SINGAPORE 60's: ANDY's POP MUSIC INFLUENCE IS A PERSONAL MUSIC, MEMORY TRAIL. BLOGGER DOES NOT OWN THE RIGHTS TO VIDEOS, AUDIO TRACKS AND IMAGES. THEY ARE UPLOADED FOR FUN, EDUCATIONAL, ILLUSTRATIVE PURPOSES AND HAVE BEEN CREDITED. BLOG IS NOT SPONSORED NOR ADVERTORIAL IN ANY WAY WHATSOEVER. INFORM BLOGGER OF COPYRIGHT ISSUES AND POST WILL BE DELETED IMMEDIATELY. DO NOT COPY THE POSTS; GET PERMISSION N CREDIT ME IF YOU DO. ANDY LIM LA (NOVEMBER, 2008) -
(新加坡六十年代安迪的流行音乐影响力), SUDI MAMPIR !
Old friend Henri writes again, after many, many years, as he sends me this gift below about his favourite instrument and about guitar lady, Carol Kaye. Thanks Henri. Our friendship never ends with this music connection...
My fascination with the Precision Bass began when I saw the late Nokie Edwards, one of my favorite members of The Ventures, playing bass in the group’s early years. I still remember that rich, crisp punch—the deep bass notes that could almost turn into a growl when pushed through a Fender Bassman amplifier.
Even today, that sound immediately transports me back to my teenage years and The Trekkers, when we tried to capture that same driving Ventures sound with our own bass guitar. Music has a remarkable ability to preserve a moment in time. A few deep notes from a Precision Bass, and suddenly I am young again.
Carol Kaye: Bassist, Guitarist
Carol Kaye 'Boogaloo'
YouTube Video by: Sleazy Emotions.
My recent reading about Carol Kaye, now 91 and one of the most prolific bass players in the history of popular music, rekindled my interest in the Precision Bass. As a legendary Los Angeles studio musician, she played on thousands of recordings during the 1960s and 1970s, often providing the bass lines behind songs that became part of the soundtrack of our generation.
In 2025, Kaye declined her induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in the Musical Excellence category. Among her objections was the way the story of Los Angeles studio musicians—and particularly the label commonly used to describe them—had been portrayed and commercialized over the years.
So, the next time you hear one of these familiar recordings, listen beyond the singer and melody. Listen for the bass. You may be hearing Carol Kaye:
“These Boots Are Made for Walkin’” — Nancy Sinatra (1966)
“Last Train to Clarksville” — The Monkees (1966)
“The Beat Goes On” — Sonny & Cher (1967)
“You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’” — The Righteous Brothers (1964)
“Good Vibrations” — The Beach Boys (1966)
“California Girls” — The Beach Boys (1965)
“Homeward Bound” — Simon & Garfunkel (1966)
Les Paul with Carol Kaye:
YouTube Video from: chris lentz
“Sloop John B” — The Beach Boys (1966)
“Wouldn’t It Be Nice” — The Beach Boys (1966)
“Wichita Lineman” — Glen Campbell (1968)
"Mission Impossible" Theme - (1967)
"The Addams Family" Theme - (1964)
"Hawaii Five-O" Theme - (1968)
"Take Five" - (1961)
For me, this particular Bass guitar is more than an instrument. It is a sound tied to a time in my life—the Ventures, the Trekkers, and the excitement of being young and trying to make music of our own.
By Author: Henri Gann.
Comments are welcome.
Author Henri Gann lives in California, USA.
He is one of the original contributing writers for this blog.
It's me 'Old Bloke'. Siva Choy was one half The Cyclones. At the age of 16 he teamed up with his brother James also known as 'Achuthan' to form the duo.
Yesterday, 30th July, James Choi [yes different spelling of surname] passed away, aged 81. They were often referred to as, 'Singapore's Everly Brothers.' Siva wrote original songs from the age of 16 and recorded them.
Goodnight James. Have fun jamming with Siva, Zul, Sonny Bala... the list goes on.
31st July, 2026.
Thanks, Old Bloke for sharing with us the news of James' passing. May he Rest In Peace. God Bless His Soul.
[Disclaimer: Thanks again, Old Bloke for the above tribute. Hopefully the family agrees to this posting as there had been instances when such a post had to be withdrawn from the blog. Do write on the comment page to inform.]
I like her grin. She makes everything feel cool already but read on...
Hot Weather:
A high degree of heat; anything beyond 35C is definitely hot. Like in Kuwait City in 2024, it was about 50C. Now, in France too, at 40C and over, shoppers are scrambling to buy cooling appliances. 40C is hot and problems arise with people, places and things when temperature goes beyond expectations!
Hot Food:
Food with lots and lots of chilly and pepper. Now that's HOT STUFF and produces a burning sensation in the mouth. Which countries eat food with lots of chilly in them? Singapore is one with Nasi Padang and Sambal Belacan. Sichuan cold noodles tossed in blazing hot chilli sauce. There’s Spanish tomato-based soup with garlic and chilli pepper. And others.
Hot People:
Now when you're angry, you get hot too and the heat generated may melt the other party. Quarrels between friends, etc. Like in today's world, there are millions of angry citizens because of weak politicians in charge, especially those with no leadership qualities. No need for a hot July or August but silly, angry people who are just frustrated and full of ego, filled with hot air and very negative thinking.
Hot Relationship:
This 'heat' would be similar but it's more positive? Now two people in love and are in a relationship could bring their body temperature up when they are together. What more can I say?
[Don't forget to click the connection below about*'heat'.]
Donna Summer - 'Hot Stuff' (Live) The Donna Summer Special, 1980)
YouTube from: The Donna Summer Archive.
Hot Pop 70s Song:
Which finally brings me to this song by Donna Summer [even her surname! 😉]. It's an extremely hot song so check out the lyrics. I have included only a few lines though:
"I want some hot stuff, baby, this evenin'/Gotta have some hot stuff/Gonna have some love tonight (hot stuff)/I need hot stuff/I want some hot stuff/Lookin' for a lover who needs another..."
Enough quoted! So just be wary when eating hot food on a hot July with a hot partner. It might lead to climate change. And it starts in this month ofJULY.
Writing is done in jest.
Comments are welcome folks but do be wary that there are younger readers who check out this blog too.
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
*Heat:
What song begins with the words, "The heat is on..." No googling.
'By the Light of the Silvery Moon': Doris Day, To my honey, I'll croon love's tune, Honey moon, keeps a-shinin' in June...
Now it's Beautiful Sunday with October Cherries.
Beautiful Sunday: October Cherries. YouTube Video by: kt jong
Well, just playing with days, weeks, months and years! Remember them so you won't get dementia...
The days of the weeks feature in many song titles too. Limiting them from the 50s to 70s compositions, there are already a few hundred songs.
Beginning from *The World Hits 'Beautiful Sunday' Album (1972 - image) by the October Cherries, a Singapore group, there are titles like, Blue Monday by Bob Seger, Sunday, Monday Or Always by Frank Sinatra.
Ruby Tuesday is by The Rolling Stones, Melanie, Twiggy, Bobby Goldsboro. Wednesday Evening Blues by John Lee Hooker, Thursday by Jim Croce, Black Friday by Steely Dan, AnotherSaturday Night by Cat Stevens, Sam Cooke, The Bay City Rollers, The Eagles and Earth Wind and Fire.
Sunday Best is by Bobbie Gentry, Sunday Morning Coming Down by Kris Kristofferson, Johnny Cash, That Sunday, That Summer by Nat King Cole, A Monday Date by Louis Armstrong, Rainy Days and Mondays by The Carpenters. The list goes on...
*Beautiful Sunday, available by October Cherries on World Hits 1973 Single ES6-A, A Baal Production on Elastic Record. Composer/original recording is by Daniel Boone.
Here comes Ruby Tuesday...
"Ruby Tuesday": Melanie; YouTube Video by: Melanie Safka [official page]
Any other song you know that relates to calendar connections?
Just keep on commenting...
'Wednesday Evening Blues': John Lee Hooker. The guitar man on a lonely evening.
'Thursday' by Jim Croce: 'Cause I was looking for a lifetime lover, And you were looking for a friend. [reversed?]
'Black Friday': Steely Dan: When Black Friday comes, I'll collect everything I'm owed, And before my friends find out, I'll be on the road...
'Another Saturday Night,' Cat Stevens: I got in town a month ago, I seen a lot of girls since then, If I could meet 'em I could get 'em...
'Scarborough Fair' with Lyrics: YouTube Video by S.Vansay.
Here's a letter from a friend who lives in faraway Canada. She chats so cheerfully about her lovely garden and describes it 'live' here. Thanks so much JD.
💐🌹🥀🌺🌻🪻🌷💐💐🌹🥀🌺🌻🪻🌷💐💐🌹🥀🌺🌻🪻🌷💐💐🌹🥀🌺🌻
I must admit I chuckled when I read your suggestion below that I am "adept with nature". Oh my, no, though I wish I were. I do have a large garden, because it pleases me to have bright flowers and greenery in the yard and visible from my windows, but apart from planting, watering and weeding as needed, I am a very lazy gardener, and not particularly knowledgeable either. I like plants that mostly take care of themselves.
This is a photograph of the market gardener the writer was describing. It has been generated by AI and is not of any random picture from internet images.
My nephew is an avid gardener, and very knowledgeable; his mother was a market gardener and seems to know everything about plants. (Until she retired, she sold her vegetables & flowers at local seasonal markets.) I think that if she doesn't know something about a plant, then it must not be worth knowing. 😉 My nephew grows everything from seed, and this year is providing me with a number of herbs (thyme, rosemary, sage, etc.) and several geraniums, for which I am delighted.
The writer cleaning up her garden which usually takes some months.
Unfortunately, apart from a few deliciously warm days this spring, it has mostly been very chilly and windy here, so I have not yet done any work in the garden, nor have I purchased any flowers for the pots on the front porch and patio. There is a lot of clean-ups to do of winter-dead matter, as well as early weeds, and fallen branches. Once I get started, the garden will keep me busy until late autumn.
Rosemary and Thyme. These are herbs best grown where there's sunshine. They are drought tolerant and do not require much watering.
Geraniums below. Spectacularly bright red and attention seeking. The quieter greens are parsley.
Sage
Screenshot of 'Scarborough Fair' YouTube Video by S.Vansay.
I have always loved the above song from the Walt Disney movie and until recently, captured the above version again on YouTube video. This time around the words jumped out from the page and I realized that the lyrics sounded more meaningful.
"You think you own whatever land you land on/ The Earth is just a dead thing you can claim/ But I know every rock, and tree, and creature/ Has a life, has a spirit, has a name."
If we are aware of the tumultuous goings~on in the world around us today, the lines above are definitely familiar. News from today's headlines? Surely.
"You think the only people who are people/ Are the people who look and think like you/ But if you walk the footsteps of a stranger/ You'll learn things, you never knew, you never knew."
Christine Allado, a Filipino-British and current singing star and actress. Check her out on the many websites available that discuss her achievements and awards she holds.
I'm not much into politics and don't want to step on anyone's toes, especially the animals' mentioned in the lyrics, so I turned to AI and the answer came easily:
Yes, the lyrics of 'Colors of the Wind' from Disney's 'Pocahontas' can be, and have been, associated with modern conflicts, bombings, and environmental destruction by acting as a counter-narrative to violence, exploitation, and dehumanization.
While originally written in 1992 to reflect the perspectives of Native Americans against colonization, the song's themes are frequently re-interpreted today as a protest against the "conqueror" mindset.
"The rainstorm and the river are my brothers."
Here is how the lyrics associate with modern bombing and conflict:
* Critique of Disregard for Life ("You think you own whatever land you land on / The Earth is just a dead thing you can claim"): This lyric is interpreted as a critique of colonial or modern military efforts that treat landscapes and inhabited areas as mere territory to be claimed, bombed, or destroyed, disregarding the life, spirit, and communities that exist there.
* Dehumanization of Others ("You think the only people who are people / Are the people who look and think like you"): This line is used to comment on conflict, racism, and the tendency of groups to dehumanize their opponents in war, reducing them to "savages" rather than recognizing them as fellow humans.
* Interconnectedness ("We are all connected to each other / In a circle, in a hoop that never ends"): This directly contrasts with the destructive impact of bombing, emphasizing that the destruction of people or the environment in one place affects everyone.
"How high does the sycamore grow? / If you cut it down, then you'll never know."
"Come run the hidden pine trails of the forest/ Come taste the sun-sweet berries of the earth/ Come roll in all the riches all around you/And for once never wonder what they're worth..."
* A Call for Empathy ("But if you walk the footsteps of a stranger / You'll learn things you never knew"): This calls for understanding and dialogue, opposing the violence that creates refugees and destruction.
*According to reports in 2025, people have used the song on social media to comment on conflicts in the Middle East and other environmental issues, finding the lyrics to be a "generational rallying cry" against violence and destruction.
(This article is an AI generated reply.)
"Have you ever heard the wolf cry to the blue corn moon? Or asked the grinning bobcat why he grinned?"
"The rainstorm and the river are my brothers/ The heron and the otter are my friends/ And we are all connected to each other/ In a circle, in a hoop that never ends..."
"Can you sing with all the voices of the mountains/ Can you paint with all the colors of the wind..."
Judy Kuhn [left], the original singer and Vanessa Williams both sang, "Colors of the Wind."
As April leaves us and May approaches, we observe that June is waiting to mark the middle of twenty twenty-six. That's half-way through the year and 3 flowers are blooming...
The following comments are extracts taken from previous blog sites:
From the late Dave Loggins, composer: Uploaded on Jan 2, 2009.
"I would like to thank everyone for their kind thoughts on "Pieces." I wrote it at a very special time of my life. Special, because I met the "love of my life" and had recently lost her. By chance, we were together for three consecutive Aprils and then she left me for good. Today, I don't know where she is or how her life turned out.
May is symbolic of the present, April was and still remains a sweet yesterday. I have never really gotten over "April" and the "pieces" still remain. Those sweet Aprils... It's my favorite song, too."
Tomas Rodriguez, blog reader, says:
It is a really beautiful song, but it is very sad. I also think that the memory that he has of the woman is really an illusion. What he is really attached to is the feeling of sadness and longing that is evoked by his memory of the relationship. At the end of the day she did abandon him [and ladies he did abandon you] so why honor her/him for that? Love God, love life and love yourself first...
Suituapui, blogger was in Singapore, 1973, says:
Ooooo...one of my all-time favourite songs. 3 Dog Night's ‘Pieces of April’ - 1973. I was in Singapore that year, Stamford College, Waterloo Street. Those were the days. I saw Heather and the Thunderbirds - Lost Horizon, Shangri La...and also another place, Malaysia Hotel...can't remember the name now. I saw a very young Anita Sarawak too - Top of the Hilton. Oooo...what memories. [Suituapui means 'Beautiful Fat Guy'].
Maggie May: Rod Stewart. With Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. YouTube Video by: Rod Stewart.
Poppa Madison, blog reader, says:
Pity so many young women of today don't merit this kind of romantic approach. I feel sorry for the young guys of recent generations who want to give their hearts to a lovely fair maiden, but more often than not come face to face with a gaggle of boozed up, foul mouthed, violent, out of their mind female juvenile delinquents when they go out try and find one they can give their all to.
50 years ago, I can vouch that we actually had real ladies and gentlemen with good manners and a sense of socially interactive behaviour that many of today's young lot could not even begin to be able to get close to understanding let alone emulate.
Wot a shame! 😱
[But don't forget guys, if April has left you, there's always May and June waiting...]
Rainy Day In June: Kinks. YouTube Video by: 1966 Stereo In.
I Ask if She Knows 'Tennessee Whiskey' and This Singer Steals The Show. YouTube Video by: DØVYDAS.
Must thank the creator of the above video DOVYDAS for the elegant and stylish way it turned out. Shelby with her natural beauty and charisma coupled with Dovydas’ control of the steel guitar and his own professionalism, blew my mind away! Respect! 👏
There are 2 parts to this posting. You can just watch the video above or read about whiskey and me below. Or do both…
WHISKEY AND ME:
I've never featured liquor songs on this blog before, maybe one or two about soft drinks and about drinking during the 60s at T-Dances and nightclubs. Nothing much and none about liquor, only soft drinks since I am a teetotaler.
Imagine the shock I received when a friend took me to a wine shop at Orchard Road and I saw this bottle of Japanese whiskey costing S$21,000. Gosh! And they could go up to a million dollars or more? Per bottle! The only liquor price I know are the canned beers that cost like, what, $2.50 each?
But with AI and its vast store of information I found out more about whiskey. Interesting indeed.
(Image) They drink it in the West. Even the empty bottles can be sold at a price.
I also remember a song that was so popular those years during the mid-80s when living in a western country, I heard it daily from the Caucasian boys next to my apartment. It was George Jones, TENNESSEE WHISKEY, a pop 1981 hit. It was revived by Chris Stapleton a few years ago.
There's no list on this posting on whiskey prices or songs but the video above features the song itself. And Tennessee whiskey, I understand, costs a fraction at about $500 a bottle? Now that's a price difference.
Hope to feature soon about whiskey songs? Anyone familiar with them?
[Thanks EDDY ENG for introducing me to the whiskey world. But I won’t try it for sure. Can’t afford.]
They drink it in the East. Japanese whiskey, as mentioned, can cost a lot.
Disclaimer:
The above video belongs to DOVYDAS. If on any account it should not be featured, do inform me and I shall delete it immediately. Thank you.
I have the above Long Play [LP] 1957 recording and was surprised that when I presented a song from the selection to friends, not many were aware or even knew the song.
My accompanying comment was, "One of my fave songs was when Elvis did his 50s song, Any Place Is Paradise; still one of his most memorable hits, personally. Not many folks know this one. With the guitar solo in between and that 'cling, cling cling jazz.' "
Quite a number were nice and honest enough to mention, "You're right, I'm one of those who don't know [haven't heard] this song. Now I know. thanks!" Another commented that he was in the group as he had just heard it because I mentioned it. It was a typical Elvis, R&B blues song. A third friend loved the solo in between. And a fourth good friend said, "Andy, I was still a baby!"
Thanks to all my friends above. Yes, I am old.
The image shows the back cover of the Elvis Presley No. 2 record in the last posting. Elvis the Pelvis, as he is usually known, gyrates and hip-swivels his way through this LP with: Rip It Up, When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again, **Long Tall Sally, Paralysed, Ready Teddy and How Do You Think I Feel.
'Any Place Is Paradise', Elvis Presley. YouTube Video by: Rychie Tube.
His other songs though, reveal his more subdued and pensive mood when he delivers, Love Me, First In Line, So Glad You're Mine, Any Place Is Paradise, How's The World Treating You and Old Shep.
Another favourite of mine is the hot, sweaty, Paralyzed. Check it out below.
While checking this first impression record, *HMV/CLP 1105 which is made in Great Britain, I find that it is a collector's item. The price will not be mentioned. Produced in 1957 it is in mint condition. Because Presley pressings run into millions, only certain records are collectibles.
*Elvis Presley No 2 Also known as Rock n Roll No 2 HMV CLP 1105 1957. Matrix G2 WP 7207 2N/7208 1N, Label Side 1.
**Long Tally Sally, Recorded by Crescendos/Philips/Universal Music, Singapore.
Image/Original article: Andy Lim Collection.
This posting is an extension from one dated: 8.9.2009.
'Paralysed' Elvis Presley. YouTube Video by: Simone Presley Brasil.
Disclaimer:
This blog does not advertise nor try to sell vinyl records.
