(4) Western Hits, Born Free, Etc. From Local Pop Recordings

There were many western hit movie theme songs that made the grade with local pop recordings.

Perhaps Matt Monro, Virgina McKenna and Bill Travers made more money than Nancy Sit [HK] with "Born Free"? "This song was ringing in everyone's ears in 1966 and like , "To Sir With Love" were hits of yesteryears that brought memories.

Try to count the number of Singapore bands and singers that recorded these songs because of their popularity and easy lyrics.

Beside Nancy Sit, local Malay bi-lingual singer Sugiman Jahuri made a hit with his own rendition of "Born Free", an EMI vinyl Extended Play [EP] recording with 3 other songs.

Then Talentime pop star Eunice Sim did it in 1969 with her rendition from the musical, "Hello Dolly" and "Alfie" with another two hits to form another EP. It was a special RTS [Radio TV Singapura] release with an Ahmad Jaafar Orchestra accompaniment and Charlie Lazaroo's arrangement. Whether it became a hit, it is uncertain but the EP was very well placed and certainly a good collector's item for local record enthusiasts.

An Indonesian lady star singer recorded Sidney Poiter's hit movie theme song, "To Sir with Love". So instead of Lulu singing it, the cover or copy version was by Ernie Djohan from Indonesia. The vinyl, by Philips was another hit for Ernie who backed the pop hit with "Lonely Again", "Let's Pretend" and "San Francisco". She was accompanied by her Buana Suara band.

An extremely weighted version of Ennio Morricone, "A Few Dollars More" was recorded by a Singapore group called, Charlie and His Orchestra. It was recorded by Star Swan. 

Images: [1] Google; [2] A Private Collection.

To Sir, With Love: Ernie Johan. 

YouTube Video from: cinammonimf.