SPOTLIGHT ON: OK BOYS/LES KAFILA’S

 

OK Boys (OK = Orkes Kafila’s), later known as Les Kafila’s, was also another band appeared in Malay films in the 1960s, apart from making records that hit the charts during the same period. Initially, OK Boys provided musical back-up in two Cathay Keris films Anak Dara (The Virgin) and Dua Kali Lima (Two Times Five) in 1966.

 

Songs:

Mat Sentol & OK Boys – Ada Benda (There’s Something)

S. Mon & OK Boys – Takdir (The Fate)

Mat Sentol & OK Boys – Oh! Nak Dara (Oh! My Virgin)

S. Mon, Wahid Satay & OK Boys – Budi Nak Dara (The Virgin’s Good Deeds)

Mat Sentol, Wahid Satay, S. Mon “Anak Dara” (OST, 1966) - FULL ALBUM REMASTERED FROM 7” VINYL EP

Songs:

Mat Sentol, Rahmah Ali & OK Boys – Kaseh Sayang (Love and Affection)

A.     Rhyme & OK Boys – Pemuda Zaman Sekarang (Today’s Youth)

Mat Sentol, Wahid Satay & OK Boys - Hanchor Hati (My Heart is Broken)

S. Mon & OK Boys - Kempas Kempis (Deflated)

Mat Sentol, Various “Dua Kali Lima” (OST, 1966) - FULL ALBUM REMASTERED FROM 7” VINYL EP 

OK Boys then changed their name to Les Kafila’s in 1966 too, after which they appeared in Shaw Brothers’ Malay Film Production release Kacha Permata (The Glass Diamond) in the same year. The song in this film titled Playboy, originally performed by actress Norma Zainal, was later re-recorded by Ahmad Daud on EMI Records, also accompanied by the same band. Another song recorded by Ahmad Daud and Les Kafila’s on the same EP was Normila, written after the lyricist Yusnor Ef and his wife Jamilah Jan Abdul Samad, and composed by Kassim Masdor.

Les Kafila’s – Seniman Kehilangan Ilham (An Artist Who Lost His Ideas) [instrumental, 1966]

Les Kafila's - Seniman Kehilangan Ilham (Kassim Masdor) - Instrumental - OST Kacha Permata - 1966

Norma Zainal & Les Kafila’s – Playboy [film version, 1966]

Norma Zainal & Les Kafilas - Playboy

Ahmad Daud featuring Empat Serama & Les Kafila’s – Playboy [EP version, 1966]

ahmad daud _ playboy

Ahmad Daud featuring Empat Serama & Les Kafila’s – Normila [1966]

Ahmad Daud & Empat Serama dgn. Les Kafila's - Normila (Kassim Masdor-Yusnor Ef) - 1966

 

 

Beginning 1967, Les Kafila’s featured their bass guitarist, the late Rukimin Judi a.k.a. J. Rukimin as their lead vocalist. Later, another singer, Hasnah Haron was also admitted. Both Rukimin and Hasnah recorded a split EP, each contributing two songs. Rukimin’s Ikan Todak (The Swordfish) as well Hasnah’s Bersedeh (Being Sad) and Sabar Menanti (Waiting Patiently) became instant hits. Following her success, Hasnah Haron made a full EP with Les Kafila’s in 1968, but unfortunately, this would be the band’s final record ever made in the said year. 

 

J. Rukimin & Les Kafila’s – Entah-lah (Well, I Don’t Know) [1967]

Entah lah - Les Kafila's

J. Rukimin & Les Kafila’s – Menunggu (Waiting) [1967]

Les Kafila's - Menunggu

J. Rukimin & Les Kafila’s – Oh Kekaseh-ku (Oh My Lover) [1967]

LES KAFILAS OH KEKASEH KU

J. Rukimin & Les Kafila’s – Sengsara (Suffering) [1967]

"SENGSARA" RUKIMIN JUDY DAN LES KAFILAS 1967

J. Rukimin & Les Kafila’s – Ikan Todak (The Swordfish) [1967]

DIGITALLY REMASTERED "IKAN TODAK" J Rukimin dan Les Kafilas 1967

J. Rukimin & Les Kafila’s – Tiada Berita (No News) [1967]

J. Rukimin & Les Kafilas ~ Tiada Berita ~

J. Rukimin & Les Kafila’s – Sejak Berpandangan Mata (Since the Eyes Met) [1968]

(To search for audio)

J. Rukimin & Les Kafila’s – Chinta Nan Tandus (A Dry Love) [1968]

LES KAFILA'S - CHINTA NAN TANDUZ

Hasnah Haron & Les Kafila’s – Bersedeh (Being Sad) [1967]

BERSEDEH (Hasnah Haron) 1967 - YouTube

Hasnah Haron & Les Kafila’s – Sabar Menanti (Waiting Patiently) [1967]

Hasnah Haron ~Sabar Menanti ~Lirik

Hasnah Haron & Les Kafila’s – Oh Ibu (Oh Mother) [1968]

hasnah haron _ oh ibu (1968)

Hasnah Haron & Les Kafila’s - Perwiraku (My Warrior) [1968]

Hasnah Haron Perwiraku

 

Credits to:

1.      Shaw Brothers’ Malay Film Production, Singapore

2.      Cathay Keris Film Production, Singapore

3.      Jefferniagaz

4.      Music Muzik

5.      popOK classical

6.      Imran Ibrahim, Melaka

7.      Cinnammonimf

8.      Nostalgia Hassny

9.      Yudhie, Sarawak

 

SPOTLIGHT ON: THE BLUE BEATS

There has not been much information about The Blue Beats or the members of the band but it is believed that the band was quite active during the mid-1960s.

 

The Blue Beats accompanying Norma Zainal in the film “A-Go-Go ‘67”, in which they performed the song “Panggilan Rohani”.

The soundtrack SP of the film “A-Go-Go ‘67” issued by EMI Singapore, which featured The Blue Beats with Norma Zainal, who also acted and sang in the same film. 

 

Norma Zainal & The Blue Beats – Panggilan Rohani (The Call from My Soul) [1967]

Norma Zainal & Blue Beats - Panggilan Rohani (Yusoff B./Noordin Arshad) - 1967 - YouTube

Apart from their successful appearance in A-Go-Go ’67, The Blue Beats were also given more recording opportunities by other small, independent recording companies in Singapore to accompany singers under their respective labels, among others included the following:

 

1.     Zainab Selamat and Abdullah Din on Camel Records

 

 

Zainab Selamat & The Blue Beats – Janji (A Promise) [1967]

Zainab Selamat & The Blue Beats - Janji - akhir 1966 - YouTube

Zainab Selamat & The Blue Beats – Angan-Angan Berahi (A Passionate Dream) [1967]

Angan Angan Berahi - Zainab Selamat & The Blue Beats (REMASTERING)

Abdullah Din & The Blue Beats – Hasrat Terpendam (An Intention Kept Inside) [1967]

abdullah din & the bluebeats _ hasrat terpendam

Abdullah Din & The Blue Beats – Sa-Kuntom Bunga (A Flower) [1967]

abdullah din & the bluebeats _ sekuntum bunga

Abdullah Din & The Blue Beats – Kaseh Terkulai (A Drooping Love) [1967]

Abdullah Din & The Bluebeats Kaseh Terkulai , Camel Record CR 2012 , 1967

Abdullah Din & The Blue Beats – Miskin Hina (Poor and Disgraced) [1967]

Abdullah Din & The Bluebeats - Miskin Hina

The Blue Beats – Dondang Sayang (instrumental) [1967]

INSTRUMENTAL DONDANG SAYANG A-GO-GO The Bluebeats 1967

The Blue Beats – Djali Djali (instrumental) [1967]

INSTRUMENTAL DJALI DJALI A-GO-GO The Bluebeats 1967

 

2.            A. Wahid a.k.a. Wahid Satay and Fatimah Wari on Swan Records

 

A.    Wahid & The Blue Beats – Sa-Umpama Burong (Like A Bird) [1967]

A. WAHID & THE BLUEBEATS- SEUMPAMA BURONG

A.    Wahid & The Blue Beats – Selamat Tinggal (Goodbye) [1967]

a wahid _ selamat tinggal (1967)

A.    Wahid & The Blue Beats – Impian Shorga (A Dream in Paradise) [1967]

a wahid _ impian shorga (1967)

A.    Wahid & The Blue Beats – Ada Harapan (There’s A Hope) [1967]

a wahid _ ada harapan (1967)

Fatimah Wari & The Blue Beats – Bahgia Selalu (Always in Happiness) [1967]

FATIMAH WARI/ THE BLUE BEATS- BAHGIA SELALU

Fatimah Wari & The Blue Beats – Suratan Hidup-ku (My Fate of Life) [1967]

Fatimah Wari Suratan Hidup Ku

Fatimah Wari & The Blue Beats – Kechewa (Disappointed) [1967]

Fatimah Wari Ku Kechewa

Fatimah Wari & The Blue Beats – Teruna (The Man) [1967]

Fatimah Wari Teruna

 

3.     A. Wahid a.k.a. Wahid Satay on Bunga Raya Records

A.    Wahid & The Blue Beats – Dendang Irama (Singing Through the Rhythm) [1968]

a wahid _ dendang irama - YouTube

A.    Wahid & The Blue Beats – Jodoh Ta’ ka-Mana (It’s Meant to Be) [1968]

a wahid _ jodoh tak kemana

A.    Wahid & The Blue Beats – Si Manis (The Sweet Girl [1968]

 

a wahid _ si manis

 

A.    Wahid & The Blue Beats – Aku Harap Pada-mu (I’m Hoping on You) [1968]

 

a wahid _ aku harap padamu

 

4.     Alias Congo and Hasnah Rahman on Sea Lion Records

 

 

 

Alias Congo & The Blue Beats – Ikan Sakit (The Sick Fish) [1967]

Alias Congo And The Blue Beats-Ikan Sakit (AGOGO)

Hasnah Rahman & The Blue Beats – Aku Terpedaya (I Was Deceived) [1967]

hasnah rahman _ aku terpedaya

Alias Congo, Hasnah Rahman & The Blue Beats – Apek Tua Nyonya Manis (The Old Uncle and The Sweet Lady) [1967]

alias congo & hasnah rahman _ apek tua nyonya manis

Alias Congo, Hasnah Rahman & The Blue Beats – Hari Jadi (Birthday) [1967]

alias congo & hasnah rahman _ hari jadi

 

5.     Salimee Haji Omar on Terkukor Record

 

 

Salimee Haji Omar & The Blue Beats – Zanariah [1968]

Salimee Hj. Omar & The Blue Beats - Zanariah - 1967

Salimee Haji Omar & The Blue Beats – Bunga Nirwana (The Nirvana Flower) [1968]

Bunga Nirwana - Salimee Hj Omar & The Blue Beats (REMASTERING)

Salimee Haji Omar & The Blue Beats – Sepuloh Tahun (Ten Years) [1968]

Salimee Hj. Omar & The Blue Beats - Sepuloh Tahun - 1967

Salimee Haji Omar & The Blue Beats – Sa-tangkai Melati (A Sprig of Jasmine) [1968]

Salimee Hj. Omar & The Blue Beats - Setangkai Melati - 1967

In between the above recordings, The Blue Beats also recorded instrumentals, covering current English and Chinese hit songs on A-Go-Go, Hala-Hala and Offbeat Cha-Cha genres. It was believed that this was done to attract Chinese-speaking listeners in both sides of the Causeway, after observing the Chinese characters on their record sleeves. Doing instrumentals suited well to audiences who received none or minimal English-medium education those days.

THE BLUE BEATS – A-GO-GO HALA HALA (1967)

Songs:

1.      Sukiyaki

2.      Bus Stop

3.      Summertime

4.      A Litte Bit of Soap

(To search for audio)

THE BLUE BEATS – A-GO-GO HALA HALA DANCE MUSIC 1967

Songs:

1.      The Girl from Alishan

2.      Separation

3.      The Emptiness of Spring

4.      My Wild Teenage Flower

Singapore The BLUE BEATS guitar instrumentals band

THE BLUE BEATS – COME DO THE A-GO-GO 1967

Songs:

1.      On The Rebound

2.      Let’s Get Around

3.      Under The Boardwalk

4.      Come Do The A-Go-Go

(To search for audio)

THE BLUE BEATS – A-GO-GO and OFF BEAT CHA-CHA 1967

Songs:

1.      Tonight, We Rejoice

2.      Crimson Evening Sky

3.      A Night in Autumn

4.      A Long Wait

1967年The Blue Beats -「A Go-Go And Off Beat Cha-Cha」 专辑 ( 4 首)

After listening to the recorded music performance of The Blue Beats, it is concluded that the band’s style of playing is of high quality and nice to listen to. It is of the view that had they been given more opportunity to record under international record labels, they could achieve more success with a wider base of audience throughout the region.

Warmest regards,

Ghaz, KL

Credits to:

1.             Shaw Brothers’ Malay Film Production, Singapore

2.             EMI Records, Singapore

3.             Camel Records, Singapore

4.             Swan Records, Singapore

5.             Sea Lion Records, Singapore

6.             Terkukor Records, Singapore

7.             Bunga Raya Records, Singapore

8.             Squirrel Records, Singapore

9.             Swan Records, Singapore

10.       Yudhie, Sarawak

11.       Imran Ibrahim, Malacca

12.       Nostalgia Hassny

13.       Joe Teruntum Garage

14.       Ababil123

15.       popOK classical

16.       dekerinchi

17.       Malaysiaboleh

18.       Discog