THE SANDBLUES – THE SINGAPOREAN BAND THAT HAD OPENED THE RECORDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR BRUNEIAN SINGERS

 

 

  

The Sandblues

The Sandblues was a pop yeh yeh band which was active in Singapore between 1966 and 1968. The band had its name from the word Sand, a nickname of its first singer that it accompanied with, Hussein Ismail, coupled with Blues, a musical genre that the band usually played onstage, prior to its recording works. Throughout its musical career, the band was assigned under Olympic Records, Teo Kwang Records, Ngee Fat/Playboy and EMI. The original members of the band include M.Y. Daud (lead guitarist), M. Abdullah (rhythm guitarist), Jaafar Ali (bass guitarist), and Mohd. Arbian (drummer).

Apart from studio recording activities, The Sandblues were also active on radio and TV shows in Singapore. It was reported that a popular film actress, Murni Sarawak, a half-sister of singer Anita Sarawak and a daughter of another veteran actress, Siput Sarawak, had on a few occassions, performed with this band on various entertainment programmes under the then Radio & Television of Singapore (RTS) radio and TV stations.  

Besides Hussein Ismail and A. Hozaine, The Sandblues had also opened the opportunity to popular pop yeh yeh singers from the kingdom of Brunei Darussalam, through one of its members who decided to reside permanently in Brunei after marrying a girl there, soon after a show held in the said kingdom. The Bruneian singers accompanied by The Sandblues include the late Awangku Tajuddin, Awangku Emran, M. Y. Muhammad (also known as M. H. Yasin), Norsiah A. Hamid and Dayangku Aminah. Together, they recorded with The Sandblues throughout 1968. After helping with the recording for another singer, Don Aimin, the band split in the same year.

 

Hussein Ismail

Born in Singapore in 1940 as Syed Ali Hussein ibni Syed Ismail Al-Mashoor, Hussein Ismail initially involved in boxing and was about to take part in a boxing tournament in Bangkok, Thailand amid his family’s disapproval. Then, he got involved in singing, also against his family’s wish. Following this, he migrated to Sarawak to serve in the then British army. While in the East Malaysian state, he teamed up with a local band called The Skeletons to perform onstage and in nightclubs throughout Kuching, the state capital. In 1966, together with The Sandblues, Hussein secured a recording contract with Singapore-based Olympic Records. In his first EP, he recorded his own full composition of Tersenyum (Smiling), Bertemu Sekejap (A Short Meeting), in addition to Ratapan Si-Anak Yatim (An Orphan’s Wailing) composed by a Sarawakian composer named R. Ibrahim and Sesalan-ku (My Regrets) which Hussein composed together with S. Azim Tjan (1946-1999) a.k.a. Malaysian Louis Armstrong. The EP was well received by the listeners, after which they recorded two more EPs under Olympic Records, one each in 1966 and 1967, respectively. The songs from both EPs, namely Oh Poniah (Oh Poniah) which is another Hussein’s own full composition, Menanti Dinda (Waiting for You) – also his full composition and Kesah Lama (The Old Story) jointly composed by Hussein and Norawi Hj. Ibrahim became instant hits.  In later part of 1967, Hussein Ismail and The Sandblues recorded with Ngee Fat/Playboy with two EPs, the second of which contains all songs composed by Hussein himself. In 1968, Hussein and The Sandblues were signed up by EMI Singapore, the first time under an international recording label. An EP was recorded with four songs, three of which were jointly composed by Hussein and A. Karim Abdullah, and one fully by Hussein himself. This was the last EP that they worked together on, whereby another EP, also under EMI, was recorded by Hussein with the accompaniment of The Siglap Five in 1969. Another EP with The Siglap Five was done under Ngee Fat/Playboy in the same year, and another with Mojo Incorporated (The Siglap Five in disguise), also under the same label. After a long hiatus, Hussein made a comeback EP with The Zurah on M. Shariff Scope (a record label owned by the band’s lead guitarist M. Shariff) in 1975. In 1985, Hussein diversified his singing career by collaborating with Indonesian dangdut king Rhoma Irama and his band Soneta Group through an album produced by a Johor Bahru-based recording company. As of today, Hussein lives in Kuala Lumpur and earns a living as a masseur, although he occasionally performs in Singapore on invitation. 

 

Hussein Ismail & The Sandblues - Bertemu Sekejap (A Short Meeting) HussIen Ismail & The Sandblues - Bertemu Sekejap ,TRC 1001 , 1966

Hussein Ismail & The Sandblues - Sesalan-Ku (My Regrets) DIGITALLY REMASTERED "SESALANKU" HUSSEIN ISMAIL DAN THE SANDBLUES 1966

Hussein Ismail & The Sandblues - Tersenyum (Smiling) DIGITALLY REMASTERED "TERSENYUM" HUSSEIN ISMAIL DAN THE SANDBLUES 1966

Hussein Ismail & The Sandblues - Ratapan Si-Anak Yatim (An Orphan’s Cry) DIGITALLY REMASTERED "RATAPAN SI ANAK YATIM: HUSSEIN ISMAIL DAN THE SANDBLUES 1966

Hussein Ismail & The Sandblues - Nasib Musafir (A Traveller’s Fate) DIGITALLY REMASTERED "NASIB MUSAFIR" HUSSAIN ISMAIL DAN THE SANDBLUES 1967

Hussein Ismail & The Sandblues - Bebas Ria (Freedom and Happiness) DIGITALLY REMASTERED "BEBAS RIA" HUSSEIN ISMAIL DAN THE SANDBLUES 1967

Hussein Ismail & The Sandblues - Selamat Pengantin Baru (Well Wishes for the Newlyweds) DIGITALLY REMASTERED "SELAMAT PENGANTIN BARU" HUSSEIN ISMAIL DAN THE SANDBLUES 1966

Hussein Ismail & The Sandblues - Oh Poniah (Oh Poniah) DIGITALLY REMASTERED "OH PONIAH" HUSSEIN ISMAIL DAN THE SANDBLUES 1966

Hussein Ismail & The Sandblues - Kesah Lama (Old Stories) hussien ismail & the sandblues _ kesah lama (1966)

Hussein Ismail & The Sandblues - Menanti Dinda (Waiting for You) DIGITALLY REMASTERED "MENANTI DINDA" HUSSEIN ISMAIL DAN THE SANDBLUES 1967

Hussein Ismail & The Sandblues - Hamidah (Hamidah) (592) DIGITALLY REMASTERED "HAMIDAH" HUSSEIN ISMAIL DAN THE SANDBLUES 1967 - YouTube

Hussein Ismail & The Sandblues - Oh Dewi (Oh My Angel) DIGITALLY REMASTERED "OH DEWI" HUSSEIN ISMAIL DAN THE SANDBLUES 1967

Hussein Ismail & The Sandblues - Lautan Chinta (The Sea of Love) (592) Hussien Ismail & The Sandblues Lautan Chinta NFEP 5022 1967 - YouTube

Hussein Ismail & The Sandblues - Puspa Jelita (The Beautiful Puspa) Hussien Ismail + The Sandblues - Puspa Jelita (PlayBoy NFEP 5022) 1967

Hussein Ismail & The Sandblues - Sayu Berpisah (A Sad Farewell) hussien ismail _ sayu berpisah (1967)

Hussein Ismail & The Sandblues - Gadis Seberang (The Giril Across the Street) Hussien Ismail - Gadis Seberang (Hussien Ismail/A. Karim Abdullah) - 1967

Hussein Ismail & The Sandblues - Kerana Chinta (Because of Love) HUSSIEN ISMAIL & THE SANDBLUES - KERANA CINTA

Hussein Ismail & The Sandblues - Hanya Do’a (My Only Prayer) DIGITALLY REMASTERED "HANYA DOA" HUSSEIN ISMAIL DAN THE SANDBLUES 1967

Hussein Ismail & The Sandblues – Terpesona (Amazed) [to search for audio]

Hussein Ismail & The Sandblues - Kerana Kau (Because of You) Hussien Ismail & The Sandblues , Kerana Kau , NFEP 5023 ,1967

Hussein Ismail & The Sandblues - Do’a Dari-Ku (A Prayer from Me) HUSSIEN ISMAIL & THE SANDBLUES - Doa dariku , EGEP 638 , 1968

Hussein Ismail & The Sandblues - Ayah Dan Ibu (Dad and Mom) DIGITALLY REMASTERED "AYAH DAN IBU" HUSSEIN ISMAIL DAN THE SANDBLUES 1968

Hussein Ismail & The Sandblues - Gadis A-Go-Go (The A-Go-Go Girl) DIGITALLY REMASTERED "GADIS AGOGO" HUSSEIN ISMAIL DAN THE SANDBLUES 1967

Hussein Ismail & The Sandblues - Mengapa Ku Di-Fitnah (Why I’m Framed) HUSSIEN ISMAIL & THE SANDBLUES - Mengapa ku di fitnah , EGEP 638 , 1968

 

A.   Hozaini

 

 

Unfortunately, nothing much was known about this singer, except that he did make an EP with The Sandblues on Olympic Records in 1967, with all four songs composed entirely by himself.

A.     Hozaini & The Sandblues - Hanya Bayangan (Only the Shadows) [to search for audio]

A.     Hozaini & The Sandblues - Kau Ku-Tunggu (I Wait for You) DIGITALLY REMASTERED "KAU KU TUNGGU" A HOZAINI DAN THE SANDBLUES 1968

A.     Hozaini & The Sandblues - Bersemadi Di-Pusara (Rest in Peace) DIGITALLY REMASTERED "BERSEMADI DI PUSARA" A HOZAINI DAN THE SANDBLUES 1968

A.     Hozaini & The Sandblues - Mungkiri Janji (Breaking Promises) a hozaini & the sandblues _ mungkiri janji (1967)

 

Don Aimin

 

 

The talent of Aimin Medon a.k.a. Don Aimin was first discovered by Philips Singapore and he was given an opportunity to record an EP with the accompaniment by The Mix-Mates, which was reportedly The Thunderbirds in disguise, in 1967. With them, he recorded three cover versions from current English hits and one song composed by himself.

Don’s involvement with The Sandblues began in 1968 when he recorded an EP under Ngee Fat/Playboy with the band, with two songs composed by Abu Bakar Othman while remaining two by S. Azim Tjan. The last recording work by Don Aimin was with The Addend Boys, where they recorded an EP under Echo label in 1970.

Don Aimin & The Sandblues - Kawan-Ku (My Friend) "KAWANKU" Don Aimin dan The Sandblues 1968

Don Aimin & The Sandblues - Lagu-Ku (My Song) don aimin & the sandblues _ laguku (1969)

Don Aimin & The Sandblues - Singgahsana Mesra (The Palace of Happiness) don aimin & the sandblues _ singgahsana mesra (1968)

Don Aimin & The Sandblues - Sapu Tangan Pembalut Luka (A Handkerchief To Heal the Wound) don aimen _ sapu tangan pembalut luka (1969)

 

Bruneian singers

 

In 1967, together with singers from Singapore – Ahmad Jais, Rafeah Buang, A. Ramlie and a few others - The Sandblues performed onstage in Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital city of the Kingdom of Brunei for the first time. Somehow, after the show, one of the members of the band had fallen in love and married a Bruneian girl, and had since, resided in the kingdom for good! Nevertheless, the survival and the relevance of this band did not end there. Instead, a handful of Bruneian singers were given the opportunity to record their songs with The Sandblues by Olympic Records and Teo Kwang’s Eagle Records in Singapore between 1967 and 1968. They include A.K. Tajuddin, A. K. Emran, Norsiah A. Hamid and M.Y. Muhammad. (Note: A.K. is the acronym for Awangku and D.K. is the acronym for Dayangku.) It could be that the said member had proposed those singers to the recording companies. The audience of pop yeh yeh, together with players in the Malay-language entertainment circuit (recording companies, radio and TV stations and entertainment magazines’ publishers alike) were taken by surprise when many of the songs had managed to hit the charts in the republic and Malaysia.

 

 

D.K. Aminah & The Sandblues - Jangan Mengenang (Don’t Remember) Dayangku Aminah & The Sandblues ~ Jangan Mengenang ~

D.K. Aminah & The Sandblues - Negara-Ku (My Country) [to search for audio]

D.K. Aminah & The Sandblues - Rayuan-Ku Dayangku Aminah & The Sandblues Rayuan Ku TK 1046 1968

A.K. Emran & The Sandblues - Kaseh Dalam Hati (Love in the Heart) awangku emran & the sandblues _ kaseh dalam hati (1967)

Norsiah A. Hamid & The Sandblues - Terchapai Hasrat (An Intention Come True) Norsiah A. Hamid + The Sandblues - Terchapai Hasrat (Olympic TRC-1025) 1967

Norsiah A. Hamid & The Sandblues - Berubah (Changing) norsiah a hamid & sandblues _ berubah (1966)

Norsiah A. Hamid & The Sandblues - Chinchin Kenangan (The Ring of Memory) norsiah a hamid & the sand blues _ chinchin kenangan

Norsiah A. Hamid & The Sandblues - Ingat-lah Kawan2 (Remember, My Friends) NORSIAH A. HAMID/ THE SANDBLUES- INGATLAH KAWAN- KAWAN

Norsiah A. Hamid & The Sandblues – Aku Ta’ Berdaya (I Just Can’t Afford) Norsiah A Hamid & The Sandblues Aku Tak Berdaya tk 1046 1968

Norsiah A. Hamid & The Sandblues – Terkenang Peristiwa (Remembering An Event) Norsiah A Hamid & The Sandblues - Terkenang Peristiwa ,TK 1046 , 1968

A. K. Tajuddin & The Sandblues - Membisu (Being Silent) awangku tajuddin & the sandblues brunei_ membisu (1968)

A. K. Tajuddin & The Sandblues - Derita (Sufferings) a k tajuddin - the sandblues - derita

A. K. Tajuddin & The Sandblues - Ratapan Hati Pilu (The Wailing from a Saddened Heart) A.K TAJUDIN/ SANDBLUES-RATAPAN HATI PILU

A. K. Tajuddin & The Sandblues – Dusta (Lies) [to search for audio]

M. Y. Muhammad & The Sandblues - Menanti (Waiting) M.Y. MUHAMMAD & SANDBLUES- MENANTI

M. Y. Muhammad & The Sandblues - Mengapa Membisu (Why Are You Being Silent) m h yassin & the sand blues _ mengapa membisu

M. Y. Muhammad & The Sandblues - Mawar (Rose) m h yassin _ mawar (1968)

M. Y. Muhammad & The Sandblues - Do’a-Ku (My Prayer) [to search for audio]

Epilogue

After 1968, the were no updates about The Sandblues and the whereabouts of their members. About two decades ago, I read from websites dedicated to Malay oldies (unfortunately, many of them had been now defunct!) that it was reported that the band had been dissolved, after which a splinter band named The Sands was formed, with S. Azim Tjan as the leader and vocalist. Nevertheless, this fact has yet to be confirmed by anyone today. Beginning 1970, Azim led another band called The Sandpipers, with which more singers worked together with them, such as sisters Siti Khatijah and Zaleha Hamid, and D.K. Aminah, before The Sandpipers recorded their last EP in 1973. More about Azim in my future articles later.

On another note, the years 1967 and 1968 saw more Bruneian singers recording with Malaysian and Singaporean bands, such as Hussein Haji Tuah with D’Acrobats from Johor Bahru. In 1968, another Bruneian singer named A.B. Shahri (A.B. means Awang Besar), whose father Awang Besar Sagap composed the Bruneian national anthem, made an EP with international recording company Philips with Saroja, a band from his own country. In 1969, a Bruneian band called Kugiran Irama Perindu Brunei made two EPs under Olympic Records with one full EP for D.K. Aminah and a split EP featuring her and A. K. Tajuddin. Tajuddin and Norsiah then made two duet EPs under Royal Records based in Malaysia (in 1971) and Life Records (with The Sandpipers, in 1972). 

In fact, the role played by The Sandblues in building the bridge for talents from Brunei to Singapore and Malaysia could never be overlooked and should be given the highest acknowledgement by the entertainment industry players in these territories.  

Warmest regards,

Ghaz, KL

Credits to:

1. Olympic Records, Singapore

2. Teo Kwang’s Eagle Records, Singapore

3. Ngee Fat Gramophone House, Singapore

4. Malaysian Musical Industries (MMI) & Royal Records

5. Life Records, Malaysia and Singapore

6. Philips, Singapore

7. M. Shariff Scope

8. Rafeah Buang and Utusan Radio & TV (by Utusan Melayu)

9. Shaw Brothers’ MFP Majallah Filem, Singapore

10. Radio & Television of Singapore (RTS)

11. Radio & Television of Brunei (RTB)

12. Nostalgia Hassny

13. Yudhie

14. Imran Ibrahim

15. Nasri Mohd. Kelan

16. Clasic Musioc

17. Jefferniagaz

18. Ababil123

19. Radio Nanyang