Here's another informative article about the legendary band, The Antartics (sic), written by Pop Yeh Yeh historian, Ghaz!
THE ANTARTICS – FROM ENGLISH TO MALAY SONGS
The Antartics’ members include Joe Mann (lead), Eunos Rahmat (rhythm), R. Rahmat (bass) and S.A. Vinton (drums, vocals). The late Vinton, whose real name is Syed Ahmad, was also a popular songwriter where he wrote many Malay and English songs, not only for the band itself but also for other singers in the 1960s. In the beginning, the band performed in nightclubs and hotels, and their first vocalist was Jim Mustapha. Nevertheless, Jim had never recorded any songs with them on records.
Three English SPs recorded by The Antartics as themselves in 1966 – 1967.
The Antartics – I’m in Love with You [1966] antartics, i'm in love with you
The Antartics – Stop Thinking of Me Today [1966] [to search for audio]
The Antartics – Hey Little Girl [1966] THE ANTARTICS - Hey Little Girl 7" (1966)
The Antartics – Runaway from Me [1966] Runaway
The Antartics – We Have Been in Love [1967] [to search for audio]
The Antartics – Nancy Pancy [1967] Nancy Pancy
Ahmad Jais (1936-2011)
From his debut EP recorded in late 1965 until the early part of 1966, Ahmad Jais was initially accompanied by John Lee Orchestra and Orkes Dendang Perindu led by composer Kassim Masdor. Only one of his signature tunes, Gelisah (Anxious) was recorded with the accompaniment of The Quests, a multiracial band which had become one of the resident bands in EMI Singapore. Somehow, mid-1966 saw the emergence of pop yeh yeh and he was assigned by the recording company to give it a try. Therefore, Ahmad Jais made two EPs with The Antartics, one each in 1966 and 1967, respectively. Both EPs turned out to be successful. However, due to unexplained reasons, only the two EPs were done throughout their collaboration.
Ahmad Jais & The Antartics – Dikau Puja’an (You’re the One I Adore) [1966]
AHMAD JAIS / THE ANTARTIC - DI KAU PUJAAN
Ahmad Jais & The Antartics – Sumpah Setia (A Pledge of Allegiance) [1966]
Ahmad Jais & The Antartics ~Sumpah Setia ~
Ahmad Jais & The Antartics – Pergi Tanpa Kata (Leaving Without A Word) [1966]
Dato' Ahmad Jais ~ Pergi Tanpa Kata ~
Ahmad Jais – Do’a Dan Pesan-ku – (My Prayer and My Reminder) [1966]
DIGITALLY REMASTERED "DOA & PESANKU" AHMAD JAIS DAN THE ANTARTICS 1967
Ahmad Jais & The Antartics – Bunga Ku-Puja Di-Petek Orang (The Girl That I Adore Has Been Taken by Someone Else) [1967] Bunga Ku Puja Di Petik Orang
Ahmad Jais & The Antartics – Oh Dewi (My Angel) [1967] Oh Dewi
Ahmad Jais & The Antartics – Si-Lesong Pipit (The One with a Dimple) [1967]
Si Lesong Pipit - Ahmad Jais & The Antartics
Ahmad Jais & The Antartics – Ta’ Rela (Unwillingly) [1967] Ahmad Jais & The Antartics ~ Tak Rela ~
M. Bakri (1938-2001)
M. Bakri, the champion of Bintang Radio Malaya 1957 (Radio Malaya Star 1957) began his recording career with EMI Singapore in 1959, through a 78-r.p.m. record with songs Chinta Hampa (A Disappointed Love) and Sumbangseh-ku (My Contribution). Among the musical groups he had collaborated with prior to pop yeh yeh era include Ahmad Wan Yet Orchestra and John Lee Orchestra. In 1965, Bakri began working with The Swallows Combo to record Malaysia Baru (A New Malaysia), originally a song from the soundtrack of the 1963 film Kaseh Tanpa Sayang (Love Without Affection) issued by Shaw Brothers’ Malay Film Productions. In 1966, for a trial. Bakri was given the opportunity to record pop yeh yeh songs with The Antartics. Due to the overwhelming success, another EP was recorded in 1967. Bakri himself wrote many of the songs together with their lyrics, while the others were written in collaboration with lyricists such as S. Sudarmadji and Maimunah Haji Omar. Besides singing and composing songs, Bakri also became a co-host in TV Singapura’s entertainment program titled Istana Pesta (The Palace of Fiesta). In one of his record sleeves, there is a photo of him singing in the said program. After his last EP recorded in 1969 with Orkes Dendang Perindu led by Kassim Masdor, Bakri left the entertainment scene to focus on his career as a schoolteacher.
M. Bakri & The Antartics – Senyum-mu (Your Smile) [1966]
M. Bakri with The Antartics “Senyumanmu” (1966) - RIPPED FROM 7” VINYL EP
M. Bakri & The Antartics – Pertemuan (An Encounter) [1966]
M. Bakri with The Antartics “Pertemuan” (1966) - RIPPED FROM 7” VINYL EP
M. Bakri & The Antartics – Pelita Hati (The Light of My Heart) [1966]
M. Bakri with The Antartics “Pelita Hati” (1966) - RIPPED FROM 7” VINYL EP
M. Bakri & The Antartics – Manis Manja [1966]
M. Bakri with The Antartics “Manis Manja” (1966) - RIPPED FROM 7” VINYL EP
M. Bakri & The Antartics – Beri-lah Berita (Do Keep in Touch) [1967]
M. Bakri with The Antartics “Berilah Berita” (1967) - RIPPED FROM 7” VINYL EP
M. Bakri & The Antartics – Jika Ku Tahu (Had I Knew) [1967]
M. Bakri with The Antartics “Jika Ku Tahu” (1967) - RIPPED FROM 7” VINYL EP
M. Bakri & The Antartics – Kaseh Di-Ambang Harapan (Love at the Brink of Hope) [1967]
M. Bakri with The Antartics “Kasih Di Ambang Harapan” (1967) - RIPPED FROM 7” VINYL EP
M. Bakri & The Antartics – Chebis Mimpi (Pieces of a Dream) [1967]
M. Bakri with The Antartics “Cebis Mimpi” (1967) - RIPPED FROM 7” VINYL EP
Eddie Ahmad (1948-1993)
The singer that The Antartics had collaborated the most with was the late Eddie Ahmad. Beginning with a successful EP in 1966, Eddie continued working with the band until 1968. In 1967, Eddie and The Antartics appeared partially in an audio in the film A-Go-Go ’67 with the song Gadis Melati (A Girl Named Melati). Beginning 1968, Eddie’s elder brother, Tony Ahmad, appeared in one of their recordings, where Tony contributed his skill as a saxophonist.
Eddie Ahmad & The Antartics 1966 debut EP:
1. Aduh Serodja (Oh! Serodja)
2. Aku Kechewa (I’m Disappointed)
3. Aku Tetap Merindu (I’ll Always Be Missing You)
4. Dara Ayu (The Beautiful Girl)
FULL ALBUM EDDIE AHMAD & THE ANTARTICS Aduh Seroja, Aku Kechewa, Aku Tetap Merindu & Dara Ayu 1966
Eddie Ahmad & The Antartics - Hanya Untok-mu (Just for You) [1967]
Hanya Untukmu - Eddie Ahmad (Official Audio)
Eddie Ahmad & The Antartics - Dunia-Ku Yang Permai (My Peaceful World) [1967]
Duniaku Yang Permai - Eddie Ahmad (Official Audio)
Eddie Ahmad & The Antartics - Dara Puspita [1967] Dara Puspita - Eddie Ahmad (Official Audio)
Eddie Ahmad & The Antartics - Rindu (I Miss You) [1967] Rindu - Eddie Ahmad (Official Audio)
Eddie Ahmad & The Antartics - Bisekan Jiwa (Whispers from My Heart) [1967]
Bisikan Jiwa - Eddie Ahmad (Official Audio)
Eddie Ahmad & The Antartics - Di-Mana Kau Berada (Where Have You Been) [1967]
Di Mana Kau Berada - Eddie Ahmad (Official Audio)
Eddie Ahmad & The Antartics – Hilang Bulan, Tahun Ku-nanti (I’ll Wait for You for Months and Years) [1967]
Hilang Bulan Tahun Ku Nanti - Eddie Ahmad (Official Audio)
Eddie Ahmad & The Antartics – Ikut Kata Ibu-mu (Obey Your Mother) [1967]
Ikut Kata Ibu - Eddie Ahmad (Official Audio)
EDDIE AHMAD & THE ANTARTICS - Gadis Melati (A Giril Named Melati) [1967]
Gadis Melati - Eddie Ahmad (Official Audio)
(from the original soundtrack of the film A-Go-Go ‘67)
Eddie Ahmad & The Antartics - Pengemis Lara (A Miserable Beggar) [1968]
DIGITALLY REMASTERED "PENGEMIS LARA" EDDIE AHMAD DAN THE ANTARTICS 1967
Eddie Ahmad & The Antartics -Nadirah [1968]
Nadirah - Eddie Ahmad (Official Audio)
Eddie Ahmad & The Antartics - Hanya Berita (Only News) [1968]
Hanya Berita - Eddie Ahmad (Official Audio)
Eddie Ahmad & The Antartics - Lembaran Hati (A Sheet of the Heart) [1968]
Eddie Ahmad 'Lembaran Hati' (1968)
Eddie Ahmad & The Antartics - Untok Teman-Ku (To My Companion) [1968]
Untuk Temanku - Eddie Ahmad (Official Audio)
Eddie Ahmad & The Antartics - Gadis Puja’an-Ku (The Girl That I Adore) [1968]
(176) Eddie Ahmad & The Antartics - Gadis Pujaanku (S. A. Vinton/Anna Ibrahim) - 1968 - YouTube
Eddie Ahmad & The Antartics - Pulang Dari Rantau (Returning from Abroad) [1968]
Pulang Dari Rantau - Eddie Ahmad (Official Audio)
Eddie Ahmad & The Antartics - Hampa Sudah Harapan (All Hope is Lost) [1968]
Hampa Sudah Harapan - Eddie Ahmad (Official Audio)
The Antartics were no longer active as a band after 1968, after which singers previously accompanied by them began collaborating with other bands. For example, Ahmad Jais and M. Bakri resumed their recording works with Orkes Dendang Perindu for their later recordings from 1968 to1969, while Eddie Ahmad recorded with another multiracial band called The Guys (also in 1969), before becoming a solo artist under EMI from 1970 until 1973. The Antartics’ drummer S. A. Vinton then became a drummer for a band named The Breakthru’, who accompanied another singer named Kadir for his debut EP with EMI in 1975.
Credits to:
1. EMI Singapore
2. Imran Ibrahim (Melaka)
3. Hamlau Lahabau of muziknusantara (Singapore)
4. Yudhie (Sarawak)
5. Zai Yatiman
6. Questing Bandstand
