It’s a challenge trying to find 1960s English Singapore pop music to post, that hasn’t been featured on the magnificent two-parter compiles by Universal Music Singapore. But here’s a gem, freshly found today!
Girvin Sisters and The Dukes – Dream Up A Dream
The Girvin Sisters comprised of Elizabeth and Marilyn, singing sisters who had been talentime semifinalists in the 1964 Radio and Television Singapore talentime. They were backed on this recording by The Dukes. The record was released in June 1966. I got this track from a now out of print cd put out by the bass guitarist of The Dukes, Zainal Abidin, in 2003. A self-release but very well put together, including excellent liner notes by Joseph Pereira.
The Dukes covered various “foreigners” (ie. Caucasians) such as Bobby Lambert, Stevie Lorraine, and Winston Walters. According to these liner notes, it was “trendy” at that time “to have your band fronted by a foreigner”. Another interesting tidbit – The Dukes’ amplifiers and drum set were loaned to the Rolling Stones for their legendary performance in Singapore Badminton Hall in February 1965!
I sought to find a nice quality photo of The Girvin Sisters to accompany this post, but could only find clippings from good ol’ NewspaperSg. Yes, Elizabeth and Marilyn were Convent girls!
Regarding the advert above, I’m not sure why there was this huge craze for the songs Guantanamera and San Francisco, because there must have been numerous recordings of it here, in English, Chinese, and instrumental! My mum also remembers her neighbor constantly practicing the song San Francisco on his guitar. Another story for another day.
![[52nd Street, New York, N.Y., ca. 1948] (LOC)](http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5204/5268916237_d2b5697a5b.jpg)
