Heather And Cliff Together! Congratulations!

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Bootlegs are not legitimate commercial releases and are illegal but some collectors want them. It is true that all illegal items - not just records - are hard to advertise, buy or sell. So most bootlegs have little value.

They come in several categories though. Some bootleg LPs often feature tracks that have not been commercially released because the recordings are stolen ones. Some are illegal recordings of live concerts.

EPs include re-releases of rare or valuable 45s. Some bootleg 45s are exact copies of rare records with the original label graphics and numbers - these are known in the industry as counterfeits. In Singapore 60s, a record does not need to be rare. As long as it sells well, a bootleg copy is available.

During blogger's search for vinyls, he comes across many bootleg copies. Some of them are so common that they are worthless today, but some of these fakes are being sold in the market for a higher price. At the end of the day it depends on how much a buyer is willing to pay and how badly the seller is willing to part with the bootleg for the amount involved.

The above vinyl, from a flea market, costs S$2.00 but blogger was offered quite a staggering amount for it by a collector. It has a unique cover with our Singapore sweetheart Heather's most popular song, Love Is Blue.

But what makes it special is Cliff Richard's pasted photograph below with the song Congratulations. Together with Green Tambourine Heather (who was with The Diamonds Four), sings Kiss Me Goodbye. And the label is Hi Fi Record without a serial number. They could've have been more imaginative.

Anyone interested in bootleg? Do you have some at home?

Click to read: Bootleg or Thunderbirds

You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0TE5PRI3EI

Image/original article: Andy Lim.

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(3) Accolades To Hank Marvin UTube Viewers

Monday, November 23, 2009

(3) MORE CLIFF & SHADOWS: August 30th, 2006: YouTube Video: ZeKRuLe. Comments:

1. Maxld: Solo is always the best part of The Shadows performances. That's when the real Marvin magic starts to kick in, and the song just gets from "great" to "freaking awesome" towards the end.

2. Revelonray: there's only one Hank Marvin. He's just great! Best sounding by a mile.

3. Talldark77: Many people mock Hank as the oldies, but the fact remains he's an awesome guitarist who inspired most of the greats. He's one of the originals and one of the best.

4. MusicBravo: Mark Knopfler, Mike Oldfield and many more subjects copied The Shadows, undoubtedly. Already wrote this page in history - congratulations Shadows.

5. Hittheskins: To be fair to The Ventures, The Shadows deserve to be in the Hall of Fame. I think the difference was always the Hank Marvin Factor. He's simply one of the greatest guitarists ever and backed up by one of the greatest drummers and rhythm guitarists of all time. Special mention to Jet Harris and Tony Meehan - two more greats. Best instrumental band ever!

6. Gorgeous stuff. Hank Marvin has always had such a rich, melodic style. He's picking single notes but they always sounds grand in size. And that grand sound is the one thing all great British guitarists have in common - from Townshend to Marr, Jimmy Scott to Jeff Beck. Now you know where it all started. With this guy. Hank Marvin...

7. Hittheskins: The highest accolade I can say about this fantastic group is that within the first note plucked you just know its HANK MARVIN; 50 years of the greatest instrumental group ever. I just love that sound. It's sublime.
Reference: Quotes from You Tube for Moonlight Shadows.
Image: http://www.4.bp.blogspot.com/

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(2) Hank Marvin - Undisputed Guitar Guru 60s+

(2)MORE CLIFF & SHADOWS: There are many websites about Hank Marvin and information available is incredible and Blogger thinks it's the best time to write about Hank Marvin because he remembers he has an instrumental version of Georgia On My Mind when he posted Ray Charles earlier. A quick search reveals the record on the right.

The image shows the cover of Hank Marvin's 1969 LP, the year after he left the Shadows and went solo. They had reined unchallenged as Britain's top guitar group.

So with a view to future security, positive or otherwise, they began to pursue their own activities best suited to their individual talents. "And if there is one consolation to be found in the break-up of this polished group, it is the emergence of Hank Marvin as an accomplished solo performer (Derek Johnson - sleeve back cover)."

According to Johnson, the Shadows sound is the Marvin sound and together with Brian Bennett as drummer and musical director, their dexterity, creativity and sensitivity show in this album.

Blogger bought it for S$10.00 ten years ago. From the Internet shops he finds that it costs just about double today. The reason for buying? Although some of the songs are familiar, blogger finds the compositions different and perhaps intriguing?

Side One: 1. Aquarius 2. Born Free 3. This Guy's In Love With You 4. Tokyo Guitar (Marvin) 5. Chameleon (Bennett) and 6. Lara's Theme.

Side Two has: 7. The Big Country 8. Love And Occasional Rain (Bennett) 9. Georgia On My Mind 10. The Windmills Of Your Mind 11. *Sacha (Lordan/Greenaway/Cook) and 12. High Sierra (Marvin/Lordan).

The record is produced by Norrie Paramor, the man who featured in many of Cliff & Shadows pressings. Hank MARVIN has an instrumental piece in his own name entitled, NIVRAM. Got it? Is he still living in Perth, Australia?

Reference: Derek Johnson - sleeve cover. (EMI/Columbia/SCX 6352 HANK MARVIN)

Image: www.imeem.com/

Original article: Andy Lim Collection.

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(1) Book On Sir Cliff Richard Lewry And Goodall

Sunday, November 22, 2009

(1) ABOUT CLIFF & SHADOWS:

If you still don't know about Cliff Richard after all these years then it's time to buy this book. Blogger has a 1996 copy of The Ultimate Cliff. Taken from a bookshop at a university he wonders why it's sold there? It must have been recommended by one of the professors.

Unknown facts about Richard that might interest you, the 400 page book is divided into 6 parts and they include his childhood, the people he works with, his music (very detailed) and his performances. There is also a memorabilia section that includes prices of his singles, EPs and LPs. This book is interspersed with published and unpublished photographs that any fan of Sir Cliff might want to keep. Oh and the Shads too!

According to the short blurb about writers Peter Lewry and Nigel Goodall, they have "probably listened to more of Cliff Richard's recorded music... than any other person." There's also a foreword by Bruch Welch. A good read on a rainy night. Very detailed.

Remark from a friend: "Eh! Why you waste time... reading this book? Better read Bertrand Russell."

Image: The updated edition/ amazon.co.uk

Original article: Andy Lim Collection.

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JET HARRIS 'BESAME MUCHO' FENDER BASS!

Sunday, August 23, 2009

It's a Decca worth keeping, Jet Harris' Besame Mucho! There are not many of these singles lying around. The flip side is Chills And Fever (Thompson/Gray). Wow! And on Fender Bass too!

On April 29th 1962 with Charles Blackwell directing and Jack Good producing, his debut 45 vinyl Besame Mucho (45F 11466) was taped at Decca studios. It was a radically different sound experience to his earlier work with The Shadows.

Jet Harris was using a Fender VI Bass, tuned down an octave from the norm and gave the vinyl a deep and distinctive sound. Tony Meehan was on drums with his ex-colleague coupled with its female chorus backing and unique sound. Really special, heavy and hot!

The song written by Consuelo Velásquez from Mexico and based on, Quejas O La Maja Y El Ruisenor (The Girl And The Nightingale, 1941), a piano piece from 1911 by the Spanish composer Enrique Granados.

Harris and Meehan topped the UK Singles Chart in 1963 with Diamonds. Harris used the 6 string bass.

Reference/Article: You Tube by Pomesu/June, 10th, 2008.

Image: Andy Lim Collection.

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Expresso Bongo Cliff - Birth Of Rock n Roll

It is a beautiful image indeed and a vinyl piece that any Cliff Richard fan might want to keep. But it is this particular one that is worth keeping (SEG 7971). It is a mono recording and an EP by Columbia/EMI Records, Middlesex, England.

The flip side of this cover has a write-up on Richard's meeting with Columbia recording manager Norrie Paramor and a synopsis of the movie which starred Laurence Harvey and Sulvia Syms.

The birth of a rock n roll singer in Britain usually started in a Soho coffee bar, the 2i's, which made old Compton Street the mecca for every aspiring musician. According to Lewry/Goodall, the birth of British rock n roll went directly in the most famous pop film of the era, Expresso Bongo. True or false?

Side 1 of this record has Love and A Voice In The Wilderness and Side 2: The Shrine On The Second Floor with Bongo Blues.

Reference: The Ultimate Cliff/P Lewry/N. Goodall (1996).

Image/original article: Andy Lim Collection.

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Cliff Richard At The Singapore Badminton Hall

Saturday, August 22, 2009

There is so much information on the multi-media about Cliff Richard that it is nearly impossibe to write anything new about him. It is best then to take extracts from reliable sources now and again and post them on this blog hodge podge. So here goes:
(1) "He goes against all the unwritten laws of being a rock singer: He's clean cut, he's a nice lad, he looks healthy...Cliff's broken all the rules and he's bigger than anybody. It's amazing." Adam Faith.

(2) "He gets better and better as the years go on. Cliff has class. It is difficult to have show-biz without him!" Olivia Newton-John.

(3) "As I move ever closer to the bus pass and pension book, my thoughts drift back... to the Summer of 1958 in Soho, London. Hank Marvin and I were just 16 years old, and we had just met an older man (he was 17) who was to change our lives..." Bruch Welch.

(4) "After Elvis you had very few people, in fact, I don't know of another act that has had a career as long as Cliff's, with as many hits." Phil (Everly Brothers).

(5) "He's always in what's happening musically and for me that is the key ingredient for his continual success." Elton John.

(6) "He never achieved the same impact in the United States despite several chart singles there, but he has remained a popular music, film, and television personality in the United Kingdom and he retains a following in other countries." Wikipedia.

Reference: Extracts from The Ultimate Cliff by Peter Lewry & Nigel Goodall (1996). Except for # 6.

Images: Flickr

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The Shadows + Fender Stratocaster = Apache

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Released in July, 1960, Apache by The Shadows is the melody that inspired so many guitarists in Singapore and the world. It also helped to make the trademark Fender Stratocaster so popular and such a key element in 60s music.

Although expert guitarist Bert Weedon had already recorded and promoted it, The Shadows had the advantage of releasing it in the shops as a single, so when fans asked for it, they were offered The Shads' version. It triggered another two dozen hits by the famous four. Incidentally, Cliff Richard played the Chinese drums in the recording.

The rest is history and fellow followers, Clapton (Tears In Heaven) and Knopfler (Sultans Of Swing) turned to a Fender Strat.
(Original article. Information from: Music edited by Sean Egan. Image: http://www.iansamwell.com/)

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Cliff Richard & The Shadows - British Influence

Saturday, January 10, 2009

These years were hot especially when Cliff Richard and the Shadows came to Singapore in late 1961. After their performance, copy groups mushroomed all over the island.

Every band wanted to be like the Shadows with a lead guitarist, bass guitarist, rhythm guitarist and a drummer. Every singer wanted to sing Young Ones and Outsider and every band wanted to play KonTiki and Apache. And they all wore full suits, sweating on stage at the Badminton Hall or other make-shift platforms.

The British influence never left our island as many Singaporeans became so addicted to Cliff and Shadows that thousands of their records were bought by fans.

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'The Young Ones/Once' & 'Opposite Sex'

Saturday, January 3, 2009

Home parties were held to celebrate birthdays and festivities like Christmas and New Year. They were also places where friends gathered to meet "the opposite sex". The atmosphere was usually cordial and to get to know someone new in an amicable way was exciting then.

There would be a live band. Music played? Cliff Richard numbers like, 'When The Girl In Your Arms', 'Travelling Light' and 'The Young Ones'.

Instrumentals include: 'Vaya Condios', 'Apache' and 'Red River Rock'. Seasonals include, 'Jingle Bells' and 'Phoenix Song' (CNY).

SDU was unknown then. Comments?

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Tube Radios In Singapore - Grundig, Pye, Telefunken, Normende, Siemens

Thursday, December 25, 2008

The 60s - That's about 20 years after World War II, so when people settled in after the fighting, Elvis Presley mumbled over the airwaves and I heard him on my father's GRUNDIG radio. Later when b/w television appeared he gyrated his way into the living rooms of Singapore homes.

Cliff Richard, Gene Vincent, Tommy Sands and the rest came, churning out songs like stencilled copies off the Gestetner hand-cranked machines at the office. Similarly Singapore had its copies of singers who aped artistes from the West. Do you remember these local singers?

Image: img.alibaba.com

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