodbye

Love in the World 1970

  1. Over and Over
  2. Suicide Daisy
  3. Cindy
  4. Midnight
  5. Sunday Lover
  6. Little Green Bag
  7. Little Milly
  8. Don't Bring Me Down
  9. Dear Ann
  10. Love in the World

Now 1972

  1. Mama oh Mama
  2. Jesus Told Us
  3. Lady of the River
  4. Tonight
  5. Mary
  6. Hallelujah
  7. Omaha
  8. Take Me to the River
  9. Catherine
  10. 1954
  11. Nathalie
  12. Explosions

Hot Baker 1974  

  1. (Fly Away) Little Paraquayo
  2. Baby Blue
  3. I'm Back
  4. Un Melody D'Amour
  5. A Wonder
  6. Morning Light
  7. Canta Libre
  8. Goodbye
  9. We'll Make it Right Someday
  10. Sweetheart, Sweetheart
  11. Drink, Drink
  12. Cher

Paloma Blanca 1975

  1. Dreamboat
  2. Rose Marie
  3. I've Been Away Too Long
  4. Sing a Song of Love
  5. Don't Break this Heart (of Mine)
  6. Jane
  7. Darling
  8. Love Me Like I Love You
  9. Alone
  10. Padre
  11. Paloma Blanca
  12. Some Words

A Song for You 1975

  1. Open Up Your Heart
  2. Send Me the Pillow
  3. Don't Forget Me
  4. Morning Sky
  5. Take Me Home
  6. Israel
  7. Superstar
  8. A song For You
  9. As Long As the Sun Will Shine
  10. The Fisherman
  11. Seagull
  12. African Dream

River Song 1976

  1. Silver
  2. You're My Brightest Star
  3. If You Understand
  4. Anny You're the Woman that I Love
  5. River Song
  6. Gone By the Wind
  7. Wild Bird
  8. All I Have to Do is Dream
  9. Libertad
  10. Look for the Sun
  11. For Esther

So Lang Die Sonne Scheint 1976 (German Language Album)

  1. Silber
  2. Solang die Sonne Scheint
  3. Superstar
  4. Das Weite Meer ist Sein Zuhaus
  5. Flieg Fremder Vogel
  6. Traumboot
  7. Paloma Blanca
  8. Sing mit Unser Lied
  9. Mañana
  10. Wer Kennt Seine Jahre
  11. Kleiner Paraquayo
  12. Morning Sky

Summer Melody 1977

  1. Summer Melody
  2. Beautiful Rose
  3. Movie Lovers
  4. Mañana
  5. Daughter of Mine
  6. Jimmy
  7. Let My Son
  8. Sunshine
  9. Old Man
  10. Love Will Be the Answer
  11. Marja
  12. In the Morning

In Your Heart 1978 (solo)

  1. In Your Heart
  2. Woman of Mine
  3. Sail on the Wind
  4. Rosita
  5. Red Red Wine
  6. The Singer
  7. Think
  8. Nelly
  9. Mama's Coat
  10. Nighttrain
  11. The Good Day
  12. For Emmylou

Another Lonely Christmas 1978 (solo)

  1. Christmas Morning
  2. Little Boy's Dream
  3. Lonely Christmas Night
  4. Someday
  5. Jesus Will You Carry My Soul
  6. Silent Night
  7. If You Say Goodbye
  8. Dreams
  9. The Hallelujah Song
  10. When the First Snow Is Falling
  11. Lady of the Silver Wind
  12. Christmas Morning (Reprise)

Sing for the Day 1979 (solo)

  1. Sing for the Day
  2. Good Morning Morning
  3. Up and Down
  4. Heartville
  5. Little Love
  6. Alone Again
  7. Oh Magdalena
  8. Dance With Me
  9. When Love is Gone
  10. I hardly Know My Name
  11. As Long Your Heart is Young
  12. Goodnight

Wild Flower 1980 (solo)

  1. Wildflower
  2. When
  3. Have You Ever
  4. When I Was Young
  5. All My Love
  6. Flowers
  7. You Don't Love Me Anymore
  8. Daddy
  9. Benjamin
  10. For Jennifer

Winds of Time 1981 (solo)

  1. Wasted Love
  2. Papillon
  3. Sail Out on the Winds of Time
  4. Love is the Sweetest Rose
  5. Another Man
  6. Some Lovers
  7. It's Only You
  8. Summernights
  9. Tu No Me Queires
  10. Paris Nights
  11. Mon Amour

Paradise Island 1982

  1. Paradise Island
  2. The Wind
  3. Let Me Be the One
  4. Desert Song
  5. Tell Me
  6. So Alone Am I
  7. Quien
  8. When We're Dancing
  9. How Can I live
  10. Alle Dromen
  11. It's Up to You
  12. Tonight is the Night

Santa Lucia by Night 1985

  1. Santa Lucia By Night
  2. Tell Me Why
  3. I Love You
  4. Before the Next Teardrop Falls
  5. Without You
  6. True Love
  7. Manolito
  8. Jenny
  9. Maya
  10. The Fisherman

Viva America 1987

  1. Viva America
  2. You'll Never Break  My Heart (No More)
  3. Live and Let Love
  4. I've Got My Freedom
  5. The End of the Day
  6. This Old House
  7. Bella Maria
  8. Samos
  9. When You Learn to Fly
  10. Johnny

Dreamboat 1988

  1. Sing for the Day (New version)
  2. I've Got My Freedom (New version)
  3. I'm on My Way (New version)
  4. Love Me or Leave Me
  5. Dreamboat (New version)
  6. Beautiful Rose (New version)
  7. Marie Julie
  8. Que Viva Summer Holiday
  9. Baby Come Back
  10. Morning Sky (New version)
  11. Santa Lucia by Night (New version)
  12. Paloma Blanca (New version)
  13. All My Love (New version)
  14. Goodbye Little Boy

From Russia with Love 1989

  1. From Russia With Love
  2. The Wedding
  3. My Love
  4. Save All Your Love Songs
  5. Those Words
  6. So Sad
  7. Long Black Train
  8. Music Man
  9. Souls on Fire
  10. When Will You Love Me
  11. A Night Like This

Love in Your Heart 1991 (solo)

  1. Marie Louisa
  2. Souvenirs Del Sol
  3. Love in Your Heart
  4. Fly Away (Little Paraquayo)
  5. So Lonely
  6. I Can't Stop Loving You
  7. Have I
  8. My Girl
  9. Never Ending Lovesong
  10. Tu No Me Quieres
  11. Too Young to Know
  12. It's Allright

Memories 1992 (solo)

  1. Pistolero
  2. Ayayay
  3. When Will I See You Again
  4. As Years Go By
  5. Walk Away
  6. So Beautiful (Song For Laura)
  7. Memories
  8. Fifty Nine
  9. Send Me the Pillow
  10. Smile
  11. La Liberte
  12. Hello Baby

Flashback (2000)

  1. Flashback
  2. Fly
  3. Hold On
  4. My One and Only Friend
  5. The Girl from Yesterday
  6. Walking on Sunshine
  7. Mama Need Some Help
  8. Love is All
  9. The Rover
  10. Baby
  11. Reasons to Believe
  12. Make it Home

Available from CDZone.

Vist the new Georgebaker.com

There are also many many compilation albums and greatest hits packages.

Now in trade paperback from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, AmazonUK or order direct from Golden Perils Press by clicking on the above graphic.

Biographical Information: 

Born: December 8, 1944
Hobbies: Music, Motorbike riding on his Harley, American autos, reading
Favorite colors: Red and black
Favorite clothing: Old jeans and T-shirts
Repertoire: 99.9% self-written and self-produced
Records sold: Over 20,000,00
Gold records:25

George's music has also been recorded by many other artists (Tom Jones, Slim Whitman, Ray Coniff, Bobby Vinton and 125 separate versions of Paloma Blanca, as well as countless European artists, and used in films such as The Executioner's Song and Reservoir Dogs).

Fan Club Info:

Jeanne and Cor Bot 

Vrijheer van Eslaan 79
3353 TB Papendrecht
Holland

Be sure to include International Reply Coupons if mailing from outside of The Netherlands.

Voor Schrijven naar de fanclub hoort een postzegel te worden bijgesloten voor antwoord. Buiten Nederland antwoordcoupons.

L-R: Peter Goeman, Elly Bloothoofd, George The, Hans Bouwens, Nelleke Brzoskowski, Jan Hop

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