Some Old English Songs

Do you still remember which is the first English song you listened to? I don’t but I remember which song that triggers my love for listening to nice songs haha. OK, it’s this song “Tie a yellow ribbon round the old oak tree” that my Primary School teacher taught us during Music lesson. She brought along a portable record player (like this one shown below) and played that song;

- Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Old Oak Tree by Tony Orlando and Dawn in 1973.

Yes that was in the 70s during my Primary school music lessons. Of course you will not forget his “Oh my darling knock 3 times” as you always heard it on radio then.

- Knock Three Times by Tony and Dawn

Here are some of my favourites songs of the 60s;

- Puppy Love by Paul Anka in 1960;

He wrote this song “Puppy Love” for Donny Osmond (if you remember the Osmond family).

- Puppy Love by Donny Osmond

Talking about Paul Anka, a singer as well as song writer, was popular in the late 50s and 60s. Here are some of his songs that I loved to listen to;

- 1957 Diana by Paul Anka

- 1959 Put Your Head On My Shoulder by Paul Anka

- 1969 My Way by Paul Anka

- 1974 Having My Baby by Paul Anka Duet with Odia Coates

- 1974 I Don’t Like To Sleep Alone by Paul Anka Duet with Odia Coates

- 1974 She’s A Lady by Paul Anka. This song he wrote for Tom Jones.

- 1971 She’s A Lady by Tom Jones (Tom Jones version)

- 1975 Times Of Your Life by Paul Anka (This is the popular Kodak Ad Song, remember? maybe also Chun See favourite song too)

Tom Jones is another sexy male singer of the mid 60s. One of his popular song was “She’s A Lady” mentioned earlier.

In 1969, he was;

and now;

Photo Credit : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Jones_(singer)

Some of his songs that I love;

- Green Green Grass Of Home by Tom Jones

- Delilah by Tom Jones

- It’s Not Unusual by Tom Jones

So how popular is this song “It’s Not Unsual”? Just quote ” I dare anyone over forty to listen to Tom Jones’ “Its Not Unusual” without singing along to the chorus and attempting a brief Jones like hip swivel.“

Not forgetting the King of Rock & Roll – Elvis Presley!

- Love Me Tender 1956

- Jailhouse Rock 1957

- Are You Lonesome Tonight 1960

- Can’t Help Falling In Love 1962

In the 70s my godparents got this type of radio cassette recorders where I used it to listen to radio and try to tape down the songs that I liked.

Here is a photo of those old radio cassette recorder;

And the typical TDK blank cassette tapes that I used;

Luckily in the past, radio had less talk and commercial and they played more songs. Here is another song about racing that I loved best.
- Tell Laura I Love Her by Ray Peterson in the 60s.

Another of his top hit;

- Corina Corina by Ray Peterson.

- Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow by Shirelles in 1960. Of course there were many version for those songs in other languages.

- I Can’t Stop Loving You by Ray Charles . Though he was gone, but this was a top hit too in 1961.

When I talked about Ray Charles, I tend to think about Stevie Wonder too. Another great singer!

- Part Time Lover by Stevie Wonder

- I Just Called To Say I Love You by Stevie Wonder

- My Cherie Amour by Stevie Wonder. Those head shaking action of his seems to become his icon.

- Blowing In The Wind by Stevie Wonder. You must watch this one and listen to what he said before singing.

The original version;

- Blowing In The Wind by Bob Dylan in 1963.

Another version by Bee Gees too;

- Blowing In The Wind by Bee Gees
In 1962 the year I was born, one of the best song was by Neil Sedaka. Another famous singer of the 60s.

- Breaking Up Is Hard To Do by Neil Sedaka in 1962;

- Same song when he was older.

- Laughter In The Rain by Neil Sedaka.

- Solitaire by Neil Sedaka. Another great song! I love to see him playing the piano as he is a good entertainer.
Remember I told you I loved to record those songs broadcasted on the radio during my Primary School days on the blank audio tapes. Some of the songs I recorded were;

- Take Me Home Country Road by John Denver in 1971.

Photo Credit : http://www.john-denver.org

A popular country song singer and song writer. Almost everyone who played the guitar then will play this song. In fact, I love quite a lot of his songs;

- Leaving On A Jet Plane by John Denver in 1969.

- Follow Me by John Denver in 1970. Because of him, I then came to know that guitar can have 12 strings and not just 6 strings hehe.

- Sunshine by John Denver in 1971.

- Rocky Mountain High by John Denver in 1972.

- Annie’s Song by John Denver in 1974.

- Perhaps Love by John Denver in1982.

- Perhaps Love by John Denver and Lene Siel. This is a beautiful duet version you shouldn’t miss.

When I looked at John Denver’s hair, of course that will lead me to recall Olivia Newton John. A beautiful singer who fell victim to breast cancer. Maybe you remember her better through that movie Grease with John Travolta.

Photo Credit : http://www.olivia-newtonjohn.com

- If You Love Me (Let Me Know) by ONJ in 1974.

- Have You Never Been Mellow by ONJ in 1975.

- Please Mr Please by ONJ in 1975.

- You Are The One That I Want by ONJ with John Travolta in 1978. This song from the popular movie Grease then. Movies like this one and Saturday Night Fever were very popular with youngster then. Of course we were all trying to dance like them like the fingers pointing slanting up.

- Summer Nights by ONJ with John T. also from the movie Grease.

- Hopelessly Devoted To You by ONJ in 1978.

- Magic by ONJ in 1980.

- Xanadu by ONJ in 1980.

- Suddenly by ONJ and Cliff Richard in 1980.

- Physical by ONJ in 1981. This video will help you to recall the TV entertainment show Solid Gold. Solid Gold was a TV programme to countdown the weekly top ten with their Solid Gold Dancers. A popular TV show from 70s to 80s.

- Heart Attack by ONJ in 1982.

Another popular lady singer during my Primary School time was Anne Murray. Her are some of her songs that I love best;

- Snowbird by Anne Murray in 1969.

- Danny’s Song by Anne Murray in 1973.

- Killing Me Softly With His Song by Anne Murray in 1973. My favourite at that time.

- You Needed Me by Anne Murray in 1978.

In the late 70s, my parents bought a HiFi set comprised of cassette deck, record player, radio, amplifier and a pair of speakers. That was the time where I started buying albums and more blank tapes to record my favourite songs. Here you can see of of my favourite singer Lobo;

See that big headphone on the floor. That was the trend I think at that time haha. Another trend, or rather fashion trend then was the “bell bottom” jeans or pants I wore. It was the fashion at that time hehe!

Some of my favourite songs from Lobo are;

- How Can I Tell Her by Lobo

- Me And A Dog Named Boo by Lobo

- I Love You To Want Me by Lobo

There were simply too many too many nice songs and good singers in the past. It will be never ending if I attempt to list them all here (though after trying for a week, I gave up hehe). Before I end, I don’t think I should before listing Beatles.

- Hey Jude by Beatles

- Yesterday by Beatles

Beatles had inspired other pop groups to form in other countries like the Bee Gees. In 1966, the Bee Gees. Barry, Robin, and Maurice worked together as a group to create and record their own songs. Though they were already singing as Gibbs brothers way before that, but most of us came to know about them maybe through the movie Saturday Night Fever.

The Gibbs Songs – if you wish to know more about this 3 brothers.

- Words by Bee Gees

- I Started A Joke by Bee Gees

- Same song but in the past. Let’s compare.

Last but not least this song for you;

- Holiday by Bee Gees.

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