Gipsy Love
Band members Related acts
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line up 1 (1971-72) - George Doggette -- hot air and a few syllables - Kurt Hauenstein (RIP 2011) -- vocals, bass, keyboards - Karl "Charly" Ratzer -- vocals, guitar - Jano Stojka (RIP 1979) -- drums, percussion - Peter Wolf -- keyboards
supporting musicians:(1971) - Robert Demmer (RIP 2011) -- trumpet - Fritz Meisinger -- trombone - Willi Meerwald (RIP 2005) -- trumpet, trombone, bass - Robert Politzer (RIP 2010) -- trumpet - Meme Ratzer -- backing vocals - Hans Salomon (RIP 2020) -- sax - Richard Schönherz -- vocals, keyboards - Doris Stojka -- backing vocals - Stefanie Vyhnak -- backing vocals
line up 2 (1972-73) - Karl Ratzer -- guitar NEW - Harri Stojka -- bass (replaced Kurt Hauenstein) - Jano Stojka (RIP 1979) -- drums, percussion - Peter Wolf -- keyboards
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- A Planet Called Earth (Kurt Hauenstein) - Bamboo (Kurt Hauenstein) - Chet Baker Quartet (Karl Ratzer) - C-Department (Karl Ratzer and Richard Schönherz) - Dawn (Richard Schönherz) - Einstein (Richard Schönherz) - Erich Kleinschuster Quintet - Fatty George Crew (Karl Ratzer, Richard Schönherz and Peter Wolf) - Flame Dream (Peter Wolf) - Group 7 (Peter Wolf) - Hot Air And A Few Syllables (George Doggette) - London Aircraaft (Kurt Hauenstein) - The Mothers (Peter Wolf) - Music And Fun Is All (Peter Wolf) - Novaks Kapelle (Harri Stojka) - The Players Association (Karl Ratzer) - Powersystem (Harri Stojka) - Karl Ratzer & Beat The Heat (Karl Ratzer) - Karl Ratzer And Band (Karl Ratzer) - Karl Ratzer Group (Karl Ratzer) - Karl Ratzer Quartet (Karl Ratzer) - Karl Ratzer Quintet (Karl Ratzer) - Karl Ratzer Septet (Karl Ratzer) - Karl Ratzer Trio (Karl Ratzer) - The Reform Art Unit (Peter Wolf) - Rorschach-Punk (Harri Stojka) - Charles Ryders Corporation (Karl Ratzer) - Richard Schönherz (solo efforts) - Schönherz & Fleer (Richard Schönherz) - Schönherz & Scott (Richard Schönherz) - The Slaves (Karl Ratzer) - Harri Stojka Express (Harri Stojka) - Harri Stojka Jazz Ensemble(Harri Stojka) - Harri Stojka Sextet (Harri Stojka) - Supermax (Kurt Hauenstein) - Vienna (Peter Wolf) - Rudi Wilfer Und Seine Speiereck Buam (Karl Ratzer) - Wolf & Wolf (Peter Wolf) - Peter Wolf (Peter Wolf) - Peter Wolf Objective Truth Orchestra (Jano Stojka and Peter Wolf) - The Word (Karl Ratzer) - Yaki (Kurt Hauenstein)
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Genre: blues-rock Rating: *** (3 stars) Title: Gipsy Love Company: BASF Catalog: BB
21115 Country/State: Vienna, Austria Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: US pressing Available: 1 Catalog ID: -- Price: $65.00
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I'd seen this album listed on various dealer catalogs and sites for years, but never been interested enough to contemplate the high ticket price. Imagine my surprise when I stumbled across an American pressing (didn't even know such a creature existed) in a Portland record store and the thing had an affordable priced ... Good crate digging day !!!
So how about some Austrian rock and roll ... Gipsy Love came together in 1971. The original line-up featured American vocalist George Doggette, bass player/keyboardist Kurt Hauenstein, former The Slaves guitarist Karl Ratzer, drummer Jano Stojka and nineteen year old keyboard genius Peter Wolf (not the J.Geils singer). Ratzer and Stojka were cousins sharing a Roma (Gypsy) background. Doggette and Ratzer had previous worked and recorded together in the band C-Department. Wolf had a solo album under his belt (1969's "A Change In My Life" - Wien-Melodie catalog number WM 20 006)
Signed
by the BASF label , 1972's "Gipsy Love" (their
spelling, not mine) found the band working with producer/writer/label owner
Wolf René Reitz (listed in the liner notes as W.R.R.).
Featuring eight band originals, in various combinations Doggette, Ratzer and
Wolf were responsible for most of the material. If you were expecting
to hear a collection of early-'70s Krautrock, then tracks like the
blues-rocker "Just A
Little Love", the Gary Brooker and
Procol Harum influenced ballad "There
Is Something In Your Mind" and the
Blood, Sweat & Tears-styled horn-rocker "Let
Me Come Over"
were going to come as a disappointment. Based on the handful of
reviews I'd read, I found the album far more m
I realize there's something to be acknowledged when folks point out this is one of the best early '70s Austrian rock albums ever recorded. I won't argue the point. The problem is when you compare it to the seeming endless number of talented early '70s American, English and European bands, none of the performances made a lasting impression.
Always been curious about Doggette, but unlike the rest of the band, there's little to be found about the man on the web.
"Gipsy
Love" track listing: 1.) Just a Little Love (Karl. Ratzer - George Doggette) - 5:38 rating: *** stars As mentioned, anyone looking for a dose of Krautrock was going to be disappointed by this band. Their influences were clearly American and English blues bands. Powered by barrelhouse piano and a tasty Ratzer acoustic guitar riff (he also turned in a great dobro solo), "Just A Little Love" wasn't particularly original,. Still, Doggette had a nice, raspy voice; the song had a good beat and proved surprisingly enjoyable. The shrieky female backing singers (including Jano Stojka's sister Doris), were merely irritating. An edited version of the track was tapped as a single:
- 1971's "Just a Little Love" b/w "Let Me Come Over" (BASF catalog number 05-11118-0S)
2.) There Is Something In Your Mind (Karl. Ratzer - George Doggette) - 4:35 rating: *** stars Opening with some of Wolf's churchy Hammond B-3 organ moves and Ratzer's thick, sustained Robin Trower-ish guitar sound, the ballad "There Is Something In Your Mind" reminded me of something out of the Gary Brooker and Procol Harum catalog. Kurt Hauenstein's master class bass tied it all together and this time out the female backing singers added to the atmosphere. Pretty, yet slightly ominous, this was one of the album's highlights. 3.) Every Time I See Your Smile (Karl. Ratzer - George Doggette - Peter Wolf) -7:26 rating: *** stars While not one of my favorite performances, the soul ballad "Every Time I See Your Smile" was one of the biggest surprises. Essentially a duet between Doggette and one of the backing singers (not sure if it was Meme Ratzer, Doris Stojka or Stefanie Vyhnak), the song started out sounding like something off a mid-'70s Philly International album, but after a brief interlude of Roma-styled acoustic guitar got progressively funkier and jam-ish as it went along. Hauenstein, Ratzer, Stojka and Wolf all got chances to showcase their chops as the tune went along. It was one of the LP's most commercially viable performances and it's surprisingly BASF didn't tap it as a 45. 4.) I Observed So Many Changes (Karl. Ratzer - George Doggette) - 4:47 rating: ** stars A bluesy ballad, with vocals seeming shared by Doggette and Ratzer (or Hauenstein), "I Observed So Many Changes" could have been a decent tune, but complete with Gypsy guitar interlude, was over-indulgent and took far too long to develop. By the time it started to focus, you'd lost interest and were ready to flip the album over.
(side
2) With the inclusion of a full brass section "Let Me Come Over" found the band shifting into David Clayton Thomas and Blood, Sweat & Tears territory. To my ears horn-rock simply wasn't a musical niche they should have been messing around with and the addition of blaring female back singers didn't make it any better. It may have had radio potential, but yech. The tune also appeared as the "B" side of their "Just A Little Love" single. 2.) Don't Be Surprised (Karl. Ratzer - George Doggette) - 5:45 rating: *** stars A soul-tinged ballad, "Don't Be Surprised" would have been better if someone explained simply trying to singer harder didn't naturally equate to a better performance. The song actually got way better when Ratzer's wah-wah guitar and Wolf's electric piano kicked in and Doggette took the back seat. 3a.) She Smiles (Karl Hauenstein - Kurt Hauenstein - George Doggette) - 7:33 rating: rating: **** stars Initially Wolf's pretty piano melody was undermined by a whiney, lounge act lead vocal and more shreaky female backing singers. And just when I'd given up on the track Ratzer kicked in a nifty, jazzy lead guitar riff that got better and better as the lead vocals faded out. The song then turned into a full scale jam session that ultimately saved the tune. 3b.)
In Search (George Doggette - Peter. Wolf) - 1:27 rating:
*** stars 4.) What's It All About (Karl. Ratzer - George Doggette) - 4:30: rating: **** stars Another seamless transition, "What's It All About" was marked by a return of vocals. The combination of some nice Ratzer wah-wah guitar and Wolf's Hammond B-3 washes kept the energy level up and just when the jam was picking up some real steam - the track came to a screaming end.
© Scott R. Blackerby August 2025
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ainstream
and commercial (for goodness sakes, BASF even released a single off the
album) than any self respecting '70s hippy would have expected.
Exemplified by the back cover photos their inspirations were clearly along
the lines of American and English blues and rock outfits. (Looking at
those back cover photos it's strange to realize that across the world
yesterday's freaks are today's grandparents.) One things clear - this
certainly wasn't Krautrock. With Doggette and Ratzer handling lead
vocals, the performances were all in English. If heavily accented
vocals were an issue for you, then you were safe. Doggette was
American so his voice wasn't an issue. Ratzer's accented delivery
wasn't particularly noticeable. You quickly became acclimated to his
vocals and his dry, raspy voice was well
suited for these tunes. Anyhow, the performances were all professional. The
album was occasionally quite enjoyable ("Every
Time I See Your Smile" and "She
Smiles"). Ratzer was a
talented guitarist (check out his solo on "Every
Time I See Your Smile"). Easy
to see why he left the band to try his hand in the US. The Hauenstein
- Stojka rhythm section was tight throughout. There was a lot to like
here. Less impressive was their lack of focus. Bouncing all over
the spectrum it was hard to figure out who, or what these guys were.
Imagine a band hired to play a wedding - they're capable of handling every
genre know to mankind, but not inspirational at any genre. 