Local Pop 60s, 70s Songs: Personal Choice (Part I)

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

I am trying to ease the trauma and tragedy of these past weeks and the postings I had of the Japanese tsunami, the radioactive leak and the passing away of a great, pop 60s keyboardist friend... So, change of subject.

LOCAL SONGS I LOVE:

Friends have asked me my list of favourite songs by Singapore 60s artistes. They noticed that all the songs I love are not Singapore ones. It is a long list but I thought about it and decided that the eleven songs below could be my choice. Some of the hits are covers of US and British ones sung by our artistes while others are originals by Singaporeans Robert Suriya, Henry Chua, Matthew Tan, Shirley Nair, Harvey Fitzgerald and others.

I have included The Blue Diamonds' Ramona under local as Ruud and Riem de Wolffe are so familiar in our music scene. In fact I like them better than The Everlys. Rudy has passed on but Riem is somewhat Singaporean. The songs are not in any particular order. And remember, we were young then, in our 20s?

1. Shanty - The Quests

2. Ramona - The Blue Diamonds

3. Singapore Cowboy - Matthew & The Mandarins

4. It's All Over - Naomi & The Boys

5. My Lonely Heart - The Thunderbirds

6. Happy, Happy, Birthday Baby (Chinese) - Rita Chao

7. Mr. Twister - The Crescendos

8. I Believe - The Tidbits

9. Do It Right - Benny & The Trailer

10. You're The Boy - Shirley Nair & Silver Strings

11. Sausalito - Western Union Band

And the song that transports me back to the 60s? Most of them. Do you have a local 60s or 70s favourite?

Image: The LIFE Records Ltd, Nathan Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong. Andy Lim Collection.

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Elvis, Roy Orbison, Buddy Holly, Matthew Tan

Friday, August 6, 2010

Four shows in one. What else do you need to celebrate National Day?

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(5) Country Western 60s: Singapore Cowboys

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

They are one of the best bands in Singapore and they specialise in Country and Western Music. Matthew Tan is the vocalist and plays rhythm guitar, Michael Png plays steel/acoustic guitar, Richard Danker plays bass, while Derrick Danker is on lead guitar. Phillip Monteiro plays drums.

For their EMI the group recorded, Singapore Cowboy, Broken Lady, Lucille, Daytime Friends, That'll Be The Day, Legend In My Time, City Of New Orleans, Movin' On, Margaritaville, It Was Almost Like A Song, Lovesick Blues, Play Born To Lose Again, From Graceland To The Promised Land and The Last Farewell.

For Part II, on EMGS they recorded, Let's Put The Sing In Singapore, Love Or Something Like, I Can Almost See Houston From Here, Honky Tonk Downstairs, *Stranger, Shenandoah, Get Down Country Music, Leaving YOu Is Easier Than Wishing You Were Gone, Tulsa Time, North To Alaska, More Than Just A Memory and Showboat Gambler.

*Female vocalist of the 70s Tracy Huang accompanied them in Stranger. Both recordings were produced by Reggie Verghese, engineered by Vincent Lim and strings arrangements were by Martin Pereira.

Information: EMI Records (Long Play Vinyls). Image: Back Cover of EMGS5016 - Andy Lim Collection. Original Article: Andy Lim

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(4) Singapore Cowboy/Cowgirls: Matthew, Mandarins/Crescendos/Naomi/Henry Suriya And The Boys/Sakura/The Dukes

When our Singapore dudes and dames started singing their cowboy songs, most of the songs were imported from the Wild Wild West. They were simply covers and these included, Have I Told You Lately That I Love You (Naomi & The Boys), Silver Threads And Golden Needles (The Crescendos), Lonesome Town (Bobby Lambert & The Dukes), Love Is A Golden Ring (Henry Suriya & The Boys). Sakura Teng too recorded, I Don't Care If Tomorrow Never Comes and The Surfers with, By The Time I Get To Phoenix.

But one dude who covered many cowboy songs is Matthew Tan with his group The Mandarins. Matthew wrote two songs, Singapore Cowboy and Let's Put The Sing In Singapore. He is the only Country singer from Singapore who recorded at Nashville, Tennessee.

They used to play at the Hotel Negara, Singapore and were popular during the 80s oil boom, when many American oil riggers were stationed on the island. They were also at the Peacock Lounge, Shangrilla Hotel. Today they seem an almost forgotten local talent, except to country music fans.

Lately, they have been performing at a Singapore private club. In hand, there are two albums of popular country and western songs on the EMI Singapore label titled, Matthew and The Mandarins, I and II. Having heard them on record and having seen them perform at the hotels, there is no doubt that they are a talented country and western group.

Image: http://image56.webshots.com/

Original article: Andy Lim

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National Day Singapore 2009 - Celebrates 60s Music 60s - Silver Strings, Jerry, Neu Faces, Matthew, Vernon, Gypsy and Others Esplanade

Sunday, August 2, 2009

There will be a journey of our local music from the 60s to the 80s during the National Day weekend from August, 7th to August 10th, 2009.

The Silver Strings and Guest Singers, Jerry & The Neu Faces, Vernon Cornelius, Matthew (image) and the Mandarins, Gypsy, Robert Fernando, Clement Chow and other stars will perform.

The venue is the Esplanade Outdoor Theatre and begins from 7pm up to 10.40 each night. The Silver Strings family and Jerry's Neu Faces will appear on Friday, 7th August. Entrance is free.

The show is organised by Singapore Press Holdings.

Image: crookedturrent.files.wordpress.com

Information: The Straits Times Press Singapore

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