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 !
"Andy Young is probably the only one Singapore that is keeping Music Memorabilia in Singapore alive and fluttering as many of our generation have reached an age who treasure precious memories of our past. Kudos to him. His site will be worth a lot in time to come - millions, considering the many wealthy ones that Singapore has now nurtured. Please convey my good wish to Andy. When you next come back to Singapore, we could get him together."
Well Andy, congrats again on your blog and this comment is from my friend Eng Leong (a top local lawyer and accomplished guitarist during his younger days) saying all that is needed to be said. I totally concur with him too. Have a great week my friend and hopefully, we get to meet again in Singapore! [Happy Tay, Vancouver, BC, Canada.]
Good bye my dear Brother Paul Cheong [75 years young], who passed away this morning at 11.40. It's the saddest day for me and our family, not forgetting his friends and his own folks. We had a friendship of 60 years from school days at St. Joseph's Institution till this very day. Driving me to school too, I am ever so grateful...
My brother, thanks for all the memories from Serangoon Garden Estate to Jalan Rebana. And the bands you fronted; Paul and The Herons, The Firebyrds, The Silver Strings and the release of two albums, if not mistaken, under Polygram.
Then those important events as a host, i.e., my Wedding Anniversary, my book launch and the 50th Anniversary of my band Jerry and The Neufaces, where you sang with the group. You have always been around for our family events.
Paul you are at Peace with the Lord Almighty and the choir of Angels; someday we will meet. Till then good bye Paul. Rest In Peace.
Condolences to the family and friends of Paul Cheong.
[Brothers David, Patrick SY Cheong , Francis & family members of Paul, God bless all of you.]
Mr Stephen Han [above with Mrs. Han] posted the Facebook article below and 3 numbered photos on 7th July, 2019. Stephen has written many stories for this blog. Click his name under 'Labels' to read his posts. Thank you very much my friend.
✏✉:
"This is Andy Young aka Andy Lim who is not only a wonderful singer but also a prolific writer. Do visit his music of the 60's blog and you’ll like it immediately. It contains interesting and good information of local and international recording stars. You won’t be bored cause there are quizzes for you to solve."
Reply:
'Wonderful' and 'prolific' are descriptions I am grateful for Stephen but if the blog is 'interesting' and provides 'good information', then these are achievements indeed. Again thanks for the accolades.💓🙏
It increases to about 100,000 views every 50 days. Slow in today's media world but not bad for a music history blog. Thanks for the amazing congratulatory messages below.
Thanks to all readers, contributing writers,
followers, fans and friends for the support.
5th July, 2024.
Blog is:
1] Number 2 on the top 15 'Best Music Blogs in Singapore'.
2] Number 21 on the top '50 Best Music Blogs in SE Asia'.
This song always reminds me of the late Jap Chong [Quests]during his late years with his group Penny Lane. He sang this very well. Jap worked with me producing jingles and audio projects when he returned from the US in the 80s. He was a true friend and stuck by me when we got into some difficult business dealings. Gone too soon. RIP dear buddy.
Christopher Toh [Journalist/Author]:
I remember bringing a young friend to see Jap when he was playing at Emerald Hill. I told her to request Jap to play 'Jesamine'. He seemed very chuffed that someone so young would know that song. This was after I met the Quests for their 1994 album.
Andy:
A very pleasant and polite gentleman, Jap had always be unassuming in his ways.
He was a good listener too. I think this particular recording was one of his best.
RIP Jap. We shall always remember you... He passed away on March 2nd, 2014.
Terence Lee:
Remembering my old friend Jap. May his soul rest in peace.
Jimmy Chng [Drummer/The Decibels]:
Nice rendition of 'Jesamine' by Jap Chong. This is yet another song recorded by our local artistes that I enjoy listening to, more than the originals. Susan Lim's recording of 'Frankie' and WUB's: 'Sausalito' are two others that come to mind.
Henry Chua [Quests/Bassist]:
We re-recorded Jesamine in 1994 with the Polydor label.
Freda Hanum Malaysia:
Love this song 'Jesamine' by Casuals and also by the unforgettable fabulous Quests ..thanks for bringing back the song Andy.
Winston Koh [Trailers Singer]:
Jesamine was very well sung by Jap Chong of The Quests, a good friend of mine. Thank you Andy. Good memories. Cheers!
Oliver Balasingham [Drummer/Former School Principal:
One of my favourite songs and was pleasantly surprised to see the super cover of this song done by Singapore's pride, the supremely talented The Quests.
Andy:
"And JOHN KLASS too. Thanks for sparing your busy schedule to LOVE💓 the 'Jesamine' song by the late Jap Chong [Quests]. It's on the blog post too.
John Klass:
Yes I sure will Andy Young! Keep up the great work 😊🥂
Mister X [William Xavier] :
GOLD90.5 where I also work... I'll tell John you said so.
Cheers Andy.
Andy:
Thank you very much Will.
Hiroshi Deguchi [Japan]:
It was not until I got The Quests CD in 2000s that I heard the song "Jesamine". The song was not released in my country. It all depended on record companies. This often happens.
Andy Young
Hiroshi Deguchi yes, it's true.
Selectively done to suit [to them] that particular country.
Through my own blogging experience I found that some local musicians are not familiar with the Indo/Dutch invasion in the 60s. It's simply what it means... We had the familiar Blue Diamonds [two brothers], pretty Anneke Gronloh and the well-known Shadows group from Holland, Johnny Lion and the Jumping Jewels visit us in Singapore. [This article has been updated: 5.06.2024 from 1.07.2009]
The song titles are familiar and the band names are fantastic. The titles are from an album, The Very Best Of Indo-Rock:
1 Pretend / The Dakotas 2 Let's Have a Party / Black Dynamites 3 Once / Hurricane Rollers 4 Mama Papa Twist / Crazy Rockers 5 Smokey Mountain Boogie / Ricky & The Rhythm Strings
6 I'll Never Let You Cross My Mind / The Hot Jumpers 7 Ajoen Ajoen /Willy and His Giants 8 Any Time / Rockin' Shadows 9 Should I / Electric Johnny & His Skyrockets 10 Ole Sio / The Entertainers
11 Twist in the Mood / The Black Dynamites 12 I Go Ape / The Hot Jumpers 13 Carioca / Fender Rollers 14 Rosalie / Tony Light 15 It Keeps Right On Hurting/ Boy & His Rollin' Kids*
Ajoen Ajoen /Willy and His Giants
Youtube Video from: Sam Sam Music
16 Memories / Emeralds 17 Raindrops / Explosion Rockers 18 Mukwai Hula / Tielman Brothers 19 Bumble Boogie Woogie/ The Desmounts 20 Slippin' and Slidin'/ The Fire Devils
21 Ling Ting Tong / The Javelins 22 You Win Again / The White Waves 23 Sweet Malaya / The Rollers 24 What'd I Say / Rock of Ages 25 Little Bird / Sebastian
*In memory of Boy Jansen (1935-2006), composer/lead guitarist of Boy & His Rollin' Kids. They are an Indonesian/Dutch pop group from Zaandam, Holland. Their instrumental, Midnight InMalaya (318 869PF), was released in Singapore and Malaysia and became a hit. The flipside, China Rock, was also written by Jansen.
I am not too sure here but noted the big drum sound in the accompaniment. Could it be the big gendang used by Asian musicians. If you are familiar...?
NB:
Images below show some of the most popular Indonesian Dutch bands that had their days in the 60s carrying songs with rock n roll Western beats, mostly following Cliff and the Shadows tradition...
JK Lim's collection of memorabilia that includes show
tickets, posters, photographs, signatures and others.
If you check carefully, you can read
the names of the musicians and singers
who signed JK Lim's memorabilia.
UP TO 500 VIEWS
6 CHATS, COMMENTS
When I asked JK if he could do a write-up like his contemporary HH Chew about the pop concerts he attended he agreed. It took a while but here they are my dear readers, so many you would not believe. But how could he do it?
I’m like *HH Chew [connection below], chasing concerts and bands and singers! It's mainly due to my home, a building beside the Odeon Cinema in North Bridge Road, opposite Jubilee Theatre near the Capitol Cinema and walking distance to Cathay Cinema. The amusement centres in Singapore 60s were close to each other in this part of town where I lived.
And coincidentally, the girls-only school, the Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus [CHIJ] was right smack in the middle of these movie theatres. And the young ladies would come out after school, at about one in the afternoon, in their white and hue blue pinafores.
The Odeon Cinema at North Bridge Road, Singapore
in the 60s. JK Lim lives in the same neighbourhood.
The school is also in the same neighbourhood at Victoria Street.
During the late 1950s and the early 1960s whenever they launched a show there's a hue and cry publicity where the actors and actresses involved, will come and sing a song or two before the show and super stars like Grace Chang [Ge Lan] 葛蘭 - 說不出的快活 電影《野玫瑰之戀 of Ja Jambo fame would have an autograph session at Level 4 [called the Hollywood Room] at the Odeon building. She would have come all the way from Hong Kong. Imagine the crowds that evening with North Bridge Road jam packed like the cinema itself!
On the other hand we had pop singers like, Johnny Lion and the Jumping Jewels from Holland performing at the Odeon. Remember them? He sang 'Let's Make a Habit of This', 'Judy', 'I Like It' and a host of other hits.
The late Johnny Lion and the neat,
smooth and velvety Jumping Jewels.
They came from Holland.
This cinema and others were all under the Cathay Organisation and the movie stars Hayley Mills and her father, John Mills came and appeared on stage before the shows. And they still keep coming today, the big stars like the Rolling Stones, Cpldplay, Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift.
Then across the road at Jubilee Cinema, which screened mostly Chinese shows had the Canto [Cantonese] stars appearing, with the likes of Fong Po Po and Chan Poh Choo. Today it's the National Stadium, where groups like Black Pink, top K-Pop groups from South Korea come bob bob bopping along.
The Jubilee Cinema, across the road from
the Odeon, showing mostly Chinese movies.
Further down the road towards Shenton Way and opposite the St. Andrew's Cathedral stands the Shaw Brother's cinema group irreplaceable, Capitol Theatre. The great Bai Kwang, Old Shanghai diva performed on stage too. I managed to attend. Chinese, English stars! I love them all.
And over at the Cathay, a short distance away, Frank Sinatra, one of the best US 60s crooners, was there. He was truly my favourite and I managed to catch him in his room at the Cathay Hotel above the cinema and got his autograph too after school. I was studying nearby at St. Joseph's Institution.
Crossing to the East side of Singapore, at Guillemard Road. It was concerts galore when Cliff Richard and the original Shadows came. This group included Hank Marvin, Bruce Welch, Tony Meehan and Jet Harris.
There was Pat Boone and Debbie Boone. It was a wonderment with tickets costing Fifty Cents to One Dollar for hard step-like concrete seats at the Badminton Hall and at the Happy World Stadium.
Yes, yes!
"Those were the days my friend,
We thought it'd never end..."
Manfred Mann: Do Wah Diddy.
REMASTERED VIDEO TRUE 1964
STEREO HiQ Hybrid JARichardsFilm
YouTube video from: jarichards99utube
Fung Poh Poh Hanky Panky
YouTube Video from: kraftwerk2012
But it did. Now in Singapore concerts cost so much more. A coming one will cost pop music enthusiasts more than a thousand dollars per ticket!
The best deal I experienced was a three-in-one concert for one dollar at the Badminton Hall where I witnessed the Rolling Stones, Manfred Mann and The Kinks. Now that was a record breaker indeed [pun intended].
And I managed to get all their autographs!
Many stars do a transit stop in Singapore here before heading Down Under in Kangaroo county, Australia. These pop stars included: Helen Shapiro, Millie Small, Blue Diamonds, Anneke Gronloh, The 3 Degrees, Stylistics, Manhattan Transfer, Herman’s Hermit and Gilbert O'Sullivan.
Written by: JK Lim.
Author: JK Lim
With his recollection and
memorabilia from the 1960s.
Images: Google and The National Archives, Singapore.
Musicians From The West Who Practise Buddhism Based on internet findings here are some singers and music makers who practise the Buddhist faith. In the U.S., the U.K. and other western communities, film stars, musicians and other top names promote the message of Buddhism in their movies, music and lifestyles. Here they are: Alanis Morissette Annie Lennox Belinda Carlisle Cher Courtney Love David Bowie Gene Vincent (?) Herbie Hancock Jennifer Lopez KD Lang Leonard Cohen Patti Smith Sandie Shaw Sting - Gordon Sumner Tina Turner Information: from Relevant Websites and may not be accurate.
Annie Lennox, Cher, Courtney Love, Jennifer Lopez.
David Bowie, Herbie Hancock, Leonard Cohen, Sting (Gordon Sumner).
Songs
I am no expert on Buddhism and have tried without much success to compile a list of '60s to 80's western pops that has a Buddhist theme. A search on the net hasn't revealed much but below is a rather shaky list which will suffice for the moment. Everyone is helpful, everyone is kind On the road to Shambala Everyone is lucky, everyone is so kind On the road to Shambala
Shambala: Three Dog Night.
YouTube Video from: BOMBAYBOB1
Although some of the songs have reasonable lyrics they do not deal much with the topic beyond the titles. A few of them show familiarity with Buddhist teachings. There is no intention to misinform, so please write in if otherwise:
1. Karma Man: David Bowie: 1968. 2. Instant Karma: John Lennon: 1970. 3. Sold To The Highest Buddha: Gong: 1973. 4. Bodhisattva: Steely Dan: 1973. 5. Shambala: Daniel Moore: Three Dog Night: 1973. 6. Dust In The Wind: Kansas: 1977. 7. Refuge Of The Road: Joni Mitchell: 1976. 8. Kharma Chameleon: Boy George: 1983. 9. Within You Without You: Beatles: 1967. 10. Tomorrow Never Knows: Beatles: 1966. 11. Oh Very Young: Cat Stevens: 1974.
If you have more information regarding the list above, please contribute. Click below for more information:
