Just to make a pleasant change from all the goings on...
Echoes/Sonics/Desperadoes/Fairport stuff, here is some light relief. When I was going out with a young lady from the Stangee Place area in 1963/64, she mentioned an Australian singer called Bryan Davies who had appeared on Singapore TV around that time. I had never heard of him but I promised to look out for any records by him.
I discovered an LP on a stall at the Changi village night market and she was delighted when I took it to her flat. Apparently, he was born in England and moved to Australia as a boy with his family. He had quite a pleasant voice and sang a mixture of standards and pop songs.
Hi Allan,
Thanks for the letter and the information. If we are with the same Bryan Davies the status from You Tube includes his hits: Dream Girl, Alberta, With Love From Jenny, Tossin' and Turnin', Ten Pin Bowling, Skinny Minnie, You Talk Too Much You're Sixteen and others. Comment anyone especially those with British and Australian connections?
Original article/Image 1: Bryan Davies LP Cover from Allan Thompson Collection.
Image 2, 3: You Tube Videos.
Added comment by Allan:
I Guess You Know
That I Really Go
For That Come On Smile
And Those Laughin' Eyes Of Blue
Little Dream Girl.
And The Way You Move
Only Goes To Prove
You're A Perfect Doll
And I Sure Could Fall For You
Little Dream Girl
My Dream Girl.
When You Walk Down The Street
Ah, You Sweep Me Off My Feet
I Never Thought A Girl Could Look So Sweet
But Your're Twice As Nice As Sugar And Spice.
From Top To Toe
You Just Seem To Glow
Like A Living Dream
Made Of Silk And Satin And Pearl
Little Dream Girl
My Dream Girl.
(Please help with the Lyricist and Composer).
Echoes/Sonics/Desperadoes/Fairport stuff, here is some light relief. When I was going out with a young lady from the Stangee Place area in 1963/64, she mentioned an Australian singer called Bryan Davies who had appeared on Singapore TV around that time. I had never heard of him but I promised to look out for any records by him.
I discovered an LP on a stall at the Changi village night market and she was delighted when I took it to her flat. Apparently, he was born in England and moved to Australia as a boy with his family. He had quite a pleasant voice and sang a mixture of standards and pop songs.
A couple of years ago I managed to find a copy of the LP on Ebay and bought it out of nostalgia. Not as good as I remembered it but it brought back memories of that innocent time. I have attached a scan of most of the cover. Have you ever come across him?
Keep well.
Allan."
Thanks for the letter and the information. If we are with the same Bryan Davies the status from You Tube includes his hits: Dream Girl, Alberta, With Love From Jenny, Tossin' and Turnin', Ten Pin Bowling, Skinny Minnie, You Talk Too Much You're Sixteen and others. Comment anyone especially those with British and Australian connections?
Regards,
Andy.
Original article/Image 1: Bryan Davies LP Cover from Allan Thompson Collection.
Image 2, 3: You Tube Videos.Added comment by Allan:
"I have been lstening to the Bryan Davies LP over the last couple of days and these are my observations 45 years after I first heard it.
He sounds like Bobby Vee/Craig Douglas/Neil Sedaka/Tommy Steele on some of the pop songs, while on "April Love" and "Young Talk" he reminds me of Jerry Keller.
On the two standards, "Lonesome Road" and "Alright, OK, You Win", there seems to be a strong influence of Anthony Newley.
The standards and ballads stand the test of time pretty well but the uptempo 'poppy' numbers are very much of their time but that, after all, is the nature of pop music. It was interesting to see some of his performances on YouTube."
He sounds like Bobby Vee/Craig Douglas/Neil Sedaka/Tommy Steele on some of the pop songs, while on "April Love" and "Young Talk" he reminds me of Jerry Keller.
On the two standards, "Lonesome Road" and "Alright, OK, You Win", there seems to be a strong influence of Anthony Newley.
The standards and ballads stand the test of time pretty well but the uptempo 'poppy' numbers are very much of their time but that, after all, is the nature of pop music. It was interesting to see some of his performances on YouTube."
Dream Girl Lyrics by Bryan Davies.
(Try Singing it With You Tube. Very Catchy. Come on!)
I Guess You Know
That I Really Go
For That Come On Smile
And Those Laughin' Eyes Of Blue
Little Dream Girl.
And The Way You Move
Only Goes To Prove
You're A Perfect Doll
And I Sure Could Fall For You
Little Dream Girl
My Dream Girl.
When You Walk Down The Street
Ah, You Sweep Me Off My Feet
I Never Thought A Girl Could Look So Sweet
But Your're Twice As Nice As Sugar And Spice.
From Top To Toe
You Just Seem To Glow
Like A Living Dream
Made Of Silk And Satin And Pearl
Little Dream Girl
My Dream Girl.
(Please help with the Lyricist and Composer).
21 comments:
Hi Guys,
This is what I would like to read or listen to. Brings back fond memories, and the good times too.
Anyone know where he's performing now? The last I knew was at the SSC (S'pore Swimming Club). Right Jamie-San??
Cheers and have fun listening to it,
Guru Happy
Hellooo Guru Happy
Yeah, I last stomped to Matthew's rendition of Ghost Riders in the Sky many many moons ago at Singapore Swimming Club.
As for where Matthew now is, I'll have to ask my kawan Andy Lim who was with the Silver Strings long before we heard of Matthew and the Mandarins.
You may wish to follow Andy in his blog.
Thanks James. You are so kind and generous to spread Sing60sMusic. Matthew is still very active and can sometimes be at Serangoon Garden CC. As to his immediate whereabouts I must ask good friend Larry Lai.
Again thanks for the interest and support.
Andy.
(I have put up the mail on the blog for others to read and help.)
Check out this Singapore Memory.
Matthew Tan's story!
Filmed at Serangoon Gardens Country Club. This will be a thrill for some of the Club's members.
Yes I was supposed to have contributed free of charge 4 or 5 of Matthew's covers from his LPs for the documentary but I think they found the pictures in the last minute.
Bryan Davies is an Australian singer from Sydney, born in 1945, who came to the attention of Australian rock fans in 1959.
His clean-cut good looks and comparatively mellow rock style made him ideal for the TV pop shows of the era, such as Sing! Sing! Sing! and particularly Bandstand, on which Bryan became a regular.
Bryan has had songs written for him by acclaimed songwriter, Jay Justin, who wrote songs for many other artists, including Little Pattie, Slim Whitman and Reg Lindsay.
Hanggono has left a new comment on your post "(A) Milk Advertisement On Vinyl With Strollers":
Yes, I have some EP 45 rpm collections from The Strollers, Jade&Pepper, October Cherrish, Samuel Hui and other Phillipines, Malaysian Artist and was collected from 1960.
Thanks for all.
Hi Andy,
Thanks for your reply. Since your postings have been bringing such pleasant memories of my days in the 60s, I feel that I should share it with friends of my vintage.
Cheers!
Thanks Bro. James,
Yes, I remember the Silver Strings, and if I could recall they were at one time performing at the Sea View Htl (off Katong).
My, it's been a loonnggg time and I recall the privilege of knowing some of the Band Members too (I must have definitely met Andy, if he was playing with them during that period).
I used to visit the Lounge with Brian (Richmond). Incidentally, we were childhood friends during our younger days.
Look forward to hearing from you all again.
Hey, Guru Hap
In one of his blogs (links below), our friend Andy wrote about our
friend Philip Goi and 'The Gaylads.'
As Andy says, how times have changed: even the meanings of words
have changed. Which band of staright guys would want to call
themselves 'Gaylads' today?
Hey, Guru, next time when you are in Singapore, we must get together
for yaaaaaahm seng or yaaaaahm-cha with Andy. And if Matthew is
performing or Larry Lai is deejaying in town when you are here, let's go and yaaaaahm-kopi with them.
In the meantime, please forward to your Singapore friends now staying in your Vancouver neighborhood and also world-wide.
Heeeeeere's to Andy and his blog!!!
Cheers!
Dear James,
You must have been very active during the 60s especially with the bands and their members.
Again thanks for the support and rallying Happy with his Vancouver neighbourhood to read the blog.
Regards
Brian Davies brings back fond memory. He was very popular when I was in Sydney in the 60s. He was a very young and handsome guy then. I have seen him appearing very often on TV (bandstand and Johnny O’keefe’s shows such as 6 O’Clock Rock and Sing, Sing, sing). His popularity started when his version of “Dream Girl” overtook the original Mark Wynter's "Dream Girl". Few weeks after the release of Mark Wynter's "Dream Girl", Brian Davies released his version and became a very big hit in Sydney. Someone once mentioned that, partly, the Australian preferred to support it’s own artist. However, I certainly much prefer Brian Davies’s version. (My band also did a cover of his version of Dream Girl). His other releases such as “Five Foot Two” did not make it as high on the chart..
Brian Davies brings back fond memory. He was very popular when I was in Sydney in the 60s. He was a very young and handsome guy then. I have seen him appearing very often on TV (bandstand and Johnny O’keefe’s shows such as 6 O’Clock Rock and Sing, Sing, sing). His popularity started when his version of “Dream Girl” overtook the original Mark Wynter's "Dream Girl". Few weeks after the release of Mark Wynter's "Dream Girl", Brian Davies released his version and became a very big hit in Sydney. Someone once mentioned that, partly, the Australian preferred to support it’s own artist. However, I certainly much prefer Brian Davies’s version. (My band also did a cover of his version of Dream Girl). His other releases such as “Five Foot Two” did not make it as high on the chart..
Dear Doc,
That's a lot of memories from you and I appreciate the sharing. I am sure others who experienced those years can still remember Bryan Davies and his "Dream Girl".
Thanks for regularly visiting this site. Hope you are still jamming and having your regular gigs.
Dr. Lee Yan San hails from Penang, Malaysia.
Thank you for posting this song. I've grown up on this and God knows since when i was looking for it. it is a wonderful song to be played to kids .I play it for my son now. thank you once again.
Dr. Vineet Gupta
India
The above note refers to the song, PAPA, HE LOVES MAMA by DONALD PEERS and can be found on the posting above.
Thank you for visiting Dr. Vineet. I am glad you are teaching the song to your son.
I did know someone named Happy back in the 60s. He was a photographer and had his own studio in Katong called Happy Studios.
I have included the lyrics so you can sing with You Tube on the right bar. It's a very catchy song, typical of Bobby Vee and Bobby Rydell songs.
Try it out!
I could not find the name of the composer on the websites. Please help.
"Happy days are here again
The skies above are clear again
Let us sing a song of cheer again
Happy days are here again..."
My dear friend,
You mean it's "HAPPY TAY are here again!!!"
[From an edited You Tube comment by 'PourMeAnotherTequila': "I really believe that Bryan was one of the great Aussie pop singers the 60's. And, one of the most under-rated. Unlike some of his contemporaries, Bryan was capable of moving effortlessly between musical styles, and the consistent quality of his singles makes all of them worth searching out (the 'b' sides are usually excellent, too)."]
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