Steven Tyler: Sing With Me, Sing For The Laughter

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

"Every time I look in the mirror
All these lines on my face getting clearer
The past is gone
It goes by, like dusk to dawn
Isn't that the way
Everybody's got their dues in life to pay

Yeah, I know nobody knows
where it comes and where it goes
I know it's everybody's sin
You got to lose to know how to win

Half my life
is in books' written pages
Lived and learned from fools and
from sages
You know it's true
All the things come back to you
Sing with me, sing for the year
Sing for the laughter, sing for the tears..."
(Dream On by Steven Tyler/Aerosmith)

I grew up listening to Dean Martin, Johnny Ray and Cliff Richard. The King was always standing by. But middle of the road stuff like Beautiful Sunday, Killing Me Softly and Mother And Child Reunion were also my cuppa in the mid 70s (having listened to them on New Zealand radio day and night in 1973).

But I began to appreciate Badfinger's Come And Get It and Steven Tyler's Dream On after having been introduced to them by younger college mates who were around me in the 70s. The grounding of course came much earlier from Deep Purple, with their heavy guitar drawl that was metal.

These songs gave me that extra edge for what I term kick music, songs with that extra under the jaw punch. But Tyler's composition was one that I kept in the back drawers of my mind. I never appreciated the screaming man and his harmonica although I like the song.

Now that I see him week after week on American Idol, I thought I'd open the drawer again and take out the crumpled paper that had part of the lyrics of Dream On. And when I read the words again, they made a lot of sense. "The past is gone, it goes by like dusk to dawn" but "sing with me, sing for the year, Sing for the laughter, sing for the tears." Thank you Steven Tyler and house mates.

Image: Google images.
Original article: Andy Lim.

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The Stereos: 'I Really Love You' - A One Hit Wonder

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

From Steubenville, Ohio is an RnB or Doo-Wop group you might have missed in the late 50s and early 60s. A few sites on the Net introduced members Bruce Robinson on lead vocals, Nathaniel Hicks (first tenor), Sam Profit (second tenor), George Otis (baritone) and Ronnie Collins (bass).

They were known as The Buckeyes in 1955 and recorded two songs on Deluxe Records in 1957, Since I Fell For You with Be Only You and Dottie Baby with Begging You Please. Both records did not make the charts. Have you heard these songs?

In 1959 they added Leroy Swearingen (first tenor) and released their first record as The Stereos, A Love For Only You and Sweetpea's In Love on Gibraltar Records, but again failed the charts. Before Swearingen left the group, he wrote, I Really Love You and was then replaced by Nathaniel Hicks.

On September 25, 1961 I Really Love You on Cub Records made its Billboard Hot 100 debut and peaked to number 29 remaining on the Hot 100 for 9 weeks. A couple of weeks later on October 16, 1961 it became a number 15 hit record on Billboard's RnB chart.

They continued releasing singles on various labels through 1968 but none of the songs made it. The group is known as a one-hit wonder and their only record remains on many oldies radio station play list today. (Edited.)

The Stereos are not The Platters but the song's pretty cute. Catch it on the right-bar.

Information: http://joetroiano.wordpress.com/2011/04/21/the-stereos-i-really-love-you/

(For LL who introduced me to plenty.)

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The Sandpipers Sing Chotto Matte, Misty Roses

Saturday, March 19, 2011

THE SANDPIPERS:

Stephen Thomas Erlewine, when writing about The Sandpipers, wrote that they were a male vocal trio that recorded easy listening pop hits in the mid 60s and was "distinguished by its light, breezy harmonies, which floated over delicate, breezy string arrangements, as well as the occasional appearance of a wordless female backing vocalist who drifted in and out of the music."

Sandpipers did not manage to have a long, sustained career but had one Top Ten hit with Guantanamera in 1966 (numerous Asian versions: check 'Guantanamera' under Labels below). There were other songs like Beyond The Valley Of The Dolls, Misty Roses, Today, Chotto Matte Kudasai and covers. The group was originally known as the Four Seasons and the trio were part of the Californian Mitchell Boys Choir before they formed their own group. Famous trumpeter Herb Alpert (remember him with his Tijuana Brass), who ran his own A&M record label was impressed when he heard them and signed them to a record contract.

An added female vocalist, Pamela Ramcier, "was one of the most distinctive elements of the group's music" and with her mod outfit of mini-skirts and a-go-go boots "made her more noticeable than the actual Sandpipers."

In 1970, Come Saturday Morning became a hit when it was part of the soundtrack for the movie, The Sterile Cuckoo. The Sandpipers continued to record into the '70s but after five years without any chart success, they disbanded in the mid-'70s. (Please read the next posting below.)

Image: The Sandpipers - Jim Brady, Mike Piano, Richard Shoff.

More about Sandpipers: http://new.music.yahoo.com/sandpipers/biography/

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Chotto Matte Kudasai, Excuse Me While I Cry...

SONGS I LOVE:
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An English song by The Sandpipers but with a Japanese title is Chotto Matte Kudasai. In Japanese (ちょっと待ってください) it means, 'please wait a second' or 'please wait a moment.' although 'Shosho omachi kudasai' is more polite.
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The simplicity and sentiment of the lyrics, possibly conjuring an image of a beautiful girl or young man (depending on the singer), make it so popular that it has been recorded in other languages. Singapore, Malaya, other Asian 60s music artistes like Frankie Cheah and Frances Yip have recorded it.

.

Martin Denny has quite a sugary version vocalised by an Asian lady. In the new century a Filipino group called Joey de Leon and The Sex Bombs has another. It is a lounge favourite with both pianists and night clubbers, a karaoke 'must sing' and can be heard in any building that plays elevator music.

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A hit with elementary keyboard enthusiasts, Chotto Matte music notes are found within the pages of numerous books teaching children songs. Like Que Sera Sera and Annie Laurie, the melody is loved by many young 'uns. Three cheers for evergreens.
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Chotto matte kudasai
Please excuse me while I cry
Seems sayonara means goodbye
But no one ever told me why

Sakura was in the spring
When our hearts found songs to sing
But Sakura has gone away
And so has our love, so they say

Chotto matte kudasai
Please excuse me while I cry
Without your love I would die
Please don’t leave me kudasai...
.
Image: Google Images.

Original article: Andy Lim

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George Shearing: Jazz Piano Legend: 1919-2011

Thursday, February 17, 2011

SONGS I LOVE:

Gone! One of the greatest musicians, truly. I often listened to him in the 50s on the family radio and was the first time I heard Lullaby Of Birdland. The radio announcer (we call them DJs now) would always say, "Ladies and gentlemen, here's the George Shearing Quintet with, Lullaby Of Birdland." It could be from the BBC? Can't remember.

PARKER, ARMSTRONG, ELLINGTON:

It was one of the first few jazz standards I was introduced to, composed by Shearing himself in 1952. I later found out that the title referred to Charlie 'Bird' Parker, another jazz great who was together with Louis Armstrong and 'Duke' Ellington.

COLE, LEE, TORME:

Britisher Sir George Shearing, who was blind, was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II lately. He was one of the best jazz pianist and concert performer having recorded over 300 songs. Legends who had appeared and recorded with him would include Nat King Cole (image), Miss Peggy Lee and Mel Torme.

UNIQUE SHEARING SOUND:

As a teenager he received only 3 years of formal training at a school for the blind. He was a natural and his musical education came from listening to Earl Hines, Fats Waller, Art Tatum and Teddy Wilson. He developed the special 'Shearing sound' characterised by the distinctive sound of the Glen Miller big band.

SEPTEMBER IN THE RAIN:

Also recorded by Shearing, Russ Hamilton and so many others, September In The Rain (1937), is another personal favourite. His repertoire of songs would definitely have been played in the dance cabarets of the Great World, Happy (Gay) World and New World amusement parks in Singapore in the late 50s and 60s in Singapore.

Images: Google Search.

Original Article (Website/Newspaper Information): Andy Lim

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New Orleans Jazz Bands And Chinese Funeral Bands

Sunday, February 6, 2011

As a child I remember street music in Singapore which comes from Chinese funeral processions. These funeral bands play melodies from both Chinese and English pops. One particular pop song that I can still recall, Today, (You're) Not Coming Home (Jin Tian Bu Hui Jia 今天不回家), has been played so many times at Chinese funeral street marches that it's been accepted as the unofficial theme song for the occasion (Image 2: a band at Kim Yam Road taken in 1970 in Singapore).

Books from the US that discuss the history of jazz music claim that jazz bands began from dance bands or social orchestras. These were African American bands that played on the streets in New Orleans, U.S.A. officiating at funeral processions. They play solemn music on the way to the burial yard and hot jazz on the way back (Image 1: a New Orleans jazz funeral).

It is common knowledge in the 60s that some Singapore band boys who play in the night-clubs freelance and work as funeral musicians in the day. Again the parallel; New Orleans dance orchestras do not confine themselves to playing in the ballrooms but played at funerals. Nothing to be ashamed of because it's honest living.

These funeral bands could comprise from eight members onwards and the instruments included trumpets, trombones, snare drums and cymbals. The Chinese funeral bands have the same number of people with similar instruments.

During a bigger and longer procession at a Chinese funeral (indicating the wealth of the deceased), more instruments could be used, like the larger bass drums and a tuba. When questioned why music is played during such a tear-jerking occasion, the band members explain that the noise drives evil spirits away. Comment?

Original article: Andy Lim

Image 2: National Heritage Board, Singapore.
Image 1: allaboutjazz.com

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Bach Creates, Diamond Sings Jonathan L. Seagull

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

The Album:

SONGS I LOVE:

In 1973 Neil Diamond composed, wrote and recorded on Columbia the soundtrack to the movie, Jonathan Livingston Seagull (image 2). It is from a book by Richard Bach (image 1) and I honestly cannot remember how many times I played the songs from the album. Commercially, the music was more successful than the movie. It was Diamond's first album after an earlier hit, Hot August Night, released in 1972.

Album Review:
I would like to quote a review by Shawn M. Haney that I edited. It sums up the album adequately. He commented that in the recording Neil Diamond put himself into the shoes of Jonathan Livingston Seagull, writing and singing music, compelling and rich in texture and melody to fit the portrait perfectly for the movie.

"Be

As a page that aches for words

Which speaks on a theme that's timeless

While the Sun God will make for your day

Sing

As a song in search of a voice that is silent

And the one God will make for your way..."

Orchestra:

Recorded in 1973 for CBS under the pop/rock style genre, Diamond had much help from those around him to make the album a reality. Tom Catalano must be commended for the production and musical direction, Lee Holdridge for conducting and splendid, string arrangements, Armin Steiner for sound engineering and the hundred-plus musicians who rallied to record the soundtrack for overall performance.

Singer/Songs:

Though Diamond only sings on a few tracks, he does it so with much grace, smooth flair and enchantment. "Romantic, fresh and lively, this album fits the piece of the puzzle the motion picture needed so perfectly." Tracks include: 1. Prologue 2. Be 3. Flight of the Gull 4. Dear Father 5. Sky Bird 6. Lonely Looking Sky 7. Be* 8. Lonely Looking Sky* 9. Dear Father* 10. Anthem 11. Be 12. Skybird 13. Dear Father 14. Be (*These three songs appear as "The Odyssey".)

Movie Comment :
"I saw the movie when it came out, not a human being in it, as I recall. Fascinating, with the wonderful soundtrack composed and largely performed by Diamond with full rich sound, his arrangement is pure pleasure and his voice thundering during the score. This is music to listen to anytime, to sing with, to love. Own it forever." Submitted by a reviewer (Connecticut, U.S.A.)

Book Comment:

Jonathan the seagull learns to fly beyond his highest expectations when he left his friends and becomes an outcast. As a non-conformist he enjoys his freedom with other gulls that believe as he does. The theme, to listen to our hearts even when it goes the unaccepted ways, is clear. The book was a best seller in the 70s and remains popular today. The author, Richard Bach, is a descendent of composer Johan Sebastian Bach.

Quotes/Personal:

1. "Keep working on love."

2. "The gull sees farthest who flies highest."

3. "If our friendship depends on things like space and time, then when we finally overcome space and time, we've destroyed our own brotherhood..."

Best is to read the book. Won't take 20 minutes, unless you're not much into self-improvement books. I am not but I enjoy this one. Book is 40 years old, and last count sold more than 40 million copies. My!

Original article/Image/Album Info from CD: Andy Lim Collection.

Choice of quotations are my own.

Article extracts: http://www.cduniverse.com/

Copyright: Sony Music Entertainment Inc.

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Carlos Santana & Eric Clapton: Jingo: From keat320

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

When the greats meet! Santana and Clapton! Jingo the song was recorded for SANTANA Album in May 1969 and released in August. It's Latin Rock, Blues Rock, Jazz Fusion and performed at Woodstock Festival.

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In Singapore: Clapton, Santana, Eagles, McLean, Pointer Sisters, Buble, Jackson And Counting...

It's a bumper harvest in February and March 2011. There will be eight, yes eight, live performances by 60s and 70s music top guns in Singapore. Eric Clapton, The Eagles, Santana and Don McLean will appear these few months to take audiences back with music of yesteryears. Some of them will also be playing their new releases.
Eric Clapton:

Fans can scream his hits, Layla, I Shot The Sheriff, Wonderful Tonight, Tears In Heaven with ease. Basically a blues guitarist, he ranks 4th in the Gibsons' Top 50s Guitarist Of All Times. At 65, he's still king of the pack and started off with The Yardbirds and Cream in 1965. Grief stricken, he recorded Tears In Heaven around 1991 when his son passed away in an accident.

The Eagles:

This group's all time hit, Hotel California is so popular that the introductory guitar riffs are immediately recognisable by Eagles fans. From Desperado, Tequila Sunrise, Easy Feeling, Witchy Woman, Lyin' Eyes to Life In The Fast Lane, this group is one of the most successful in the 70s. Forty years on, they are still touring the world with a brand new song book.

Santana:

Carlos Santana and his namesake band made themselves so pop that they won 13 Grammys to date. From salsa, jazz fusion and latin rock, this man mesmerised the world with his finger-boggling guitar skill when they witness him on stage. Abraxas, Black Magic Woman, Oye Como Va, Evil Ways, Soul Sacrifice, You Just Don't Care are just some of the songs in their albums.

Don McLean, Michael Buble, Janet Jackson...
There's a write-up of McLean, the American Pie and Vincent (Starry, Starry Night) man, in an earlier posting. Click Don McLean under 'Labels' below. Michael Buble (90s man but sings pop evergreens), Janet Jackson, Elvis Costello, Iron Maiden and a host of other 60s and 70s pop stars will be coming to Singapore too. While some will be appearing at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, others will perform at the Esplanade Concert Hall or at the new Marina Bay Sands Ballroom.

Comment:

The seat prices are mighty high. Imagine paying about $400 a ticket to watch from the best seat. Even the $100 ones are too much for the general public, especially for some Seniors. When I attended the Engelbert Humperdinck show, there were vacant seats all around.

Follow London:

Perhaps, for those who just cannot manage a hundred dollars for the inexpensive seats, the organisers could follow the guidelines used by London (England) theatres for many years - half price for all unsold tickets a few hours before the show. Worth the long queue?

'Rich' Singapore:

If Singapore is to be South East Asia's entertainment hub then ticket prices should be more reasonable. Perhaps the ticket tax is too high? Seeing that Singapore is displaying its wealth in the newspapers, are the artistes themselves charging high prices? Meanwhile organisers will not bring in shows that will not make a profit. What do you all think?

Images: from Google.

Article: Information from Wikipedia and local newspaper advertisements.

(This posting is not an advertisement.)

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Don McLean's Killing Me Softly With American Pie

Friday, December 3, 2010

SONGS I LOVE?

Playing Only Half The Song:

It is so long that DJs play only one side of the eight and a half minute song. It needs no introduction because it tells the rock and roll story, so anyone familiar with early 70s music would know it. Singer songwriter Don McLean was not tongue-in-cheek when he said that he never had to work again after his hit single. His composition American Pie (1971) made money for him and it became the new anthem in the USA.

Buddy Holly n Friends:

A 'sprawling impressionistic ballad', it touched on the death of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper (P. Richardson) in a plane crash way back in 1959. McLean wrote the song in the 60s and, together with another composition, Vincent, the songs became hits.

Best Song of Century:

American Pie is in 5th position under the 365 Best Songs of the Century category. Somewhere Over The Rainbow (Judy Garland), White Christmas (Bing Crosby), This Land Is Your Land (Woody Guthrie) and Respect (Aretha Franklin) are the first four.

Killing Me ... With His Song:

He became an overnight success and American singer Lori Leiberman commented that Killing Me Softly With His Song (1971) was written due to a reaction from a Don McLean concert. She had recorded it but the Roberta Flack's (recently in Singapore) version won the Grammy.

Comment:

1. When I first heard the song I thought it would never end. El Paso (1959) by Marty Robbins was the longest song I've heard before American Pie. I don't really like AP but love the different interpretations that come with it.

2. Say whatever, the song made an impact on rock n rollers even up till today. It was even revived by Madonna. Do you think anyone would write about our singer songwriters who had passed on?

3. There is a posting on this blog about singer songwriter Sonny Bala who died in the 90s. Nobody wrote a song about him. Why aren't we honouring our own Singapore artistes?

4. Comment anyone?

Information: Wikipedia.

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'HAWAII 5-0' The Theme Song Lives On...

Monday, November 15, 2010

SONGS I LOVE:

Yes, a re-make of Hawaii Five-0, the television series, is on our small screen now. But I remember the song better. The instrumental was an after dinner call for the family to gather in the living room.

The theme song was recorded by The Ventures in late 1968 and is popular with many of our local and SE Asian pop bands. There was always a guitar group performing the tune on stage then.

In fact, The Ventures were one of five musical acts that had been indicted into the Rock n Roll Hall Of Fame on March 10th, 2008.

The Quests from Singapore has a version of Hawaii 5-0 on its LP, The Sound Of The Quests (SREG: 9514) recorded on 9/11/1970.

With its upbeat sound and military like rhythmic precision, Hawaii 5-0 is still being played today and many brass bands include it in their repertoire.

Image: http://oldschoolmusiclover.com/

Original article: Andy Lim.

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Songs With Halloween Themes? Devilish Tricks

Sunday, October 31, 2010

HAPPY HALLOWEEN TO ALL! PONTIANAK MUSIC IS COMING TOO!

Since Halloween is the theme tonight, songs from the fearful 50s, the scary 60s and screaming 70s are listed below. The words in the titles matter, so here they are, taken from the dusty, underground vaults of yore. They all spell blood, gore and grime. They may not be traditional, scary songs, but they can loosely fit into the Halloween theme by title, by music or by lyrics. So if you're lookin' for trouble, you came to the right place.

"I see the bad moon risin'/I see trouble on the way/I see earthquakes and lightnin'/I see bad times today/I hear the hurricanes ablowin'/I know the end is comin' soon/I hear the rivers overflowin'/I hear the voice of rage and ruin... (Bad Moon Risin' by: John Fogerty.)"

Bad Blood - 1975 - Neil Sedaka.
Bad Moon Rising - 1969 - Creedence Clearwater Revival
Black Magic Woman - 1968 - Fleetwood Mac/ Santana
Dark Lady - 1974 - Cher
Daughter Of Darkness - 1970 - Tom Jones

Devil Gate Drive - 1974 - Suzi Quatro
Devil In Disguise - 1963 - Elvis Presley
Devil Or Angel - 1960 - Bobby Vee
Devil With A Blue Dress On - 1966 - Mitch Ryder/Detroit Wheels
Devil Woman - 1962 - Marty Robbins

Devil Woman - 1976 - Cliff Richard
Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead - 1967 - Fifth Estate
Evil Hearted You - 1965 – The Yardbirds
Evil Ways - 1970 - Santana
Evil Woman - 1976 - Electric Light Orchestra

Frightened City - 1961 - Shadows
Little Devil - 1961 - Neil Sedaka
Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding - 1973 - Elton John
Ghost Riders In The Sky – 1979 - Johnny Cash
Love Potion Number Nine - 1965 - The Searchers

Poison Ivy - 1959 - The Coasters
Spooky -1968 - Classic Four
Superstition - 1973 - Stevie Wonder
That Old Black Magic - 1958 - Louis Prima and Keely Smith
Voodoo Chile - 1970 - Jimi Hendrix Experience

Witch Doctor - 1958 - David Seville
Witchcraft - 1963 - Elvis Presley/Frank Sinatra
Witchy Woman - 1972 - Eagles
Sympathy For The Devil - 1968 - Rolling Stones
Halloween Theme - 1978 - John Carpenter

Season Of The Witch - 1966 - Donovan
Evil On Your Mind - 1966 - Jan Howard
Race With The Devil - 1968 - Gene Vincent
Devil In A Sleeping Bag - 1973 - Willie Nelson

Please add to the list and contribute.

(It's only fun and games but if you find this posting too stressful, just listen to Beautiful Girl below in the next post.)

Song title info: http://www.who-sang-that-song.com/
Image borrowed from: www.wonderclipart.com/
Original article: Andy Lim.

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Elvis Presley Movies And His Singing Duets (2)

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

01 Crawfish w Kitty White: King Creole
02 Pocketful Of Rainbow w Juliet Prowse: G.I. Blues
03 Husky Dusky Day w Hope Lange: Wild In The Country
04 Aloha Oe w The Surfers: Blue Hawaii
05 Earth Boy w Ginny/Elisabeth Tiu: Girls! Girls! Girls!

06 How Would You Like To Be w Vicki Tiu: It Happened At The World’s Fair
07 Happy Ending w Joan O'Brien: It Happened At The World’s Fair
08 Mexico w Larry Domasin: Fun In Acapulco
09 Today Tomorrow And Forever w Ann-Margret: Viva Las Vegas
10 You’re The Boss w Ann-Margret: Viva Las Vegas

11 The Lady Loves Me w Ann-Margret: Viva Las Vegas
12 Spring Fever w Shelley Fabares: Girl Happy
13 Frankie n Johnny w Eileen Wilson/Ray Walker: Frankie n Johnny
14 Petunia The Gardener’s Daughter w Eileen Wilson: Frankie n Johnny
15 Look Out Broadway w Eileen Wilson/Ray Walker: Frankie n Johnny

16 Scratch My Back w Marianne Hill: Paradise Hawaiian Style
17 Datin’ w Donna Butterworth: Paradise Hawaiian Style
18 Queenie Wahine’s Papaya w Donna Butterworth: Paradise Hawaiian Style
19 Yoga Is As Yoga Does wElsa Lancaster: Easy Come, Easy Go
20 Who Needs Money with Ray Walker: Clambake

21 Confidence w some children: Clambake
22 There Ain’t Nothing Like A Song w Nancy Sinatra: Speedway
23 Signs Of The Zodiac w Marilyn Mason: The Trouble With Girls

Blogger's Comment: I like the songs because he sings them but didn't get to see many of these shows except for King Creole, GI Blues, Blue Hawaii and It Happened At The World's Fair. The rest, sadly for Presley, became run-of-the-mill movies that were merely churning out his songs.

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King Sings With Royalty Sinatra n Margret (1)

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Aha! A 2004 CD where Elvis duets with his co-stars. But the disc is not available in the market because it is distributed only to exclusive friendship club members. The superstar of vinyls and the King hit maker has his choice of pop actors to duet with.

Frank Sinatra, Nancy Sinatra, Ann-Margret, Hope Lange and daughter Lisa Marie Presley are amongst a few who share a song and sometimes the silver screen with him. Like what the album cover says, it's a pretty 'rare' production.

According to some Elvis fans, a few of these CD productions have bootleg tracks, which have been illegally spliced. So while many CD enthusiasts do not bother, some 'purists' refuse to buy these pirated copies.

Do you know the titles of the movies from which these songs come from? (This post is not an advertisement but an information piece for Elvis fans).

01 – Crawfish (with Kitty White)
02 – Husky Dusky Day (with Hope Lange)
03 – Earth Boy (with Ginny & Elizabeth)
04 – Happy Ending ( with Joan O’Brian)
05 – How Would You Like To Be (with Vicki Tiu)
06 – Mexico (with Larry Domasin)
07 – The Lady Loves Me (with Ann-Margret)
08 – You're The Boss (with Ann-Margret)
09 – Today, Tomorrow & Forever (with Ann-Margret)
10 – Datin' (with Donna Butterworth)
11 – Petunia, The Gardener’s Daughter (Donna Butterworth)
12 – Queenie Wahine’s Papaya (with Donna Butterworth)
13 – Scratch My Back ( with Marianna Hill)
14 – Who Needs Money ( with Will Hutchins)
15 – There Ain't Nothing Like A Song ( with Nancy Sinatra)
16 – Signs Of The Zodiac ( with Marilyn Mason)
17 – Moonlight Swim (Unknown Female Home Recording)
18 – Love Me Tender-Witchcraft (with Frank Sinatra)
19 – Don’t Cry Daddy (with Lisa Marie Presley)
Image: MusicMeister LL Collection.

Original article: Andy Lim.

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US All-Girl Groups Made Impact On Our Bands

Saturday, October 9, 2010

GAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAThe Vampires all-girls from Singapore could have been influenced by the US female vocal groups that flourished in the late 50s and 60s. One such group and one of the first female R&B vocal groups to have nationwide success were The Chantels (left image: http://www.thechantels.com/ ).

These ladies were also considered by many to have been the best female group of all time because their choir-like sound and close-knit harmony brought a new dimension to rock n roll and rhythm n blues songs. They played instruments too.

Their 1958 hit Maybe was considered the standard by which other girl group songs were judged. Lead singer Arlene Smith was one of the very first female rock performers to write her own material. They are still performing today.

The Crystals vocal team was Phil Spector other big girl-group mainstay of the early 60s, cranking out classics such as Uptown, Then He Kissed Me, Da Doo Ron Ron, and He's A Rebel. Some of these songs have been covered by our Singapore bands.

Then came the Marvelettes and they got Motown their first number one hit, and in the process established the girl group as an undeniable hit-making genre of its own with songs such as Please Mister Postman. They set precedence for the other Motown greats like The Supremes.

There was The Ronettes, the girl group that best defined the Phil Spector Wall of Sound with their classic hits Be My Baby, Baby, I Love You, and Walking In The Rain.

The Shirelles too, the girl-group pioneers who scored some of the genre's earliest and iggest hits with Soldier Boy, Dedicated To The One I Love, Mama Said, and Will You Love Me Tomorrow and Everybody Loves A Lover.

Remember, Where Did Our Love Go (1964), Baby Love (1964), I Hear A Symphony (1965) , and Stop! In The Name Of Love (1965)? Originally a quartet, the Supremes (right image) were formed in 1959 under a different name.

"These girls gave Motown a successful base from which to build their label. The Supremes defined the girl-group aesthetic that projected an air of romantic grace and personal style essential to the genre. They helped establish a beachhead for American music at the height of the British Invasion (About.com)."

But how many all-girl groups did we have? The Vampires played their guitars and were an instrumental group backing a singer. Other Singapore all-girl teams, The Tidbits, Friday Girls and Girvin Sisters were vocals groups. I wonder if our local experts and gurus can provide an answer?

The above edited article is only a morsel of what readers can expect from the Website itself. So check out below for more reading:

http://oldies.about.com/od/girlgroups/Girl_Groups.htm

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Cruisin Crashin Cars Celebrated In Songs (Pt I)

Sunday, September 26, 2010

---------------With the Singapore 2010 Formula 1 Night Race in the headlines, expensive COEs and second-hand vehicles selling like hot cakes, the subject of cars is on everyone's lips.

Although a hot topic in Singapore, cars have never been celebrated in song here as in the US. In fact certain models have been immortalised by American artistes in love with these machines. So how many of the following songs are you familiar with?

Mustang Sally:

Both music and car aficionados are familiar with Mustang Sally as the Mustang has been a symbol of speed among American motorists for many years, helped along by Steve McQueen’s car chase through the streets of San Francisco in a GT 390 Fastback in Bullitt (1968).

In 1966, Wilson Pickett scored a hit with this R&B rocker about a lady who was advised to slow down, because she was moving too fast. Written by Bonny Rice, it has since become known as a Pickett anthem. You’ve been riding all over town, ooh, guess you gotta put your flat feet on the ground. Ride, Sally, ride.

Little Deuce Coupe:

Drag racing, while illegal, is nonetheless an American tradition. The Beach Boys (image) paid tribute to it in this ode to a ’32 Ford with a big V8. Brian Wilson co-wrote this with a disc jockey named Roger Christian, who was heavily into cars. Also, there’s the suggestion the little deuce coupe can do 140 mph, an exaggeration really. The song reached No. 15 on the U.S. pop charts in 1963.

Hot Rod Lincoln:

Most people know the version by the country and rockabilly band Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen, which was released early in 1972 and rose to No. 9 on the pop charts. One of the more famous lines goes like this: My pappy said, ‘Son, you’re gonna drive me to drinkin’, if you don’t stop driving that Hot Rod Lincoln. There was an earlier version, written in 1955.

409:

The Beach Boys recorded 409 (a Chevrolet) in 1962, and more than a dozen other songs about cars. 409 was released as the B-side of Surfin’ Safari. Most of the lyrics are fairly simple and repetitive, such as Giddy up 409 and She’s real fine my 409. The Beach Boys were infatuated with girls, cars and the beach, often in the same song.

G.T.O:

Ronny and the Daytonas (image) came out of Nashville with dreams of mimicking the Beach Boys’ sound but had mixed success. G.T.O., penned by John Wilkin, was released shortly after the car itself and reached No. 4 on the charts in 1964. Although they did not have staying power, they did hammer at the car theme and sold more than a million singles of this song as well as a half-million albums.

[Information, by Michael Ventre (19.3.2007), has been taken from the website below and edited for brevity.]

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/17579943

Images 1: http://rocknrollgraffiti.blogspot.com/2009/01/cars-engines-inspire-recordings.html

2: http://www.amazon.ca/G-T-O-Best-Ronny-Daytonas/dp/B000003H19

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Eddie Fisher - Pre-Rock n Roll Teen Idol

Friday, September 24, 2010

SONGS I LOVE:

Eddie Fisher, who invaded the Singapore air-waves about 60s years ago, has passed on at 82 (1928 - 2010). One of the great names during the pre-rock n roll period, Fisher's good looks and strong tenor voice made him an early 50's teen-idol.

Between 1950 and 1956, he had 17 songs in the Top Ten and 35 songs in the Top Forty. He was an influence in the 60s pop music scene in later years.

Even as a young boy, I could either whistle, hum or sing Eddie Fisher's Any Time (1951), Lady Of Spain (1952), *Oh My Papa (1953) and Cindy Oh Cindy (1956). Although Eddie Calvert's trumpet instrumental Oh My Papa still echoes in my head - it was the Top Ten US and UK hit in 1954 - Fisher's rendition was breaking the heartstrings for me.

Cindy Oh Cindy was the requesters' favourite on radio when Eddie Fisher covered it. It was playing day and night over the broadcast stations in Singapore, Asia and world wide.

The singer was the father of Carrie Fisher who acted as Princess Leia in Star Wars and was married to famous Hollywood personalities, Debbie Reynolds, Elizabeth Taylor and Connie Stevens.

Fisher hit the international headlines when he divorced Reynolds (I hear the cotton woods whisperin' above, Tammy...) and married Taylor, who later left him for Shakespearean superstar Richard Burton.

*Oh mein Papa (1939), a German original, was by Paul Burkhard. The English lyrics were written by John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons.

"Oh my papa, to me he was so wonderful,/Oh my papa to me he was so good.../Gone are the days when he would take me on his knees,/And with a smile, he'd change my tears to laughter.../Deep in my heart I miss him so to-day..."

Would anyone still write a song about his/her father today?

http://www.amazon.com/Oh-My-Papa-Eddie-Fisher/dp/B000A87KDW

Information: Wikipedia.

Original article: Andy Lim

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Worshipping Butt Royalty: by Royal Teens

Saturday, July 17, 2010

SONGS I LOVE:

Who would have thought that The Royal Teens' song from 1958 would be taken so seriously today? Walk the streets in Singapore and we see our ladies in exquisite sensuality with their shortest of shorts. And in today's world nobody would stop them from slipping into something so much shorter, sexier and naughtier! Ladies and gentlemen, presenting the mini-shorts (image).

Pop Short Shorts:

The New Jersey rock and roll group, comprising 8 band members and 3 vocalists, made headlines with their ditty about the controversial and sexy shorts way back in 1957 after they had recorded the song, Short Shorts. It went to number 3 in the US and was a big hit in Singapore too. And the song, in case you are not familiar, goes like this?

Lyrics:

(Wolf whistle followed by: "Man, dig that crazy chick...")

Who wears short shorts/We wear short shorts/They're such short shorts/We like short shorts. And it goes on and on and on.

On Japanese TV:

According to Wikipedia, it's still being played in Japan for the opening tune of the Tamori Club on TV Asahi Corporation. The song has also been mentioned many times on The Simpsons and Homer the Heretic.

Image: www.stilespoints.blogspot.com/

www.microkitten.com/

Information: Wikipedia

Original article: Andy Lim with inspiration from LL's email images of Pretty Woman.

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Nan' s Blog: Davie Allan And The Arrows (1963)

Saturday, July 10, 2010

Who's the Father of Rockability and The King of Fuzz? If you haven't heard of The Arrows and Davie Allan (1963) it's time you did, because NAN has fabulous postings about these 60s music lords on his blog.

There's also Fred Lincoln Wray Jr and The Raymen (1960), including an article on surfer's music about Dick Dale and his Del -Tones. Fuzz sound, guitar distortion and bikers' music... You need to listen to the tracks from CYCLE-delic Sounds record (image) to appreciate them.

(Use Google's Malay to English translation technology - easy.)

So check him out at:

http://sampahsampahsedunia.blogspot.com/

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Elvis Statue In Kobe Japan & Around The World

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

*Roger Poh, a good friend, visited Japan recently and found an Elvis Presley statue (image) standing in the Kobe Harbourland commercial complex in the city’s Chuo Ward.

This statue is the same one that had been at the Love Me Tender speciality store in Tokyo's Harajuku since 1987 but it was removed because the store had closed in January, 2009.

Former Prime Minister and avid Elvis Presley fan Junichiro Koizumi attended a special ceremony in August 2009 to unveil the Presley statue, after it was placed at this busy port.

The statue was originally paid for by the former prime minister, along with contributions from singer Akiko Wada, other celebrities and several hundred fans. Koizumi said that his love for Presley was sometimes handy to heal diplomatic relations.

Kobe, known as the birthplace of jazz in Japan, was chosen as the new location for the statue after locals campaigned to have it brought to the port city. Harajuku was chosen as the first site in 1987, 10 years after the passing of The King.

Presley statues can be found in the following places:

United States of America:

1. Tupelo -MS (bronze), 2/3. Memphis - TN (bronze), 4. Shreveport -LA (bronze), 5. Dallas - TX (stone), 6. **Las Vegas - NV (bronze), 7. Honolulu - HA (bronze), 8. Bakersfield - CA (bronze), 9. Daytona Beach - FL (bronze), 10. Myrtle Beach - SC (sand), 11. Branson - MR (solid rock), 12. Dodgeville - WI (solid rock).

Other countries:

13. Nauheim - Germany (marble), 14. Friedburg - Germany (marble), 15. Genoa - Italy (wood), 16. Liverpool - England (bronze), 17. Gloucester - England (bronze), 18. Cracow - Poland (solid rock), 19. Madeira - Portugal (sand).

20/21. Tel Aviv - Israel (bronze), 22. Jerusalem - Israel (wood), 23. Casamance - Senegal (wood), 24. Kobe - Japan (bronze), 25. Bangkok - Thailand (bronze), 26. Auckland - New Zealand (marble), 27. Wycliffe Well Park - Australia (wood), 28. Adelaide - Australia (solid rock), 29. Melbourne - Australia (marble).

*Image: Roger Poh Collection.
http://footlooseinasia.blogspot.com/

Information: http://www.topix.com/forum/who/elvis-presley/TDTRANNQDL5GS3H1N

**Elvis Statue/ May 31, 2009:
Sands Singapore Or Elvis Club From Las Vegas?

Side Bar Images: www.flickr.com/photos/yummies4tummies/3582453384/

francesellenspeaks.com/2008/01/20/elvis/
en.citizendium.org/wiki/Elvis_Presley

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