^ I'd love to own that Bluestars record. Maybe I'll find a 'cheap' copy one day. Who knows?
This is what I got in 2018 that is worth mentioning on this forum (or at least I think they're worth mentioning)
Australia
The Cicadas – That’s What I Want/Wha’ D’Ya Say? RCA, 101552
Doing The Marauders’ 1963 hit on the a-side was probably a good idea and it’s a great version. But doing a version of the (much weaker) b-side as well just looks lazy. On the other hand, in 1964 they weren’t pandering to my tastes were they and the Mersey beat-style ‘Wha’ D’Ya Say’ probably seemed like a winner
The Loved Ones EP. W&G, WG E 2712
You’ve got to love The Loved Ones. I’ve got the album and the single, but I always liked the picture sleeve for this EP. So now I got it
The Throb – Black/Turn My Head. Parlophone, A8212
Superb
Tony Worsley LP. Calendar, R66108, Velvet Waters and Other Great Songs
The title-song ballad is miles away from garage and the cover photo of a bare-chested Tony never appealed to me. But it’s actually a good album with a couple of belting tunes standing alongside some atrocious ones. Thanks to forum member Outside_Lookin_In for making me reconsider
Finland/UK
Renegades – Cadillac/Bad Bad Baby. Hansa, 18 100 AT
From Birmingham, via Finland (record is from Germany). Two very cool original numbers.
I wouldn’t have any of the European releases listed here if forum member gregk25 hadn’t given me a tip about a record shop in Duisburg. Thanks Gregor
Germany
The Lords – Que Sera/Boom Boom. Columbia, C 23 080
The Lords – Have A Drink On Me/Late Last Saturday Night. Columbia, C 23 352
The Lords – Joh Brown’s Body/Cut My Hair. Columbia, C 23 549
The Lords – Gloryland/Raindreams. Columbia, C 23 576
I’ll do all these together. All great singles, but in every case the b-side is far preferable for me (all originals, except ‘Boom Boom’). The a-sides tend to be a bit cheesy or silly. Actually, The Lords’ version of ‘Que Sera Sera’ is good, but like that of Normie Rowe, I have to really concentrate not to think about Doris Day
The New Lords – Radio/TV. Columbia, IC 006-30 419
Early 70s spin-off band featuring one member of the original Lords. Heavier style of music, but I like it. Read all about it on Robin Wills’ Pure Pop website
The Rattles – Sticks And Stones/Bye Bye Johhny. Philips, 345 620 PF
Early style rock n roll from The Rattles. Comes in what appears to be a generic ‘Twist im Star Club’ sleeve with a photo of a band at the Star Club, which I am assuming is not The Rattles. Does anybody know?
Germany/UK
Casey Jones & The Governors – Jack The Ripper/So Long Baby. Gold 12, G 12-35
Brits who spent a number of years in Germany, from what I understand. Jack The Ripper is pretty silly, but the original on the b-side is a very cool blues-ballad
John O’Hara & His Playboys - Stampfkartofeln Täterä!!/Louie Louie. Decca, D19552
Scots who made a splash in Germany and the a-side is sung in German. Their version of Louie Louie is good, but the anarchic Mashed Potato medley on the a-side is maybe better. At least it’s pretty funny
Indonesia
Dara Puspita LP. Mesra, LP 13, Green Green Grass – Edisi Ke-III
I actually already have it, but my other copy has a torn cover. Great album
Dara Puspita/Kus Bersaudara split EP. Irama EPLN 2
This EP has one song from Dara Puspita’s second album and one from their third album. They’re different versions. The b-side is the far better established Kus Bersaudara, but Dara Puspita are streets ahead of them on this record with blazing fuzz and a far more contemporary beat sound. KB are still trying to sound like the Everly Brothers, but it’s still good
Dara Puspita EP. Orchid, OREP 101
Four tracks from their first album Jang Pertama
Dara Puspita EP. Orchid, OREP 102
Another four tracks from their first album. Has a dodgy cartoon for this all-girl band of a male drummer pictured from the rear. And why does it have the song ‘Ali Baba’ on it when it was also on the earlier EP? It looks like a pirate, but there are some later releases on the same label that look legit. Anyway, some great songs
Dara Puspita EP. SEAN (Sound Effect Audio Natural), SIEP 1003
Four tracks from the Green Green Grass – Edisi Ke-III album. I had to get it for the cool picture sleeve, but it actually sounds better than the LP versions I have; maybe because the vinyl seems brand new. Some of their best stuff here in my opinion
Dewi Yana & Viesta Combo EP. Philips, 112 627 RE
The song of interest is ‘Dodoi Di Dodoi’, which is a traditional Malay lullaby. Most versions of this song really will make you fall asleep, but Dewi and the band give it a pop-psych treatment that always makes me want to give it another spin. The rest of the EP is lightweight Malay pop
Tikki, Takki, Suzy, Lies [Dara Puspita] – Ba-Da-Da-Dum/Dream Stealer. Green Light 44S
I listed this 1970 Swedish release last year, but that copy has a sticker on the label. This one’s nice and clean. The seller from 2017 used a photograph showing clean labels. I later figured out he had lifted them from Discogs
Japan
The Spiders EP. Crown Ace, LW 1044’
Pretty cool EP includes the original Japanese version of ‘Furi Furi’, ‘Monkey Dance’, ‘Seishun A Go Go’ and ‘Cry and Cry’
Malaysia
Afida Es & The Dreamers EP. Globe, SM 3304
Afida Es was the wife of M. Osman who was responsible for lots of the early Malay garage-style records of the mid-sixties. He wrote some of the songs on this EP as well. Good record.
Adnan Othman & The Flamingoes EP. Eagle, SWM 1030
His first four EPs with The Rythmn Boys probably strike a chord with some people on this forum, but this 1971 offering is more hard rock. The recent Bershukor comp has two of those hard rock tracks. There is also a ballad and one oddity, ‘Kau Dan Ku’ (You And Me), which is more Buddy Holly than hard rock. Not outstanding, but maybe of interest?
Adnan Othman EP. Royel, RE 121030
This was the second last EP Adnan Othman cut for the Royel label before moving onto Eagle and making the record above. Maybe 1970? For me it shows a lot more freshness and is more enjoyable than the Flamingoes record. The band is unnamed but it could be The Wanderers who were also on the last Royel EP, Revolusi
The Strangers EP. Parlophone, EGEP 624
Early record by the band whose later offerings were released under the name A Rahman Onn & The Strangers. The riff-heavy RnB track ‘Julaiha’ (girl’s name) is the definite pick here
The Teenage Hunters – Tantrum/Merwill. Life, 4013
The Teenage Hunters – Going Places/If I Only Thought Twice. Life, 4018
Two rollicking instrumentals from 1965, backed with two ‘atmospheric’ numbers. Pretty cool stuff
Vince Chu & The Jungle Lynxes EP. Swallow, MEP 3016
Supposedly a Chinese-Indonesian studying in Penang, Vince Chu was acclaimed as the No. 2 Elvis of Malaysia after Rocky Teoh. Elvis may not be to everybody’s taste on this forum, especially the ballads, but Vince and the boys do a rocking version of ‘Blue Suede Shoes’ on this EP. There are some extraordinary typographical errors on the cover and the label, such as: Jungle Jlynxes, Jungle Jyuxes, and ‘Just Jell Her Jim Herro’ (‘Just Tell Her Jim Said Hello’)
Singapore
Asmah Attan & D’Pioneers EP. Camel, CR 2017
Malay pop/beat. A bit lightweight, but it’s not bad; ‘Mahligai Harapan’ (Castles In The Air) is actually pretty good
A. Hatta & D’4Ever EP. Suria, SA 1010-4
A good Malay record with a mix of tracks mainly in the pop vein, but with an RnB edge in some places and even a bit of psych guitar
Bee Jays – You Win/Pretty Baby. Columbia, CHK 1062
In an article from late 1967 the Bee Jays claimed the Spencer Davis Group as an influence. That’d be right. Not garage, but a pretty good record
Bryan Neale & The Easybeats EP. Philips, ME 0145 BE
First EP for the British serviceman Neale in Singapore. The main attraction here is the version of ‘House of The Rising Sun’. Bryan Neale’s vocals do it justice. There’s also a version of ‘Bless You’ made famous by the Ink Spots and two rockabilly-type numbers. The latter are both written by someone called W.B. Wright who also wrote more RnB type stuff for Neale’s EP with The Checkmates. Who was he?
Checkmates EP. Philips, ME 0128 CE
This band is probably best known in these parts for backing Bryan Neale and also The Cyclones. This is their first record and it is all original instrumentals. Two of them are mellow affairs, but the other two are a bit more lively, including the excellently named ‘45 R.P.M.’ Not for garage purists, but I like it
The Cliffters EP. Horse Brand (Ngee Fat-Playboy), NFEP 5004
The EP carries the bi-line ‘S’pore Rolling Stones’ cashing in on the fact that The Cliffters won ‘The Rolling Stones of Singapore’ contest in about 1966. No Stones sound-alike songs here though, but some cool Malay garage. Singing duties are shared between June Abdullah and brothers Alistini and Rickieno
The Dee Tee’s EP. Philips, ME 0163 DE
Decent R&B/Beat from these four British navy lads stuck in Singapore
Enna Es & The Mods EP. Roxy, RME 200
A couple of decent Malay garage tunes here. Also includes a Malay version of Naomi and The Boys’ slow-tempo pop song ‘I Know’ (the most covered Singapore 60s composition I know of) and has a sleeve photo taken in the same location as some of the Han River Angels records; maybe a Singapore hotel?
The Fabian’s Boys & M. Wari + Norfizah EP. Globe, SM 3312
The band includes Alistini Badjuri who was also in The Cliffters. That group also backed actor M. Wari on disc. Not as good garage-wise as the EP from them I scored in 2017 (Globe, SM 3313), but ‘Janji Chelaka’ (Wicked Promise) sung by Norfizah is pretty good
Esma Halil & Five Fifty Five EP. Tong Shin-Rabbit, TSM 999
This is probably 1970. Should it be here? Maybe. The title song for the EP is Kesah Si-Lunchai (The Story of Lunchai) which is based on an old folk tale about a poor trickster who manages to become king. Anyway, the song is set to the tune of ‘In The Midnight Hour’, which might be interesting to somebody. There are also two moody ballads and one other up-tempo number
A. Halim & De’ Fictions EP. Suria, SA1010-2.
Good Malay beat. I have had a terrible-sounding pirate version of this one (Blue Star-Triangles, AS 0011) for years. This one sounds nice and sweet. ‘Goda’an’ (Temptation) is my pick
Ismail Harun & The Vigilantes EP. Panda, YHEP 103
Of interest to people here will be the b-side and especially the song ‘Mengusek Mambang’ (Chasing Girls), a lively pop-rock tune with an insistent beat and a judicious dose of fuzz
Lotus Liew and The Stylers EP. White Deer, SSE 1001
The singer was Miss Singapore 2nd Runner-up 1967 [part of the Miss Universe competition]. The band isn’t listed on the cover, at least not in English, but it’s them alright. Lotus sings in Chinese, but the backing for ‘Let’s Dance’ and ‘Guitar Man’ is exactly the same as that for Ronnie See and The Stylers’ EP on Squirrel (SEP 1009). Lotus’ version of ‘Then He Kissed Me’ (listed as ‘Then I Kiss Her’ on the record) appeared on the Let’s A Go-Go! Singapore and Southeast Asia Pop Scene 1964-69 comp from a few years back
Rickieno and The Cliffters EP. Ngee Fat (Playboy), NFEP 5010
Another good record by this crew with all songs sung by Rickieno Badjuri, one of three brothers in the band. Maybe Rickieno’s elevation to headliner had something to do with Alistini Badjuri moving to The Fabian’s Boys? Just a guess
Singapore/Malaysia
G. Yusoff & The Rythmn Boys EP. Polar Bear, SPB 1001
The Rythmn Boys of Singapore provided stellar backing on a number of great records in the mid- to late 1960s for singers like A. Ramlie, Adnan Othman, Ramlah Aziz, S. Mariam and Novel. They also provided more subdued backing on recordings for some other singers, but there is usually still something to like about them. This record is probably 1970 or even later and the band sounds nothing like its earlier incarnations. Avoid
Mike & Herb with The Silver Strings – I Don’t Want You Around Anymore/What Can I Do? Philips, MEF 0137 BF
Mike & Herb hailed from Penang and were known as The Beatles of Malaysia (a bit strange, as there were only two of them). This was the first of two singles they cut with The Silver Strings from Singapore. The a-side was written by Mike and Herb’s brother, Peter, but is overshadowed in my opinion by the b-side written by Shirley Nair, who also cut a number of records with The Silver Strings
Zaino Mum & Les Jolly Jets EP. Camel, CR 2009
Good Malay beat with two fast songs and two slow, mournful numbers. The only record they put out as far as I know. The record is from Singapore and I believe the singer is too, but the band might have come from across the causeway. I give the band extra points for having such an incomprehensible name. What is a ‘jolly jet’?
A. Romzi & The Hooks EP. Parlophone, EGEP 651
From 1968, this EP was also released on the pirate Ruby label (E 633). ‘Lagu Tiga Kupang’ (The Three Coin Song) is a Malay children’s song basically the same as ‘Sing A Song Of Sixpence’. The singing birds and general feel make this a bit of a Malay pop-psych classic. ‘Ada-Ada’ (hard to translate; maybe in the context: Made Up) is also a good song. It’s said to be about marijuana; maybe it is
Jumri Shamsudin & The Wisma EP. TNA, MEP 437
One moody slow song and three more upbeat numbers. The best one for me is ‘Dia Disana Aku Disini’ (She’s There, I’m Here)
Zam Zam & The Twilites EPs.
Philips ME 0197 TE
Philips 437 818 PE
Two cool Malay beat EPs from 1967. I also have the first one as a pirate: Glycos MXL 495. I’ve got about a dozen of these Glycos records and they all seem to be Philips artists. I’m thinking it could have been an inside job
Sweden
Ola & The Janglers – Land of 1000 Dances/Thinkin’ Of You. Vogue, DV 14416
Good record, but I prefer the original on the b-side
USA
Ronny & The Daytonas – GTO/Hot Rod Baby. Columbia Stateside, C 22 801
Not garage, but a predecessor maybe? Hot rod music, the bastard sibling of surf music (or vice-versa)
