SINGAPORE 60'S Treasures from the Past

SINGAPORE 60'S Treasures From The Past

People, in general, are nostalgic for the good old days. They bring back memories of our youthful years when times were a lot simpler.

The local corner Singapore Beat at 10.30pm on Niteline on Gold 90.5FM has certainly generated a lot of interest and a following from a sector of our audience who grew up being entertained by a thriving local scene in the 60's.

Gold 90.5FM also had requests time and time again to put together an album featuring our local talents. And so, with the help of Joseph Pereira and the good people at Universal Music, we have put together a collection of some of the finest in our first effort called SINGAPORE 60's - TREASURES FROM THE PAST. Judging from the response, this will certainly be a forerunner of more to come.

Do enjoy this selection from NAOMI & THE BOYS, THE CYCLONES, THE CRESCENDOS AND THE THUNDERBIRDS. It's a great keepsake of our treasures from the past and certainly makes for a wonderful gift for someone who has lived those eventful years. All Rights Reserved, National Library Board, Singapore SINGAPORE POP SIXTIES Singapore felt the stirrings of the rock and roll revolution of the Fifties when Bill Haley and The Comets and others of his ilk had sent the first shock waves round the world and upset the old order. The young now counted as a separate entity and this caused ripples in many countries round the world, Singapore included. Soon there were local versions of pop entertainers who styled themselves on their chosen heroes or heroines and furthered the gospel of pop in their chosen genre. In 1960, the Blue Diamonds did a show in Singapore, which was groundbreaking because they were international stars and their impact on the Singapore pop scene went deep. More was to come. In November 1961 Cliff Richard and The Shadows played two nights at the Gay World auditorium and they set the stage of Singapore's pop development for the entire decade. Bands modelled on the Shadows and other instrumental bands like the Ventures, the Spotnlks and Johnny Lion and The Jumping Jewels became the role models for bands in Singapore. The scene was beginning to heat up and record companies were beginning to take notice. Philips Singapore was not unmindful of the burgeoning scene in Singapore and they took note of the many bands and solo singers who were performing at stage shows, on radio and television and in the many forces clubs, which dotted land. Soon they were ready to take a chance on Singapore's pop talent and started signing them and releasing their records. Their earliest signing, The Crescendos had not let them down. Their releases in 1963 and 1964 were hits in Singapore and Malaysia and some had even entered the Philips international charts. There was now stopping Philips as they were eager and hungry to sign other talents to the label and they did not have to look far. The pop movement in Singapore was gathering steam and there were many stage shows In Singapore at places like the National Theatre, Singapore Badminton Hall, Fraser and Neave Hall, Victoria Theatre and school halls where a steady stream of bands and singers appeared at numerous functions and shows during this period. For a teenager at this time, Singapore pop was truly and embarrassment of riches, so abundant the talent that was floating around at the time. Towards the middle of 1964, Philips were ready and they began to sign bands and singers to the label with the intention of capturing the pop market in Singapore, Malaysia and other markets. They were raring to go. Philips was not disappointed as the selection on this box set shows. All Rights Reserved, National Library Board, Singapore NAOMI AND THE BOYS Noami and The Boys were signed up by Philips in early 1965 and their first release on the label (ME 0129 NE) netted them a number one hit when It's All Over composed by Robert Suriya and sung by sister Naomi, hit number one in the Malaysian charts. The line up on that EP was Naomi Suriya (vocals), Robert Suriya (lead), Peter Richards (organ), Moses Tay (rhythm), Henry Richards (bass) and Joe Ahmad (drums). Naomi and The Boys toured Malaysia to promote the single and did many shows on the concert circuit in Singapore to cash in on their ever-increasing popularity. However there was dissension in the ranks as members quarrelled among themselves over leadership issues as well as the direction the music should take. Three members of the band left. They were Peter Richards, Henry Richards and Joe Ahmad. The band was in tatters. Undaunted, Robert took over the mantle of leadership in the band. They still had their recording contract with Philips. He now had to go and look for new musicians to fill the ranks of the Boys. A jam session brought guitarist Peter Thomas, who was formerly with the Stompers into his orbit. They got to talking and Robert found a like-minded musician who to his liking also composed. Robert sensed that Peter would be an asset to the band. The fact that Peter's joining the band would mean that there were three guitar players in the band did not deter Robert. He knew that Moses Ta y was a versatile musician and could be persuaded to move over to bass or even to keyboards if need be. He asked Peter to join the band to which Peter duly agreed to, becoming a member of Naomi and The Boys in August 1965. Peter was introduced to Moses as a guitar player who would be joining the Boys. Robert asked Moses to move to bass to accommodate Peter as the new rhythm guitarist in the Boys. Moses agreed to the change . Now Robert had to find a drummer to round up the band.

THE FLARESAll Rights Reserved, NationalNAOMI Library & THE Board, Singapore BOYS He turned up one night at the Champagne Night Club and introduced himself to the Flares. He had come prepared for a jam session and brought his own guitar. Alphonso said that Robert was a jazzman and songs like these allowed him to stretch out on the guitar. Alphonso was asked to take a drum solo, which he performed with gusto. Robert noted Alphonso's playing and saw that his beat keeping was spot on. He did not drag on songs or speeded up the beat. While Alphonso was packing, Robert approached him and asked him out for supper at Albert Street Sarabat (tea) stall. Alphonso said, "After supper at about 3.00 am, he asked me If I would be interested in joining his group - The Boys. Honestly, I had never heard of them. I liked his guitar playing and sound and decided to accept his invitation. He told me they were recording that morning at Kinetex Studio. I went home to catch some sleep and next morning went to Kinetex Studio. There he met the rest of the band. Naomi Suriya (vocals), Peter Thomas (rhythm), Moses Tay (bass, keyboards) besides Robert on lead guitar. That day they recorded Happy Happy Birthday Baby and another song. The next day the band returned to record two more songs. Philips released their EP (ME 0129 NE) with Happy Happy Birthday Baby (Sylvia/Lopez), I Know (Robert Suriya)/Please Baby Please (Robert Suriya)/Have I Told You Lately (Scott/Weisman) in October 1965. Again the fans response to the EP was positive, as Happy Happy Birthday Baby became a favourite at parties due to Its value for having a good smooch. Not surprisingly it went to No 1 in the local charts. It was also voted Song Of The Year for 196S. Of the other songs two were Robert Suriya compositions and they showed a growing maturity in his writing as he looked for new ways to interpretate the pop ethos. Please Baby Please was a fast paced number while I Know which another paean to an errant lover had a good melody and memorable singing from Naomi. Not surprisingly it became a hit In Malaysia. Like they had done on their debut they jazzed up Have I Told You Lately That I Loved You where Robert even added a raucous guitar solo.

The Cyclones consisting of James and Siva Choy had started singing as early 1957. Initially they styled themselves on the Everly Brothers or any singing duo. When the Blue Diamonds played Singapore in 1960, that had an impact on the Cyclones as well. At the same time they were drawn to Rock and Roll, which they were now featuring very strongly in their stage, shows. In 1963, when the Beatles hit the spotlight worldwide, Cyclones felt their onslaught. This was taking pop music to new dimensions. Cyclones changed their style of singing, soon earning the monicker of "The Beatles of Singapore". The Checkmates, a four piece instrumental band were playing Sunday tea dances at the Cellar in Clifford Pier when Cyclones went there one Sunday to listen to them. Checkmates then had Robert Song singing with them. Cyclones asked if they could perform with Checkmates and this soon became a permanent arrangement. When The Cellar ended their tea dance sessions, Robert Song got a contract at the Golden Venus which was a basement club located at Orchard Hotel on Orange Grove. Cyclones and Checkmates performed at the tea dance titled "Beat and Blues Sessions" in 1964 and they were right on the popularity wave of Singapore as it were. The tea dances which was proving popular with British servicemen stationed in Singapore and British teenagers living in Singapore gave the Cyclones and the Checkmates to fashion a sound which drew inspiration in what was happening internationally and especially England. Cyclones had started as a Rock and Roll duo but with the backing of Checkmates they began to shape a style and sound that drew on contemporary rhythm and blues. Philips who were scouting for local talent caught wind of the Beat and Blues sessions at Golden Venus and made their way and signed both Checkmates and Cyclones to the label. Checkmates released an all instrumental EP (ME 0128 CE) in June 1965. Cyclones worked with the Checkmates main songwriter Lawrence Lee on some songs, which would comprise their debut EP. Soon they had four songs and were in the recording studios recording their sophomore released. All Rights Reserved, National Library Board, Singapore The CYCLONES In November 1965, the Cyclones released their first EP (ME 0135 CE) backed by The Checkmates comprising Benny Chan on lead guitar, Hans Hussein - rhythm guitar, Lawrence Lee - bass and Amir Samsoeddin on drums. The EP was a stunning revelation, Compared to other releases of that time this release seem to come from another sphere. The four songs were original compositions and they seemed miles ahead of anything released in Singapore up to that time. I'll, the first song, was composed by Lawrence Lee. Based on the Green Onions riff, it had Siva Choy sing a menacing lead with organ augmenting the Checkmates backing. The next song, Oh No She Didn't Say, a James Choy composition had the brothers SIVA AND JAMES CHOY sing in harmony while the band shows the tight ensemble playing in the stop start sections. This song topped the local charts after release and gave Cyclones their first number one. She's Mine All Mine, another Lawrence Lee composition again had the brothers sing in harmony while Benny riffed vehemently behind them. The idea of using riffs to propel a song was revolutionary to say the least. It was not a simple lead and rhythm style that Cyclones was using but of riffs to create a center. The Dew had glockenspiel played by Siva Choy. Again the sound was stunningly modern which to say the least was different. It bordere d more on Rhythm and Blues and could be the coalescing of what the brothers were playing at their beat and blues session every Sunday at Golden CHOY Venus. SIVA All Rights Reserved, National Library Board, Singapore The Thunderbirds Thunderbirds heard on My Lonely Heart / Hey Girl and My Hula Girl / You Were Made To Love Me was formed in 1962 and had gone through the usual route of playing at parties, concerts and Services Clubs gigs. In June 1965 they won the Beatles versus Rolling Stones of Singapore contest. The band at this time consisted of Derrick Fitzgerald (lead), Tony Chong (vocals, bass), Harvey Fitzgerald (vocals, rhythm) and Freddie Tan (drums). Philips spotted them at this time and signed them to the label. Another Fitzgerald brother, Ivan, joined them on percussion. They released an EP (ME 0139 TF) which yielded the hit "I'm Sad As I Can Be". Tony Chong left the band at the tail end of 1965 to join the Surfers as lead vocalist. He was replaced by William Wee.

This line-up then recorded a single (ME 0162 TF) with My Lonely Heart on the A side backed with Hey Girl which was released in June 1966. Both songs were composed by the song writing team of Harvey Fitzgerald and Gerard Pasqual. My Lonely Heart was a slow ballad sung hauntingly by Harvey with Derrick punctuating it with appropriate slide guitar licks to get a whining effect. What was known then was that Derrick was using a comb to get the slide effect. The fans reacted favourably and sent the song to number one in Singapore. It even inspired cover versions in Mandarin from Rita Chao and another singer in Hongkong. The flip side Hey Girl was a fast paced number featurinAll Rightsg furiou Reserved,s riffing fro Nationalm bass playeLibraryr Willia Board,m Wee Singapore. The other two songs were contained on a single (338 702 PE) released in 1967. My Hula Girl which was the A side was composed by their father G.B.Fitzgerald and as the title suggests has a Polynesian flavour while Harvey Fitzgerald came up with another winner in the B side with You Were Made To Love Me where he emotes plaintively in his singing. This was yet another well received single and ensured that Thunderbirds remained in the limelight of the last Sixties pop scene in Singapore.

The Crescendos pre-dated everybody, as they were the first pop band to be signed to Philips in 1963. The band had formed in 1960 when John Chee, Leslie Chia and Raymond Ho had combined to participate in the talentime of that year. They begin singing as a trio accompanying themselves with guitars in the fashion of that time with groups such as Blue Diamonds and Everly Brothers counting as big influences. They came across singer Susan Lim and invited her to join their group. With Susan Lim as their singer the group had an added advantage. She was a powerhouse singer capable of belting out rock and pop and also harmonise with the male voices in the group. They participated in the talentime of 1962 and it was not long after that they attracted the attention of the people at Philips who had begun sniffing the local scene in the hopes of signing Singapore talent to release on their label. Philips had not been wrong in their estimate. Their first few releases were hits in Singapore, Malaysia and Holland. The group went electric after their first releases when they realised that beat groups were the order of the day. They added Israel Lim on bass guitar and Peter Soh on drums. Philips included them in a year-end album released at the end of 1964 to commemorate artistes who had international hits on the Philips label. This was a singular honour for Crescendos as the first Singaporean group to be so recognised.

All Rights Reserved, National Library Board, Singapore In July 1965 they released an EP (Philips 430815 BE) with Everybody Loves A Lover (Adler, Allen), Long Tall Sally (Johnson, Penniman, Blackwell), Silver Threads and Golden Needles (Reynolds, Rhodes) and He's The Boy (Madara, White) which is featured in this collection. Continuing in the vein of the earlier releases, Crescendos sang powerfully on Everybody Loves A Lover with Susan's vocals hitting the stratosphere. Furthermore Silver Threads and Golden Needles reached the number one spot in Malaysia in August 1965. Susan Lim left Crescendos and entered the University upon completing her Pre University studies. She was picnicking of the East Coast of Malaysia when she disappeared on February 8, 1970 presumed drown. Thus Singapore lost one of the most dynamic female singers.

UNIVERSAL Digital Mastering GOLD 90.5 FM & Graphic Design: All Rights Reserved, National Library Board,PRODUCTIONS Singapore NAOMI & THE BOYS Happy happy birthday, baby! • Please, baby, please I know • Have I told you lately ?

EP MADE IN HOLLAND

NAOMI AND THE BOYS

e 2: : Sid Side 1

All Rights Reserved, National Library Board, Singapore All Rights Reserved, National Library ? u latel y told yo e I pleas e Hav , baby, Please S S BOY E TH & I NAOM know baby! I , happy birthday Happy e some good backing with 'a la Naomi' style. The Boys provid T I LOVE YOU?" Like "HAVE I TOLD YOU LATELY THA , this is an oldie revived "TENNESSEE WALTZ" on her first disk e with twin " strikes an original not "PLEASE, BABY, PLEASE g "IT'S d as a follow-up to the tear-jerkin "I KNOW" was intende " and "I KNOW." "PLEASE, BABY, PLEASE h Naomi's Y BABY" is a slow tune wit "HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDA , their first success , fresh from Naomi and The Boys "Here are yet attractive melody. t m guitar, Rober Peter Thomas - rhyth n this EP are: featured o o s guitar and Alphons , Moses Tay - bas d guitar / organ Suriya - lea t again. Naomi supplying the twin voice effec Y HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY" with, Once again, then, it's a "HAPP e from Naomi & The Boys." we hope, lots more records to com s number has f echoes. Faster than the first, thi voices and lots o e pleasant singing from Naomi. good beat and som s a persistent g that made Naomi famous) and ha ALL OVER" (the son handle songs g her remarkable ability to her baby.' Understandin r the numbers t Suriya composed especially for he of this type, Rober e and l the attention. The vocal is expressiv voice commanding al drums. Soosay - t Naomi, who l hear is a new, more confiden The Naomi you'l e Boys a difference . Th s is a disk with d number two. Thi with recor of tears all through. with an undertone y goodbye to f as the girl who always has to 'sa establishes hersel s recording : s to say of thi n critic has thi A well-know

Recorded at the Kinetex Studios. The Cyclones ME-0135-CE

EP MADE IN HOLLAND

THE CYCLONES accompanied by THE CHECKMATES

The Cyclones

Side 1: Side 2: I'll She's mine all mine Oh no, she didn't say The dew

Here are four original hot numbers whilst I'LL and SHE'S MINE ALL presented by The Cyclones (brothers MINE are compositions by Laurence James & Siva) backed by the popular Lee, Bass Guitarist of The Checkmates. The Checkmates, who are noted for The wild and tempestous character their solid beat accompaniment. of their singing is quite typical of Two of the recorded numbers in this The Cyclope boys who have expressed EP, i.e. OH NO, SHE DIDN'T SAY satisfaction of at least having at and THE DEW are the result of joint tempted to please those who love real composing efforts by the two brothers, ly solid beat music.

EP MADE IN HOLLAND

THE THUNDERBIRDS

E E TH

s He's the boy s and golden needle g tall Sally Silver thread s a lover Lon Everybody love CRESCENDOS CRESCENDOS PHILIPS 430 815 BE STEREO

EP MADE IN HOLLAND

THE CRESCENDOS

Side 1: Everybody loves a lover (R. Adler/R. Allen) Long tall Sally (E. Johnson/Penniman/Blackwell)

Side 2: Silver threads and golden needles (D. Reynolds/J. Rhodes) He's the boy (J. Madara/D. White)

ME 127 ME 128 ME 129 430 812 BE

All Rights Reserved, National Library Board, Singapore CD 1 Naomi & The Boys Track 1 Happy Happy Birthday Baby 2.55 Track 2 Please, Baby, Please 1.46 Track 3 I Know 3.33 Track 4 Have I Told You Lately 2.13 CD 2 The Cyclones Track 1 I'll 2.58 Track 2 Oh No,She Didn't Say 2.26 Track 3 She's Mine All Mine 3.03 Track 4 The Dew 2.04 CD 3 The Thunderbirds Track 1 My Lonely Heart 4.47 Track 2 Hey ! Girl 2.01 Track 3 My Hula Girl 2.21 Track 4 You were made for me to love 3.09 CD 4 The Crescendos Track 1 Everybody Loves A Lover 2.18 Track 2 Long Tall Sally 2.08 Track 3 Silver Threads & Golden Needles 2.22 Track 4 He's The Boy 2.25 (P) & 2002 Universal and distributed by Un MEDIACORP All rights of the Radio owner of the w reserved. Unau UNIVERSAL hiring, lending, p and broadcastin GOLD 90.5 FM prohibited. All Rights Reserved, National Library Board, Singapore