Singapore 60s Bands Sing About Their Ladies

Whether it's Mary Lou or Corrina, Judy or Diana, pop music has many song titles with ladies' names since most of the songs have romantic themes. From A in Amanda by Rod Stewart to Z in Zelda by Pete Townshend, female names are targeted and the numbers can go up to many hundreds.  

Similarly with our local band boys and their recordings on vinyls. Checking a personal library there was Henry Suriya who recorded DONNA, The Christones had AURA LEE, our teacher star across the causeway, Frankie Chia sang about his CHERYL MOANA MARIE and the Dukes with their popular original instrumental, SELINA.  

The selection made for this posting is hardly sufficient to prove any statistical endeavour but here are five detailed samplings of local pops classics with ladies' names on their titles.

The Checkmates:
Recorded at Kinetex Studios in Singapore, lead guitar Benny Chan, with Hann Hussein (rhythmist), Laurence Lee (bassist) and Amir Samsudin (drums), produced four original instrumentals on their EP with one piece bearing a lady's name. Called SYLVIA, it was composed by Lee and Chan. Anyone heard of Sylvia? Beautiful song. And lady too?

I have listened to Checkmates many times when we were in shows together in the past.  Like other bands they used to play Shadows and other 60's instrumental hits on stage. Their music was always solid, tight and more importantly on this vinyl, original. 

NB:
Lead Benny Chan was in Singapore recently and had just appeared at the Esplanade this month of November with the group. Just wondering if Sylvia came to watch the show. Or was she just a figment of the imagination. Great instumental though.

d'Starlights:

Coming from the Philippines, d'Starlights boys were so familiar with Singaporean audiences that they were gladly accepted as belonging to the local community. Famous for their appearances in the El Amigo Nightclub at The New World Amusement Park, they were associated with quality control music. 

On this EP called, IT'S SOUL MAN, the five boys sang and played, LOUIE, LOUIE. Written by Richard Berry way back in 1955, it was about a Jamaican sailor returning to his island to see his lady love.  With this group in control the song is one beautiful and hot soul beat dedication to Ms Louie. And for this lady, at least, we know who she was.

NB: d'Starlights were known to have exhibited their karate prowess on stage before their performances. Some of their members had passed away these few years.  One or two from the group had written on this blog to make these announcements.

The Quests:
A group that needs no introduction is The Quests. Because they were so popular in the South East Asian region, EMI Columbia allowed them to record current covers. So in 1969, they produced four songs for another one of their EPs without any original.

The particular vinyl had a note from the group on its back sleeve cover since they were coming home to Singapore that year from their stint in Hong Kong. Together with three other international hits The Quests included PROUD MARY. 

This fast, hot John Fogerty lady had become such a classic that nearly every Singapore band had performed this Creedence Clearwater Revival hit on stage. 
The lyrics explained that Mary was born in the Bayou and worked as a washerwoman. 

CCR made it number one, Tina Turner gyrated with the number, exhibiting her sensual legs, wearing the shortest skirt ever and Elvis Presley wowed every fan with his version. There was a long line of artistes who wooed Proud Mary.

NB:
In case some readers are not aware, two of the Quests had passed on i.e. Reggie Verghese and Jap Chong. Lim Wee Guan and Henry Chua are still as active with their drums and sold guitars. 

Chua had his SHANTY played by our Wind Symphonic recently (please read another posting).  I meet Jimmy Chan for kopi at Tiong Bahru Market. He's a pianist and still at Marina Mandarin. A very nice guy.

The Surfers:
Before the October Cherries, they were called The Surfers and had cut four tracks with EMI. This particular vinyl was so popular the producers could have made thousands of copies. You can get it anywhere today if you look hard enough. 

Titled HOORAY FOR HAZEL,  we have another hit to add to our short list of lady-named songs recorded in Singapore. This vinyl was done at MacDonald House, Orchard Road. Hazel belonged to Tommy Roe and the song gossiped about a woman who could win the hearts of all men but later mistreated them.

Again, their popularity guaranteed (and sales of course), I remember this group had a large fan base both locally and overseas when they became October Cherries. Imagine competing with Roe on the hit parade charts. Hooray for Surfers. 

The Trailers:

The Trailers were another household name in the 1960's. With their stronghold at the Palace Cinema in East Coast Katong, the T-Dance became a phenomenon because of Benny and The Trailers. 

So when the group was up and soaring in our oriental skies, they produced four melodies that were favourites with the locals. Two of them were from the West. Together with PHOENIX THEME, ALI SAN and the U.S. hit DING DONG SONG, The Trailers added their tim-sum mix with another lady's name called LARA'S THEME, a big hit in 1967.


The specially Chinese PHOENIX THEME glued the four songs air-tight.  All melodies were already separate hits singly but as Trailers instrumentals, this record was one of the most sought after during Chinese New Year 1967. Even our Malay and Indian friends knew the song as , Kwoh Sin Nien.

The concoction did the trick and this EP was one of the top best selling vinyls produced.  With Victor Woo on lead guitar, Maurice Jarre's LARA'S THEME went off-beat a-go-go and boy friend Doctor Zhivago went wild. 

Lady Lara was one foreign attraction.  Set in Russia, the movie told of a KGB Lieutenant General searching for Lara Antipova, the daughter of his half brother. She must be SOMEWHERE MY LOVE.

NB:
Victor Woo is still playing lead with his New Trailers today.  PHOENIX THEME was played during a Channel News Asia television documentary in 2014 discussing Singapore's Treasure Hunt.  It was hosted by pretty Anita Kapoor and archaeologist Lim Chen Sian. I was a guest.

So Sylvia, Louie, Mary, Hazel and Lara, where are you all?

Comments please.

The record covers are from a private collection; pinterest.com
You Tube Video: lvlalaysiaboleh.

'Fabulous Echoes' Once Called 'The Rock n Rollers'

The Untold Event About HK's Top Filipino Band

On 7th September, 2015, Ernest Dizon (left) wrote to me on the Comment page in my Fabulous Echoes posting  dated *Monday 18th May, 2009.  

He must have a reason for writing this short but interesting personal tale about Hong Kong's well-known Filipino group from the 1960's of which he was a member. 

Although I found some difficulty editing his story (especially where the informational pieces are concerned) I thought it best if I published the article and hope he would write again to verify certain items. I thank Mr Dizon for the note and for taking us back to those years when Sri Lanka was Ceylon. 

The letter has been edited for ease of read:

"The original name of the Fabulous Echoes were The Rock n Rollers and the very original members were Ernie Dizon, my brother Reny Dizon and the three Ruivivar brothers.

We started for fun on a hot summer day when we went up the roof on Kimberley Road (Hong Kong) and started singing and harmonizing. During one of our fun practices, the band leader Tony suggested that we started a proper band. So we rehearsed daily in all seriousness.

One day an agent from Sri Lanka introduced himself as an employer looking for a band to play in Ceylon.  That's the old name for Sri Lanka.  So to make my story short we managed to get the contract and boarded the ship that we were supposed to play in. It was called, **MV Victoria, The Lloyd Triestino.  We loaded our instruments into our room on the ship and for the first contract. Believe it or not, we were nine days at sea.


I was the first to notice Sri Lanka in the distance when we were about to land because I could not sleep and went up on deck to enjoy the breeze. I saw a light house on the Northern tip, got excited and started calling the other members of our band.   In the meantime, all the other passengers were clapping and shouting because we had arrived in Ceylon after a rather long and weary sea journey.  
We played at the Orchid Room and the Green Room (location not mentioned).  In a sudden twist of fate which robbed us of a chance to go to Europe our boss Donovan Andre passed away because of an ailment. He was planning to combine our cabaret acts into one single production.  Fate awaits no one and sad to say, we took a KLM airline back to Hong Kong!

We truly regretted the loss of our boss.  He was such a pleasant, humble person and so simple in his ways.  He was also very kind to us. We stayed in Wallace Place in Colpya, Sri Lanka (unidentified location).  It was a very memorable trip for all of us."

But the rather tragic story did not stop the members from carrying on to become the fabulous group that it was afterwards. 

Thanks again Mr Dizon for the very generous contribution and the story that not many people know about. Please write in again if you read this posting.

Footnote:

* http://singapore60smusic.blogspot.sg/2009/05/fabulous-echoes-instrumental-group-is.html

The Fabulous Echoes were just as famous as the Filipino group D'Starlights here in Singapore 60's.

**http://www.lastoceanliners.com/cgi/lolline.pl?LLO

"On board it is as if you were staying at a Riviera hotel ... On this small but complete floating city, passengers will have the opportunity of spending their days absolutely free of care without any need to forego their most cherished habits."   Built in 1953, it was sold and ended its service in 1974.

Images: Ernest Dizon Google+; Google.
You Tube Video: from shatinterry.

********************************

SLIP NOTE: 15th September, 2015.
Breaking News:

Clean City Singapore Smothered By Others

The haze in this region seems to be getting worse year by year. At its most unhealthy level last night @ PSI 240+.  A neighbouring country doesn't seem to be able to do much controlling it. When Singapore offered assistance their authorities turned it down.  Perhaps a little bit of soap for face, and lots of water for fire, might help? I have a piece of advice, "Jangan suka dong, malu malu kucing... (pop 60's Indonesian song)."

Mata Mata Special Squads Roam 60's Night Clubs

Mata, Mata - The Singapore Police Force in the 1950's.

Something on my Mind with d'Starlights. Video by Mr Rainbow.

  UP TO 3,200 VIEWS & 

40+ COMMENTS/CHATS

Singapore Police Force n Nightclub Scene:

"Mata. Mata lai leow. (cops are here). Time is tight man! Let's make a run for it before we get caught by the special squad!"  The nightclubs in the 1960's were usually quiet with conflicts and rowdiness more or else contained.  

But there were instances when fights and clashes erupted and the police would appear quickly to appease the situation and handle the trouble makers.  

Guru Happy, who now lives in Vancouver is here again to discuss certain tough areas that he had been patrolling those years.  Personal names have been left out and the article has been edited:

*d'Starlights: Karate-kicks on stage before music performance.

"D'Starlights, I'm sure many of you could remember, was one of the first and top band from the Philippines to perform at the El Amigo in Singapore. We would always frequent the Lounge or Nite Club (as they were known those days) located at the New World Amusement Park.

This group were karate exponents and would include some Japanese art of self-defence techniques at the beginning of their music performance to show the gangsters their own agility.

Is this a **BLACK MARIA with reinforced steel bars?

Located at Kitchener Road (City Square Mall has now replaced New World) it was one place where well-known gangsters and hard-core fugitives would also congregate and come to know me pretty well too.  We would always land up making arrests in the club when I was then with the Police Special Squad working together with one Mr Singh (Special Squad or plain clothes policemen were known as arm-pai amongst the Chinese).



Another place we used to frequent often was at the Pink Panther off Orchard Road and the Shamrock Bar and Nite Club. "If you're looking for trouble, you came to the right place, If you're looking for trouble just look right in my face (Elvis Presley's Trouble from King Creole)."

Elvis Presley spells trouble in King Creole.

Childhood Friends:

Cathay Nite Club and Restaurant at the Cathay Cinema at Mount Sophia and Handy Road was another favourite joint and that was where my present better half and I had our first date, together with childhood friends, a well-known radio DJ and another friend who was one of Singapore's great footballers. We grew up together in primary school and if we didn't frequent the nightclubs we would spend most of our time on the soccer field in Queenstown.

Nightclubs in the 50s and 60s

Besides D'Starlights I still remember Susan Lim with The Crescendos and would still listen to her on You-Tube today to recall all those memorable times where we enjoyed our T-Dances and house parties in the 60s. Yes, so much to talk about, but so little time-lah, especially when you're far away from your kampung in Pasir Ris. Original article by Guru Happy."

Angchia (red van) arrests begin with warning messages over loudspeakers.

Takes A Crook To Catch A Crook - Singapore Gangsters

Call them what you will: triad, secret societies, thugs or samseng kia, these criminal organisations were known to identify themselves using numerals like 08 or 329. In the 60's gangsters would be detained under the Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Ordinance.  In the month of February 1965 alone more than 3,000 suspects were screened and about a dozen gangsters arrested. They lived in hideouts at Geylang, Yeo Chu Kang, Havelock, Chinatown and other areas.

Undercover police officers who dressed like thugs would penetrate hideouts and together with ex-gangsters recruited by the police, raid dens and red-light areas like Geylang and Sago Lane. The exploits of these reformed criminals were legendary as they helped to capture some of the worst in our society.

Mata mata means Eyes in the Malay Language. It is the colloquial term for Policemen.

Gangsters caught by the mata-mata and arm-pai. From stomp.com.sg

Images:

Vinyl from d'Starlights: It's Soul Man with A Man Without Love, Hip Hug Her, El Pussy Cat and Louie Louie on EMI/ECHK 598.

Police vans to transport prisoners inside a specially adapted cell in the vehicle; also for rapid transport of police officers to an incident.

The vehicle most gangsters fear was the ang-chia or red van, used to round up troublemakers and placed under arrest. They would be escorted under heavy guard in these red vans and charged at the police station. Such vehicles have been phased out today and replaced with smaller ones.

If you take information from this article for your own use, 

at least credit me because copying is stealing.

Andy.

Images from: Google,  stomp.com.sg, Andy Lim Collection.
Original article: Guru Happy from Vancouver, BC.

Succulent Sweet Singapore Sixties Songs: Part IV

UP TO 500 VIEWS; 40+ CHATS AND COMMENTS

Here are some food songs served on local Singapore platters. But they are not to be eaten. So let's visit this hideaway called Pop Inn, hosted by The Quests. Watch Your Step as we go in where other band members will be waiting to dish out their speciality.

The first is an original composition by Quests bassist Henry Chua called, *Tea Break. It is the flip side of their EMI single CHK 1050. 

Then 5 of D'Starlights boys, who are actually from the Philippines, will provide their packets of *Peanuts to the guests. No ordinary peanuts these because you can't buy them For A Few Dollars More. Other dishes on this EP platter include: Something On My Mind and I Believe. (EMI ECHK 585).

Veronica comes with her original serving of a *Lollipop each for her guests. Composed by Singaporean Patrick Seet, Veronica sings,

Lollipop, I want nothing but lollipop/ Won't give anything for lollipop/Cause nothing can be better than lolli-lolli-pop-pop... Record from (Philips ME - 0192 - VE).

No cakes, curry-puffs or finger-food during this tea and sympathy and as Jade And Pepper remark, Hey It's Happening Again, they provide, *Coffee, Toffee, Squares (Baal Records SP 1005). Rounding off the afternoon are The Surfers with bottles of *Honey. This EP platter has Hooray For Hazel, Mony Mony and Answer Me. These two groups look like they are from the October Cherries. Ah well! 

At the end of it all the Watermelon Man delivers his red and green fruit accompanied by the McCoys and Stevie Lorraine. But nobody leaves as they go Yakety Yak through the night. Such Moments for the party, according to Stevie are rare indeed. (EI ECHK 591. Philips ME-0185-SE).

If you know of other Singapore recordings with food titles please contribute.

*6 Food songs include originals and covers by our Singapore artistes.

(This posting, with 4 other postings on food, is in conjunction with the Sitting In Pictures documentary, FOODAGE, where Andy Lim has appeared in Episode Two discussing his mother's cooking, hawker food and music in the 50's and 60's. Chang Soh Kiak produced.) 

Images: Private Collection and Google.

'Tea Break' with The Quests.

YouTube Video from: Seang Guan Chan