Rock n Roll Comes To Singapore Part 2 by Michael Bangar

Good Friend Michael obliges as usual, writing on a topic that he holds dearly, the emergence of a music era that’s incomparable at any period in time. 

Many thanks Michael.

Hi Andy,

This paper is a continuation of Part 1.

Meanwhile in the UK & Europe, Cliff Richard & The Shadows and their likes were rocking the charts  with some of their own catchy hits. In the US pop music in the charts were  watered down to keep in line with the authorities idea to phase out Rock & Roll eventually. 

In the meantime, the US troops that were stationed in Germany, especially the African American ones were bringing with them and introducing their music to the European audiences and bands performing there. By Rock & Roll Artistes like Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps, Bill Haley & His Comets, Ricky Nelson, Eddie Cochran, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and of cause King Elvis Presley. Coloured Artistes like Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Fats Domino, Ray Charles. Blues Artistes like B B King, Albert King, Freddie King, John Lee Hooker, Buddy Guy, Albert Collins, etc.

In Hamburg, a relatively unknown 5 piece band from Liverpool, England calling themselves The Silver Beatles were doing the  rounds there in clubs like The Star Club, doing covers of American Rock & Roll, Pop, Soul & Blues. Made up of 3 guitarists John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison, Stuart Suttcliffe on bass and Pete Best on drums. They paid their dues there working long sets to hone their craft. During a violent tragic incident where they were beaten up by thugs, Stuart succumbed to his injuries and passed on. Sad !

 At home in the UK, some bands were doing the same thing. The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, The Animals, The Searchers, etc were also doing the rounds in clubs and concert halls polishing their skills, doing mostly covers of American Music. 

Upon returning to England, Paul switched to bass & Ringo Starr (Richard Starkey - real name ) replaced Pete Best on drums. They got involved with Brian Epstein who took on their management. He worked on a recording deal for them. Decca Records rejected them first saying that " guitar bands are on the way out " before EMI ( Parlophone Label to be exact - who put them on to producer George Martin ) took them on. 

Then they started their run of hits : Love Me Do, Please Please Me, From Me To You, I Wanna Hold Your Hand, Help, A Hard Days Night and the list went on and on and on. Before all that, they shortened their band name to The Beatles and dressed in matching outfits. With their Beatle boots and moptops they started a fashion craze worldwide. In a short while in the UK bands started sprouting out all over the place, imitating them and their image.

All the groups came along and followed their footsteps. They gave The Rolling Stones their 1st. Hit " I Wanna Be Your Man " which Ringo Starr  recorded on their 1st. album - With The Beatles . Other Stones hits followed - The Last Time, Under The Boardwalk ( American group, The Drifters original ) their giant hit Satisfaction and Get Off Of My Cloud. The Kinks, with their hits You Really Got Me, All Day And All Of The Night, Dedicated Follower Of Fashion and Waterloo Sunset. Manfred Man with hits like 5, 4, 3, 2, 1,, If You Got To Go, Go Now, Pretty Flamingo. The Dave Clark 5 gave us Glad All Over, Catch Us If You Can, Because Because I Love You, Reelin' & A-Rockin', a Chuck Berry original. 

     The Animals with House Of The Rising Sun ( an American tradtional folk song 1st. popularised by Nina Simone ), Please Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood, Bring It On Home To Me, We Got To Get Out Of This Place, See See Rider. Hermans' Hermits and their hits I'm Into Something Good, No Milk Today, A Little Bit Better, Mrs. Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter.

The Searchers had Sweet For My Sweet, Needles And Pins, When You Walk In The Room.  Gerry & The Pacemakers had How Do You Do, I like It, Ferry Cross The Mersey and the Liverpool Football Club Anthem - You'll Never Walk Alone. Freddie & The Dreamers gave us If You Got To Make A Fool Of Somebody, I Understand a remake of The Four Tunes 1954 hit ( Integrated  with Auld Lang Syne )and Do The Freddie ( their dance hit). Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas hit the British charts with George Harrison's Do You Want To Know A Secret, Bad To me, I'll Keep You Satisfied and Little Children.

During that period, the early 60's there were some short- lived groups that had their songs in the UK charts as well. Like The Merseybeats and they had hits like I Think Of You, Sorrow, Wishing And Hoping. The Foremosts hits were A Little Loving, Hello Little Girl, Baby I Need Your Loving. The Honeycombs with a lady drummer gave the UK charts Have I The Right, Leslie Anne, That's The Way. After a short period these bands faded into UK Pop Music History.

Best regards,
Michael Bangar