Succulent Sweet Singapore Sixties Songs: Part IV

Here are some food songs served on local Singapore platters. But they are not to be eaten. So let's visit this hideaway called Pop Inn, hosted by The Quests. Watch Your Step as we go in where other band members will be waiting to dish out their speciality.

The first is an original composition by Quests bassist Henry Chua called, *Tea Break. It is the flip side of their EMI single CHK 1050. Then 5 of D'Starlights boys, who are actually from the Philippines, will provide their packets of *Peanuts to the guests. No ordinary peanuts these because you can't buy them For A Few Dollars More. Other dishes on this EP platter include: Something On My Mind and I Believe. (EMI ECHK 585).

Next comes Veronica Young along with her original serving of a *Lollipop each for her guests. Composed by Singaporean Patrick Seet, Veronica sings,

"Lollipop, I want nothing but lollipop/ Won't give anything for lollipop/Cause nothing can be better than lolli-lolli-pop-pop.../Lollipop, give me sweet little lollipop/ Then I'll dry my little teardrop..."

After distributing her lollipops they all say, Thank You For Your Kindness, 2nd song on the list with The Thrill To Love You and Dreams Of Love (Philips ME - 0192 - VE).

No cakes, curry-puffs or finger-food during this tea and sympathy and as Jade And Pepper remark, Hey It's Happening Again, they provide, *Coffee, Toffee, Squares (Baal Records SP 1005). Rounding off the afternoon are The Surfers with bottles of *Honey. This EP platter has Hooray For Hazel, Mony Mony and Answer Me. These two groups look like they are from the October Cherries. Ah well!

At the end of it all the *Watermelon Man delivers his red and green fruits accompanied by The McCoys and Stevie Lorraine. But nobody leaves as they go Yakety Yak through the night. Such Moments for the party, according to Stevie, are rare indeed. (EMI ECHK 591, Philips ME - 0158 - SE).

If you know of other Singapore recordings with food titles please contribute.

*6 Food songs include originals and covers by our Singapore artistes.

Original article/Images: Andy Lim Collection of EMI, Philips and Baal Records.

(This posting, with 4 other postings on food, is in conjuction with the SittingInPictures documentary, FOODAGE, where Andy Lim has appeared in Episode Two discussing his mother's cooking, hawker food and music in the 50s and 60s. Chang Soh Kiak produced.)

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

Singapore's 60s70s October Cherries' Website

Read all about their history, tours, CD releases on their own website at: http://www.octobercherries.com/

The October Cherries, a group that has existed since the mid sixties, were a highly successful band in their country Singapore. Unfortunately music piracy destroyed almost everything. Far Away Now is one of their hit songs that made it to number one in Malaysia.

They moved on to conquer Europe and they are still recording today. Jay Shotam (Lead singer): Far Away Now was on the first October cherries LP entitled, Meet the Cherries, a copy of which was given to Dick James, President of Dick James Music, in the UK, a big name in the Music industry. He liked the band's song writing ability.

In the early seventies when our manager Bal Shotam visited him to try and get a publishing tie up, Dick James commented on another track on the LP called, Na Na Song and said that it might be suitable for a new artist he had called Elton John. Nothing transpired. But Bal recalls another person who was with Dick and him, who heard the songs on the demo tapes.

Edited version, from You Tube: keithyoong (April 01, 2008). Check it out! Great website!

(3) Beautiful Sunday, Blue Monday, Ruby Tuesday, Wednesday Evening Blues, Thursday, Black Friday, Another Saturday Night.

The days of the weeks feature in many song titles too. Limiting them from the 50s to 70s compositions, there are already a few hundred songs.

Beginning from *The World Hits 'Beautiful Sunday' Album (1972 - image) by the October Cherries, a Singapore group, there are titles like, Blue Monday by Bob Seger, Sunday, Monday Or Always by Frank Sinatra.

Ruby Tuesday is by The Rolling Stones, Melanie, Twiggy, Bobby Goldsboro. Wednesday Evening Blues by John Lee Hooker, Thursday by Jim Croce, Black Friday by Steely Dan, Another Saturday Night by Cat Stevens, Sam Cooke, The Bay City Rollers, The Eagles and Earth Wind & Fire.

Sunday Best is by Bobbie Gentry, Sunday Morning Coming Down by Kris Kristofferson, Johnny Cash, That Sunday, That Summer by Nat King Cole, A Monday Date by Louis Armstrong, Rainy Days and Mondays by The Carpenters. The list goes on...

*Beautiful Sunday, available by October Cherries on World Hits 1973 Single ES6-A, A Baal Production on Elastic Record. Composer/original recording is by Daniel Boone.