Janice Wee & The Mascots were from Kuching. They were the second English-language recording group from East Malaysia. The songs from the first EP were Just for you, Ding-ding-dong, Garden of my home and My colouring book.
She was backed by The Boys (of Naomi’s) from Singapore on her second EP: That one boy, I walk the line, If love could be, Another you.
(GARDEN OF MY HOME)
Here in the garden of my home
I sit and watch the flowers grow
Sometime I think that I’m alone
Here in the garden of my home
My mind is falling down
The sky is all around
Someone is standing there
But now you’re gone, I don’t know where
Sometime I think I’m much too loud
And there I’m standing on a cloud
It all depends on what I hear
And then again there’s nothing clear
* I want to see the sky
or watch a street car flies
In spite of all I fall
and watch the colors on the wall
Yu Ping was Sibu’s (Sarawak, Malaysia) first Mandarin-language recording artist. His first EP and featured song 今天不回家 (“Not coming home today”) was an instant hit. The backing group was The Melodians.
(今天不回家 NOT COMING HOME TODAY)
徘徊的人 徬徨的心
迷失在 十字街頭的你
今天不回家 為什麼 你不回家
往事如煙 愛情如謎
迷失在 舊日情愛的你
今天不回家 為什麼 你不回家
朦朧的月 暗淡的星
迷失在 煙霧夢境的你
今天不回家 為什麼 為什麼不回家
心在哪裡 夢在哪裡
不要 忘了家 的甜蜜
迷失的人 不要忘了 家的甜蜜
(珊 瑚 戀 A CORAL ROMANCE)
那一天
On that day
偶然在海边遇见了他
By chance, I met him by the shore
像蛟鱼一样地活泼又健康
Like a playful fish, so spirited and healthy
从身上掏出了
(He) took out
洁白的一个珊瑚
A snow white coral
悄悄地走过来
Came toward me quietly
默默地递给了我
And gave it to me gently
就是这样的动作
T’was this manner
仅仅就是这样
T’was how it is
使我有一种感觉
It aroused a feeling in me
永难忘记
Forever and unforgettable
说是情仿佛不少
Say it’s affection; seems so much
说是爱 还嫌太早
Call it love; perhaps too early
只像是春风
Like a spring breeze
静掠过我的心胸
Caressing my heart
过完了那夏天
When summer was over
踏上了我的归途
I had to leave
他曾向我的车
He came over to my car
挥着手大声叫喊
Waving and bellowing
无情的大海浪
Under the clear sky, the noise of the mighty waves
淹盖了他的呼唤
Had drown out his voices
连那只他的手
Even his waving hands
逐渐地也看不见
Also gradually disappeared from view
在那年的冬天
During winter that year
突然有个感觉
A feeling seized me
好像再回到海的那方
It felt like that I’d returned to the place by the sea
为什么这爱的生命
Why is the moment of love
这样短暂
(Is) so short?
像一场褪了色
Like a discolored
美丽的海边的幻梦
Beautiful dream by the sea
Wong Ching Yian was the butcher who liked to sing. He entered a song contest in 1965 and won with 绿岛小夜曲 (The Green Island Serenade). He quickly became the “golden boy” of Chinese pops. With Maurice Patton and The Melodians as the backing group, they influenced a whole generation of Chinese popular music. His first hits were 蔓莉 (Man-le) and 阿蘭娜 (A-lana) with a string of hits to follow.
Rocky Teoh, better known as one of Malaysia’s best Elvis Presley impersonator acts, was from Taiping. Rocky Teoh & The Fabulous Falcons played a packed audience in Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand from 1965 to 1967.
In 1965, Rocky released his first EP which he dedicated to his childhood girlfriend who later became his wife. Jacqueline went to No.1 in the local radio charts. The song was based on an original Chinese popular tune “Yeh lai siang”. Rocky’s other memorable hits include Selina and Thinking of you.
Rocky Teoh recorded with various bands around Taiping such as The Voltaires (“Jacqueline”), The Castinos, The Mirages, Los Indians and others. The Fabulous Falcons were from Ipoh: Christopher Choong (lead), Thomas Ham (rhythm), Tommy Ong (bass), Tony Lee (drums).
(SELINA)
Selina my true love
Your charm has captured my heart
Your eyes are like stars above
Your lips are tender and sweet
May be you’ll be my girl
And love me like I do
For the love I’ll bring to you
Makes you the queen of my heart
Guess of all the girls I’ve known before
Never thrill me like you do
So now I pledge my whole heart to you
With bending knees at your command
Someday you’ll be my bride
And children we will share
Boys for you and girls for me
Happy as lovers should be
Jacqueline and Rocky were married
(JACQUELINE)
Tonight, tonight is just the night
For the moon is shining so bright
We shouldn’t miss such a night
Like this my dear Jacqueline
Because its the right time for love
Hello, hello my dear
I’m speaking to you through the phone
Because I’m all so alone
Counting the stars above
Won’t you please listen to me
Jacqueline, Jacqueline my love
Don’t you know I love you most of all
Well surrender now, be mine tonight
Give me the thrill of your love
Valentine & The Phantoms were formed in 1963. Valentine was from Gurun, Kedah, Malaysia. The Phantoms were from Seremban, Negeri Sembilan. They were pioneering, being the first band to record on an international label (Philips) from Malaysia. Roselyn was a one-hit wonder for the band. It was another case of the “B” side which turned up to be the “better” song. Valentine also recorded with The Sapphires.
Valentine & The Phantoms: Valentine Patrick (vocal), Albert Sua (lead), John Anthony (rhythm), Harold Lawrence (bass), Aloysius Danker (drums).
Valentine & The Phantoms: I’ll let you know, Roselyn
Valentine & The Sapphires: See you in dreamland, This can’t be home, Leaves leave, Scene after scene
(ROSELYN)
My darling, Roselyn
Why did you go away?
You told me that you loved me
You said that I’ll be the one for you
But darling, guess I was wrong
My heart longed
To see you again
Oh Roselyn, can’t you hear my plea?
My darling, can’t you ever see that I want
You back again?
*Dear, can’t you see?
That I still love you so
My darling, Roselyn
I prayed that you come back to me
And now that you’re gone my world is dark
With emptiness surrounded me
So darling, come back to me
(Spoken)
My darling, Roselyn
I will never forget the moments we shared together
Let bygone be bygone, dear
And always remember, I love you
And I always will, my darling, Roselyn
They will always be fondly remembered as the the “bow-woo” girls in The Quests’ all-time favorite song, “Don’t play that song (you lied)”. Elizabeth and Marilyn were also singers in their own right.
Elizabeth and Marilyn with The Dukes: My drummer boy, Dream up a dream, Without you, L’Edera.
(L’EDERA)
Son qui, tra le tue braccia ancor
avvinta come l’edera.
Son qui, respiro il tuo respir
son l’edera legata al tuo cuor.
Sono folle di te e questa gioventù
in un supremo anelito
voglio offrirti con l’anima
senza nulla mai chiedere.
Così, mi sentirai così
avvinta come l’edera
perchè, in ogni mio respir,
tu senta palpitare il mio cuor.
Finchè luce ed amor sul mondo splenderan
finchè m’è dato vivere
a te mi legherò
a te consacrerò
la vita.
Maurice Patton & The Melodians (摩利士賓敦領導音符樂隊) influenced a whole generation of Chinese musicians in the Far East. Outside the EMI label, The Melodians were most highly sought to provide backing for countless Chinese singers. Here, Simon Junior ((西門魯尼), the drummer, sang many of the mega hits of Wong Ching Yian (backed by The Melodians of course) in English! Maurice Patton used the echo unit heavily to create a Chinese beat style which was copied and being emulated by all the other Chinese bands.
<SORROWFUL MEMORY>
Sorrowful memory, of love that I have known
Born to worry, that is my fate
Lonely as time goes by
Where is my love, where is my love
No one knows how I feel
Ah … Hiding my sorrow with a smile
Pretending that love has been
Wondering here, where is my heart?
Tell me why I am crying
<AH LANA>
The breeze blows on so calmly
The sun shines brightly in the sky
The rain had come and flood the fields
When I have been waiting, for my only, Ah Lana
Ah Lana, don’t you know that I love you so
Don’t you know that I long for you, Ah Lana
Ah Lana, you’ve been longing just for me
You’ve heard me calling you, Ah Lana
I love you with all my heart
That’s all I have to say
Come to me, darling, we’ll meet again
We’ll be in love once more, Ah Lana
Don’t you know that I love you so
Don’t you know that I long for you, Ah Lana
The Strollers from Kuala Lumpur was formed in 1965. They were always compared to as Malaysia’s answer to The Quests, the top band from Singapore “across the causeway.” The comparison was for popularity and top act from the two neighboring countries which once belonged to the same Federation. The Strollers was really a different band playing heavy and a lot of late sixties styled pop-psych music with killer organ, guitar & flute. The original band comprised of Michael Magness (vocals, organ), Nand Kumar (vocals, congas), Billy Chang (bass guitar), Hassan Idris (lead guitar) and Ramli (replaced by Hussein Idris (drums). Some of their best loved hits were Just as I Am (sang by Nand), Silly Joke (sang by Billy), and Do What you Gotta Do (sang by Michael). They recorded the acclaimed psychedelic “Waiting is …” album in 1973 before disbanding. Billy Chang revived the band for awhile by teaming up with Terry Thaddeus on guitar, Richard Gomes on keyboards and singer Azman Warren. (In 2008 after 15 years lapse, ex-Stroller drummer Hussein Idris has recruited some well-known musicians to form The Stroller2: Hussein (drums/vocals, The Strollers 1969), Casper (bass/vocals, The Memories 1978), Desi (lead vocals/percussions, The Memories 1983), Nan (lead guitar/vocals, Grim Preachers 1970) and Lord (keyboards/guitar/vocals, The Boys 1985.)
The Surfers recorded with EMI with their first EP “Hooray for Hazel” topping the charts in Singapore and Malaysia in 1966. They continued to do successful covers like Bad moon rising, Hey Jude, I will, I started a joke, I gotta get a message to you, Ola-di Ola-da and a wonderful version of Ballad of Romeo and Juliet. In 1968, the band changed its name to The October Cherries and started to record under its own label, BAAL. The October Cherries also recorded as Jade & Pepper (Jay and Pete) and Funkgus (with additional musicians from UK).
The mainstay of the band: Richard Khan (drums), Jay Shotam (lead singer/bassist), Peter Diaz (singer/lead guitar), Benny Siew (guitar).
The Surfers: Hooray for Hazel, Mony Mony, Oh my love, Answer me, bang-a-shang-a-lang, Betcha by Golly Wow, By the time I get to Phoenix, Chewy chewy, Do something to me, Don’t tell it to Jane, Ebony eyes, Hello-A, Hey Ho (Mrs. Vandebilt), Hey Jude, Honey (I miss you), Hot child in the city, I started a joke, I’m gotta get a message to you, I will, Love me do, Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da, Love theme from Romeo and Juliet, Muddy water, Take me back home, The mule.
The October Cherries: Butterfly, Beautiful Sunday, Man with a gun, Far away, All things work together for good to them that love God, Cucucu Choo, Coffee toffee squares, Lay down your love, All alone, Bad trip, Broken chair, Can I hold your hand, Deborah, Dream man, Dreaming seller, Felicia (Flowers for your grave), Help, I’ll wait, It’s all there, It’s happening again, Jig a jurf jurf, Surprise surprise, Take me Ohio, This is our love song, Who changed the weather, Melodie skies (Give back the ring), Pretty maid, Na na song, Same old song, Something I love about you, One fine day, Please love me.
(HOORAY FOR HAZEL)
*Hooray for Hazel, she put me down
Hooray for Hazel, she made me her clown
Hooray for Hazel, she’s up to her tricks
Hooray for Hazel, she’s gettin’ her kicks
Hazel’s been in love with many a guy
She tells them that she loves em and then says goodbye
Hooray for Hazel, I’m now on her list
I’m just another fool that couldn’t resist
Hazel never feels any pity or shame
A broken heart is just a part of her evil game
Hooray for Hazel, she did it again
I’ll join the ranks of broken hearts that she put me in
Hazel only does things she wants to do
She’s selfish and she’s spoiled and she knows that she’s cute
Hooray for Hazel, she still gets her way
But there’s a time a-comin’ we’ll be able to say
Hooray for Hazel, there’s tears in her eyes
Hooray for Hazel, she knows how to cry
Hooray for Hazel, she’s meek as a dove
Hooray for Hazel, she’s beggin’ for love
Hooray for Hazel, there’s tears in her eyes
Hooray for Hazel, she knows how to cry
It was 1968 when Serene Wee (13), Merlina Wee (12) and Bernedette Souza (12) won the Talentime hosted by Radio and Television Singapura. They sang “I believe”. The Tidbits were the first to record for RCA in Singapore.
(Backed by The Trailers): I believe, Breaking up is hard to do, Lace covered window, Never my love;
(Backed by The X’periment): Scarlet ribbons, Come softly to me, California dreaming, Tragedy.
(SCARLET RIBBONS)
I peeked in to say good-night
Then I heard my child in prayer
“Send for me, some scarlet ribbons
Scarlet ribbons for my hair”
All our stores were closed and shuttered
All the streets were dark and bare
In our town, no scarlet ribbons
Scarlet ribbons for her hair
Through the night my heart was aching
Just before the dawn was breaking
* I peeked in and on her hair
In gay profusion lying there
Lovely ribbons, pretty ribbons
Scarlet ribbons for her hair
If I live to be one hundred
I will never know from where
Came those ribbons, lovely ribbons
Scarlet ribbons for her hair
(BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO)
Don’t take your love away from me
Don’t you leave my heart in misery
If you go then I’ll be blue
‘Cause breaking up is hard to do
Remember when you held me tight
And you kissed me all through the night
Think of all that we’ve been through
Breaking up is hard to do
* They say that breaking up is hard to do
Now I know, know that it’s true
Don’t say that this is the end
Instead of breaking up I wish that we were making up again
I beg of you, don’t say goodbye
Won’t you give our love another try
Come on baby, let’s start a new
‘Cause breaking up is hard to do
You are currently browsing the QUESTING bandstand blog archives for November, 2006.
Introduction
NOTE: We are online again. Enjoy!
This blog is intended for showcasing the best of the local singers and bands in the Far East in the 60's. To display Asian characters properly, you may need to update your browser for additional language support. Since the music files are constantly being updated, you also need to refresh and clear the cache in your browser to hear the changes. I encourage listeners to actively support the local artists and recording companies. You can do this by purchasing commercial re-release of the songs if you have enjoyed them here.
Contributing articles and info are welcome and will be properly credited.
1) The Quests, Part 1
2) The Quests, Part 2
3) The Quests in Malay (with Malay artists)
4) The Surfers
5) The Thunderbirds
6) Susan Lim & The Crescendos
7) Naomi Suriya & The Boys
8) Heather & The Diamond Four, The Thunderbirds
9) Shirley Nair & The Silver Strings
10) Rose Iwanaga & The Avengers
11) Suyin (舒雲) & The Quests
12) The Fabulous Echoes
13) Off-beat Cha Cha with Kong Ling ( 江玲) & The Fabulous Echoes
14) The Early Years: Wong Ching Yian (黄清元) & The Melodians. The Stylers
15) Radio show – Retrospective Part 1 (The Decade)
16) Radio show – Retrospective Part 2 (Instrumentally Yours)
17) Radio show – Retrospective Part 3 (A Spiritual Sojourn)
18) Sakura Teng & The Quests.
19) Rita Chao & The Quests, The Surfers
20) Hot August Nights: Rockin’ with “RJ” in Manila
21) QBS Christmas Party (Keep Christ in CHRISTmas!)
22) Gong Xi Fa Cai! (Chinese Year 4714)
23) Happy Valentine’s Day
24) Happy Mother’s Day
25) Reg Guitar 乐雅吉打乐队 (Part 1)
26) Reg Guitar 乐雅吉打乐队 (Part 2)
27) Remembering Jap Chong (of The Quests)
28) The Inimitable Teresa Teng (鄧麗君)
29) The Tielman Brothers (Andy Tielman)
30) Remembering Reggie Verghese (of The Quests)
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