SPOTLIGHT ON : The Hooks (written by Ghaz)

 

The 1968 line-up of The Hooks.

 

The Hooks accompanying A. Romzi (b. 1946) for the song “Ratapan-ku” (My Wailing) in the film “A-Go-Go ‘67”.

The Hooks were another pop yeh yeh band who appeared in the film A-Go-Go ’67. The members originally consisted of Hashim Talib (lead guitarist/keyboardist), Sawal (rhythm guitarist), Hosni (bass guitarist), and Sain Rashid (drum), before another member was admitted in 1968 to take over the role as the keyboardist.

In 1967, together with singer A. Romzi, they performed the song Ratapan-ku (My Wailing) in the film A-Go-Go ’67. In the same year, they were given the opportunity to make a full EP, in which the songs Dendang Remaja (The Teenage Song), Menanti Dewi (Waiting for the Angel) and Zunika became instant hit. Following the success of this EP, they continued to record three more EPs in 1968.

 

An SP and a few EPs by A. Romzi and The Hooks issued by EMI Singapore in 1967 and 1968.

Their songs could be listened from the following URLs, courtesy of EMI Malaysia.

Ratapan-ku (My Wailing) Ratapanku

Dendang Remaja (The Teenage Song) Dendang Remaja

Menanti Dewi (Waiting for the Angel) Menanti Dewi

Zunika (Zunika) Zunika

Sengsara (Miserable) Sengsara

Kata-kan Pada-ku (Tell Me) Katakan Padaku

Buru-lah (Hunt for It) Burulah

Ka-Tanah Suchi (To the Holy Land) Ke Tanah Suci

Ku-Kan Pergi (I Shall Leave) Ku Kan Pergi

Lagu Tiga Kupang (The 30-Cent Song) Lagu Tiga Kupang

Lumrah Ma’anusia (The Human Normalcy) Lumrah Manusia

Jangan Lari (Don’t Run Away) Jangan Lari

Ada-Ada (There Are) Ada Ada

Saujana (The Scholar) Saujana

Baik Untok-ku (Good for Me) Baik Untuk Ku

Pedoman (A Guide) Pedoman

Jangan Di-Nafi (Don’t Deny It) Jangan Di Nafi

The uniqueness of songs by A. Romzi and The Hooks is that they bore philosophical and religious themes, which suit conservative listeners well. Unfortunately, in 1970, a song titled Ada-Ada (There Are) was banned by the radio & Television of Singapore (RTS) on the grounds of it bearing drug-related issues, although the songwriters were trying to inject some mystery to the meaning partly to test the listeners’ critical thinking.

Besides A. Romzi, The Hooks also accompanied Sanisah Huri (for 2 EPs) and Hasnah Haron (for an EP) for their respective EPs between 1968 and 1969.

 

 

 

Chuti Sekolah (School Holidays) Chuti Sekolah - Sanisah Huri & The Hooks (Official Audio)

Mengundang Teman (Inviting A Friend) Mengundang Teman - Sanisah Huri & The Hooks (Official Audio)

Hari Libor (A Day Off) Hari Libor - Sanisah Huri & The Hooks (Official Audio)

Setahon (One Year) Setahon - Sanisah Huri & The Hooks (Official Audio)

 

SANISAH HURI - Video Files Album EP SANISAH HURI DENGAN THE HOOKS (1968)

Si-Baju Hijau (The Guy With The Green Shirt)/Mendapat Khabar (I’ve Got A News)/Chepat Pulang (Come Home Fast)/Tumpuan Ramai (The Crowd’s Attention)

 

 

Hasnah Haron & The Hooks (1969)

Mendayo Di-Sana (Rowing Over There) Hasnah Haron & The Hooks - Mendayo si Sana (1969)

Jadi Delapan (Becoming Eight) Hasnah Haron & The Hooks - Jadi Delapan (T. Hashim-Bima) - 1969

Siti Zubaidah (The Tale of Siti Zubaidah) Haznah Haron - Siti Zubaidah (Official Audio)

[Note: The original 1969 version of Siti Zubaidah by Hasnah Haron could not be found on YouTube. Instead, only the 1985 re-recorded version of this song is posted to guide listeners on how the song sounds like. I humbly apologize for this problem.]

Kesuka’an (Favorites) hasnah haron _ kesuka'an

Sincerely,

Ghaz, KL

 

Credit to:

1.     Getaran Nostalgia by EMI Malaysia

2.     Life Records

3.     Shaw Brothers’ Malay Film Production

4.     Yudhie

5.     Nostalgia Hassny

6.     Berita Harian Singapura

7.     Discog

SPOTLIGHT ON : THE HORNETS (written by Ghaz)

 

The Hornets accompanying the late Siti Zaiton (1945 – 1998) for the song “Alam Seni” in the film “A-Go-Go ‘67” (1967).

Alam Seni - Siti Zaiton & The Hornets (A-Go-Go 67)

The Hornets consisted of Samsi Salekan (lead guitarist), Asmuri Lawi (rhythm guitarist), the late Husin Ali (bass guitarist) and S. Fadhil (drummer). The earliest vocalist of this band was the late Adi Achik. Besides him, Samsi and Asmuri also sang in harmony in their first EP recording.

Their only appearance in films was in “A-Go-Go ‘67” when they accompanied the late Siti Zaiton (1945-1998) for her song “Alam Seni” (The World of Art). However, due to contractual arrangement, the song was re-recorded by Sanisah Huri and The Terwellos for the EP version. Both Sanisah and The Terwellos appeared in the same film, performing another song called “Siapa Gerangan” (Who is He).

 

The Hornets – Kembali Pada-ku (Come Back to Me) [1967]

"KEMBALI PADAKU" A.ADY DAN ASMURI LAWI & THE HORNETS 1967... MALAY SLOW A-GO-GO

The Hornets – Jelingan-mu (Your Stare) [1967]

TheHornets - Jelinganmu (The Hornets) - 1967

The Hornets - Bertemu Ayah Dan Bonda (Meeting My Parents) [1967]

"BERTEMUAYAH dan BONDA" A.ADY DAN THE HORNETS 1967

The Hornets - Hanya Hayalan (It’s Only a Fantasy) [1967]

"HANYA KHAYALAN" S.SAMSI DAN ASMURI LAWI & THE HORNETS 1967 - Malay 60's Slow Rock

 

 

Amir Hamzah and Sambas D. S., two Indonesian crooners backed by The Hornets in their respective EPs.

Based on the success in both the film and their own EP, the band was then assigned by Philips to accompany two Indonesian singers, Amir Hamzah and Sambas D. S. in their respective recording throughout 1968. However, the genre that the band performed for the singers’ recordings had gradually shifted from a-go-go to kronchong, in line with the Indonesian singers’ taste of music. 

Amir Hamzah & The Hornets – Supenir (Souvenir) [1968]

AmirHamzah - Supenir (Djuhari) - 1968

Amir Hamzah & The Hornets – Derita (Suffering) [1968]

Amir Hamzah & The Hornets - Derita (Amir Hamzah) - 1968

Amir Hamzah & The Hornets – Bersuka Ria (Having Fun) [1968]

"BERSUKARIA" AMIR HAMZAH DAN THE HORNETS 1968

Amir Hamzah & The Hornets – Hati-ku Terpaut Di-Sana (My Heart is Adrift There) [1968]

amir hamzah & the hornets _ hatiku terpaut di sana (1968)

Amir Hamzah & The Hornets – Bunga Anggerik (The Orchid) [1968]

amirhamzah _ bunga anggerek

Amir Hamzah & The Hornets – Rindu Malam (Nightsickness) [1968]

[*To search for audio]

Amir Hamzah & The Hornets – Kunang-Kunang (Fireflies) [1968]

amir hamzah & the hornets _ kunang kunang (1968)

Amir Hamzah & The Hornets – Silih Berganti (Alternately) [1968]

amir hamzah & the hornets _ silih berganti

Sambas D. S. & The Hornets - Ka-Mana Pun Dikau Pergi (Wherever You Go) [1968]

sambas d s & the hornets _ kemana pun dikau pergi

Sambas D. S. & The Hornets - Aku Bahagia (I’m Happy) [1968]

"AKUBAHAGIA" SAMBAS D.S dan THE HORNETS Dbp S.SAMSI 1967 RAKAMAN EP

Sambas D. S. & The Hornets - Potret-ku (My Portrait) [1968]**

Sambas D. S. & The Hornets “Potretku“ (1968) Remastered from vinyl EP

Sambas D. S. & The Hornets - Di-Rantau (In the Region) [1968]

SAMBASD S n THE HORNETS DI RANTAU

 

The Hornets were no longer active following the death of Adi Achik in 1969.

Ghaz, KL

**Note:

Another Indonesian singer, Diah Iskandar, also recorded Potret-Ku as Potret Kaseh-Ku. The same song with this title was then re-recorded by Eddie Ahmad (1948-1993) in his first solo EP in 1970 on EMI.

SPOTLIGHT ON: The Zaraks (written by Ghaz)

 

 

The Zaraks with A. Nadar performing “Kenangan-Ku” (My Memories) in the film “A-Go-Go ‘67” (1967).

The Zaraks is also another band performing in the film “A-Go-Go ’67” directed by the late Omar Rojik (1925 – 1997) and released by Shaw Brothers’ Malay Film Production based in Singapore.

A.Nadar & The Zaraks - Kenangan [OST A Go Go 1967]

Managed by Salim Ali, it consisted of Salleh Mohammed (lead guitarist), Zain Ali (bass guitarist), M. Ali (rhythm guitarist) and Y. Jaafar (drummer). Besides A. Nadar, The Zaraks also accompanied S. Anida (usually cited as only Anida) and Shahida “Ida” Basiron in their respective recordings with Philips Singapore.

 

 

 

A.    Nadar & The Zaraks – Teringat Peristiwa Dulu (Remembering the Past Events) [1967]

A.    Nadar & The Zaraks – Kau Bunga Idaman-ku (You’re My Dream Flower) [1967]

A.    Nadar & The Zaraks – Kaseh Berjanji (A Lover’s Promise) [1967]

A.    Nadar & The Zaraks – Menghilang (Disappearing) [1967]

Nadarand the Zaraks(full ep)

 

 

Anida & The Zaraks – Sayang Ada Yang Punya (It’s A Pity, I’m Not Available) [1967]

anida & the zaraks _ sayang ada yang punya

Anida & The Zaraks – Senyum Melukis Chinta (A Smile that Draws Love) [1967]

Anida & The Zaraks - Senyum Melukis Cinta (Salamah Basiron) - awal 1967

Note: Her songs Jalan Sunyi (A Quiet Street) and Buktikan-lah (Prove It) were recorded with The Boys, thus they were excluded from this article.

 

 

 

Ida & The Zaraks – Di-Station Kereta Api (At the Train Station) [1967]

Ida & The Zaraks – Kemarau Dingin (Cold Drought) [1967]

Ida & The Zaraks – Kalau Jodoh Ta’ Ka-Mana (If the Soulmate Doesn’t Go Anywhere) [1967]

Ida & The Zaraks – Ingatan Di-Malam Sejahtera (Memories in the Prosperous Night) [1967]

IDAdan THE ZARAKS full ep

Like many pop yeh yeh bands, The Zaraks’ stint in the Malay entertainment industry was short-lived. Nevertheless, the band did exist for a short while to entertain the crowd in that year.

Ghaz, KL