Andy 60s Music: April, A Lovely Flower Maiden, Abandons Him, But There's May Waiting, And June...

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...

Three Dog Night: 'Pieces Of April.'

YouTube Video by:12 mulligan.

Watch the variety of flowers on this video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeJ6EpYwvzA

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.

Flowers donated by Mrs. R. Lim. 

Thank you, Mademoiselle.

Andy 60s Music: Rumble On The Wild Side Of Old Chinatown, Singapore With Ericbronson Wong

Tough guy Mr. Ericbronson Wong.

Mr. Wong wrote a comment in July 2023 for the blog about his younger days wearing leather boots with horseshoes attached to them. More importantly he described those rough and tough days in the 60s when he faced his "enemies" who challenged him... 

He writes in his own stylish and identifiable way. And I just love his name. Like Charles Bronson, he's fierce and muscular. Thank you, Ericbronson for your contribution to this blog.

"Oh Yes Come to think of it those were indeed d trend during those roaring days of d 60s walking on d wild side,, l remember not hard synthetic rubber horseshoes but iron horseshoes banged behind d leather boots n leather shoes making sure it is loud clickety clack sound when U walk pass some people to show them U R some kind of A Rebel,, ha ha ha.

Gangsters in Chinatown Singapore 60s. They identify themselves

using numerals as gang members of groups like 08; 24; 329 .

l realised l attracted more enemies than friends, enemies wanted to make trouble saying that, "U R actsy!" [arrogant] n a showoff to be a tough guy, haters want to challenge U exchanged hostilities; true to say l got into a couple of fights because of that.

Just Like Rumble On D Streets Of Old Chinatown. Those Lorongs [side lanes] in Fierce Geylang,, Terror in Katong and Fist Waving Street Fighters of Jalan Joo Chiat Tiong Bharu, Red Hill [road names] etc. etc. Honestly!

l survived through it all,, thank GOD I am still breathing today. l still remember the days patronizing cobblers in makeshifts stalls, hammering those horseshoes.

🤠😎😃😁🤩😍🤘🤟✌️👍☕☕🍺🍺.

Ericbronson Wong is also a jolly fellow and does creative work like the above.

Andy Young,, Oh Yes Brother Andy Those were d unforgettable days,, Days unlike today,, l could hardly find genuine cobblers under makeshift stalls nowadays,, U find them in air conditioning plazas and big departmental stores instead with very high technology type of machines charging expensive prices getting your shoes mended.

Surely Gone R The Days where U find a truly just n humble Cobblers offering a reasonable price to work on your shoes,, the fee to hammer the iron horseshoes were so cheap the price U pay for a plate of Char Kway Teow [fried noodles] and a bottle of Sinalco with chopped ice. l remember too, for a pair of tea-dancing rugged boots; ha ha ha."

Horseshoes fitted onto the soles of ordinary shoes that created a chinky sound to show style and aggressiveness among teens in the 60s.

😎🤠😃😁🤟✌️👌👍☕☕🍺🍺🍻🍻🍹🍹

Author: Ericbronson Wong [HongKong].

24.7.23 

Why Ericbronson wrote this article. Click below to read:

.: Horseshoes: Freakish Fashion Footwear 60s Teens

Another group of tough guys from Singapore 60's. You know there's going to be a gang fight when you see a pile of jack-knives, a few parangs [Chinese chopping knives], brickbats, long screw-drivers and hammers in the dry monsoon drain near your home at Geylang Road or Chinatown.

Gangland weapons used in the 1960's.

Elvis Presley with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra: 

In the Ghetto (HD). YouTube Video by: CsillagRobert.

Images: Facebook, META AI generated.

Andy 60's Music, Movies DVDs: Tarzan's Yell n Elvis' Scream: Writes John Cher

Hi Fabian Foo,

Thanks for sharing your stories with us. I enjoyed reading them and the stories brought back some fond memories to me as well. The "threat" to terminate the Rediffusion audio service sounds really familiar. We have to live with "threats" all the time during our younger days. 

Wow! Never knew you were such a good student. Being "first boy" is way out for me. Never thought of achieving it as I know it is beyond me! Ha-ha! My granddaughter, who did her Primary One at St Nick's, told me she was "fifth girl" and I told myself that was better than your grandfather ever did. Then I realized she was "fifth girl" in the entire Primary One cohort! Quite embarrassing! 

Anyway, I remember fiddling around with my Rediffusion set [image above] and added an extra speaker to the system. It was very loud and sounded "shiok". The only problem was that I cannot control the volume! And therefore, it was a real nuisance to everyone at home. So I was "threatened" to get rid of my "invention", or the service will be disconnected!

Elvis Presley: “His Latest Flame” Remix. Hot girls shuffle dancing. YouTube video by RANDY HARGIS.

Your recollection about saving pennies and dimes to buy records was familiar too. One record I purchased through this method was His Latest Flame by Elvis. I remember a place selling vinyl record too but for a different reason. A friend of mine shared with me that when he was in secondary school, he was giving tuition to one of the daughters of the company. He told me that she was really pretty, and he would have willingly gave her tuition for free!

By the time other record companies came into the scene, my interest was looking for old movies, rather than music CDs. One of my prized collections was a four set Johnny Weissmuller Tarzan classic. The titles were Tarzan Finds A Son, Tarzan's Secret Treasure, Tarzan's New York Adventure and Tarzan the Ape-man. It costs $200! Two Westerns I was always looking for were The Proud Ones and Warlock but never found them there.

Keep your stories coming Fabian!

Cheers!

AUTHOR: JOHN CHER.

2ND DECEMBER 2015.

Comments are always welcome.

John Cher’s dream. When Elvis meets Tarzan. Who screams loudest? Don’t forget; Tarzan doesn’t need backup music. Elvis does! 🐒🙊🎸🥁

CLICK BELOW TO WATCH:

https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2013/08/movie-memory-orh-eee-orh-

The Tarzan Yell: YouTube video by DisneyAnimationFan173.

Author: JOHN CHER who is also a drummer with his own band, JOHN CHER N FRIENDS.

Andy's 60's Music International Mail From UK, Canada, India, Malaysia, Singapore: "It's You Who've Rekindled My Feelings!"

"Didn’t we all break out and join in the final giggles and laughs with the singer? I’m chuckling to myself already!" says reader Sonny from Canada.

7 Letters From UK, Canada, India, Malaysia, Singapore:

1. Hi Andy and everyone,

I was looking for this song and decided to Google. Listened to it as a child and stayed in my memory till now. Since dad gave away all his records and record player, never heard it again. 

Thanks, Andy, for posting. Rekindled memories. No one knew how much I had missed listening to this song.

Fauziah

2. Dear Andy,

I make innumerable attempts - all in vain - to desist from getting tender-hearted and teary-eyed, whenever I play this glorious song. I end up listening to it on a loop and brimming with climaxing emotions.
Thank you very much, Andy, this time it's you who've rekindled my feelings!

Muradi.

3. Hello Andy,

Wow. I just happened to look for this song when reminiscing of my childhood years spent in Singapore. What a coincidence to find this uploaded by a sixties kid from right there!! Thank you very much Andy for the shared memories.

As a toddler, this song would play on a continuous loop and was the sweetest memory that I cherish to this day. Didn't we all break out and join in the final giggles and laugh with the singer!! I'm chuckling to myself already!! 

Sonny (Canada) 

Papa and mama dance the Cha Cha .

4. Rohit D'Almeida says:

When I was like 4 years old, I heard this song for the first time. (I'm 35 now). Coming from a family of singers, at that time, I thought this was sung by my uncle, Uncle James, and my cousin Lara. 

We live in the suburbs of Mumbai, India. The audio cassette was brought by my uncle from the gulf. And so was the audio cassette recorder/player. We sang and recorded several songs back then. 

It brings back such good memories. The lyrics are so beautiful. I'd love to go back in time and just dwell in that time in a loop forever. I guess heaven must be like that and much more! 

Thanks Andy.

5. Fiona says:

I was brought up in Singapore, and this song was the first I remember my parents playing - there was a 'B' side, but I am not sure what it was. We moved back to UK in the early Sixties, and I have never found anyone else who remembers it. The fact you have placed it as Singapore 60's make sense to me - I have now downloaded it and it brings back happy memories of childhood. Thank you <3

6. Vineet Gupta says:

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. 

7. M.B. Salke says:

I live in Pune, Maharashtra, India. I grew up with this song. It is a very beautiful song which I always remembered. I was very happy to find it and hear it after so many years, nearly 40 years. This song brings fond memories of my childhood. Thank you so much. 

And the song?

'Papa He Loves Mama': 

Donald Peers and Janet Osborne. 

YouTube Video by:

The little boy and girl who love to see their grand papa and mama! Singapore 60s teenagers used to cha, cha, cha to this song when it was played during T-Dances.

Images: Google and AI generated.

Comments are welcome.

Richard Rajoo Recalls Famous Yao Li [姚莉] Songs His Mother Loved...

When mum stir-fries and sings her heart out.

UP TO 700 VIEWS, 11 COMMENTS

Good friend Richard Rajoo felt there was nothing he could contribute for the blog when I wanted to interview him. A humble person indeed but when we chatted about Chinese songs, and he's very informative about them, he had a short story to relate. Hopefully he will tell us more the next time. Thanks so much Richard.

"Good morning, 

These melodies are etched in my mind... I hear my mum singing in her hi-pitched voice, as she prepares our family's meal in the kitchen, I can still recall her in her samfu [Chinese blouse n pants outfit], stir-frying the vegetables in the kitchen at our Tiong Bahru pre-war flat that we lived in.

🙏🏻 R.I.P. Mum.

And I enjoyed the sight and her voice singing along...👍🏼80 years ago, 🤦!
Yao Li's song... till this day, every once in a while, the sentimental melodies still play back in my mind..."

Author: Richard Rajoo.

Today Richard Rajoo goes along Charity Roads and at Senior Corners to perform now and again, during his free time. A kindhearted man indeed. He sings and usually accompanies himself on the guitar. Richard knows many songs and is lyrical wise, emphasizing the importance of words and placings.

Comments are welcome.

30.9. 2025.

Yao Li [姚莉] 18 of her hits from the 40s  

YouTube Video by: cuckoo bird.

Yao Li姚莉 18 of her hits from the 40s

Thanks to video enthusiast 'cuckoo bird' for the above.

Do you know the songs on the video?

Tell us.

The reason Richard decided to tell his tale. 

Connect below:

.: Searching For My Favourite Chinese Oldies: Yao Li - 那個不多情 姚莉

Letter To Andy 60s Music: Singer @ Ambassador Hotel Tells Laura In Mandarin He Loves Her.

"No one knows what happened that day

How his car overturned in flames

But as they pulled him from the twisted wreck

With his dying breath, they heard him say..."

I receive many anonymous letters in the mail, and they usually write positive reviews about the blog. Here's one short note written on 27th August 2023. Thank you, my friend, whoever you are...

Hi Andy, 

Glad to have stumbled onto your post and reading yours and others’ wonderful stories reminiscing of the old times!

I love songs from the sixties. When traveling in North American cities, I would still look for old diners with booth tables and some wall jukeboxes.

Booth tables and old diners in America during the 60's.

'Tell Laura I Love Her' in Mandarin.

Sung by: Liu Wen-Cheng.

YouTube Video by Liu Wen-Cheng - Topic

In late sixties of Singapore, I occasionally hung out with a group of Mandarin and Hainanese speaking friends at the Ambassador Hotel roof top nightclub. They called the club manager ‘Boon’. I was told that the nightclub owner was a lady, probably one of those experienced entertainers from Shanghai.

The Ambassador Hotel opposite a popular 

60's playground called Katong Park near Meyer Road.

The roof-garden of this hotel gathers local pop music bands

and crowds fill it up on Saturday nights especially.

Frequently we encountered a ‘guest-singer’. He usually sang popular English songs with Mandarin lyrics. He did Ray Peterson’s ‘Tell Laura I love Her’. I don’t remember the whole lyrics, only this part:

“… 日日我在想念, 夜夜我在想念… [Every day I miss you, every night I miss you...] "Tell Laura not to cry…”

27/08/23.

Comments are always welcome.

"And in the chapel where Laura prays

For Tommy who passed away 

It was just for Laura he lived and died

Alone in the chapel she can hear him cry..."

Juke boxes from the 60's that play vinyl records

automatically when you slot a coin into the machine.

Images: 

[1] Google, 

[2] Self-created from WhatsApp/Meta AI.

60s Music Singapore: Some September Sentiments, Songs: John Keats And Drones?

Peaceful rainy September on the streets in Singapore. Now's who's playing with those flying machines in other countries, while candles and joss sticks illuminate the Chinatown skies. A significant season for Singapore indeed.

UP TO 1,200 VIEWS

An Anonymous Comment... and Mine:

True, true. It is a very wet September so far; it's raining now and gets heavier too. The Heavens crying its eyes out at the state of the world, a world with hardly any peace, where newly invented drones fill the skies to destroy.

911 - a number known to all Americans, and the world. The Emergency services number. 911 will be seared in the memory of the world.

Every season has its beauty. Autumn, or Fall, is resplendent in fiery colours. It is also harvesting season, when Mother Earth offers puny Man her rich larder to tide over the lean Winter. 

In this New World, it is Time for Thanksgiving, an occasion many considered as important, if not more, as Christmas. At American and Canadian universities, Fall is when term begins afresh, time for Orientation and Homecoming, when the blaze of academic life and enquiring minds are stoked anew.

John Keats in Ole' England in 1795, because

the digitalized folks have only awakened

from their slumber in 1975.

In the Old World, we can't help but remember John Keats' "Ode to Autumn".

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness, Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun; Conspiring with him how to load and bless, With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run; To bend with apples the moss'd cottage-trees, And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core...

So, in Asiatic Singapore, we get the brown branches and green leaves bowing under the weight of the thunderstorm. Expect more rain this September 2025. And are we expecting the school holiday, Teachers' Day, Prophet Muhammed's Birthday, Little India's Deepavali Light-up, the Hungry Ghost, Mooncake or Mid-Autumn Festival too? Better check them out.

The preference for decorative lanterns in 

downtown September Singapore is obvious.

Let's fill our skies with the pops of yesteryear:

Maybe September, Tony Bennett.

Come September, Bobby Darin.

September Morn, Neil Diamond.

September In The Rain, Sarah Vaughn.

September When I First Met You, Barry White.

September Of My Years, Frank Sinatra.

Try To Remember, Brothers Four.

There are other singers too.

'Try To Remember' [Campfire 14].

The Brothers Four.

YouTube Video by: Mark Pearson Music.

Video was suggested by good friend, 

Chew Hee Hong who wrote about

Skeeter Davis. Click below to read:

.: "Skeeter Davis Was A Friend." Unassuming HH Chew Tributes International 60s Singer.

Whoops! Forgot the umbrella!

Comments are welcome.

[Anonymous, Comment Page on 13 September 2020 wrote; and I added some.]

Andy's 60's Music Favourite 'Knock Knock' Songs And Jokes?

UP TO 1,400 VIEWS, 18 COMMENTS

When KNOCK, KNOCK songs were popular.

They were characterized by a call-and-response format, and usually with a humorous storytelling twist. Furthermore, they were interactive and catchy usually featuring a dialogue or one-liners reflecting the 60's lightheartedness. Social change and upheaval, these pops provided a fun and carefree world for listeners.

Beats Juliet screaming quietly: "Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou."

And she's on the balcony. Was Romeo at the door downstairs knocking? 

By the way, the two Chinese ladies knocking on the door are Juliet Lim and Juliet Tan. They both come from 1A Meta Road, Singapore.

😄

'I'm Gonna Knock On Your Door' [1959]

Also by Eddie Hodges, the last lines of the lyrics are sung 

so quickly they need good timing and fluency of the language 

to vocalize them. Just listen to Little Pattie go...

“I’m gonna knock and ring and tap and knock and ring and tap 

and knock and ring and tap until you do!”

Little Pattie: 'I'm Gonna Knock On Your Door'

YouTube Video by: VintageVideoClips.

 

'Knock Three Times' [1970]

There was no 'Dawn' when the song was recorded, so

Orlando asked Telma Hopkins and Joyce Vincent Wilson, 

whom he had hired to work as background vocalists or,

in music jargon, backup singers. They became 

'Dawn' and K3T became a big hit.

“Knock three times on the ceiling if you want me,

Twice on the pipe if the answer is no.”

Tony Orlando & Dawn - 'Knock Three Times' (1970 HD 720p) 

YouTube Video by: NVNCBL @VINCENTDICRESCE.

Knock, knock!

Who's there?

Why?

Why who?

Y.M.C.A.

Knock, knock!

Who’s there?

Rain!

Rain who?

You rain nothing but a hound dog!

Knock, knock!

Who’s there?

Everybody!

Everybody who?

Everybody was Kung Fu fighting!

'Knock On Wood' [1966]

Insulting indeed, when the teacher tells the child to 

knock his own head in front of the class and says it's wood.

The term is also supposed to ward off bad luck.

But then the song itself, composed/sung by Eddie Floyd, 

has a different theme. Amii Stewart sings it in style...

“Babe, you better knock, knock, knock on wood,

Babe, you better knock, knock, knock on wood.”

Amii Stewart - 'Knock On Wood' (Official HD Video)

YouTube Video by: Amii Stewart (Official)

BYE, BYE.

This is one crazy posting.

Three of my favourite knock, knock songs!

Andy, you going crazy or what? 😋

Images: Google.