Sunday, October 24, 2010

'Oh Moby Dick Was So Big And Slick' - The Larry Lai Interviews (Part V)

*Moby Dick:

An idea cropped up in late 1967 when record hops became popular and the Singapore live music scene began to wane.


With local bands becoming more expensive and Phillipino bands taking over the night clubs, Larry thought it would be an ideal opportunity to start a mobile disco which made some business sense.

What was needed was a good sound system, lighting effects, a vehicle and a few a-go-go ladies. At the end of 1969, he partnered with a friend to set up the mobile discotheque. With quality speakers, custom-made power amplifiers, turn-tables, mixers and music sources, the business venture was set up.

Like the already popular Larry Lai branding, Moby Dick quickly became another household name. By the early 70s, the go-go girls were gyrating and patrons were:

"Prayin' for this moment to last,/Livin' on the music so fine,/Borne on the wind,/Makin' it mine, /Night fever, night fever... (Composers/Singers: Gibb Brothers)."

An agreement with the popular Kelong Restaurant at the Cathay Cinema to have Moby Dick's presence there, resulted in another successful venture by Larry.

And as the shimmering disco balls twirled in the strobe lights and the adrenalin was pumping in every disco-maniac's body, cash was flowing in. "Oh Moby Dick was so big and slick, There was never such a whale... (Frankie Laine)"

*Larry's favourite literary fiction by Herman Melville. Name 'Moby Dick' comes from 'Mob-ile Disco-theque'.

(This is the final posting on Larry Lai. For 4 previous interviews Click Larry Lai under labels below.)

Image: Larry Lai Collection. (All rights reserved)

Original article: Andy Lim

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

From private email:

Hi Andy,

I've posted the links to "Larry Lai Interview: Singapore 60s Andy's Pop Music Influence" on
your blogs to "Outram Secondary School Alumni Group" on Facebook at:

http://www.facebook.com/groups/6258483402/

Larry is an Outramian and members of this Facebook group would be interested to
share them at:

Larry Lai King Of Singapore 60s Airwaves (Pt 1)
http://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2010/05/when-i-first-met-larry-lai-in-mid-60s.html

Naturally BBC: English Gentleman Without The Stiff Upper Lip - Larry Lai Interview - (Part II)
http://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2010/06/naturally-bbc-without-stiff-upper-lip.html

Thank you, Andy.

Have a nice weekend.

Cheers!
James Seah

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

From Andy Lim's email:

Larry,

For you. The legend goes to Facebook.
Aug 10