Gentlemen callers not allowed - Gilla

Gilla was discovered by German producer Frank Farian who got her signed to Hansa Records in 1974. At first he tried to launch her as a German artist, singing songs in her native language only. Although she had some hits in Germany, her career started to fail pretty quickly.

Farian and Gilla decided to try and conquer the international market, releasing an international album in the summer of 1977. Entitled 'Help help', the album contained some original English material as well as English version of songs from her only German-language album, 'Zieh mich aus'. 'Gentlemen callers not allowed' (an English version of 'Herrn-Besuche nicht erlaubt') was released as a single and promoted with Boney M.'s charismatic male dancer Bobby Farrell on a few TV shows. It reached number 14 in the Dutch Top 40 but was a minor success in most other European countries.

My collection: 7" single no. 4544
Found: Any old time, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 0,1 euro
Tracks: 'Gentlemen callers not allowed' / 'Say yes'

We gotta get out of this place - Gilla

'We gotta get out of this place' was written by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil and recorded in 1965 by the Animals. It became an iconic song in its time and was a favourite among the American soldiers during the Vietnam War.

Gilla recorded a cover version in 1979 with Frank Farian producing. Her version reached number 26 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4505
Found: Any old time, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 0,1 euro
Tracks: 'We gotta get out of this place' / 'Take the best of me'

Why don't you do it? - Gilla

After two German-language singles, Gilla recorded the singles 'Do you want to sleep with me' and 'Tu es' in 1975. The third and last single of that year by Gilla was this one, 'Why don't you do it?', a track that sounded not unlike Boney M's 'Do you wanna bump?'. And that is not surprising, since both Gilla and Boney M were produced by Frank Farian.

Another great track is the B-side, in which Gilla declares to an unnamed gentleman that she wants to have a 'Baby of love' with him. I'm not even sure if that is good English...

My collection: 7" single no. 4048
Found: La La Land, Den Haag, September 19, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Why don't you do it?' / 'A baby of love'

Bend me shape me - Gilla

Gisela Wuchinger was born on February 7, 1950 in Austria. She was discovered by German producer Frank Farian in 1974. He signed her to Hansa Records and gave her the stage name Gilla. After an unsuccessful German cover version of an Italian song, Farian had her record a German disco version of 'Lady Marmalade'. Still singing in German, she caused some commotion for singing explicit lyrics: 'Willst du mit mir schlafen gehn?' was a direct translation of the song's famous line 'Voulez vous coucher avec moi'.

Gilla released her first international album, 'Help help', in 1977. On her second international album, this single appeared. It was a disco cover of The American Breed's 'Bend me, shape me'. My copy of the single comes from Spain, hence the translated title on the cover.

My collection: 7" single no. 3550

Found: All that music, Leiden, January 24, 2009

Cost: 1,6 euro

Tracks: 'Bend me shape me' / 'The river sings'

Download: Album 'Bend me shape me', including both tracks