Australian Pop 60's Influence: New World, Col Joye Part 5

The New World

I remember hearing the song ‘Try To Remember’ by this vocal trio on the radio, and it was quite a hit in Australia in 1969 (or at least Sydney, where I lived back then). Apart from that, I know virtually nothing about the group.

From what I have read they formed in Brisbane in 1967 and moved to the UK after ‘Try To Remember’ was a hit in Australia. They released several records there with some early success, especially ‘Tom Tom Turnaround’, but after 1974 they seem to have just disappeared.

That wasn’t true, of course, and you can find plenty of videos on YouTube of the group still performing up to fairly recent times. At The Wheeltappers, Sister Jane, Living Next Door To Alice, Cowboy Convention and The Honey Wind Blows are some of the songs they have performed on stage.

The New World Trio

🎷🎷🎷🎷🎷🎷 🎷🎷🎷🎷🎷🎷

Col Joye and the Joy Boys

Col Joye was one of the early rock ’n’ rollers of Australia, along with legendary artists like Johnny O’Keefe. The song ‘(Rockin’ Rollin’) Clementine’ dates from 1959 and is a variation of the old California gold rush song, updated to make Clementine a-rockin' rollin’ chick (as it says in the lyrics).

Col Joye and the Joy Boys continued to have pop-hits into the early 1960s. Although he continued to perform on TV and on the road, the hits dried up for Col and his band, although he had a comeback in 1973 with the country-style song ‘Heaven Is My Woman’s Love’.

Youngsters of my generation would sing along to that song with the altered lyrics ‘Devon Is My Woman’s Lunch’. Well, Devon was a pretty common sandwich filling in those days.

Col’s brother Kevin had started the original band and they later formed a successful entertainment management, publishing and recording company that continued into the 2000s, but the brothers then had a falling out over money. Very sad. Col was still performing until a few years ago, but I can’t find any notice of what he has been up to in the last few years.

There are many websites that can give you more information about 1960s Australian singers and bands. One good one is Milesago http://www.milesago.com/

Another one I like is Pop Archives. Sources of Australian Pop Records from the 50s, 60s and 70s http://www.poparchives.com.au/home.php

Also, you can find songs by all of the artists featured here on youtube.

Col Joye and The Joye Boys

Article by: Dr Steven Farram (image right).

Images: Google.


This article is the last in the series. We hope these write-ups have provided some interest to Singaporeans and other readers about Australian pop music.

Although the two countries are so close, many of us are unaware of the musical talents of Australians, except of course knowing a folk song like Waltzing Matilda.

In fact, many top international pop singers come from Australia. Do you know who they are? (Andy Young).

The 60's music get-together with (below clockwise): Little Ong, Zainal Abidin, Michael Bangar, Pete Hakonen (Helsinki), Jerry Fernandez, Steven Farram (Darwin, Aus.) John Cher, Horace Wee, Andy Young.

Australian Pop 60's Influence Johnny Young Part 4

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Johnny Young

Speaking of Perth … that was home for a young Johnny Young before he broke into the pop star world with his single ‘Step Back’/‘Cara-Lyn’ in 1966 (both on the E.P. I brought to Singapore).

‘Step Back’ was written by Stevie Wright and George Young of the Easybeats. The story goes that when the band was performing in Perth, Johnny pestered Stevie and George for a song that he could record and they handed him ‘Step Back’. Whose idea it was to record ‘Cara-Lyn’ by US band The Strangeloves is less clear to me. Anyway, it’s a good version.

Both songs did well and according to what I have read, another Perth youngster with pop star aspirations was watching Johnny Young’s career starting to take off and thought to himself that if Johnny Young can do it so could he. His name was Bon Scott, who achieved far greater fame when he fronted AC/DC.

Johnny Young, meantime, was a genuine pop star in Australia, but like many of his peers he thought he should go to England. After some initial success in 1967, it was clear Johnny wasn’t going to be a hit in the UK and he returned to Australia in 1968.

Johnny then took on a new role as a songwriter. His first big hit was the Russel Morris psychedelic monster ‘The Real Thing’, which he followed up with ‘Part Three Into Paper Walls’. He wrote more songs for Russel Morris and others, but then started looking into other avenues of work. He already had radio and TV experience and fell easily into DJ work and as a television compere.

In 1971 he started to compere on a program called Young Talent Time, which featured the work of young performers, some children and some teenagers. A number of them became genuine pop stars later on.

Because the show lasted for nearly twenty years, most people mainly identify Young with it, but he had a lot more experience and talent than many people appreciate. He went back to performing when Young Talent Time finished up and he’s still doing it today.

Article: Dr Steven Farram (right), from Darwin U, Western Australia. Read Steve's articles by clicking his name under Labels below.

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Images: Google

Australia 60's Influence: Normie Rowe Part 3

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A Letter from Dr Steven Farram:

When I was in Singapore recently, I brought Andy a number of Australian 1960's pop singles and EPs. Andy wrote about those records in a recent post on this blog:

Monday, December 04, 2017.

Australian Influence: Ray Brown and The Whispers Part 2

http://singapore60smusic.blogspot.sg/2017/12/australian-influence-ray-brown-and.html

Andy finished up that post by saying ‘I am not an expert with 60s Australian pops so I have left Steve to elaborate on the records he provided’. Well, I’m not an expert either, but I am a fan. I was born in 1961, so I was pretty young when most of these records were released, but I do remember hearing most of them on the radio and all of them were very popular, so they were playing a lot.

I am also a collector and I buy 1960's records whenever I come across them. Because those records were so popular, I found I had doubles of them in my collection and so I was able to give copies to Andy.

Anyway, here is a bit of what I know about each of the artists that featured on those discs.

Ray Brown and the Whispers

Ray Brown and the Whispers was a Sydney-based outfit. They had a large number of hit singles in the mid-60s. They also released a number of LPs. Unlike, say, the Easybeats or the Bee Gees, they didn’t write their own material and most of their songs were copies of ones that had already been hit songs in the USA, although some of them were quite obscure.

Also, Ray and the Whispers often presented them in totally new arrangements and really made them their own. Ray left the band in late 1966, formed a few short-lived groups and then left for America.

He returned to Australia at the end of the sixties as a country-rock performer. I’ll admit I do not recall any of Ray’s later recordings. By all accounts, they are quite accomplished but had little commercial success. Ray Brown died unexpectedly of a heart attack in 1996.

Normie Rowe

Normie was the undisputed King of Pop in Australia from 1965 to 1967. He had numerous hit singles and several albums. Normie’s face was everywhere, even in Singapore. If anybody has a copy of Lara and the Trailers first EP (This Is My Song, Love Potion No. 9, etc.) you can see Lara on the back cover standing in front of a photograph of Normie Rowe.

Were his records ever released in Singapore? Normie went to England in 1966 and recorded a number of records there, including the one I gave Andy. The records were hits in Australia, but he didn’t set the UK alight.

Lara on the back cover of a Trailers EP standing in front of a photograph of Normie Rowe.

Normie’s reign came to an end when he was conscripted into the Australian army to serve in Vietnam. When he returned to Australia in 1970 he was unable to recapture the old momentum, but he continued on and became a more all-around performer, appearing in clubs, TV and variety programs.

He also took to the stage and screen. I just checked Normie’s website and it seems he spent most of 2017 playing shows all across the east coast of Australia and over to Perth. He never made it near Darwin though.

'Shakin All Over' with Normie Rowe: Video by MrPurser. Thank you.

Image: Google.

Article: Dr Steven Farram Copyrights Reserved.

The 60's music get-together with (clockwise): Little Ong, Zainal Abidin, Michael Bangar, Pete Hakonen (Helsinki), Jerry Fernandez, Steven Farram (Darwin, Aus.) John Cher, Horace Wee, Andy Young.

Australian Influence: Ray Brown and The Whispers Part 2

Ray Brown and The Whispers: (L-R) John Manners, Pat Jeffrey (seated), Lawrie Barclay, Ray Brown, Al Jackson (line up: 1964).

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When 60's Music Friends Had A Get-Together In Singapore (2):

When Dr Steven Farram (Darwin U, Australia) came to visit Singapore recently, it wasn't the first time. He's familiar with a lot of Singaporean activities, its culture and history, especially with the local music 60's scene.

I first met him ten years ago when he introduced himself, all wet and hot, after rockin' and rollin' to Mike and Herb's (Beatles of Malaysia) stage performance in 2008 at the Vivo City Roof Top. We became good friends and he never failed to write an article for the blog when I made the request.

Steve wanted to interview some band boys so I managed the help of Mr Michael Bangar (professional guitarist playing rhythm for Silver Strings) to speak to him. We had our first session and a few days later, a larger group came. 

With Andy: Michael Bangar and Steven Farram during the interview @ a food court.

Our 2nd session ended after Steve interviewed guitar legend Horace Wee, bassist Zainal Abidin, drummer John Cher and singer/DJ Jerry Fernandez (images below).

It was a successful meet when Mr Bangar provided Dr Farram with the necessary information he needed. The interview and informal chit-chat over coffee lasted nearly four hours. The lecturer was satisfied with the outcome.

Steve brought with him some vinyl records. I list the artistes and songs covered on both Side A and B. All artistes were from Australia:

Ray Brown and the Whispers:

Now Is The Time        
In The Midnight Hour (YouTube Video above)
Pride
Say It Again
20 Miles
Devoted To You
Go To Him
Fool Fool Fool 

Normie Rowe:
Ain't Nobody Home 
Ooh La La

Johnny Young (image) Let It Be Me 
Step Back

The New World: Try To Remember
The World I Used To Know 

Col Joye and the Joy Boys: (Rockin' Rollin') - Clementine 
Fools Like Me

Clockwise from left: Zainal Abidin (Dukes), Michael Bangar (Silver Strings); Pete Hanoken (CD Producer, Helsinki); Jerry Fernandez (Neu Faces); Andy Young (host); John Cher (Writer, Silver Strings); Horace Wee (Guitar Legend, Radio/TV Singapore); Steve Farram (Lecturer, Darwin U, Australia).

Here's a list of Australian pop stars on the international scene that I am familiar with:

Slim Dusty,  John Farnham, Olivia Newton-John,  Rick Price, Kylie Minogue, Natalie Imbruglia, Rick Springfield, Tina Arena, Tommy Emmanuel, Johnny O'Keefe, The Seekers, Men At Work, The Easybeats (YouTube video below), Air Supply, AC/DC INXS, Little River Band, Savage Garden,  Keith Urban, Helen Reddy and of course, The Bee Gees. And the names go on...

It's time we have some writing about pops Down Under since we're neighbours but I am not an expert with 60's Australian pops so I have left Steve to elaborate on the records he provided. 

But that's Part 3 in this series.

RICK SPRINGFIELD, HELEN REDDY, LITTLE RIVER BAND, OLIVIA NEWTON JOHN

Images: Steven Farram, Personal Collection.
YouTube Videos.

Wes Cossacks Singapore band covered Sorry under a Singapore label. Video from The Garage 1966. Thank you.

Read connection below about humble George Chew who used to play lead guitar with Wes Cossacks and in recent years, The Burns. Wes Cossacks had recorded a few instrumental numbers in the mid-sixties and The Burns in the 2000's which has disbanded since.

https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.sg/2009/07/quiet-unassuming-but-friendly-george.html

Andy's 60s Music Influencers Meet Dr Farram & P. Hakonen From Australia, Scandinavia: Part 1

Music influencers: 

Little Ong, Daniel Abidin, Michael Bangar, Peter Hakonen, 

Jerry Fernandez, Dr. Steven Farram, John Cher, Horace Wee and Andy.

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25+ CHATS, COMMENTS

When 60's Music Influencing Friends Had A Get-Together In Singapore: Part One.

The Music CD:

The Sleepwalkers are a Scandinavian, instrumental, rock n roll group that combine the Euro sounds of the Shadows with the American twang of Duane Eddy. 

According to the promotional literature on its website, The Sleepwalkers, a Finnish group, play brilliant early 60's style rock 'n' roll guitar instrumentals as they provide lots of original material, crystal clear production, and perfect musical arrangements and performances.

The band included: Ben Engblom (rhythm), Jan-Eric Saine (lead), Mikko Lund (drums) and Taito Ikavalko (bass).

"The members are strongly influenced by the great instrumental guitar bands, performing with character and originality and guaranteed to keep you awake -
Fat City Cigar Lounge."

If you like it laid back and twangy, then you've come to right place. The music is both exotic in imagery and easy on the ear.

The Sleepwalkers with 'Too Young' 

YouTube Video from TRR 25.01.2019

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yA4IVaI5DuI&t=14s

Some melodies in the selection include Sleepwalkers' Theme, Twisting Tango, Mr Z, Too Young, Shazam, Twisted Fate, Cossack, Golden Earrings, Riding Guitars and six others.

From other groups, I heard about 25 more guitar instrumentals and thought these well-produced CD's deserved an airing. You can find them on YouTube. 
These groups are The Quiets, The Dangermen, NoNo Soderberg, The Atomic Blast and The Youngers.

Horace Wee (local guitar legend) has this to say when I sent him the video, "Nice. Well played and great tone 👍."

For Horace to say that...

Andy Young with Pete Hakonen from Helsinki, Finland @ Bras Basah Book Place.

The Music Friends:

This recording and a few others from the same European connection were introduced by a Helsinki friend, Pete Hakonen (image above). Pete wrote to me just two days before coming over to Singapore last week. His speciality is rockabilly.

Pete has been reading my blog for a few years, finds Singapore and its music an interesting holiday idea. He decided to come here, away from everything else.

He had to buy his own beer when we met because I bought him only coffee and tea. Seriously though, I am glad to have met the Finland connection.

Zainal Abidin (Dukes), Michael Bangar (Silver Strings), Pete Hakonen (guest), Jerry Fernandez (Neu Faces).

This is Part One of a music connection and together, a group of 10 Singapore music influencers met for a chit-chat about international 60's music. Pete and Steven provided some insights about music from their countries.

Watch out for Part Two next when Steve, Michael Bangar and I got together to discuss Australian pops.

John Cher (Silver Strings), Horace Wee (guitar legend) and Dr Steven Farram (Darwin U).

Disclaimer:
This posting does not, in any way, promote the music CD's nor their production. 

Vinyl Records With Singapore National Theatre Covers: Heritage & Collectors Value

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He's here again and has been around studying the local music scene for many years now. Pushing aside his busy lecturing schedule, Dr Steve Farram has contributed yet another article for the blog. 

Many thanks, Steve.

Hi Andy, 

I really enjoyed reading Michael Bangar’s reminiscences in his recent post about the National Theatre and all the bands that had played there. Some time ago I wrote to you about the Australian band The Troupadors who had had their photo taken at the phone booths at the old Singapore airport for the cover of one of their records; as had The Jets and at least one other band (I still can’t remember who the other one was!) 

I said then that there was an even more popular spot for record cover photo shots in 1960's Singapore. Yes, it was the National Theatre. Here are all the ones I have in my collection and a little bit of what I know about the various artists. 

Hi-Fi Twins and The Kings 

I have read that the Hi-Fi Twins were from the Philippines. They give the appearance of being a couple of old hands on the show scene and the songs they chose to record for this EP were mainly early 60s numbers like ‘Papa Oom Mow Mow’, ‘Papa and the Mama Twist’ and ‘Boom Boom’. 

They did get a bit more contemporary with their version of the Knickerbockers’ ‘Lies’. I don’t know anything about their backing band The Kings or if they ever recorded anything else. Judy Lee, I do not much at all about Judy Lee, but she appears to have been a regular on the live scene in Singapore. 

In another entry on this blog you can see that she once appeared on the same bill as Barry Walker & The Figures and a host of other artists at the Capitol Theatre: 
https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.sg/2013/07/barry-walker-off-beat-multi-racial.html

My favourite track on this EP is her take on the song ‘Mary Mary’. I don’t think the Monkees ever did a Chinese version, did they? I have read that Judy’s backing band on this record was her Blue Star label-mates The Jets, although it says nothing about that on the record itself. 

You cannot see the actual National Theatre building in the photograph of Judy here, but the fountains, the fence etc. make it obvious where she was 

Naomi and The Boys 

This was Naomi and The Boys first recording for Decca after a number of great records on the Philips label. My favourite track here is the Peter Thomas song ‘Bad Loser’. I don’t think anyone who is a regular on this blog needs an introduction to Naomi and The Boys! 

For those who don’t know, one place to start is Andy’s previous entry here: 

https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.sg/search/label/Naomi%20And%20The%20Boys

The Peels 

The Peels were a band from Bandung in Indonesia that released a number of records in Singapore. I have a few of their EP's, but they produced a lot more than I have. They seem to have been very popular in Singapore and Malaysia. 

This is the only record from my collection where the National Theatre is designated by its Malay name: Panggong Negara. I really like the song ‘Neng Geulis’. How many people in Singapore understood the Sundanese lyrics, I wonder? 

Teng Teng and The Stylers

I cannot read Chinese, but I was told the singer’s name is Teng Teng. Please tell me, anyone, if that is wrong. Teng Teng is very young in the photograph of the cover of this record, but I have seen some other records by The Stylers that seem to show a slightly older Teng Teng on the cover. 

My favourite tracks on this EP are the versions of ‘Hang On Sloopy’ and ‘Be Bop A Lula’. The Stylers backed many singers on albums and EPs (mainly in Chinese, but not always) and produced a mass of records of their own. Andy has written about them several times elsewhere on this blog, so find out more there. 

The Travellers 

I do not know much about the Travellers except that they released a number of instrumental albums under their own name and several albums and EPs backing various singers, always in Chinese. By the look of the cut of their clothes, I’d say this record was from the early 1970's. This is the only record of theirs that I own 

The Vantomites 
Judy Lee

The Vantomites offer a couple of instrumental tracks on this EP. I also have two EPs where they are backing singers Liu Zhong and Jing Jing. On those two records, they are recorded as the Vandomites on the record label. The photograph for this record seems to have been taken at about the same place as that for Judy Lee, which means you can see the fountains and so on, but not the National Theatre itself 

That’s all for now. There are probably other records showing the National Theatre, but these are the only ones I know about.

Best Wishes  
Steve Farram.

  1970 The Travellers ‎– 24 Non-Stop Dancing Music - You Tube Video by: fhlew888

Footnote:
These Chinese song/artist vinyl are becoming rare now. None going to print because they cost a fortune to produce and many collectors are just keeping them. Sungei Road (Singapore's Flea Mart), that was selling them, will close in July 2017. Used to cost $2 a piece. Lately, saw them for sale at $20 each.) 

The English Singapore collection, like the Malay ones, are going for more, some as much as $200 a piece. Andy.

Images: From Steven Farram.

Troupadors: 60's Pop Band From Perth Australia

After university lecturer Steve picked up my story, When Phones Were In Booths, Not Pockets*, he wrote me an article about a group from Perth, Australia that had performed in Singapore in the 1960's.

As a teacher, his writing style questions readers on information they might want to disclose to help others understand more about Singapore music. Do respond if you have any information regarding the records and bands he is discussing. His reply and article appears below.

Thanks very much Steve (image right).

Recently Andy showed a record cover which depicted members of Singapore band The Jets using the telephone booths at Singapore’s old International Airport. It’s now the Paya Lebar Air Base. I sent Andy a photograph of another band using the same phone booths and he asked me to write about them. This is what I know.

Dr. Steven Farram, Darwin, Australia.

The Troupadors were a band from Perth in Western Australia that formed in the mid-1960's. They had the reputation as one of the best show groups around and are reported to have appeared on radio and television, as well as the usual nightclub circuit.

In 1969 they travelled to Singapore with singer Lyne Mather. The band had a lot of line-up changes over the years and I am not sure who the other members were at the time.

Advertisements in the Straits Times from May 1969 show that they appeared at a number of different clubs, including The Kelong at The Cathay Hotel (‘Singapore’s finest entertainment rendezvous’), and The Moonshine Nite Club at Ocean Beach Hotel (said to be an exclusive new dine and dance spot that had just opened that month).

They also had a regular Sunday T-Dance gig from 3 to 6 pm at The Baron at 39 Upper Serangoon Rd. Other regulars at The Baron (advertised as Singapore’s first supper club-disco) were The Blackjacks and The X-Periment. As well as the bands, ‘dance hostesses’ and ‘fine cuisine’ were also available. Admission was free. Sounds like a good deal to me. Does anybody remember those clubs?

According to the Music Minder website, drummer and bass player Jimmy Lee was not only a member of the band when they were in Singapore, but also manager. It sounds like he might have been a local. Does anybody know anything about Jimmy?

The same website claims the band cut four records between 1967 and 1972, but totally overlooks this one, which appears on the local Life label and was presumably recorded in Singapore.

For me the standout track is Conversation, which is a good rendition of the Greenaway-Cook-Lordan song that was a hit for Cilla Black in 1969, first entering the UK charts in July that year (according to the Official Charts Company).

I have no idea how long The Troupadors remained in Singapore, but they eventually returned to Australia and continued playing there for many years. From what I can see on the internet, they reformed a few years ago and are still putting on a show today.

Lyne Mather is not with them, however, and I get the impression she was not with the band for long. Nevertheless, she was with The Troupadors at the right time to make her own contribution to Singapore 60's music history.

Eliza Arifin and JB Musafir

I have seen one other record that shows the Paya Lebar Airport phone booths on the cover, but I can’t remember whose record it was. Does anybody know? I do, however, have one other record that depicts something of that old airport. It’s by Eliza Arifin backed by band JB Musafir, whose members were presumably from Johor Bahru. The photo on this record cover shows Eliza standing in front of a fountain at the airport.

There are quite a few record covers that show members of bands in front of another famous Singapore 60's landmark. Can anyone guess what place I mean? (Clue: It’s no longer there. It was demolished in the 1980's).

Images and You Tube of Troupadors: Today Tonight Channel Seven Perth, 7 May, 2014.

Copyrights Reserved: Dr. Steven Farram and Andy Lim.

*Click to read:
http://singapore60smusic.blogspot.sg/2017/01/when-phones-were-in-booths-not-pockets.html