Remembering 'Nobody's Child' On Children's Day

SONGS I LOVE:

Usually Singapore celebrates Children's Day on lst October but from 2011 onwards it will be on the first Friday every October. So for this year it's on the 7th. Just as we honour the children, we must also remember the impoverished and homeless ones around the world.

The 1969 hit Nobody's Child by British singer *Karen Young (image 4) highlighted the plight of a blind and unwanted child in an orphanage. The song originally written by Cy Coben and Mel Foree was first recorded by Hank Snow in 1949 and had been covered by artistes that included George Sheridan and 3 of the Beatles.

Another group called The Traveling Wilburys that had Bob Dylan as member, recorded the song for a benefit (image 2). Asian artistes included Agnes Chan and Irene Ryder, both from Hong Kong on Life Record and Pon EMI Regal. Singapore has two versions, one on a Philips Product Long Play by 60s stars, Heather and The Thunderbirds (image 2, details below**) and the other by Lisa Lim and The Stylers on Amigo Records (image 1).
Nobody's Child: Cy Coben and Mel Foree.

(Refrain) I'm nobody's child I'm nobody's child /Just like a flower I'm growing wild/No mommy's kisses and no daddy's smile/Nobody wants me I'm nobody's child...

As I was slowly passing an orphan's home one day/I stopped there for a moment just to watch the children play/Alone a boy was standing and when I asked him why/He turned with eyes that could not see and he began to cry...

Some people come for children and take them for their own/But they all seem to pass me by and leave me all alone/I know they'd like to take me but when they see I'm blind/They always take some other child and I'm left behind...

No mother's arms to hold me or soothe me when I cry/Sometimes it gets so lonely here I wish that I could die/I'll walk the streets of heaven where all the blind can see/And just like the other kids there'd be a home for me...

**PSY 112 275 Philips: Heather - Harvey and The Thunderbirds, 'Birthday'. Side One: I'll Never Fall In Love Again, Birthday, Nobody's Child, Early In The Morning, Special Delivery, The BalladOf John and Yoko. Side Two: Wonderful World, Tracy, With A Little Help from My Friends, Train, Romeo And Juliet, Time Is Tight. To read about the The Thunderbirds click

Labels below.

Image 1, 2: Andy Lim Collection.

Image 3, 4: Google.

*There is an added Karen Young biography and connection on the Comment page. She had passed on in 1991. Click Comments below.

Ray Johnson, Diamond Four, Frank Thompson

Some Sleeves Speak (Sleeve-liner from above vinyl):

*"They were the Diamond Five. Where have I heard that name before? It could be anywhere from Hong Kong to Liverpool. They first appeared in Singapore in late 1965 and although they were acclaimed wherever they played, it was not until after their radio and television appearances during their tour of Australia that they were really recognised here.

Ray Johnson's individual style and the group's interpretation of Frank's compositions is now known throughout the Far East. This record is then a tribute to you, the fans of Ray Johnson and The Diamond Four.

I hope it gives you as much pleasure to listen to it as it gave them to make. And next time you are in somewhere like the North Pole, just listen for the music of The Diamond Four. It's there too (vinyl sleeve-liner: Philips Record image)."

#Except for I've Been Around, a Fats Domino cover, the other 3 songs, Wedding Bells Soon, Help Me, Little Girl and Stay By My Side were composed by F.A. Thompson - the "Frank" that the writer above was referring to. The Philips Record (ME-0148-DE) was released around September, 1968.

Heather Batchen, Frank Thompson, Diamond Four:

Fourteen year old Heather Batchen was accompanied by this same group, a band of British servicemen from an HMS naval ship, docked in Singapore then. They recorded a single with her in 1966: Day Dreaming by Frank Thompson. It is a sentimental number, sung with much feeling and personal interpretation that became a Heather hallmark. In the same genre, the big 60s hit If We Are Only Friends is an appropriate flip on Philips ME-057-HF for Heather's vocal style.

On an EP (ME-0173-HE) called Mr. Moon she had recorded again with The Diamond Four, Do You Care and Hey, Mr. Moon, both Frank Thompson compositions. Having completed their line of servicemen duties, the Four returned to England after this second recording with Heather.

The other two songs Heather recorded on the same EP, were with The Thunderbirds and called, Because I Love You and I'll Be Yours.

#Original article/image: Andy Lim Collection.

How Our Local 60s Music Is Sold Overseas - "Wild Rockers That Would Never Make It"

HOW SINGAPORE AND MALAYSIAN 60s MUSIC ARE SOLD OVERSEAS. PLEASE READ THE BLURB BELOW, QUOTED IN FULL:

Various Artists – 'Chinese Rocks' LP only:

"Like the old saying 'digging a hole to China' insatiable record collectors go through stages, digging deeper & deeper to find the next unknown treasure. Collectors of garage/trash 50′s & 60′s oddities have grown in recent years like a wild fungus & many vinyl mysteries have been solved only to open new ones.

Looking to the East we have indeed literally dug a hole to a 60s Singapore & Malaysian weirdsville, represented here by a family style nightmare of rickshaw crashing left of center, wild rockers that would never make it onto even a collector's compilation of this sort.

Everything from wild surf to Trashmen styled thud to almost Shaggs ineptitude/beauty to garage pounders & even a retarded psychedelic comedy track. Put this record on and drown in the delightful soy sauce vinyl insanity that is Chinese Rocks!

Tracks: The Stylers – Hey! Hey! Hey!, The Siglaps – Hey Girl, The Quests – Ding Dong Twist, Johnny Tan – Shakin’ All Over, Bakar Hamid & The Hawks – Div-Kav-Tetap Ku Kenang, The Thunderbirds – Call My Name, Shao Fong Fong – I Love A Go Go.

The Hi-Fi Twins & The Kings – Papa Oom Mow Mow, Blue Lake Combo – Bombora, The Steps – Steps Theme, S. Suri & Les Sea King – Svasana Ala, The Fabulous Falcons – Midnight Express, The Saints – ???, The Hi Fi Twins & The Kings – Lies, Helen Velv & The Silverstones – Hot Pants, The Quests – Pop Inn Theme."

The above image and promotional document is not edited and comes from:

http://www.dionysusrecords.com/home/?p=1124

Indie-pendence Day - Singapore Birthday Bash

6 Aug 2010, Fri
It’s indie-pendence day as we open the celebrations for the birthday bash at the Outdoor Theatre. Get your fix of great music from some of the most celebrated Singapore bands today.

7.30 – 8.15pm A Vacant Affair
8.45 – 9.30pm B-Quartet
10 – 10.45pm
The Great Spy Experiment
7 Aug 2010, Sat
Relive the sounds of the 60s to 80s!

The Mysterians will perform their hits such as Please Don’t Tease, while 60s heart-throb crooners Henry Suriya and Andy will reunite with the Silver Strings. Top off the evening in a Sing-along with The Mysterians when they play familiar favourites!

Hosted by Brian Richmond.
7.30 – 8.15pm The Mysterians
8.45 – 9.45pm Henry Suriya and Andy with Silver Strings
10.15 – 11pm The Mysterian

8 Aug 2010, Sun

Melissa Fitzgerald – daughter of Thunderbirds front-man Derek – gives new life to the band’s top hits. The talented Vadham family reunites with Moses, performing Gingerbread classic Roses, Regina delivering good ol’ country tunes and the siblings singing Sausalito in tribute to the late Chris Vadham of Western Union Band.

Terry Mortimer of Tony & Terry, and Peter Diaz of The Surfers, will bring you memorable rock and roll hits.

Hosted by Brian Richmond.
7.30 – 8.15pm Melissa Fitzgerald
8.45 – 9.45pm The Vadhams
10.15 – 11pm Terry Mortimer & Peter Diaz

Images/Information: artitude-u-art.blogspot.com/2010/01/esplanade...
http://www.esplanade.com/whats_on/programme_info/a_journey_through_local_music1/index.jsp

Alan Lyford Makes Music In Perth, Australia

I have a couple of 45 singles (image) by Alan Lyford and the Thunderbirds. Both vinyls have been recorded by Philips Singapore in the 60s. The first vinyl (338704PF) has this young boy singing, No One To Care (own composition) and What Now My Love, the very well-known ballad by Decaud, Sigman and Delanoe. In the second vinyl (ME-0161-AF), Lyford sings his own Love Me and Chains by Goffin and King.

In my search to do a write-up of Lyford, a friend connected me to a night-spot website called, The Ellington Jazz Club. This popular club which features live music is situated at Beaufort Street, Perth, Australia. There is a blues band playing there called Bloozology with the most experienced musicians from the city in its line-up.

Formed in 2007 this band has vocalist and bass player Alan Lyford in the team. It is the same Lyford who has recorded for Phillips and according to the website, he has for some years accompanied and sung with many Perth and inter-state artistes in Australia. Lyford was also lead singer with the fusion band, *Manteca, in the late 70s and early 80s, when they were recorded for national broadcast by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).

Lyford's music career in Australia is definitely impressive with his sterling track record. He has played with super stars like America, the Doobie Brothers and Simply Red, supported Suzie Quatro, Lou Rawls,Tom Jones, Roberta Flack and toured with Ian Moss from Cold Chisel. He is currently recording an album of his original compositions.

According to another website, when he left Singapore during the earlier years, Lyford joined a band called, The Revue. It was a 5 piece band formed in 1967 and he was bass guitarist and singer from 1969-1971. In the same year (1971), he joined The Mark IV also playing bass. This band, formed in 1966 was previously called The Zebeks and started life in 1964.

*The Albums:

The debut album by West Australia’s Manteca was recorded in 1979 by the Perth Radio Station 720 6WF. The group fuses a mix of jazz, funk and rock together to form their sound. Half the album's style is funky rock featuring Alan Lyford’s vocals, which is "kind of sound like mid 70′s average white band, Tower of Power etc." The other half is instrumental jazz and funk. This particular album has a very funky version of Herbie Hancock's classic, Watermelon Man.

The group has another album in 1981, a Fusion LP produced by ABC Records. Its a mixed bag with some instrumental fusion style tracks and some with vocal cuts. The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter is the best track with a mellow, laid back, Brazilian flavored groove.

Sad isn't it to have a talented artiste like Alan Lyford leaving Singapore shores? Perhaps we should invite him to play at the Esplanade? If you have some more information about Mr Lyford do write in.

Thanks to LL.

Image/Edited article: Andy Lim.

Information:
http://www.ellingtonjazz.com.au/index.php/schedule/month/05/show/689
http://streetrockrecords.wordpress.com/category/australian-jazzfunk/

Heather And Cliff Together! Congratulations!

Bootlegs are not legitimate commercial releases and are illegal but some collectors want them. It is true that all illegal items - not just records - are hard to advertise, buy or sell. So most bootlegs have little value.

They come in several categories though. Some bootleg LPs often feature tracks that have not been commercially released because the recordings are stolen ones. Some are illegal recordings of live concerts.

EPs include re-releases of rare or valuable 45s. Some bootleg 45s are exact copies of rare records with the original label graphics and numbers - these are known in the industry as counterfeits. In Singapore 60s, a record does not need to be rare. As long as it sells well, a bootleg copy is available.

During blogger's search for vinyls, he comes across many bootleg copies. Some of them are so common that they are worthless today, but some of these fakes are being sold in the market for a higher price. At the end of the day it depends on how much a buyer is willing to pay and how badly the seller is willing to part with the bootleg for the amount involved.

The above vinyl, from a flea market, costs S$2.00 but blogger was offered quite a staggering amount for it by a collector. It has a unique cover with our Singapore sweetheart Heather's most popular song, Love Is Blue.

But what makes it special is Cliff Richard's pasted photograph below with the song Congratulations. Together with Green Tambourine Heather (who was with The Diamonds Four), sings Kiss Me Goodbye. And the label is Hi Fi Record without a serial number. They could've have been more imaginative.

Anyone interested in bootleg? Do you have some at home?

Click to read: Bootleg or Thunderbirds

You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0TE5PRI3EI

Image/original article: Andy Lim.

Thunderbird Derrick Fitzgerald: Raising Awareness And Helping A Fellow Musician

Derrick Fitzgerald (top right image), from one of Singapore 60s pop groups The Thunderbirds, has suffered a stroke. There is an effort by two young people to help raise some funds for the guitarist.

According to the Straits Times September 14th, 2009, the charity gig will be held on Wednesday, 7.00pm at the Black Coffee, Hitachi Tower, Collyer Quay, Singapore.

The Thunderbirds which was formed in 1962 has a top hit that is still being played on radio today and remembered by many Singaporeans. My Lonely Heart was at the Number 1 spot in Singapore and Malaysia in 1968. The group has also recorded many originals and covers in the 60s.

Reference: The Straits Times Press, Singapore/by Eddino Abdul Hadi. Monday, September 14th, 2009.

Image: Universal Music, Singapore. Audie Ng Collection.