Showing posts with label X-Periment/IdalySis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label X-Periment/IdalySis. Show all posts
Shades Of Kung Fu Chinatown Rock: Chinese New Year 1979: The X'periment! Living In The Past?
Monday, January 31, 2011
Ang Pow:
Well, here it is, my own copy of Chinatown Rock (images:3,4) by X'periment. It's my ang-pow (red-packet) or Chinese New Year gift for everyone. I googled for the covers but couldn't find the images. I guess this record is going into extinction, so if you have a copy, keep it. The songs are gem-stones today.
Mervyn Nonis:
It is a Singapore WEA (Warner/Elektra/Atlantic) record pressed in 1979. Eight of the songs are originals by Mervyn Nonis and the Xperiment. It is produced and engineered by Stephen Israel and Lim Gek San.
K.V. John:
Personal Manager is K.V. John, who was a great compere in the 60s and 70s with his Spot Dances and Musical Chairs. John was also a comic on stage with a very pleasant personality. Does anyone know where he is now?
Original Songs:
So for those interested, Side One has: Chinatown Rock, Here Comes That Feeling, Come And Rest On Love, Living In The Past and *Fun, Fun, Fun. Side Two carries: Different Sound, Waiting, *Hedonism Is Fun, Geraldine and Baila. (Except for the two with astericks, the rest are originals.) Some songs are on You Tube provided by MrRainbow64. THANKS VERY MUCH, SIR.
Interviews:
I am waiting to interview Mervyn Nonis. Called him some months ago but couldn't make it to meet him. If you have any idea where the other members of X'periment are please let me know. I'd be glad to make an appointment to chat and write about them. Better still, if you can, do a write-up on the Comment page. Thanks.
Greetings:
HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR OF THE RABBIT EVERYONE. DON'T FORGET TO VISIT CHINATOWN! IT ROCKS!
Image 2: http://www.blogtoexpress.blogspot.com/
'Tidbits' Female Teenage Trio: Island's First RCA/Cosdel Artistes In 1968 - I Believe
Monday, August 23, 2010
1968 - 29th February: National Theatre, Tank Road, Singapore.Tears of triumph streamed down the cheeks of the three young school girls backstage, as the packed crowd roared with approval when they heard the announcement over the loud speakers. It was the moment the Tidbits had dreamed of since the day they participated in the 1967/68 Radio Television Singapura (RTS) Talentime.
They could not believe it had actually happened and when compere Tan Hock Lye asked the three young winners to come up to the microphone to say a few words to the audience, Melina Wee (12) could only sob. "We are so happy we are crying." The other two Tidbits, Serene Wee (13) and Bernadette de Souza (12) sniffed in agreement. The occasion had over-whelmed them.
It had been a touch and go affair as all the finalists at the competition exhibited a high standard even though they were amateurs. But the trio "emerged as the undisputed champions (when) they sang their way into the hearts of all through their scintillating number, I Believe. And it was just the beginning..."
1968 - 1st June: RCA - Cosdel Cocktail Party, Singapore.
Three months after winning the competition and rounds of singing engagements, the trio were in the lime-light again. It was another memorable day on June lst for The Tidbits when they signed up with Cosdel (Singapore) Ltd, on the world famous RCA label, to record four songs for an Extended Play vinyl: SGE - 0001, beautiful digits indeed.
Since they became the first to record for RCA in Singapore and that it was ground breaking day, top officials from Cosdel and RCA were present to witness the union. Backed by Cosdel's pop guitar groups The Trailers, the songs were: I Believe, Breaking Up Is Hard To Do, Never My Love and Lace Covered Window.
1969 - 2nd Album, 'California Dreamin': RCA Victor, Singapore.
1969 - 2nd Album, 'California Dreamin': RCA Victor, Singapore.
According to the producer's note on the back sleeve of their second EP, the Tidbits "have matured tremendously in their vocal harmony work (and) each individual singer in the group is now extremely polished and are soloists in their own right." The producers believe they had selected the most appropriate songs for the girls because of their "calibre of singing."
The EP title song, California Dreamin' (image - SGF 0017) was given a strong vocal harmony by the girls, backed with an infectious beat and a strong rhythm. The ballad Scarlet Ribbons' rendition was tongue-in-cheek but heart-throbbing. Bernadette contributed the lead voice with "beautiful harmony work" by the other two.
Tragedy had been given a brand new arrangement and the fourth and final song, Come Softly To Me was "unique with an augmentee to help the girls feel their vocal harmony". The note explained that a George Lim was the man behind the girls' success. The trio were backed by RCA artistes, the X-Periment, one of the "slickest band in town" then.
Comment anyone?
Image/Information/Quotes: You Tube. Tidbits RCA record-sleeve covers. Souvenir programmes (1968/1969).
Original article: Andy Lim.
(2) Late 60s Soul Music In Funky Singapore
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
PART 2The Shing-A-Ling, Boogaloo and Funky Broadway hit the Singapore music scene in the late 60s as it did a few years before in the U.S. Soul music captured the hearts of many people then, so when three real-life and beautiful sisters from Indonesia hit the circuit with their record Soul Source.
Singaporeans fell in love with both the music and the shimmering siblings. Their close, vocal harmony dominates as they give their best by coaxing listeners to, "do that funky music baby" with The X-periment.
Linda, Lolly and Elsie Idaly have also recorded, Sweet Inspiration, Knock On Wood, Oh What A Fool I've Been and Will You Love Me Tomorrow. Combining as a group proved a success as they were soloists before teaming up in 1967. The sisters are from a musically inclined Indonesian family of ten.
With Soul Sauce (image), they recorded, Unchained Melody, Micro-Mini, Don't Fight It, You've Lost That Loving Feeling/Soul And Inspiration, I Second That Emotion, A Place In The Sun, To Love Somebody, Soul Sister Brown Sugar, Everyday Will Be Like A Holiday, I Lost Someone and Funky Broadway.
Besides backing the sisters, members of The X-Periment featured vocally on some tracks. They had cut another LP in later years and also written original compositions. Siva Choy and Joe Chandran are vocalists and musicians in their own rights.
Image/original article: Andy Lim Collection.
(1) The X-Periment/Idaly Sisters Soul Sauce
PART 1
Believe it. It's all in one Long Play, Latin-Boogaloo, soul sisters in short, short skirts and one of the best bands in the late 60s. When the Idaly Sisters, cut a vinyl with The Experiments it featured the blending harmony and distinctive styles of two of the best groups of recording artistes in the 60s.
After some shuffling of band members and a change of name from Comancheros (song title) in late 1965 to The Experiments at the tail end of 1967, the versatile group was well known for their appearances at the Hilton Hotel, Golden Venus and other hot spots in Singapore and Malaysian cities. Starting out as a Hindustani band the group concentrated on soul music afterwards. The Soul Sister, Brown Sugar phenomenon started its craze in the region then.
The line-up for the LP (image) was Mervyn Nonis (Electric organ, Piano/Harpsichord/Vocals), Tony Shotam (Lead guitar/Tenor Saxaphone/Vocals), Frisco Lim (Drums/Vocals), Kenny Barket (Bass Guitar/Vocals), Joe Chandran (Lead Vocal/Guitar) and Siva Choy (Guitar/Glockenspiel/Vocals). Their final official title on record was The X-PERIMENT.
The pictures were taken at The Baron Nightclub in Singapore under Bernard Salosa's Production.
Reference: RCA Victor Long Play: SGS0001. "I jammed during varsity when they had lunchtime concerts and with a guy called Joe Peters (best double bassist in Singapore) who later formed the NUS Band and the NUS Music Department in the 70s. Actually this was how I got my first job in the IT industry whilst playing as a musician.
It was fun playing 3 months here and there - the Jade Lounge at Ming Court Hotel with David Ng/Julai Tan Quartet, The Rang Mahal Restaurant at the Oberoi Imperial, a Japanese club/restauant called the Okoh at Supreme House and on the ground floor of Hyatt Hotel (if you walk through the main entrance today, the lounge was on the right side.)
Sadly many musicians from those years have passed on or become taxi drivers because there was no future in the local music industry. You must have heard about Joe Chandran and the X'periments - he became spiritual - after is stint at the Los Horizon discotheque at the Shangri-la.
Extract by: Peter Chan from 'Good Morning Yesterday' by Lam Choon See.
Image/original article: Andy Lim
Extract: Peter Chan
Collection.http://goodmorningyesterday.blogspot.com/2006/11/tom-obrien-remembers-beauty-world.html
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