Gilla
Encyclopedia
Gilla is an Austria
n singer from the late 1970s disco
era.
who got her signed to Hansa Records
in 1974. After an unsuccessful German cover version "Mir ist kein Weg zu weit" of Marcella Bella
's Italian hit single "Nessuno mai", Farian had her record a German disco version of La Belle
's "Lady Marmalade
". Despite being a modest hit (#24), it caused some attention of being the first German record to feature such explicit lyrics as "Willst du mit mir schlafen gehn?" (Do You Want to Sleep With Me) (1975). It was followed later in the year with "Tu es" (also recorded in English as "Why Don't You Do It") which became Gilla's biggest hit, peaking at #10 in the German charts and giving Farian a commercial breakthrough as a producer. Gilla's debut LP, featuring a mix of disco, pop and schlager tracks, was released shortly after.
In the summer of 1976, Gilla followed with "Ich brenne" (I'm Burning), once again also recorded in English as "Help Help". It was a Dutch hit single but fared less well in Germany. Farian remixed the track with his own vocals for inclusion on Boney M.'s Take the Heat Off Me
to replace "Baby Do You Wanna Bump
" in some territories. In early 1977, Gilla's second album Zieh mich aus (Undress Me) was released. Despite featuring German versions of Boney M.'s hit single "Sunny
" and "No Woman No Cry", it fared poorly. Interestingly, the album also included the German version of a future hit for Boney M., "Belfast" which was originally written years earlier for Boney M. member Marcia Barrett
.
Gilla's first international album was released in the summer of 1977. Entitled Help Help, it featured her previous English recordings like "Why Don't You Do It" and "Help Help" + their B-sides, as well as English versions of songs from Zieh mich aus. "Gentlemen Callers not Allowed" ("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 but it was still only a minor success.
In January 1978, Gilla released a disco-rock cover of The American Breed's "Bend Me, Shape Me". The single was a #11 hit in Switzerland and it was decided to repackage the Help Help album with the inclusion of the new track and its B-side "The River Sings" ("Der Strom der Zeit") in May, entitled Bend Me, Shape Me. Once again, it was only a minor seller. Singer Bruce Low released a big-selling German cover of Boney M.'s mega-hit "Rivers of Babylon
" so Farian decided to have Gilla record a German cover of the follow-up single "Rasputin
". Released in November 1978, it was a flop and not even included on the following compilation Star Discothek a few months later.
Trying to repeat the success of "Bend Me, Shape Me", Gilla and her fiancé and co-producer Helmut Rulofs (who was also a recording artist under the name Chris Denning) released another disco-rock cover of The Animals
's "We Gotta Get Out of This Place" in March 1979. In 1980, her second English language album Cool Rock'n Roll was released including the title track single and "Go Down Mainstreet". Gilla and Rulofs, however, found bigger success when Farian recorded one of their songs with Boney M. "I See a Boat on the River" being a German Top 10 hit and a European hit single from the million-selling The Magic of Boney M. - 20 Golden Hits
, Gilla credited as G. Winger (Winger being an abbreviation of her surname Wuchinger).
In October 1981, Gilla's final single "Cigarillo" backed with a cover of "Friday on My Mind
" was released before she retired from the music business. She made a brief return with Rulofs as the duo Sweet Mix in 1982 but their single "Susan Don't Cry for Me" came and went without notice. They also contributed the track "Video" for Precious Wilson
's album All Coloured in Love that year.
Being largely forgotten in Europe today, Gilla has in recent years performed regularly in Russia where her records are enjoying considerable popularity.
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n singer from the late 1970s disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
era.
History
Gilla was discovered by German producer Frank FarianFrank Farian
Frank Farian , is a German record producer and songwriter. He started out as a trained cook before moving into the music industry...
who got her signed to Hansa Records
Hansa Records
Hansa Records was a record label founded in the 1960s based in Berlin, Germany....
in 1974. After an unsuccessful German cover version "Mir ist kein Weg zu weit" of Marcella Bella
Marcella Bella
Giuseppa Marcella Bella , professionally known as Marcella Bella, is an Italian singer. Her brothers Antonio and Salvatore Bella are famous musicians, and her brother Gianni Bella is another popular singer-songwriter who has composed several songs for her.In 1972, she took part in Festival di...
's Italian hit single "Nessuno mai", Farian had her record a German disco version of La Belle
La Belle
La Belle may be a place in the US:* La Belle, Florida* La Belle, Missouri* La Belle Township, South DakotaLa Belle may also be:* La Belle * La Belle * James D. La Belle, U.S. Marine Hero...
's "Lady Marmalade
Lady Marmalade
"Lady Marmalade" was also covered by Italian pop star Sabrina. It was released in 1987 as the album's second single by Baby Records. In some countries, including France and the Netherlands, the song was known as "Voulez-vous coucher avec moi? " and was released in 1988.-Track listings:7" maxi#...
". Despite being a modest hit (#24), it caused some attention of being the first German record to feature such explicit lyrics as "Willst du mit mir schlafen gehn?" (Do You Want to Sleep With Me) (1975). It was followed later in the year with "Tu es" (also recorded in English as "Why Don't You Do It") which became Gilla's biggest hit, peaking at #10 in the German charts and giving Farian a commercial breakthrough as a producer. Gilla's debut LP, featuring a mix of disco, pop and schlager tracks, was released shortly after.
In the summer of 1976, Gilla followed with "Ich brenne" (I'm Burning), once again also recorded in English as "Help Help". It was a Dutch hit single but fared less well in Germany. Farian remixed the track with his own vocals for inclusion on Boney M.'s Take the Heat Off Me
Take the Heat Off Me
Take The Heat Off Me is the debut album by Boney M.. The album became a major seller outside of the United States, where the album just missed making the chart. Includes the hits "Daddy Cool" , "Sunny" and "Baby Do You Wanna Bump"...
to replace "Baby Do You Wanna Bump
Baby Do You Wanna Bump
"Baby Do You Wanna Bump" is a song recorded by German record producer Frank Farian under the name Boney M. and included on the 1976 album Take The Heat Off Me. It was the first Boney M. single and a minor hit in the Netherlands and Belgium, which prompted Farian to create a proper group to promote...
" in some territories. In early 1977, Gilla's second album Zieh mich aus (Undress Me) was released. Despite featuring German versions of Boney M.'s hit single "Sunny
Sunny (song)
"Sunny" is the name of a song written by Bobby Hebb. It is one of the most covered popular songs, with hundreds of versions released. BMI rates "Sunny" number 25 in its "Top 100 songs of the century."...
" and "No Woman No Cry", it fared poorly. Interestingly, the album also included the German version of a future hit for Boney M., "Belfast" which was originally written years earlier for Boney M. member Marcia Barrett
Marcia Barrett
Marcia Barrett , is one of the original singers with the vocal group, Boney M.-The early years:...
.
Gilla's first international album was released in the summer of 1977. Entitled Help Help, it featured her previous English recordings like "Why Don't You Do It" and "Help Help" + their B-sides, as well as English versions of songs from Zieh mich aus. "Gentlemen Callers not Allowed" ("Herrn-Besuche nicht erlaubt") was released as a single and promoted with Boney M.'s charismatic male dancer Bobby Farrell
Bobby Farrell
Roberto "Bobby" Alfonso Farrell was an Aruban dancer and performer, best known as the male member of the successful 1970s pop and disco group Boney M.-Early years:...
on a few TV shows but it was still only a minor success.
Rivers of Babylon
"Rivers of Babylon" is a rastafarian song written and recorded by Brent Dowe and Trevor McNaughton of the Jamaican reggae group The Melodians in 1970. The Melodians' original versions of the song appeared in the sound track to the 1972 movie The Harder They Come and the 1999 Nicolas Cage movie...
" so Farian decided to have Gilla record a German cover of the follow-up single "Rasputin
Rasputin (song)
"Rasputin" is a 1978 disco hit single by the Germany-based pop and disco group Boney M., the second single off their hugely successful album Nightflight to Venus. The song is a semi-biographical song whose subject and namesake is Grigori Rasputin, a friend and advisor of Tsar Nicholas II of Russia...
". Released in November 1978, it was a flop and not even included on the following compilation Star Discothek a few months later.
Trying to repeat the success of "Bend Me, Shape Me", Gilla and her fiancé and co-producer Helmut Rulofs (who was also a recording artist under the name Chris Denning) released another disco-rock cover of The Animals
The Animals
The Animals were an English music group of the 1960s formed in Newcastle upon Tyne during the early part of the decade, and later relocated to London...
's "We Gotta Get Out of This Place" in March 1979. In 1980, her second English language album Cool Rock'n Roll was released including the title track single and "Go Down Mainstreet". Gilla and Rulofs, however, found bigger success when Farian recorded one of their songs with Boney M. "I See a Boat on the River" being a German Top 10 hit and a European hit single from the million-selling The Magic of Boney M. - 20 Golden Hits
The Magic of Boney M. - 20 Golden Hits
The Magic of Boney M. – 20 Golden Hits is a greatest hits album by Boney M. issued in May 1980 which contained all their biggest hits up until that point, including non-album singles "Mary's Boy Child/Oh My Lord" and "Hooray! Hooray! It's A Holi-Holiday", key album tracks from Take The Heat Off Me,...
, Gilla credited as G. Winger (Winger being an abbreviation of her surname Wuchinger).
In October 1981, Gilla's final single "Cigarillo" backed with a cover of "Friday on My Mind
Friday on My Mind
"Friday on My Mind" is a 1966 song by Australian rock group The Easybeats. Written by band members George Young and Harry Vanda, the track became a worldwide hit, reaching #16 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in May 1967 in the US, #1 in Australia and #6 in the UK, as well as charting in several...
" was released before she retired from the music business. She made a brief return with Rulofs as the duo Sweet Mix in 1982 but their single "Susan Don't Cry for Me" came and went without notice. They also contributed the track "Video" for Precious Wilson
Precious Wilson
Precious Wilson is a soul singer.-Background:Wilson started out as a backing singer for the all-male group Eruption. The group enjoyed a minor hit when they won a talent competition in 1975 with the song "Let Me Take You Back in Time"...
's album All Coloured in Love that year.
Being largely forgotten in Europe today, Gilla has in recent years performed regularly in Russia where her records are enjoying considerable popularity.
Albums
- Willst du mit mir schlafen gehn? (1975)
- Zieh mich aus (1976)
- Help Help (1977) - re-released as Bend Me, Shape Me (1978)
- Cool Rock'n Roll (1980)
Singles
- "Mir ist kein Weg zu weit" / "Wilde Rosen" (1974)
- "Willst du mit mir schlafen gehn?" / "Atlantika" (1975)
- "Do You Want to Sleep With Me" / "My Decision" (1975)
- "Tu es" / "Worte" (1975)
- "Why Don't You Do It" / "A Baby of Love" (1975)
- "Ich brenne" / "Du bist nicht die erste Liebe" (1976)
- "Help Help" / "First Love" (1976)
- "Johnny" / "Der Strom der Zeit" (1976)
- "Zieh mich aus" / "Lieben und frei sein" (1977)
- "Gentlemen Callers not Allowed" / "Say Yes" (1977)
- "Bend Me, Shape Me" / "The River Sings" (1978)
- "Rasputin" (German Version) / "Laß mich gehen" (1978)
- "We Gotta Get Out of This Place" / "Take The Best of Me" (1979)
- "I Like Some Cool Rock'n Roll" / "Take Your Time" (1980)
- "Go Down Mainstreet" / "Discothek" (1980)
- "Tom Cat" / "The Summerwind" (1980)
- "Cigarillo" / "Friday on My Mind" (1981)