My Personal Choice Of Singapore Pops (Part I)

Silver Strings with Mike n Herb on stage.

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12 June, 2021

Written 10 years ago, this post is now suffering the trauma of COVID-19 of which we are all either under home 'quarantine' or being unable to walk around free without wearing surgical masks. 

30 March, 2011

I am trying to ease the trauma and tragedy of these past weeks and the postings I had of the Japanese tsunami, the radioactive leak and the passing away of a great, pop 60s keyboardist friend... So, change of subject.

Young Matthew Tan

LOCAL SONGS I LOVE:

Friends have asked me my list of favourite songs by Singapore 60s artistes. They noticed that all the songs I love are not Singapore ones. It is a long list but I thought about it and decided that the eleven songs below could be my choice. Some of the hits are covers of US and British ones sung by our artistes while others are originals by Singaporeans Robert Suriya, Henry Chua, Matthew Tan, Shirley Nair, Harvey Fitzgerald and others.

Sensual and brooding Rita Chao

I have included The Blue Diamonds' Ramona under local as Ruud and Riem de Wolffe are so familiar in our music scene. In fact I like them better than The Everlys. Rudy has passed on but Riem is somewhat Singaporean. The songs are not in any particular order. And remember, we were young then, in our 20s?

1. Shanty - The Quests.

2. Ramona - The Blue Diamonds.

3. You're The Boy - Shirley Nair and Silver Strings.

4. It's All Over - Naomi n The Boys.

5. My Lonely Heart - The Thunderbirds.

6. Happy, Happy, Birthday Baby (Chinese) - Rita Chao.

7. Mr. Twister - The Crescendos.

8. I Believe - The Tidbits.

9. Do It Right - Benny n The Trailers.

10. Singapore Cowboy - Matthew and Mandarins.

11. Sausalito - Western Union Band.

Sausalito Album - Western Union Band - 

Remembering Chris Vadham.

And the song that transports me back to the 60s? Most of them. Do you have a local 60s or 70s favourite?

Images: 

The LIFE Records Ltd, Nathan Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong. 

Andy Lim Collection and Google Websites.

Singapore Cowboy - Matthew Tan and The Mandarins - One of the best remembered Singapore compositions.

Goodbye James, You Tried Your Best. We Love You.

James Choa: Keyboardist with The Flamingos and singer with The Gaylads has passed on. He was one of the key figures who appeared very early in Singapore's pop music history. James was active since the mid-50s with the combo and singing quartet.

Singapore Pop 60s Fashion On Vinyl Covers (Part I)

15,000+ readers on
this posting alone.  

SINGAPORE FASHION AMONG CHINESE POP 60's ARTISTES:

Ladies fashion in the 60s seems to focus on colours and tones but less on accessories. Dresses are elegant and evening gowns are usually full-skirted. For casual wear, the ladies have British fashion guru Mary Quant's mini-skirt for leggy jaunts. And the word 'mini' comes from the iconic 60s Cooper mini-car. 

Compared with their sisters in the West, our local Chinese pop singers dress conservatively when appearing on the covers of the vinyl they publicize. Sakura, Frances Yip, Mona Fong and Carrie Ku Mei (images) look resplendent with their pleasing, eye-catching and fashionable dress sense. 

The light purplish dress with fluffy puffed sleeves that Sakura wears, is either for a concert or nightclub act. Note her bee-hive hairdo. Is she over-dressed? Not really. Carrie Koo Mei and Mona Fong are also ready for a formal evening concert in a darker purple cheongsam with psychedelic prints (?) to woo audiences with their stage presence and songs. I love their simple but charmingly styled hair and stilettos. 

A very young Frances Yip appears set for a stroll in the park with her short, captivating sun-hewed print mini. Perhaps she's ready to sing a twist or shake 60s hit during a tea-dance. Or is she?

Then the Bunga Sakura (trans: flower) above. Now whether they finally put her on a vinyl cover she recorded is a question to ask. But I do find her garb a little heavy. Like they say, though, one man's meat...

One very outstanding vinyl and I have reproduced it whole, is the cowgirl in a simple light-coloured blouse and dark pants with boots to match. Very outstanding, especially with the bee-hive hair to add height. But the holsters and plastic guns are a wee bit too small in comparison.

I am no expert, so do write in if you are familiar with Singapore 60's dress code and comment on the fashion sense then. 

For those interested in the Chinese record covers above: 

Image 1: Sakura COLUMBIA/EMI ECHK. 614. 

Image 2: Frances Yip LIFE RECORDS/EP 2092. 
Image 3: Carrie Koo Mei and Mona Fong PATHE/EMI: 7EPA-206.
Image 4: Sakura again but without a vinyl cover. The background looks similar.
Image 5: An odd one out. A Chinese cowgirl outfit from 60's.

Images/original article: Andy Lim.

Elizabeth Taylor: Sixties Silver Screen Siren

Remembering LIZ TAYLOR with a song. She had passed on at 79 years young. I was thinking of the movie Giant (1956) and the theme song by Dimitri Tiomkin that I remember so well and could sing as a youth. Fans gathered like bees at the Capitol Cinema when this honey of a film came. Tickets were sold out days ahead.
Nearly everyone who saw the blockbuster loved and learnt the Tiomkin hit which boomed out on the giant speakers at the theatre. It was also popular with Radio Singapore requesters and caused a stir. But this was the 50s lah, not 60s.

By chance, while watching television this evening, Elton John appeared on the little screen and dedicated, Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me to the beautiful and sensual star of the silver screen. But my choice remains. So Liz Taylor, one of the giants of the 60s screen, this song's for you:

Just like a sleeping giant/Sprawling in the sun /In one great hand the Rio Grande/In the other Galveston/Where oil wells laugh at angels/Buzzards wheel above/This then is Texas/Lone Star State of Texas/This is the giant/Land I love..."/Just like the silver dollar/Falling from above/This then is Texas/Lone Star of Texas /This is the giant/Land I love.../Austin to Houston/The Alamo, El Paso/Crystal City, Waco/Giant, giant, giant...

(Music/Lyrics: Dimitri Tiomkin/Paul Francis Webster/1956)

Images: By courtesy of (1) Flickr and Raffles Hotel, Singapore. (2) Google/'Giant' with James Dean.

Elizabeth Taylor was in Singapore in 1957 with husband, then Mike Todd (of Todd AO lenses fame), and had a gown designed for her by Doris Geddes. She was here again in the 90s when Michael Jackson had a concert at the National Stadium. There are many websites about Liz Taylor.

Sandpipers: Chotto Matte, SIA A Great Way To Fly

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THE SANDPIPERS:

Stephen Thomas Erlewine, when writing about The Sandpipers, wrote that they were a male vocal trio that recorded easy listening pop hits in the mid 60s and was "distinguished by its light, breezy harmonies, which floated over delicate, breezy string arrangements, as well as the occasional appearance of a wordless female backing vocalist who drifted in and out of the music."

Sandpipers did not manage to have a long, sustained career but had one Top Ten hit with Guantanamera in 1966 (numerous Asian versions: check 'Guantanamera' under Labels below). 

There were other songs like Beyond The Valley Of The Dolls, Misty Roses, Today, Chotto Matte Kudasai and covers. The group was originally known as the Four Seasons and the trio was part of the Californian Mitchell Boys Choir before they formed their own group. 

Famous trumpeter Herb Alpert (remember him with his Tijuana Brass), who ran his own AnM record label was impressed when he heard them and signed them to a record contract.

An added female vocalist, Pamela Ramcier, was one of the most distinctive elements of the group's music and with her mod outfit of mini-skirts and a-go-go boots, made her more noticeable than the actual Sandpipers.

In 1970, Come Saturday Morning became a hit when it was part of the soundtrack for the movie, The Sterile Cuckoo. The Sandpipers continued to record into the '70s but after five years without any chart success, they disbanded in the mid-'70s. (Please read the next posting below.)

THE SIA CONNECTION:

In 1979, The Sandpipers had also recorded the Singapore Airlines song, You're A Great Way To Fly on PYE Records orchestrated by Jose Mascolo Lyrics was written by New Monkees Bobby Hart and music from Fred Bongusto (image above).

The melody and lyrics were befitting of the SIA concept: classy, soft and alluring as the gentle giant whispers across land, sea and cloud. The song lures passengers into a smooth and dreamy flight.

Not many people knew about the project, but when the theme song was played on air and the advertisement appeared on TV, everyone cheered and loved the song with its exquisite taste of Pierre Balmain chic and Sandpipers dream voices. And the Singapore Girls? Chantek (beautiful).

One of many SIA advertisements found on YouTube. An early 70's ad.

Image: The Sandpipers - Jim Brady, Mike Piano, Richard Shoff.

Chotto Matte Kudasai, Excuse Me While I Cry...

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SONGS I LOVE:

An English song, written and composed by Loyal E Garner with Jeanne Nakashima and sung by The Sandpipers (1971) but with a Japanese title is Chotto Matte Kudasai. In Japanese (ちょっと待ってください) it means, 'please wait for a second' or 'please wait a moment.' although 'Shosho omachi kudasai' is more polite.

The simplicity and sentiment of the lyrics, possibly conjuring an image of a beautiful girl or young man (depending on the singer), make it so popular that it has been recorded in other languages. Singapore, Malaya, other Asian music artistes like Frankie Cheah and Frances Yip have recorded it.

Frances Yip: Chotto Matte Kudasai (Never Say Goodbye) Video: Patrick O.

Martin Denny has quite a sugary version vocalised by an Asian lady. In the new century, a Filipino group called Joey de Leon and The Sex Bombs has another. It is a lounge favourite with both pianists and nightclubbers, a karaoke 'must sing' and can be heard in any building that plays elevator music.

It is also on the list of many electronic organ song sheets as school children learn this melody for a Grade 3 or 4 keyboard practice. Very popular in music schools and music teachers.

Chotto Matte is a hit with elementary keyboard enthusiasts and the music notes are commonly found with Que Sera Sera and Annie Laurie; the melody is loved by many young 'uns. Tree cheers for evergreens.

Then in 2012, this title surfaced again, sung by a group who call themselves Anger Me, former S/Mileage, a Japanese idol girl group. But it's not the same song; only the title is.

Chott Matte Kudasai by The Sandpipers. Video by Braz DSZ. Thank you.

Lyrics to the original song:

Chotto matte kudasai

Please excuse me while I cry
Seems sayonara means goodbye
But no one ever told me why

Sakura was in the spring
When our hearts found songs to sing
But Sakura has gone away
And so has our love, so they say

Chotto matte kudasai
Please excuse me while I cry
Without your love, I would die
Please don’t leave me kudasai...

UMG (on behalf of A&M); SOLAR Music Rights Management, Sony Music Publishing, BMI - Broadcast Music Inc., and 5 Music Rights Societies

鍾珍妮‧鍾安妮: 

Composer：

Loyal E. Garner/Jeanne Nakashima

YouTube Videos from Patrick O and Braz DSZ. Thank you.

The Japanese version

ちょっと待って下さい　ジェミネス

YouTube video by: TheDarimin

From Marc Wong [Nostalgic SG]

Mama Cass Sings California Earthquake

(PART IV OF IV) "WHERE THE BEACH USED TO BE, WON'T BE NOTHING AT ALL..." 

Way back in 1968, John Hartford, who wrote Glen Campbell's famous, Gentle On My Mind, composed and sang California Earthtquake way before Lady Gaga wrote her Earthquake Song. It was picked up Mama Cass Elliot (The Mamas n The Papas).

CALIFORNIA EARTHQUAKE
(John Hartford)

Recorded by : John Hartford; Mama Cass.

I heard they exploded,
The underground blast,
What they say's gonna happen,
Gonna happen at last,
That's the way it appears.

They tell me the fault line runs right through here,
So that may be,
That may be,
What's gonna happen gonna happen to me,
That's the way it appears.

They tell me the fault line runs right through here.
Atlantis will rise,
Sunset Boulevard will fall,
Where the beach used to be,
Won't be nothing at all,
That's the way it appears.

They tell me the fault line runs right through here
So that may be,
That may be,
What's gonna happen gonna happen to me,
That's the way it appears.

TSUNAMI (PART III of IV) WILL SINGAPORE EVER BE AFFECTED BY RADIOACTIVE FALL-OUT?

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There are songs about nearly everything. According to Wikipedia, a 1969 song about radioactive fallout by *David Crosby, Stephen Stills, Paul Kantner (Jefferson Airplane) "seems to deal with the ever-present fears of an apocalyptic nuclear war." The words of the song depict the horrors confronting the survivors of a nuclear holocaust. It's called, Wooden Ships:
."Wooden ships on the water, very free and easy,
Easy, you know the way it's supposed to be,
Silver people on the shoreline, let us be,
Talkin' 'bout very free and easy...
.

Horror grips us as we watch you die,
All we can do is echo your anguished cries,
Stare as all human feelings die,
We are leaving - you don't need us.

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And it's a fair wind, blowin' warm,
Out of the south over my shoulder,
Guess I'll set a course and go... "

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*Crosby, Stills, Nash, (Young: 'Heart Of Gold') group: active from 1968.

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Information: Wikipedia.

Video: You Tube skoebiedoe

For a full explanation regarding the composers please go to:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wooden_Ships

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There are many songs about the fears and consequences of radioactivity and nuclear fallout.

The Night Has Been Too Lonely, The Road Too Long Tsunami: (Part II of IV)

"Ain't No Sunshine When She's Gone." Subjects differ but the themes express fear, loss, hurt, depression, loneliness... and hope. The 60s and 70s music have them all:

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"Someone told me long ago
There's a calm before the storm
I know it's been coming for some time

When it's over so they say
It'll rain on a sunny day
I know shining down like water

I want to know
Have you ever seen the rain?
I want to know
Have you ever seen the rain?
Coming down on a sunny day"

.
(Have You Ever Seen The Rain?

Creedence Clearwater Revival,

John Fogerty - 1970)

"Been walking my mind to an easy time

My back turned towards the sun
Lord knows when the cold wind blows

It'll turn your head around

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Well, they're hours of time

On the telephone line

To talk about things to come
Sweet dreams and flying machines

In pieces on the ground

I've seen fire and I've seen rain
I've seen sunny days that

I thought would never end
I've seen lonely times

When I could not find a friend
But I always thought that I'd see you

One more time again... "

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(Fire and Rain - James Taylor 1970)

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"When the night has been too lonely
And the road has been too long,
And you think that love is only
For the lucky and the strong

.
Remember in the winter
Far beneath the winter snows
Lies the seed that with the sun's love
In the spring becomes the rose"

.
(The Rose - Bette Midler, Amanda

McBroom - 1979)
.
"Hey, I ought to leave the young thing alone
But ain't no sunshine when she's gone
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
Only darkness everyday
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
And this house just ain't no home
Anytime she goes away
Anytime she goes away"

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(Ain't No Sunshine When She's Gone -

Bill Withers - 1971)

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"Only the lonely
Know the way I feel tonight
Only the lonely
Know this feeling ain't right

Only the lonely
Know the heartaches I've been through
Only the lonely
Know I cry and cry for you"

(Only The Lonely: Roy Orbison/Joe Melson - 1960)

Cash donations for the Japan Tsunami Fund (March 2011) at the Singapore Red Cross at 15 Penang Lane from Mondays to Fridays from 9.30am to 9 pm, and on Saturdays and Sundays from 9.30am to 6 pm.

Cheque donations made payable to the 'Singapore Red Cross Society' and sent to the Singapore Red Cross at 15 Penang Lane, Singapore 238486. You should indicate at the back of the cheque the following: Japan Disaster 2011, the name of the donor, contact number and address.

SMS donations by text messaging 75772. For every message, $50 will be donated to the fund. Each SMS carries a charge of 30 cents.

From today till April 13, customers of OCBC, DBS and United Overseas Bank can also make a donation via ATM, mobile and Internet banking. Donors can get more details by logging on to the banks' websites.

(Donation information and instruction from The Straits Times Singapore.)

http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_645264.html

Earthquakes, Tsunamis And Giving Hearts! 11.3.11 Japan Tsunami (Part I of IV)

Earthquake, Tsunami In Japan (2011). Earthquake, Burning In Frisco (1906):

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The nightmare repeats itself as our citizens of this earth bear yet another disaster when the earthquake and tsunami strike again. Just when the world was reeling from an aftershock because of the Christchurch shake, Japan is in ruins once more as the terrible twins rampage the country.

The Burning Of Frisco Town (composed by Theron C. Bennett with Bob Adams in 1906), the same man who penned, Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Old Oak Tree, tells the tragedy that rocked the US and the world then. Do read the lyrics and think about the dilemma that is haunting Japan today:

The Burning Of Frisco Town

(Theron C. Bennett/Bob Adams)
The 18th day of April 1906
In old San Francisco
An earthquake shook the bricks

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It started fires that burned away
Most rich and poor as well
How many souls have perished
In those flames no one can tell

Oh the sorrow and the anguish
For our loved ones who have gone
Who left us flashing memories
Upon that faithful dawn.

But I am glad I am a witness
And I'm proud of my great land
Who's so loyal to its needy
Stretched right out its helping hand
We will mourn for those who left us
Give the home this food and gown
For our nation's wrapped in sorrow
By the burning of Frisco Town

Many dear ones parted
Upon that fateful day
Earthquake fire and chaos
Drove families all astray

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Longing for their loved ones
Awaiting their return
Anxiously they're looking

And for some news they yearn

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So while in all their sorrows

Let's not forget each one

When you stretch for the helping hand

It's a duty nobly done...

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IF YOU WISH TO GIVE, THERE ARE DONATION CENTRES IN SINGAPORE.

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Image: from Google Images

Article: Andy Lim

A Note From Leroy Lindsay: October 19, 2009

I have just read this note below by Leroy Lindsay today while going through my postings. Apologies to Leroy. I did not have an 'alert mail' notice previously. If you read this posting please leave your email address and I shall provide you with the emails of The Mysterians. Thanks, Andy.

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Note from Leroy:

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"It has been a long time since I have seen something written about my old friends and backing group, The Mysterians. I have returned to Singapore a few times since 2000, but have been unable to meet up with any of the boys.

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The Mysterians was a group ahead of its time, with a group of tremendous musicians. We would have sold more records if we had decided to record the kind of music that was in demand at the time in Singapore, but we decided to record the songs that we liked. Our 'T' dances were always well attended on Sundays though.

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It was a pleasure to work with the Mysterians, and I am happy that their contribution to 60's music in Singapore is being discussed."

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Nice work,
Leroy Lindsay.

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Image: From record cover: Cosdel CSP 1010. Andy Lim Collection.

Can You Name This Singapore 60s Mystery Group?

CAN YOU NAME THIS CHOIR FROM THE 60s?

SOME SLEEVES SPEAK:

To keep the mystery intact, an edited version of the sleeve-liner from the back-cover of 'ami' Records (without serial number) tells you about this group. Each blank ( _ ) represents a word. Try it:

"The first thing that strikes most people about _ _ is our name. It merely means that instead of walking up the middle _ of the _ _ _ , we stick to the side _!

We have often been confronted with an embarassing, 'Well, what are The _? I mean, well... what are you?' The answer comes in two words: We sing. We sing of what _ means to us, we sing of Singapore, we sing of love, hope, faith an of running and catching the wind.

We have grown tired of sitting down and arguing with people about faith and _ . So instead of yelling pointlessly for hours on end, getting bad tempers, sore throats and headaches, we sing. We have found that music is a language everyone understands, and so we use music as our medium of _ .

Started in 1965 by the _ _ _, the group originally consisted of girls from St. Margaret's Secondary School. We later expanded to include men and girls from the various denominational _ and are now based at _ _ _ .

The _ _ have appeared over TV Singapura and Malaysia and made broadcasts over Radio Singapura and Rediffusion, besides singing in _ and concerts halls.

This album is a live recording of one of our performances. Two of the numbers, 'Dem Bones' and 'Go Tell It On The Mountain', are spirituals which have been rearranged by the group, and the Christmas calypso 'On A Day' is an original tune based on words by Dr. D. T. Niles. 'Morning Town Ride' is one of the many folk-songs sung by us, while The Great Spirit, composed by the Colwell Brothers, is one of severa MRA songs often sung by the group (anonymous)."

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The clues are all there. So one last clue. Five of the girls would have formed a pop girl group and cut records with Philips (Universal Music Singapore) in 1967. Can you name the above group and their place of practice?

Image/article: ami Records/back sleeve cover.

Image of St. Andrew's Cathedral from: http://www.victorianweb.org/

Dig That Groovy Chick: 60s Jargon Disappears

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EXPRESSION, JARGON, SLANG: SINGAPORE 60s LINGUISTIC SCENE

"Oh man dig that crazy baby!" 

We don't use an expression like that anymore do we? A person usually speaks and uses vocabulary within a certain context or cultural surrounding. When that cultural environment disappears, the expression, jargon or slang used within that context disappears too. Below is a list of expressions and questions that are hardly used today.

1   Please switch off the transistor.
2   How many EPs can you stack on the record player?
3   I like your stylish bee-hive and his kiss-curls.
4   I go ape with the programs on Rediffusion.
5   Elvis Presley's a real, cool dude.

6   Can't put anymore records in the radiogram.
7   Dig the crazy crowd at the National Theatre!
8   Little Richard, he sure likes to ball...
9   Here's a request from pen-pal Elvis Renaldo Sim for Lulu Sandra Ho...
10 I'm dialling my chick's number again.

"I'm dialling my chick's number again."

11 Can I borrow your song book to copy, 'Rock Around The Clock?'
12 Can you do the off-beat with me?

13 Hey, where're my Beatle boots?

14 Hey, play that new 78 we just bought.

15 New typewriting ribbons to copy lines from 'Peyton Place.'

16 Let's go to the Celestial Room this weekend.

17 Wow! I like your latest beatnik look.

18 Lots of cool cats at the Hotel Prince Garni tea-dance.

19 I like your Elvis sideburns.

20 Gimme a light on my menthol fag.

21 This singles costs me a dollar eighty.

22 Hey, Edmundo Ros' live on radio now.

23 My black and white's in the dump.

24 Don't have bread to buy a new color one.

25 So psychedelic! I love it.

26 Teddy boys crowding the phone booth.

27 I am going steady with Jane.

28 You like some sky juice?

29 Your moon-glasses make you hip.

30 We were making out at Mount Faber.

"Gimme a light on my menthol fag."

Teddy Boys with side-burns and kiss-curls hairdos.

These expressions are only a fraction of what 60s vocabulary can offer and with a little imagination and memory the list can go on. But how did it all start? The clues are below:

Lyrics And Song Titles:

1 'Put your glad rags on and join me hon' (Rock Around The Clock)

2 'Sure like to ball, when you hear your mama call' (Good Golly Miss Molly)

3 'A movin' and a groovin' gonna satisfy my soul' (Party)

4 'Three to get ready, now go cat go' (Blue Suede Shoes)

5 'You don't like hot-rod racin', you're so square' (Baby I Don't Care)

6 'I'll be flyin' high, rock on out to the open sky' (Rip It Up)

7 'A honky tonky Joe was standin' at the door' (Party)

8 'See ya later, alligator' (See You Later, Alligator)

So like words, the fashion was different too.

Image 1: A beehive hairdo.

Image 2: A hippie.

Image 3: A fashionable 60s evening gown. Not the Merlion but definitely a Merlady. Swan Records SE 4556 "Off Beat Cha Cha." with The Wedding, Dream, We Meet Again and We Need Each Other. 

An Original Article. Copyrights Reserved.