George Baker Selection

The George Baker Selection was an eclectic Dutch pop-rock band that was fronted by the extremely talented and versatile singer, composer, guitarist, keyboard player and songwriter George Baker. The band was first formed as Soul Invention in 1967. They changed their name to the George Baker Selection in 1969. In 1970 the group scored a substantial smash hit with the insanely groovy and quirky psychedelic rock pip "Little Green Bag," which reached #21 on the US Billboard pop charts and was recorded by the band with their own money (it was prominently featured on the soundtrack to Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs (1992), and has been used on episodes of the TV shows Red Dwarf (1988) and Freaks and Geeks (1999)). Alas, the lovely country ballad "Dear Ann" stalled at #93 on the US Billboard charts. However, the band enjoyed a steady succession of radio hits in Holland that include such terrific songs as "Morning Sky," "Wild Bird," "Manana," "Holy Day," and "I'm on My Way." In 1975 the band achieved its single greatest success with the bubbly, catchy and upbeat "Una Paloma Blanca"; the infectiously frothy and cheerful tune was a #1 hit in many countries, reached #26 on the US Billboard charts and sold over three million copies worldwide.

The group sold over 20 million records in their heyday of the 1970s. Unfortunately, the George Baker Selection broke up in 1978 because the pressure of being in the spotlight became too much to bear. Baker revived the group in 1985; this new incarnation of the band lasted until 1989. George Baker has since gone on to have a hugely successful solo career.