Saragossa Band
The Saragossa Band is a pop band from what was then West Germany or the Federal Republic of Germany. It made it to big time popularity in between the late 1970s and the mid-1980s. From Munich in Southern Germany, it grew into one of the most successful party-bands in Germany.
History
The group became known in 1977, when it brought out the song Big Bamboo, which is sung in the Caribbean Papiamentu dialect. Rasta Man and Zabadak followed, two songs with relatively little text, after all, made it into the Top Ten of the German charts. The following titles Ginger Red, Agadou, Aiko Aiko managed no top 10 finishes but Agadou is the title with the greatest long-term effect and is still by far the most played song of the group. To date, the title, is popular especially in beach bars and nightclubs. In recent years, there has been a spate of cover versions of this title (including Hot Banditoz, DD Company, La Boom, Black Lace or Proty Disco Kids). This trend has now calmed down, because all of these cover versions flopped and party DJs instead returned to the version that the Saragossa Band plays.
The Saragossa Band music blends elements of pop with calypso and samba. It attained the distinction of being the only German band to complete a highly successful South Pacific tour.
Personnel
Current members
- Harry Karrer, vocals
- Gudrun Overhoff-Poppinga (since 2004), backing vocalist
- Gitty Fischer, (since 2004 occasionally), backing vocalist
- Andy Bielan, keyboards
- Markus Escher, (since 2004), guitar, vocals
- Evert van der Wal, percussion
Past members
- Helmut Schiffner (1977 to 1981), keyboards
- Alfred Rudek, (1977 to 2003), guitar, lyricist
- Georg Klanthe, (1977 until 1993), Bass
- Heinrich Wiesgickl, (1977 to 1992 † 1997 43 years), drums
- Alex Diame, (1977 to 1979), drums
- Thomas Brandner, (1977-1980), drums
Pit Troja, (1980 to 1982), drums
- Peter Brüstle, (from 1992 to 1995), drums
- Angela Watkins, (1982 to 1992), vocals
- Gislene Silva because Sossa, (1992 to 1995), vocals
- Wolfgang Gleixner, (1993 to 2004), electric bass
- Jutta Niedhart, (1995 to 2004), vocals
Discography
Albums
Year |
Title |
Chartposition |
|
|---|---|---|---|
DE |
AT |
||
1982 |
Za Za Zabadak |
3 |
11 |
1983 |
Das neue große Za Za Zabadak |
14 |
20 |
1987 |
Das super Za-Za-Zabadak |
20 |
— |
- More albums
- 1979: Saragossa Band
- 1980: Matchless
- 1982: Das totale Za Za Zabadak
- 1983: Have a Good Time
- 1984: The Greatest Hits
- 1991: Party with Saragossa Band
- 1993: The Party Mix
- 1993: Coconut Groove
- 1997: Big Bamboo
- 2002: Welcome to the Party
- 2002: Party Box (3 CDs)
- 2007: Cool Night
Compilations
- 1981: Agadou
- 1986: Die Superparty - Dance with the Saragossa Band
- 1995: The Best of Saragossa Band
- 1995: Happy Party
- 2001: It’s Party Time
- 2005: World of…
- 2007: Happy Birthday! (30 Jahre) (3 CDs)
- 2007: Best of the Saragossa Band (2 CDs)
Singles
Year |
Title |
Chartposition |
|
|---|---|---|---|
DE |
AT |
||
1977 |
Big Bamboo (Ay Ay Ay) |
40 |
— |
1979 |
Rasta Man |
9 |
2 |
1979 |
Zabadak |
6 |
8 |
1980 |
Ginger Red |
28 |
— |
1980 |
Pas pleurer (Please No More Crying) |
43 |
19 |
1981 |
Agadou |
14 |
5 |
1981 |
Aiko Aiko |
37 |
15 |
1982 |
Dance with the Saragossa Band |
23 |
— |
1982 |
Mañana |
58 |
— |
2004 |
Rastaman |
— |
16 |
- More Singles
- 1977: Disco Boogie Boogie
- 1978: Malaika
- 1983: Wigwam
- 1983: I Know, I Know
- 1984: Buona sera (I Take My Chance Tonight)
- 1984: Moonlight and Dancing
- 1985: That’s What We Like
- 1990: Saragossa Band Medley
- 1992: Rain & Sun
- 1993: Coconut Medley
- 1993: Rasta Man (Remake ’93)
- 1997: Der Zabadak Hit Mix
- 1999: Rumours (El venao)
External links
- Official Website
in Discogs (English)
- Diskografie bei austriancharts.at