sábado, 25 de septiembre de 2010

Teddy Robin & The Playboys - Don't You Try To Love Somebody Like Me



Teddy Robin & The Playboys - Don't You Try To Love Somebody Like Me (Norman Cheng) Diamond 263 - 1968

La multicolor explosión beat de finales de los años 60, del siglo pasado, alcanzó todos los rincones del globo, incluyendo el sudeste asiático. Hong Kong no fué una excepción al fenómeno y, siendo por entonces todavía territorio británico, el influjo anglosajón era todavía más patente. Grupos como The Lotus, Mod East, Joe Jr. & The Side Effects, The Mystics, The Menace o The Anders Nelsson Group, mantenían animado al personal local con sus discos y actuaciones en directo.

Pero tal vez los más conocidos y con mayor número de fans incondicionales eran Teddy Robin & The Playboys. Un grupo muy jóven formado por el cantante Teddy "Robin" Kwan y sus dos hermanos, William y Raymond, junto al guitarrista y principal compositor del grupo, Norman Cheng, y el batería Frederick Chan. Fueron la sensación, no sólo en Hong Kong sino en gran parte del sudeste asiático. Dejaron grabados cuatro LPs y un montón de singles y todavía hoy su recuerdo flota en el aire de aquellas latitudes.

"Don't You Try To Love Somebody Like Me" es una encantadora canción, escrita por Norman Cheng, que aparecía en la cara B del single "You'd Better Cry" y que, todavía hoy, impresiona por su emotividad, colorido y arrogante candidez. Una canción que parece imposible que nadie pudiera componer en estos tiempos tan descreídos y ciegamente pragmáticos. Una canción que sin duda habría sido todo un éxito internacional si tan sólo hubiera salido de Inglaterra o los USA. Una canción realmente atómica.


----------------------------------------------------------------



The multicolour late 60s beat explosion, from last century, reached each and every corner of the globe, including Southern East Asia. Hong Kong was not an exception to this phenomenon and, being then still a british territory, the anglosaxon influence was still more evident. Bands like The Lotus, Mod East, Joe Jr. & The Side Effects, The Mystics, The Menace or The Anders Nelsson Group, were keeping amused the local mob with their records and live gigs.

But those most popular and with the greatest number of unconditional fans were Teddy Robin & The Playboys. A quite young band formed by singer Teddy "Robin" Kwan and his two brothers, William and Raymond, together with guitarist and main composer of the group, Norman Cheng, and drummer Frederick Chan. They were the real sensation, not only in Hong Kong but in most parts of South East Asia. They left four LPs and a whole bunch of singles and, still nowadays, their memory is floating in the air in those latitutes.

"Don't You Try To Love Somebody Like Me" is a charming song, written by Norman Cheng, which appeared on the B side of the "You'd Better Cry" single and which, still right today, is still impressive by its emotion, colour and arrogant naivety. A song which seems impossible that anyone could write in these so disbelieving and blindly pragmatic times. A song which no doubt would have been a great international hit if it only came from the UK or the USA. A really atomic song.




http://rapidshare.com/files/421197954/Teddy_Robin___The_Playboys_-_Don_t_You_Try_To_Love_Somebody.mp3.html




.

sábado, 4 de septiembre de 2010

Joe Jeffrey - My Pledge Of Love


Joe Jeffrey - My Pledge Of Love (Joseph Stafford) Wand 11200 - 1969

Parece ser que Joseph Stafford era de Buffalo y que, a finales de los 60, era un habitual de los garitos de Cleveland, Ohio. Algún ejecutivo de Wand, alguna noche de copas, debió escucharle y se encendió la bombilla. "My Pledge Of Love" fué rápidamente grabada en las cuatro pistas de Audio Recording de Cleveland, bajo la dirección de Alan Klein, y obtuvo un considerable y fugaz éxito, con el nombre artístico de Joe Jeffrey.

Le siguió todo un LP y unos pocos singles más. Aunque nuestro hombre no consiguió repetir la jugada y pronto volvió a los humeantes lugares de los que procedía. Y nunca más se supo.

Esta canción, como todo lo bueno, me enganchó la primerísima vez que la escuché. Para cuando entra el bajo realmente, casi a mitad del asunto, ya estás en marcha del todo y te vas deslizando hacia ese lugar que habría que visitar más a menudo. La letra, en este caso, no es poesía profunda. Ni falta alguna que hace. Al fin y al cabo, trata de una de las pocas verdades absolutas de la vida.

Tal vez Mr. Stafford todavía la cante de vez en cuando, mientras conduce algún anónimo autobus en Cleveland.



---------------------------------------------------------------



It seems that Joseph Stafford was from Buffalo and that, in the late 60s, he could be often seen in the venues of Cleveland, Ohio. Some Wand executive, some night out, probably heard him and the light bulb shone. "My Pledge Of Love" was quickly recorded in the four tracks of Audio Recording, Cleveland, under de production of Alan Klein, and was a sizeable and fleetinf success, under the artistic name of Joe Jeffrey.

A whole LP and a few more singles followed. Though our man could not repeat the story and soon was back in the smoky places where he was coming from. And nothing was ever heard from him again.

This song, as all good things, got me hooked at the very first time I heard it. When the real bass guitar appears, already almost halfway through the affair, you're already in full motion and sliding to that place we should visit quite more often. Lyrics, in this case, ain't no deep poetry. No need anyway. After all, the song deals about one of the few absolute truths in life.

Maybe Mr. Stafford still sings it from time to time, while driving some anonimous bus in Cleveland.





My Pledge Of Love


I woke up this morning baby
I had you on my mind
I woke up this morning baby
You know that I felt so fine
You know I need you
You know that I love you
This is my pledge of love to
My pledge of love
My pledge of love
Darling, darling, darling to you
Yeah, to you, yeah

I woke up this morning baby
I had you on my mind
I felt so much love this morning
Little girl, little girl you feel so fine
You know I need you
You know that I love you
Darling this is my pledge of love
My pledge of love
My pledge of love
Darling, darling, darling to you
Oh yeah, to you Yeah yeah

Sky gettin dark above me
Baby I need your lovin'
Got to have all of your lovin'
Baby I want your lovin'
Baby (baby), baby (baby)
Baby (baby), baby (baby)
Baby (baby), baby (baby)
Baby (baby), baby (baby)

I woke up this morning baby
That's when I caught your name
I felt so much love this morning
Little girl, little girl for shame
You know I need you
You know that I love you
This is my pledge of love to
My pledge of love
My pledge of love
Darling, darling, darling to you
Yeah
Got to have your lovin'
Baby you know I want your lovin'
Little girl...


(Joseph Stafford Jr.)






http://rapidshare.com/files/416922526/Joe_Jeffrey_-_My_Pledge_Of_Love.mp3.html




.