Maillist
Various
- Singapore A-Go-Go
- Format: CD Album
- Catalogue Number: SF051CD
- Number of Discs: 1
- Label: Sublime Frequencies
- Release Date: 16 November 2009
-
PRICE: £15.99
Singapore A-Go-Go
Sublime Frequencies works its way down to the tip of the Malaysian peninsula with this superb collection of Singaporean '60s beat, pop and "off-beat cha-cha" classics compiled from original vinyl 45s. These 22 supercharged beat-a-go-go tracks defy a common held belief that the Chinese couldn't rock, groove or swing back in the 1960s.
The vocals are sung in the dialects of Mandarin and Hokkien and they soar, with catchy hooks atop groovy, clever beats. There's plenty of electric guitar, organ and crazy percussion rocking and twisting behind it all, at times reaching quite a mad and freaky state of affairs. The record's finale, "Happy Lunar New Year," sung by Linda Yong, may be the weirdest New Year's greeting ever recorded. Every single cut is a winner and it never lets up, from start to finish. Although most of the lyrics focus on love, innocence and festive atmospherics, there's an epic vibe to the music that rivals other extremely well-recorded and unique pop styles emanating from the surrounding Southeast Asian scenes during the late 1960s.
Seminal bands of the period like The Stylers and The Silvertones are well represented here, backing up a wide array of popular vocalists with Charlie Electric Guitar Band's Sound of Japan ripping it up on four brilliant instrumental tracks. CD comes with a 16-page booklet featuring gorgeous, full-color photos of the original 45 sleeves and extended liner notes from compiler William Gibson.
Track Listing
01. Grace Lee and The Stylers - Each and Every Flower [Mandarin] (2:09)
02. Chew Yan and The Stylers - Tall Mountain Green [Mandarin] (2:34)
03. Linda Yong and The Silvertones - Good Luck in the New Year [Hokkien] (2:19)
04. Charlie Electric Guitar Band's Sound of Japan - Carnation (2:53)
05. Lim Ling and The Silvertones - Love is Like Dew and Flowers [Mandarin] (2:19)
06. Lena Lim and The Stylers - Luna, Luna [Mandarin] (3:19)
07. Chew Yan and The Stylers - Mimi Cat [Mandarin] (2:43)
08. Charlie Electric Guitar Band's Sound of Japan - Tough Time Missing You (2:26)
09. Linda Yong and The Silvertones - Congrats, Congrats [Hokkien] (2:17)
10. Lim Ling and The Silvertones - (Funny, Funny) Why Do I Fall In Love With You? [Mandarin] (2:22)
11. Lim Ling and The Silvertones - Si Li Li Li Li Our Hearts Beat As One [Mandarin] (2:10)
12. Dong Rong and The Stylers - You Are A Heartless Person
(main theme from the film You, Me, Her) [Mandarin] (3:23)
13. Charlie Electric Guitar Band's Sound of Japan - Diamond (2:32)
14. Mei Feng with Tony and the Polar Bear Five - Secretly Love You [Mandarin] (2:26)
15. John Teo and The Stylers - Riding a Trishaw Around Chinatown [Hokkien] (2:04)
16. Grace Lee and The Stylers - Why Are You Not Smiling? [Mandarin] (2:38)
17. Chen Jie and Golden Melody Band - Spring Wind Kisses My Face [Mandarin] (3:15)
18. Lim Chay and The Silvertones - I Hate My Unrequited Love For You [Mandarin] (2:38)
19. Lim Ling and The Silvertones - Where is the Lady? [Mandarin] (1:59)
20. Charlie Electric Guitar Band's Sound of Japan - Mountain Lady (2:38)
21. Lim Ling and The Silvertones - Oh No! (incidental song from the film You, Me, Her) [Mandarin] (3:17)
22. Linda Yong and The Silvertones - Happy Lunar New Year [Hokkien] (2:20)
