PATRICIA PAAY - The Lady Is A Champ 12" Vinyl LP Album

- A glamorous blend of 1970s Nederpop, soul, and studio elegance — featuring Abbey Road recordings and Patricia Paay at her radiant best

Patricia Paay is a Dutch singer, radio host, glamour model and "bekende Nederlander" today best known for her amorous affairs. This album "The Lady Is A Champ" is the second full-length album by Patrica and was released in 1977. The production of it was in the hands of Jaap Eggermont ( "Stars On 45" ). Patricia also performed on the "Golden Earrings" album "Contraband" in 1976.

PATRICIA PAAY – The Lady Is A Champ

In the twilight of the 1970s, Dutch pop music was straddling the waves of soul-infused disco, international funk, and a uniquely continental blend of radio-friendly sophistication. Into that moment stepped Patricia Paay, a woman whose name was already circulating not just in musical spheres, but in gossip columns, radio broadcasts, and the swinging salons of Hilversum and Amsterdam. The Lady Is A Champ, her second solo album, arrived in 1977 as a sharp-dressed, glam-inflected mosaic of Nederpop and soul, infused with English-language polish and precision.

Musical Context and Exploration

While the Netherlands was basking in the radio success of bands like Golden Earring and Earth & Fire, Patricia Paay carved her path as a solo artist with roots in the mainstream pop scene, but aspirations that aimed higher. The Lady Is A Champ bears the gloss and arrangements characteristic of mid-‘70s American soul-pop, with string flourishes and a faint disco heartbeat echoing through tracks like "Love Takes Up My Mind" and "Who's That Lady With My Man".

The album is a rare example of a Dutch artist fully embracing the American R&B template—complete with covers of soul standards and ambitious orchestrations. Yet it never loses its continental DNA. Songs like "Now (Is The Moment)" mix subtle Euro-funk guitar with rhythm-section tightness that could have wandered in from a Philadelphia International recording.

Production and Studio Work

The album’s sonic sophistication owes a significant debt to Jaap Eggermont, the producer who would later reach global heights with Stars on 45. His touch is evident throughout, giving the record its tightly layered yet organic sound. The Lady Is A Champ was recorded in no fewer than three studios—F.P.S. Studios in Hilversum, Fendal Sound Studios in Loenen, and the iconic Abbey Road Studios in London.

Eggermont brought in some of the finest local talent, including Hans Hollestelle of Rainbow Train for arrangements and conducting, reinforcing the lush and often theatrical flair of the album’s instrumentation. A highlight is the Steve Harley-produced track "Sebastian", which was recorded separately at Abbey Road. Harley’s production lends the track a more melancholic, sweeping atmosphere—standing apart from the pop-centric tone of the rest of the record.

Visual and Stylistic Presentation

Styled by Joe Fresco and captured visually by Clouds Studio Amsterdam, the album's cover art leans heavily into Patricia’s public image—equal parts glamour, mystique, and assertiveness. With layout work from Jacques Heere and Jan Fijnheer, the artwork reinforces the album's message: this is a woman in charge of her voice, her image, and her audience.

Controversy and Persona

Even in 1977, Patricia Paay was as known for her media presence as her voice. Her romantic life and modeling career often threatened to eclipse her musical talents in the eyes of the Dutch public. Yet this album reasserted her credibility. Tracks like "Poor Jeremy" and "Livin' Without You" showed range, poise, and interpretive power. If her public image courted controversy, this record offered something deeper—a sonic statement that refused to be overshadowed by headlines.

International vs. Domestic Releases

Unlike many of her contemporaries, Paay’s albums were not widely released outside the Netherlands. The Lady Is A Champ saw no significant variation in international markets—no alternate artwork, no bonus tracks. However, subtle differences exist in pressing quality and inner sleeve design. The Dutch pressing features a custom inner sleeve with full lyrics and a glossy portrait—something often missing in later reissues or second-hand editions.

Conclusion

The Lady Is A Champ is more than a mid-career release—it’s a declaration. A record that thrives on professional polish, cross-cultural ambition, and confident delivery. It encapsulates a moment in Dutch pop when international soundscapes were being imported and repurposed with flair. For Patricia Paay, it was both a spotlight and a shield: a chance to be heard clearly through the noise of gossip and glamour.

Patricia Paay – A Life in the Spotlight

Patricia Paay is one of the most enduring and talked-about figures in Dutch entertainment. With a career that spans over five decades, she has moved effortlessly between music, radio, television, and the headlines of gossip magazines. Her story is one of talent, reinvention, scandal, and resilience—told across vinyl grooves and tabloid front pages alike.

Early Life and Musical Roots

Born on 7 April 1949 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, Patricia Anglaia Margareth Paaij was introduced to music early on. Her father was a jazz musician, which no doubt influenced her early affinity for music and performance. By the mid-1960s, she had begun performing professionally, singing in English—a bold move at a time when Dutch pop still leaned heavily on its own language.

Her breakthrough came as part of a wave of Nederpop artists in the late 1960s and early 1970s. With her crystalline voice and natural stage presence, Patricia stood out among her peers. She recorded singles and albums under the name Patricia Paaij, before eventually simplifying it to the now-iconic Patricia Paay.

Radio and Recording Career

Patricia's discography is both broad and surprising. She moved from ballads to disco, pop to soul, always adapting to the sound of the moment. Her most prominent solo work came in the 1970s, particularly with albums like Beam of Light and The Lady Is A Champ. The latter, produced by Jaap Eggermont, aligned her with the sophisticated, orchestrated sound of late-‘70s American pop, even as it retained a distinctly Dutch sensibility.

Her collaborations extended beyond the studio. She performed with Golden Earring and appeared on their 1976 album Contraband . Her voice—at once glamorous and vulnerable—became a familiar sound across the airwaves and record stores in the Netherlands.

Beyond singing, Patricia developed a parallel career in radio. She was one of the first prominent female DJs in Dutch broadcasting, hosting shows that blended music, interviews, and light entertainment. This further cemented her as a recognizable and trusted media personality, especially in the 1980s and 1990s.

Glamour, Controversy, and Tabloids

Patricia Paay was never just a singer. Her public image was inseparable from her personal life. She posed for Playboy multiple times, becoming the oldest Dutch woman to do so at age 60—a statement of agency and defiance. Her relationships, particularly her marriage to television personality Adam Curry, were scrutinized heavily by the press.

Despite the controversies—whether involving leaked photos, celebrity feuds, or family dramas—Patricia remained a fixture of Dutch media. She was both revered and ridiculed, admired for her openness and targeted for her visibility. But she never disappeared. Instead, she used the attention to keep her name alive, evolving into a kind of Dutch Madonna: scandalous, iconic, unapologetically herself.

Later Years and Cultural Legacy

In recent decades, Patricia has transitioned into more of a media personality than a recording artist, but her musical legacy continues. She has appeared on reality shows, served as a judge, and made frequent guest appearances on talk shows. Always witty, self-aware, and dressed to kill, she has aged in public without apology.

Her contributions to Dutch pop music—especially in opening doors for women in both music and media—remain significant. Though often remembered for the spectacle, Patricia Paay is, at her core, a voice. A woman whose songs once soundtracked nights in dim-lit discos and whose presence still sparks headlines today.

Production & Recording Information

This album "PATRICIA PAAY - The Lady Is A Champ" includes the original custom inner sleeve with album details, complete lyrics of all songs by and a large portrait photo of "Patrica Paay"

The album: "PATRICIA PAAY - The Lady Is A Champ" was produced by: Jaap Eggermont for Red Bullet Productions

Arranged and conducted by Hans Hollestelle ( "Rainbow Train" )

This album was recorded at: F.P.S. Studios, Hilversum, Holland. Fendal Sound Studios, Loenen, Holland. Abbey Road Studios, London, United Kingdom.

The Song "Sebastian" was produced by Steve Harley and recorded at the Abbey Road Studios.

Styling: Joe Fresco

Album Cover Concept: John Van Katwijk

Album cover design & lay-out: Jacques Heere, Jan Fijnheer

Album cover photography: Clouds Studio, Amsterdam, Holland.

Music Genre:

1970s Nederpop, Funk, Soul

Label & Catalognr:

EMI Holland – 5C 064-25737

Media Format:

Record Format: 12" Vinyl Stereo Gramophone Record
Total Album (Cover+Record) weight: 230 gram  

Year & Country:

1977 Netherlands

Musicians:
  • Patricia Paay - Lead Vocals
Tracklisting Side One:
  1. Livin' Without You 2:56
  2. The Love Of A Woman 3:35
  3. Everlasting Love
  4. The World I Threw Away 2:55
  5. Now (Is The Moment) 3:49
  6. Love Takes Up My Mind 3:40
Tracklisting Side Two:
  1. Who's That Lady With My Man 3:20
  2. Poor Jeremy 2:30
  3. Sebastian 4:25
  4. Jolene 2:50
  5. Someday My Prince Will Come 3:54
Front Cover Photo Of PATRICIA PAAY - The Lady Is A Champ
Patricia Paay on the album cover of The Lady Is A Champ stands in front of a bold pink background, dressed in satin pink boxing attire with black gloves, white laced boots, and a confident gaze. The album title and her name are displayed in vintage script across a ribbon graphic. Featured songs are highlighted on the right.

The album cover of The Lady Is A Champ features Patricia Paay in a powerful and playful pose, dressed in shiny pink boxing shorts and a sleeveless leotard, wearing black boxing gloves and white high-top boots. Her curly dark hair frames a confident expression as she stands before a saturated pink backdrop. A stylized ribbon with the album title flows across the image, while bold script announces her name and two featured tracks: "Who's That Lady" and "Livin' Without You". The visual concept mixes glamor, athleticism, and empowerment, underscoring the album’s title with ironic flair.

Photo Of The Back Cover PATRICIA PAAY - The Lady Is A Champ
Patricia Paay faces away from the viewer with arms triumphantly raised, wearing pink satin boxing gear and black gloves. The tracklist is printed at the bottom over a pink backdrop.

The back cover of The Lady Is A Champ flips the script—literally—by showing Patricia Paay from behind, arms held high in a victorious pose. Wearing the same dazzling pink boxing outfit, her back is turned to the audience, defiant and self-assured. Her black gloves punch the air in celebration, framed by a vivid pink background that refuses to be ignored.

With a cheeky touch of flair, Patricia's stance feels like a knockout of pop glam—part fighter, part diva. Below her, the tracklisting is printed in bright yellow, split between Side 1 and Side 2, offering a full view of the album's contents. It's a bold, campy, and unforgettable image that seals the deal: the lady didn’t come to play—she came to win.

Photo of the custom inner sleeve PATRICIA PAAY - The Lady Is A Champ
Smiling Patricia Paay portrait with soft curls, flower tucked behind her ear, and off-shoulder blouse. The lighting is warm and intimate, printed on the inner sleeve of the vinyl.

This warm, close-up portrait of Patricia Paay graces the custom inner sleeve of The Lady Is A Champ LP. Her dazzling smile, radiant makeup, and effortless charisma are front and center, framed by voluminous curls and a flower tucked gently behind her ear. The off-shoulder blouse adds a breezy, romantic touch—evoking vintage glamour with a touch of island spirit.

The image serves as a softer, more intimate counterpoint to the album’s front and back covers, offering fans a personal moment with the star beyond the boxing ring and pop sheen. Patricia’s gaze is warm, inviting, and unforgettable—proof that beneath the gloves and glitz is a woman who knows exactly how to charm a lens.

Photo of the custom inner sleeve PATRICIA PAAY - The Lady Is A Champ
Custom inner sleeve of The Lady Is A Champ by Patricia Paay, featuring full printed lyrics in black on pink background and detailed credits at the bottom right corner.

The inner sleeve of The Lady Is A Champ reveals the lyrical soul of the album. Printed in crisp black text over a rosy pink background, it features the full lyrics to all eleven songs, from emotional ballads like "Poor Jeremy" to spirited anthems like "Who's That Lady With My Man". Each track is presented with careful typesetting, underscoring the care and intention behind the songwriting.

At the bottom right, a ribbon banner reiterates the album's title in stylish script, followed by production credits for Jaap Eggermont, Steve Harley, and Hans Hollestelle. There's also a charming touch of personal flair: photography by Clouds Studio Amsterdam, styling by Joe Fresco, and sleeve design by Jacques Heere and Jan Fijnheer. A rare sleeve that’s as much a visual treat as it is a collector’s document.

Photo Side One PATRICIA PAAY - The Lady Is A Champ
Side One label of Patricia Paay's The Lady Is A Champ LP, showing track titles, writing credits, and production details on the EMI-Holland orange-banded label.

This close-up of the vinyl label for Side One of The Lady Is A Champ provides an authentic look at the Dutch EMI pressing. The classic orange and cream label design is instantly recognizable to collectors of 1970s European vinyl. The catalog number 5C 064-25737 is clearly printed alongside the EMI logo and "HOLLAND" designation.

Each track is listed with writing credits and precise running times, including standout numbers like "Livin' Without You", "The Love of a Woman", and "Now (Is The Moment)". Below the tracklist, credits highlight the contributions of Hans Hollestelle and producer Jaap Eggermont, with recording noted at F.P.S. Studios in Hilversum. A sharp and well-preserved label that captures the polished professionalism of Patricia Paay’s 1977 classic.

Photo of Side Two PATRICIA PAAY - The Lady Is A Champ
Side Two label of Patricia Paay's The Lady Is A Champ LP showing track titles like Sebastian and Jolene, with production and copyright credits on the Dutch EMI pressing.

The Side Two label of The Lady Is A Champ captures the continuation of Patricia Paay’s 1977 journey through pop and soul. Printed on the same distinctively Dutch EMI label, this side features hits like "Sebastian", produced by Steve Harley, and a striking rendition of "Jolene", originally by Dolly Parton.

Additional tracks include "Poor Jeremy" and the dreamy closer "Someday My Prince Will Come". The label again notes the involvement of Hans Hollestelle and Jaap Eggermont, with sessions tracked at F.P.S. Studios in Hilversum. With its clear typography and iconic color bands, this pressing remains a visually satisfying piece of vinyl history—equal parts music and mid-century modern design.

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