Elvis Presley Is 90 Years Young: 8th January 2025. Happy Birthday!

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Baby What You Want Me To Do? 

Alternate Cut 68 

Comeback Special 

YouTube Video: Elvis Presley.

Below are a few of Elvis Presley postings found on this blog. Check them out:

https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2016/07/elvis-presley-eps-italiana-1958-how-rare.html

https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2011/02/joseph-adair-writes-with-precision-and.html

https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2010/08/elvis-presley-16th-august-1977.html

There are about 105 postings altogether on this blog related to The King. 

https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/search/label/Elvis%20Presley

Happy 90th Birthday Elvis.

I Got A Woman: Elvis. [Las Vegas 1970] 4K

YouTube Video by: Fabrica Elvis XXI

Danny Mirror aka Eddy Ouwens

'I Remember Elvis Presley'

YouTube Video by: minipanda9

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYPVX7MpLdQ

Images: from Google.

How Rock n Roll Changed The World Part One By Michael Bangar

This posting has been revived due to its popularity.

This blog has its own music historian and this article is more for readers who may not be familiar with rock n roll, its high-jiving and skirt-flaring activities. 

A voracious reader, Michael Bangar is here again with a new series explaining the 'influence' of 60's music and the personalities that came with it. 

Thank you, Mike.

How The British Music  Invasion Of The 1960's Changed Rock and  Roll and Pop Music Forever. Part One.

Hi Andy! 

I just want to share with blog readers my version of this phenomenon.

It was the 1950's and most of us were probably in school. Those who owned radiograms (Hi-Fi sets in today's terms) were quite well-off. Most of us grew up listening to the radio and the radio stations were Radio Singapore and Radio Malaya, broadcasting in our four languages. 

Some even owned Rediffusion sets (if you recall, those cute rectangular shaped black audio-box sets with a built-in speaker). Rediffusion had The Silver Network in English (few hours in the morning were allotted daily for the Malay listeners) and The Golden Network in Chinese (a few hours were also allotted daily for the Indian listeners ). TV only arrived on our shores in 1963! When it did, the screen was 19 inches square and pictures in black and white. 

 A Reddifusion set (earliest cable) and a Radiogram that spins vinyl.

The music coming out of these contraptions, being played by the DJ's from that period, are classified as standards. Songs by American artistes included Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Loius Armstrong, Perry Como, Johnny Ray, Andy Williams, Vic Damone and Frankie Lane and the female artistes were Doris Day, Rosemary Clooney, Debbie Reynolds, Jo Stafford, Cleo Laine, Kaye Starr, even Marilyn Monroe. There were many more.

In the year 1955, a new kind of beat music was slowly sweeping across the USA. It took the youngsters by storm. They were all dancing to the beat. A young DJ named Allan Freed was watching all this action. In his mind, he dreamt it up: all these kids are rocking and rolling to this music. And that was how it came about - the phrase Rock and Roll. 

Illustration only. Pop singers from the 50's onwards.

This new music landed on our shores in  1956. I had just started school. Primary One to be exact, at Telok Kurau Primary School in Lorong J, Telok Kurau Road. Almost all of the young kids on this side of the world, including myself was suddenly taken over by Rock and Roll. 

To some extent with some of us, our school work took a back seat. I used to cut out and even collect photos and features of these new music stars from newspapers and magazines.

First to arrive here via vinyl records (78's and a bit later 45's and 33's I remember) were Pat Boone, Bill Haley and His Comets, Ricky Nelson, Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps, Buddy Holly, Eddie Cochran, etc. The King, Elvis Presley took a little longer. But when he did - he came upon us like a ton of bricks. Wow!

Illustration only. Pop singers from the 50's onwards.

All of a sudden, our airwaves were invaded by songs like Love Letters In The Sand, Rock Around The Clock, Poor Little Fool, Be-Bop-A-Lula, Peggy Sue, Summertime Blues. And then The King attacked us with Blue Suede Shoes, Hound Dog, Teddy Bear, Jailhouse Rock and the list goes on. 

Then Great Britain gave us their rock and roll stars: Tommy Steele, Marty Wilde, Frankie Vaughn, Billy Fury and a year or so later Cliff Richard accompanied by His Shadows. What A Time It Was! Life was never the same for me after that.

Somehow they were all Caucasian artistes. Their music was classified as Rock and Roll. The African-American artistes like Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Fats Domino, Ray Charles and Bo Diddley didn't quite make it big time over here. Their music was classified as Rhythm and Blues. But they were a huge influence across the Atlantic and in Great Britain especially. 

Illustration only: Pop singers during the era Michael Bangar discussed.

There were also Blues Artistes like Muddy Waters, Howling Wolf, BB King, Buddy Guy and Freddie King. They were the heroes of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Animals, The Spencer Davis Group, The Searchers, Gerry And The Pacemakers, Freddy And The Dreamers. These were artistes that were involved in the so-called Great British Music Invasion of the mid-1960's that changed popular music forever.

Over in the USA in the mid-1950's, the people in charge were not too pleased with the arrival of this new music categorised as Rock and Roll (calling it the black men's music and even the music of Satan) and tried their best to suppress it even to the point of destroying it. They didn't like the way the young were absorbing the music and grooving to the rhythm and the beat. So, when Rock n Roll was sweeping the US, they went on a rampage to destroy the first generation of rock and roll stars. 

The Big Bopper, Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens were killed when their plane crashed into a mountainside.

They charged Jerry Lee Lewis and eventually imprisoned him for marrying his 13-year-old niece (daughter of his bassist). Chuck Berry was also jailed for income tax evasion. Worried that he might be next Little Richard (Richard Penniman) took up religion and became a pastor. He also threw all his jewellery into a river. 

Meanwhile, in a more positive endeavour, Ricky Nelson took a step back away from the spotlight. The King: Elvis Presley was drafted into the military and sent away to Germany. A few years later, when he returned he had tamed down and lost a bit of his raw rock and roll edge.

Twenty Flight Rock

In 1957 Eddie Cochran (above) was killed in

 a sports car accident. Video from Heppest of the Hep.

In 1957 Eddie Cochran, just like James Dean, was killed in a sports car accident. Then in 1959 while on a concert tour, Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper were killed when their plane crashed into a mountainside. Almost all of the first. generation rockers were out of action. 

Prime movers to this notion were the heads of religious organisations and church leaders. They were of the opinion that this music is corrupting and will eventually destroy all American youth. How wrong they were. 

Looking at it now and how it has turned out, even church hymns and songs have incorporated the new rhythm into their music. So the music management in the US created this new breed of pop of stars who were clean-cut and wholesome. Very marketable and they took over the pop music scene. 

Illustration only: Top pop groups from the 60's

These good-looking, well-groomed stars were Frankie Avalon, Fabian Forte, Brian Hyland, Johnny Tillotson, Bobby Darin, Bobby Vee, Bobby Rydell, Bobby Vinton and others. Which a while later made Jerry Lee Lewis give his famous quote,  "Suddenly there were a whole lotta Bobbies !"

An exciting five-piece band to come on the scene during that time were The Beachboys and their surf music. They had a string of hits. Then in 1962 Chubby Checker came along with The Twist and started a new dance craze. He had a string of hits too. 

So while real and exciting first-generation rock and roll was watered down in the US, across the Atlantic in the UK it made a great impact on the young English people. Through records, movies and television the British were influenced by what is now termed Classic Rock and Roll.

Chubby Checker with his big hit, Let's Twist Again. Video: easylyricsong3609.

Meanwhile, in the year 1957 in the US, The Ventures started the guitar instrumental band trend with their first hit Walk Don't Run. The following year, Britain gave us the stylish Shadows with their red Fenders who filled the British stage and hit the world with Apache (now voted The Best Guitar Instrumental Song Of All Time). They became stars in their own right. 

Prior to their success, they were known as the backing band for one Cliff Richard (now Sir Cliff) who gave the world his first big hit Move It, followed by Please Don't Tease, Living Doll, Travelling Light, and many other popular numbers.

Disclaimer:
This article has been written directly from an SMS received and no references have been made to prove that the information provided is true. Mr Michael Bangar is an avid reader and article has been written in good faith. I welcome comments from readers. 
Andy.

Read Part 2:
https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.sg/2018/03/rock-and-roll-60s-hits-by-michael.html

Read other Michael Bangar Memory Bank Articles:
https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.sg/search/label/Michael%20Bangar

The Ventures and The Shadows.

Images: Google. 
YouTube Videos.
This article is copyrighted.

Johnny Hallyday: A Tribute From Singapore

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Paris, France:

I tried, but couldn't start a romance with Paris, France. The country is picturesque, the language is beautiful with the not so easy to pronounce nasal vowels; the Louvre, ah, and the femme fatale, well I could not stand up to them. 

Worse, my wife and I were robbed* at the La Defense Metro underground while we were around or about to head for the Paris red-lights at Montmartre. That was the end of my love life with France. But I still love her...

Johnny Hallyday (1943 - 2017):

It was the same with Johnny Hallyday. I never got to know him but would have loved to. Why? The language just didn't work with me. And other reasons too.  But Johnny himself and the music 👍.

He was one of the top stars in the 60's, followed Elvis' style and sang rockabilly numbers. He started off right and like so many singers then, followed The King impact. 

Johnny Hallyday: Blue Suede Shoes: video from grandino 57. Thank You.

But what I like about Hallyday, as he grew in his own image, with his powerful voice, muscle-flexed stature, he became an original French rock star, not a rock-n-roll star. And he was outstanding - a man of his own before he died.

To say, as one international newspaper mentioned, that Hallyday was the Elvis of France is not true. He may have started off, copying Elvis' style but he was a singer and musician in his own category, in fact, the best that France could offer. Just watch his YouTube videos. He grew with the music.

His Vinyl Records:

I tried to buy his vinyl records but could not find them in Singapore. I should have bought a few on my trips to France, but the thought never came to mind. As a young person, I had more important things to do. I have regretted it since.

Johnny Hallyday, the French Elvis Presley, before his death, unique!

Like France, my interest in Johnny Hallyday waned because it was difficult to know this great singer in Asia.  Unlike Maurice Chevalier, Francoise Hardy and Claudine Longet, I never really got to know Johnny Hallyday with his songs, only familiar with some of his rockabilly hits.

So readers out there, if you have Johnny Hallyday vinyl records to spare, spare me some. 110 million albums, half a century of reign, 74 years young, I'm sure I could find some. 

R.I.P. Johnny Hallyday, le meilleur il ya, (the best there is). 

Singapore 60's music has much influence from other countries. Is Hallyday the

French influence? Tell us.

*I was travel insured and got back what I lost. Cheers.

Images: Google.

Johnny Hallyday was married 5 times. Laeticia Hallyday announced his death. 

The Johnny Hallyday Funeral
9th December 2017 

Thousands gave Johnny Hallyday a big send-off this afternoon as they thronged the streets to wish him a last goodbye.  Even President Macron and the former President Sarkozy were present at the ceremony.

Motorbikers, 700 strong, lined the streets and famed guitarists played melodies outside the church. France's Elvis received a loving but sad au revoir, similar to the Elvis Presley funeral when The King died in 1977.

Rockabilly Is Elvis, Orbison, Bill Haley, Jerry Lee, Gene Vincent, Johnny Cash Says Horace Wee

"I always pick the bass player when playing rockabilly..."

Horace Wee, a professional guitarist, and saxophonist writes about 'rockabilly' and its true meaning in his capacity as a musician. I must thank him for the explanation he provides and the songs he uses to exemplify the genre.

Rockabilly sessions with Carl Perkins and friends.

YouTube Video with: Joao Kodama.

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     16 COMMENTS    

Andy,

I beg to differ on this subject.  Rockabilly was the forerunner of rock and roll. And examples should be taken from the Sun Records era.

This particular type of music had its derivatives from country and country swing of that day. Characterized by swinging loping four beat bass line and a snappy back beat. 

Examples would be That's Alright My Mama, Baby Let's Play House, and other early Elvis, Carl Perkins of course with Blue Suede Shoes and no one mentioned, Gene Vincent - Be Bop A Lula. Conway Twitty also contributed with more of his country background.

Brian Setzer is the one that keeps rockabilly alive these days. Bill Haley's Rock Around The Clock was rockabilly starting to evolve. Further change came when Chuck Berry, Sweet Little Sixteen, and Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On, started to add a more driving rhythm of eight notes.

From there Little Richard used the same eighth note driving rhythm and added the line up of horns giving it a black RnB flavor. Roy Orbison's earlier background is rockabilly. His progress in pop music was more to utilize the glorious tenor voice of his for more lyrical songs.

The closest today of rockabilly is from Brian Setzer who is from England.

I would add that Elvis soaked up a lot of these musical influences and was fortunate to be the one to bring that amalgamation of country, hill billy and black gospel to the white American mainstream. 

And that started the Rock Train.

Your 5 songs are not really rockabilly. They may have some roots but essentially it was rock/pop that evolved. Roy Orbison is already rock n roll. To see his rockabilly era you have to go to his Sun Records days where he sounded like a cross between early Elvis and Gene Vincent. Go Go Go, Rock House, Ooby Dooby for example. 

Rockabilly existed commonly in the early to late mid-fifties. The closest today of rockabilly is from Brian Setzer (as mentioned earlier), who is incidentally from England. Rockabilly caught on in England and you have here influences in the Beatles and Dave Edmunds for example. 

Horace Wee

Here goes with your list: 
1) Orbison was evolved, it's 80's rock and roll. 
2) Joan Jett is 80's rocker; 
3) Hollies were late 60's, a British rock pop group. 
4) Chuck Berry already evolved. Earlier songs like   Memphis Tennessee had more rockabilly links. 
5) Elvis Presley - 70's Las Vegas type era. Sort of swamp rock. He had changed. And the closest to the old Elvis,     the 60's return TV Special.

I always pick on the bass player when playing rockabilly. They play a sooth four note per bar when actually it should be a bouncy semi staccato execution. Like a thumping acoustics double bass beat. Correctly played, it should not be a bass guitar. However delivery of the bass line is important. There is a swing to the feel.

Images: Google
YouTube Video: Gene Vincent: Be Bop A Lula.

Rockabilly sessions in the good
ole days: late 50's and the 60s.

Andy's Rockabilly Hit List: Roy Orbison, Hollies, Joan Jett, Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry

Joan Jett with Chuck Berry and Roy Orbison (above)

A Personal Choice Of 5 Top Rock And Roll Songs

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It is not surprising that some of my choice of rock and roll songs are not top hits and some of them may not be standard fare with our Singapore listeners. The artistes themselves are famous but are the songs as popular as the artistes who performed them?

These songs are truly hot, ones that most fans are aware of. Well, I may be wrong.  So here they are ladies and gentlemen, five songs that provide the rockabilly that many listeners can connect with, powerhouse voices, imaginative guitar intros, the best rolling bass that you can hear and riffs that are superfluous. 

The performance on stage is electrifying especially with Elvis and Chuck Berry if you watch the YouTube videos and the accompaniment is out of this world. Classic rock and roll that will live forever.

This write-up itself cannot survive on its own in the pages of a book. It can only be alive on a blog. With YouTube.

1. Heartbreak Radio: Roy Orbison

A near unknown Orbison number, I asked at least 10 people and only 3 of them know this song, and these are musicians. Again, it's a personal choice but truly one of the best rock songs I've heard. 

Pretty Woman has been so commercialised even before the movie. Heartbreak Radio shows an original Orbison with his guts exposed. You haven't seen what's behind the sunglasses until you hear this one.

The album was released after his death in 1988 and Heartbreak Radio is on side one, track two. King of Hearts came out in 1992 on Long Play too. Another favourite of mine, Crying, is in this compilation.

2. Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress: The Hollies.

This song is from 1972 and performed by British rock group The Hollies. Released originally on an album in the UK, it was put out as a single and sold nearly 4 million copies in the US and the world. 

Like CCR music, it's supposed to be swamp rock style,  leaning more towards 60's rock than 50's rhythm and blues. The introduction with its heavy drum and bass sounds depict the sensuality of this long cool woman with her mysterious black dress, 5'9 and beautiful tall. Like Hollies songs, smooth, suave.

3. I Hate Myself For Loving You: Joan Jett and The Blackhearts

She is the over average hard rocker, still around with 36 million viewers on YouTube with this particular song. An old fan, I forgot about Joan Jett when I went into middle-of-the-road stuff. 

Local singer Wendi Koh, during our Rolling Good Times episode together with the Silver Strings at MediaCorp, sang this song. I realised I had missed out on JJ and started listening again.

A track from, Up Your Alley album, I Hate Myself For Loving You, was created in 1988. It's been one of the best rock songs sung by a lady. At Billboard Hot, it was #8. To me, it's #1. Best. Mick Taylor, former Rolling Stones guitarist played the guitar solo.

Fangs bared; she's the best and the only rock and roll lady on my list.

4. Polk Salad Annie: Elvis Presley

Although it's 1969 original by Tony Joe White, this song never came across to me as a hit until Elvis sang it live in his concerts. And no one could beat Elvis when he used his ten megaton energy to let loose another swamp rock performance that only The King could create. 

Las Vegas was the above venue to introduce Annie. The Pelvis was at his best. Slim, powered with civic sensuality and eager to please, this video says it all. Audience members Elvis shook hands with mentioned that he was shivering and wet after the performance.

Suspicious Minds made its debut in Vegas but Polk Salad Annie was the ultimate to any Presley number. It's my choice anyway.  I thought only Elvis picked it up from the swampland of Louisiana, the success of this song I mean. He recorded it and the only version I love. There are other covers too including one Tom Jones but Elvis was the one rough and tough enough with Annie.

5. Rock and Roll Music: Chuck Berry

I've included this song because I thought Chuck Berry deserves a mention on this list. No African American singer and they were the ones who introduced us to this genre of music.

Covered by a long list of pop stars, Rock and Roll Music still belongs to Mr Berry. It is a 1957 recorded hit and the oldest on my list. One of the most popular compositions by Berry, it has been sung by so many from Billy Haley to Beatles, Beach Boys and Bryan Adams. 

It has been included in the list of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll but not in the 1001 Songs Before You Die List but it wasn't. Enjoy the songs if you haven't done so. 
Again, this is a personal choice. 😊
Do you have your own list? Please tell me. 

Elvis Presley and The Hollies (below)

Google Images and YouTube Videos.

Read another article about what rockabilly really means...