As a follow-up to "Singapore 60s - The Definitive Collection", Universal Music just released another album, "Singapore 60s - Treasures From The Vault", featuring more local groups and artistes from that era. Details of the track list are as follows:-CD 1
1. Mr. Twister - The Crescendos
2. Frankie - The Crescendos
2. Frankie - The Crescendos
3. 45 RPM - The Checkmates
4. Sylvia - The Checkmates
5. I Don't Want You Around Anymore - Mike & Herb
6. What Can I Do - Mike & Herb
7. Do You Care - Heather & The Diamond Four
8. Hey, Mr. Moon - Heather & The Diamond Four
9. I'll Never Be Mad At You - Wilson David & The Jets
10. Yours - Wilson David & The Jets
11. To Sir With Love - Ernie Djohan & Her Buana Suara
12. Let's Pretend - Ernie Djohan & Her Buana Suara
13. The Unfaithful Kind - Henry Suriya & The Boys
14. It's No Sin (To Love You) - Henry Suriya & The Boys
15. You Better Move On - Katherine & The Firebyrds
16. Yes I've Fallen - Katherine & The Firebyrds
17. Wedding Bells Soon - Ray Johnson & The Diamond Four
18. Help Me Little Girl - Ray Johnson & The Diamond Four
19. Do Re Me - Stevie Loraine & The Clansmen
20. Walk With Me - Stevie Loraine & The Clansmen
CD 2
1. You're The Boy - Shirley Nair with The Silver Strings
2. If You Ever Go - Shirley Nair with The Silver Strings
3. L'Edera - Girvin Sisters with The Dukes
4. Without You - Girvin Sisters with The Dukes
5. You Don't Know, Baby - Teresa Khoo & The Five Notes
6. Unspoken Words - Teresa Khoo & The Five Notes
7. Chains - Alan Lyford with The Thunderbirds
8. Love Me - Alan Lyford with The Thunderbirds
9. The Boy I Love - Aida Mustafa with The Steps
10. Give Me Your Hand - Aida Mustafa with The Steps
11. There'll Never Be - Mark Yun
12. Never Die - Mark Yun
13. Burong Kaka Tua - Marie Tang & The Commancheros
14. Fireball XL 5 - Marie Tang & The Commancheros
15. China Doll - Tom Reyes with The Moonglows
16. Things - Tom Reyes with The Moonglows
17. Singapura - Sandra
18. Sunrise In Malaysia - Boy & His Rollin' Kids
19. Your Cheating Heart - Sonny Bala & The Moonglows
20. Kentucky Waltz - Sonny Bala & The Moonglows
Cheers !
20 comments:
Yeah Yeah Yeah got the More Singapore 60s Treasures From The Vault on 4 Nov from HMV. Hope there will be further releases as there are 2 more tracks from the same EPs by The Checkmates, Wilson David & The Jets, Mark Yun & The Moonglows etc etc.
The greatest disappointment was Midnight In Malaysia by Boy & His Rollin' Kids was not included. Anyway it is still better than nothing.
Cheers & a million thanks to Joe Pereira, Audie Ng, Big Brother Brian Richmond & Universal Music for making this possible. Keep more of such releases coming. If only it could be like the way Singapore music was released during those Radio Weekly days from way back then.
Tian
Dear Mr Tian,
So was it good after listening to it. Share with us your impressions after listening to it.
Regards.
Joseph.C.Pereira
Briefly, my thoughts on this album:-
a) value for money, the first album was better, 100 tracks against 40
b) there are more new groups and artistes introduced on this album, some of which I totally cannot relate or recall at all. Maybe I was too young then.
c) thanks for including a couple of tracks from Indo-Music. Like Mr Tian, I thought it was a golden opportunity lost without Midnight In Malaya. It was like the Apache of the region then.
d) overall, there is a big gap among some of the groups and artistes featured. Maybe some of those featured were just as surprised as myself for being included. I shall not go into detail with due respect to all who made this album possible.
e) good as a collector's item for fans of local music from the 60s. A bird in the hand is better than two in the bush.
Thanks for the preservation of local oldies, goodies or whatever.
regards,
Dear Mr Joseph Pereira
I am very pleased with the latest preservation of Singapore's music from the 60s. Many of the tracks have been cleaned well as static noises are not that obvious.
However, I have mix feeling with this new release. It is a frustration not to have the complete EP & SP like those by The Checkmates, Wilson David & The Jets, Mark Yun & The Moonglows, Henry Suriya & The Boys, Teresa Khoo & The 5 Notes, Ernie Djohan & Her Buana Suara, Boy & His Rollin' Kids. But it also include the remaining track of some of the EPs that were half represented in the 5-disc 100 Greatest Singapore 60s. For example Katherine & The Firebyrds, Stevie Lorraine & The Clansmen. I guess this is Universal Music's marketing strategy in making consumers hungry for more.
The 'Today' press of 13 Nov 09 called it a supplementary edition to the 5-disc 100 Greatest Singapore 60s. I hope this does not mean we will not see a vol 2 (or more)to the 5-disc format.
Cheers.
Tian
I grew up listening to 60s music, same age group as the regulars here. My daughter bought me a copy of this CD as a surprise present.
My favourite group those years were The Crescendos but I also listened to the others. Although this CD cannot represent what we enjoyed in the 60s, its like half a loaf is better than none. Household names like Keith Locke, Vernon Cornelius, Quests, Trailers, October Cherries are missing.
I would give this CD an average rating. Maybe I would like it more after listening to the songs more often. I have problems trying to remember some of the songs or singers who may not be too popular then. Since its local music from the 60s, cannot complain too much lah, better than nothing.
I think Miss Izlynn and Mr. Tian is right. The recording company should have included Boy & The Rolling Kids No. 1 hit, MIDNIGHT IN MALAYA. It was the best local instrumental ever recorded from that period. Thank you.
Christina
Oh noes, even though I was born in 1988, I feel a very powerful emotional response to these songs! I can't stop crying, hahq. It's just amazing to see that Singapore had so many talent back then. Now, there doesn't seem to be much. Singapore Idol is a joke.
Dear Christina
The household names you mentioned are not found in the surprise present from your loving daughter because they are under different recording company. Their original recordings have been released on CD over the years which are no longer available today. During my recent visits to CD outlets, I only sighted (1) Recollecting Singapore 60s, (2) Golden Reunion & (2) 100 Greatest Singapore 60s The Definitive Collection.
Regards.
Dear Friends,
There will never be a perfect compilation album of local music for the simple reason that the groups and artists recorded under different companies like EMI, Philips, Decca, RCA, Cosdel, WEA, Blue Star etc. Just be thankful that we still have the opportunity to listen to the oldies through the efforts of Universal, Warner & EMI.
Let's also not forgot that the reproduction of these oldies on CDs would not have been possible if not for the kind gesture of a couple of avid vinyl collectors.
Being owners of the vinyls, its possible that they would have some influence in the selection of songs for the albums. They may not share the same favourites as some of us because of varying age groups. Hence, don't frown, be happy. Cheers.
Gentle Ben.
Dear Zoey,
Not all of them are local talents. We do have "foreign talents" as early as the 60s. Some of them were residing here temporary because of the British Forces presence in Singapore when we were still a British Colony. There were also others like Ernie Djohan, Boy & The Rolling Kids who were from neighbouring countries like Indonesia etc. But that's the marvellous part of the 60s, we are able to blend in others and call them our own!
With such a diversity of talents, its not surprising that some of the best songs may be omitted from the album and Midnight In Malaya was a very obvious slip through. I remember this tune was aired on the radio stations day and night in almost every request program. Every teenager from the 60s would have heard about this melodious tune in the past. Perhaps it was not included in the album for marketing reasons, i.e. keeping it for the next release. We will wait patiently. Thanks.
Jenn
Dear Gary See and Lim Teck Kheng,
Universal Music Singapore
Greetings from Seattle, Washington again.
When it comes to Singapore 60's Pop Music, sometimes I feel like Rip Van Wu-inkle. To me it feels like in 2003 I woke up from a 35 year sleep and those events that happened in Singapore in the 1960's that I can still remember today, I still remember very vividly like 1966 was just yesterday.
I received my "Treasures From The Vault" last weekend and I have listened to the 40 songs numerous times.
I must confess that when I first saw the tracklist for "Treasures From The Vault," I was not overly impressed with some of the artistes and the unfamiliar song titles that made it into this compilation, and I started obsessing about the treasures that were left out instead of taking the time to appreciate the treasures that were at the time flying their way to me.
My biggest motivation for pursuing and recollecting my beloved childhood pop music after 35 years of separation has always been for the nice memories attached to each song. Call it nostalgia, call it sentimentality, second childhood, whatever. I am completely hooked again like I was over 40 years ago.
Rediffusion and black-and-white Singapore television were both a big part of my life in Singapore. Thanks to this new "Treasures From The Vault," some long dormant memories have been very pleasantly jolted by some of these long lost oldies.
There are some prominent Singapore 60's artistes captured for posterity in this box set, The Crescendos, The Checkmates, Wilson David, Shirley Nair and The Silver Strings, Sandra, Boy and His Rollin' Kids, Sonny Bala and The Moonglows. However, it's the other artistes here who have really got my attention at this time.
I still recall Tom Reyes singing "Things" and "Half As Much" (not "China Doll") on some television show, with The Reyes Sisters providing the backup vocals. I remember liking his country and western twang because I was a big fan of the old 1950's and 1960's country songs.
Same thing with Henry Suriya. I remember seeing Naomi's brother singing "It's No Sin" on television with The Boys. Very country-like recording. Which reminds me, I think that The Boys were one of the most prolific bands in Singapore during the Golden Era. They moved from pop to soft rock to country so effortlessly.
I also remember very vividly Alan Lyford and The Thunderbirds singing "Chains" and "Love Me." When Alan Lyford was singing "Chains," I was thinking of George Harrison and The Beatles. And I have always loved "Love Me."
And how about Marie Yang's "Burong Kakak Tua"? I had long forgotten about this record that I heard on Rediffusion all the time until I heard it again 40 years later. I had even forgotten the name of "Fireball XL 5" but I had stored away this little girl's voice somewhere in the distant back of my mind. I am very glad Marie Yang is included here.
Heather Batchen with The Diamond Four. This band, consisting of British servicemen, cut some really great songs with Heather. I have always liked the lead guitarist and his smooth flowing guitar licks, so I am ecstatic that there are four Diamond Four recordings here. I have cherished my memory of Heather singing "Do You Care" on television for over 40 years.
I love Katherine and The Firebyrds "You Better Move On" and "Yes, I've Fallen." I remember watching them perform these songs on television, and I remember thinking their version of "You Better Move On" was a very good cover of The Rolling Stones' hit. Katherine's voice always reminded me of Brenda Lee.
[Conclusion in next block.]
[Continued.]
Now that I have heard the 40 songs, I really have to thank Universal Music Singapore and everyone connected with this new set for having the courage to push it out. I have to tell you, folks, there was a brief period when I had some doubts that you guys knew what you were doing with Singapore 60's Pop Music.
No more silly doubts, I assure you. This new "Treasures From The Vault" melted my heart during the first play through.
The audio is, thankfully, so much better than those few "dirty" tracks in "100 Greatest," although still noticeably not near the pristine audio quality that Jason Shahul of Gingerbread brought to the 2002 "Treasures From The Past, Vol. 1."
I encourage you to give Jason Shahul a chance to digitalize "Midnight In Malaya" (1963) by Boy and His Rollin' Kids - surely THE definitive recording of early Singapore 60's Pop Music, so when we see "Midnight In Malaya" reissued someday, it will be a big day of rejoicing.
Joseph C. Pereira is the Guru of Singapore 60's Pop Music. I always enjoy reading his liner notes. I am very pleased that you have listed him prominently this time as the Project Consultant. He deserves this great honour.
I really love this compilation. Makes me greedy, though. I am looking forward to Vol. 2, 3 and more to come. Thank you so much for preserving these "Treasures From The Vault." Good job, Universal.
Gary See and Lim Teck Kheng:
Please note that this letter will be posted at Vernon Cheong's Singapore 60's Pop Music Hall Of Fame Fans Blogsite. I hope you don't mind.
http://mocamborainbow.blogspot.com/
Best regards always,
Joe Wu
Dear Friends,
At the condo where I worked, there was a relief for the regular administrative assistant. Older guy in his seventies. Today I asked if he liked Singapore Sixties or earlier music. He said his wife was a former singer. I said who ? He said one of the Reyes Sisters. I was floored. I said there was a box set released a few months ago. He said his wife bought it. What are the chances of this happening ? That you meet someone and their spouse happen to be one of the musicians on the Singapore Sixties set ?
Regards.
Joseph.C.Pereira
Hi Everbody,
Over the weekend, I had the rare opportunity of attending a charity show at a local church where three members of the Quests were performing together. There was Vernon Cornelius, Jap Chong and Lim Wee Guan. What a show it was! Shouldn't these boys gather the rest of the members for a session for old times ? Thanks for the show, guys. Cool !!!
Living Next Door to Alice.
Dear Sir,
I'm writing from the National Heritage Board, could you advise the best way I can contact Mr Pereira pls? Thank you.
Regards
Jason
Hi Jason,
I have conveyed your message to Mr. Pereira.
regards,
The Legend of "MIDNIGHT IN MALAYA" by Boy and His Rollin' Kids (Part 1)
It is unfortunate that we cannot go back and insert this 1963 Philips recording in Universal Music Singapore's "Singapore 60's -100 Greatest" or in their follow-up "More Singapore 60's."
Surely the one recording that defines for all times the Singapore Pop Music of the early 1960's, just before our own homegrown stars began to blossom. An icon to the masses who grew up in Singapore and Malaysia during the peak of the Indo-rock era. Still a much hallowed and beloved classic to the fans 50 years later.
"Midnight In Malaya" was written by Boy Jansen, who also wrote the follow-up "Sunrise In Malaysia."
I decided to find out all I could on the Internet about Boy and His Rollin' Kids.
Boy Jansen (1935 - 2006) was born in Bandung, Indonesia, who migrated to the Netherlands in 1957. He was the bass player in the band The Rollers from a place called Zaandam. In 1962 The Rollers released on record this tune written by Boy Jansen, "Sweet Malaya."
You can hear this pleasant record at YouTube:
The Rollers - Sweet Malaya (1962)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iU-d0T3q0BM
Desiring very much to play the lead guitar, Boy Jansen had also formed his own band at the same time, called Boy and His Rollin' Kids. In 1963 they re-recorded "Sweet Malaya" with a more uptempo beat, under the name of "Midnight In Malaya." Became a monster hit in Singapore and Malaya.
You can hear this on Mp3 Player 2 here (Track 1), or at YouTube:
Boy and His Rollin' Kids - Midnight In Malaya (1963)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eth_weFMBFw
BOY AND HIS ROLLIN' KIDS 1961-1963:
Boy Jansen (lead guitar)
Bart Carels (rhythm guitar)
Richard Clark (rhythm guitar)
Henri Peter (bass)
Vico Gagliardi (drums)
Charles Tuinenburg (vocals, guitar)
BOY AND HIS ROLLIN' KIDS 1964-1965:
Boy Jansen (lead guitar)
Jimmy van de Hoeven (2nd lead guitar)
Bert Jansen (rhythm guitar)
Henry Peter (bass)
Vico Gagliardi (drums)
Charles Tuinenburg (vocals, guitar)
Ronaldo Tuinenburg (vocals)
THE ROLLIN' KIDS 1965-1966
Boy Jansen (lead guitar)
Eddy Vermeulen (guitar)
Henry Peter (bass)
Loek Tuinenburg (drums)
Charles Tuinenburg (vocals, guitar)
Boy and His Rollin' Kids only released a handful of recordings, but "Midnight In Malaya" and the follow-up "Sunrise In Malaysia" have immortalized this band.
DISCOGRAPHY:
1963 - 45 PHILIPS PF 318.869 Midnight In Malaya / China Rock
1963 - 45 PHILIPS PF 318.909 Sunrise In Malaysia / Tabu
1963 - 45 PHILIPS JF 327.884 Sunrise In Malaysia / Tabu
1963 - EP PHILIPS PE 433.201 OH MALAYSIA (Singapore)
Midnight In Malaya / Sunrise In Malaysia + ANNEKE GRÖNLOH: Oh Malaysia + SANDRA: Singapura
1964 - 45 FONTANA YF 278.077 Worry (v) / You Never Want To Love Me (v) CHARLES (DEMO TAPE)
1963 - Peppermint Twist (v) / Rollin' Kids Theme / Mexicali Rose / If I Had A Hammer (v) / Forty Days (v) / Now's The Time To Fall In Love (v)
1981 - LP CNR 658.012 ROCK & ROLL REVIVAL
It Keeps Right On A Hurtin' (v)
[Continued in Part 2]
The Legend of "MIDNIGHT IN MALAYA" - (Part 2)
I was able to locate several webpages on Boy and His Rollin' Kids and Indo-rock music, all written by Dutch fans. With a little research, I found out the following:
Boy Jansen originally joined The Rollers in Zaandam in 1959 as their bass player because of his friend Jimmy van de Hoeven, who had founded the band and was their lead guitarist. Because of his own great interest in playing the lead guitar, Boy then formed his own band, called Boy and His Rollin' Kids. For a while, he was playing bass in The Rollers and lead guitar in his own band at the same time.
The relationship between The Rollers band and Boy and His Rollin' Kids was amicable, yet unavoidably competitive. In 1961, Boy finally left The Rollers and, although remaining friends, the two bands became intense rivals, always trying to outdo each other, and yet playing each other's songs as a sign of support. The Rollers recorded for the Delta label, including the aforementioned "Sweet Malaya."
It took a little longer for Boy and His Rollin' Kids to be signed to a record label. In early 1963, they took part in a talent show in Rotterdam, making a big impression on the audience and the judges. Two talent scouts from Philips quickly signed them up and their first record was "Midnight In Malaya" with "China Rock." This was the very same record that came to Singapore and Malaya in 1963.
Boy and His Rollin' Kids were not full professional musicians at that time, but in their heyday they did three shows each week. Especially in North Holland, where they were very popular with the hall owners, because they always drew crowds. During one vacation, they had a contract to play a few weeks in Germany.
1963 was a fabulous year for the band. Their second record was "Sunrise In Malaysia" with "Tabu." And then, to commemorate the birth of Malaysia, Philips reissued the "Oh Malaysia" EP of "Midnight In Malaya" with "Sunrise In Malaysia" / Anneke Gronloh - "Oh Malaysia" / Sandra - "Singapura." [This was the very first record I ever bought.]
In 1966 the Indo-rock era began waning, and the band finally disbanded. One of the many victims of the raging British Invasion and American Pop. There was a quick reunion for the band in 1981 at the Rock and Roll Revival in the Houtrusthallen.
Boy Jansen (born April 22, 1935) died on March 30, 2006. Gone, but never forgotten by his fans.
[Many thanks to the webpage:
http://indorock.pmouse.nl/boy_rollinkids.htm]
Hi, where can I buy this CD or the previous volume? I need it shipping to England too... Thanks!
Are these available now in Spore? I tried to get the Vol 1 and others and had no joy. My neice is there and can you tell me where they are readily available please. we do nto get these in Australia.
thanks
Kerry
Hi Vernon,
Great site with great songs only a bit of disappointment there are no downloads of the songs.
Keep the good work.
Nick,Holland
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