The Best of George Harrison

I don't remember where I found this album -- The Best of George Harrison. Since it is an album with it's best selection concept, so what ever it must be a valuable matter. Some critics say that unfortunately this album consists mostly songs from Beatles era, not from Harrison solo years. *


Track list

1. "Something" – 3:01
2. "If I Needed Someone" – 2:22
3. "Here Comes the Sun" – 3:05
4. "Taxman" – 2:37
5. "Think for Yourself" – 2:18
6. "For You Blue" – 2:31
7. "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" – 4:45
* Tracks 1 - 7 are performed by The Beatles

8. "My Sweet Lord" – 4:38
9. "Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth)" – 3:35
10. "You" – 3:41
11. "Bangla Desh" – 3:57
12. "Dark Horse" – 3:53
13. "What Is Life" – 4:17

*) All songs composed by George Harrison
Album: The Best of George Harrison
Producer: Parlopone, 1976

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

When I found this Beatles album in a corner of Makati Cinema Square Manila, 1996, really I did not know that this album is a very special item. Until I read the review from Wikipedia as written below. Unfortunately that I found this long playing naked without it's cover.

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band is the eighth album by The Beatles. It is often cited as their magnum opus and one of the most influential albums of all time by prominent critics and publications, ranking number 1 on Rolling Stone's The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time in 2003.

Upon release, Sgt. Pepper received both popular and critical acclaim. Various reviews appearing in the mainstream press and trade publications throughout June 1967, immediately after the album's release, were generally quite positive. In The Times, prominent critic Kenneth Tynan described Sgt. Pepper as "a decisive moment in the history of Western civilization." Others including Richard Poirier, and Geoffrey Stokes were similarly expansive in their praise, Stokes noting, "listening to the Sgt. Pepper album one thinks not simply of the history of popular music but the history of this century." Thank God, I have this album.*


Track list:

Side one
1."Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" – 2:04
2."With a Little Help from My Friends" – 2:46
3."Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" – 3:30
4."Getting Better" – 2:49
5."Fixing a Hole" – 2:38
6."She's Leaving Home" – 3:37
7."Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!" – 2:37

Side two
1."Within You Without You" (George Harrison) – 5:07
2."When I'm Sixty-Four" – 2:37
3."Lovely Rita" – 2:44
4."Good Morning Good Morning" – 2:43
5."Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)" – 1:20
6."A Day in the Life" – 5:33
*

Appreciating Children Songs

Children song is not a sexy business for music industry. While pop music like Kangen-ist is spreading like wild grass, music for children is very rare. We have ever a talented singer Sherina, but she is now a teenager and newly released a teenager-pop-album. Since children songs are rare, actually we have to appreciate every single children-song album. Look at this album, there are at least two songs which have cacthy melodies. Actually, who has to encourage children-song production? Government? May be. Since children-song actually is for education purpose, not merely as matter of business.*

Bubi Chen and His Fabulous Five

This album by the most prominent Indonesian pianist Bubi Chen is noted by Rolling Stone magazine on the end of 2007 as one of 150 Best Indonesian Album. Thank to Rolling Stone magazine, I bought this long play newly on January 2008. Don't imagine that this album is about mainstream jazz, but it is more likely jazz-chachacha playing famous songs composed by non-Indonesian composer. If you are truly jazz lover, you should have this historical album for Indonesia jazz history.*

Track list
Side one:
1. Begin the Beguine (Cole Porter)
2. Sakura (traditional)
3. Perfidia (A. Dominguez)
4. Come Back to Sorriento (De Curtis)
5. Moon River (Mercer-Mancini)
6. The World of Suzie Wong

Side two:
1. Torero (Carosone)
2. To Be or Not to Be (d' Esposito)
3. Bali Hai (Roger Hammerstein II)
4. Nanatsu Noko (traditional)
5. La Paloma (Yradier)
6. Come Back to Me (Martin)

Album: Bubi Chen and His Fabulous Five
Musicians: Bubi Chen (piano), Jack Lemmers (guitar), AT Asni (drums), Sarono (bass), Nien (bamboo)
Producer: Irama Record
Liner note: Wienaktoe
Cover design: Pandji Kamal

Is This Russian Rock

The two images of this album are truly strange. I can not read even one single word from the texts written in the cover. But I think these two albums are produced by Russian musicians. When I bought the albums in a corner of Makati Cinema Theatre Square, a place like Manggadua ITC in Makaty City Manila, 1996, I just bought them without listening before. I am glad that after listening those albums in Bekasi thru my tuntable, the music is such pop-rock-like-Gigi. Quite enjoyable, although not catchy. Is there any one of you can give more information about musicians in above images?*

Gombloh in Utan Kayu Station

Last night, 13 February 2008, Utan Kayu, one of radio stations in Jakarta, aired a musical talkshow talking and playing track lists of the late singer and composer Gombloh. This man has very unique position in musical map in Indonesia. His contribution in music should be appreciated as well as other composer such as Iwan Fals with his Kantata Takwa and Swami project, or a troubador singer Leo Kristi.

I enjoy that programme, because I can listen to at least 3 songs which I never heard before, such as Siti Jamila (with Viky Vendi), and Sekarmayang (Javanesse version Hongwilaheng). Hearing songs of Gombloh in radio is something strange, since almost radio stations in Jakarta have a same taste to pop-music-like Kangen-iest. Thank to Gigin Praginanto, senior journalist who anchored that programme. *

Discography:
1. Nadia dan Atmosphere (Golden hand, 1978)
2. Mawar Desa (Golden Hand, 1978)
3. Kadar Bangsaku (Golden Hand, 1979)
4. Pesan Buat Negeriku (Golden Hand, 1980)
5. Terima kasih Indonesiaku (Chandra Recording, 1981)
6. Pesan Buat Kaum Belia (Chandra Recording, 1982)
7. Berita Cuaca (Chandra Recording, 1982)
8. Kami Anak Negeri Ini (Chandra Recording, 1983)
9. Gila (Nirwana, 1983)
10. Setengah Gila (Nirwana, 1984)
11. Semakin Gila (Nirwana, 1986)
12. Apa Itu Tidak Edan (Nirwana, 1987)

*) I have almost all albums of Gombloh, unless Sekar Mayang (Golden Hand, 1981), Kebyar-kebyar (Golden Hand, 1979), and Apel (Nirwana, 1986).

The Eclectic Bjork

Bjork is the phenomenon in music history. Her music in all her albums are well crafted as experimental-pop-music. Bjork is musician who can blend sounds from the most advanced musical technology into a fresh-superb-futuristic composition.

Her approach in composing music actually is like Philip Glass with his minimalism, or Laurie Anderson with her multimedia-rock-performance, or Indonesian prominent componist Slamet Abdul Sjukur with his minimax approach as well as his fractal philosophy. But Bjork has her unique and personal approach, that is wild imagination on the canvas of pop music. Welcome to Indonesia on 12 February 2008, my Bjork. *

Chinesse Happy Birthday Song

English note: From America, Happy Birthday song flies to China. It approved that music could go beyond territories. This album entitled Happy Birthday Music consists of 12 songs, with four of them are four verses of this song, including a song with Hongkong chacha rythm. All songs are played by an traditional orchestra of Chinesse music. Since this longplaying used Chinesse language, some information of this vintage I don't understand. *

The Birthday of Happy Birthday

English note: When was the birthday of Happy Birthday song? Who composed this song? According to Wikipedia, the melody of "Happy Birthday to You" was written by American sisters Patty Hill and Mildred J. Hill in 1893, when they were school teachers in Louisville, Kentucky, at what is now the Little Loomhouse. I have a longplay which may be one of the oldest version of this song. That is album entitled Almost Authentic Folk Songs by Dolan Ellis and The In Group which produced by Reprise, made in USA, 1961. In one song from this album entitled Joe Bean, we can hear last part from the song: "Happy Birthday Joe Bean" ect. In the note describing this song written this sentence: "Folks of the Old West in unprecedented kindness to a young outlaw." *

Ethnic Folkways Library

English note: Civilized society are very aware to recorded music. This album entitled Music of Indonesia was produced by New Yorker -- hopefuly N.Y.C. means it -- on 1950. This album presented 10 folkrythms from central Java, Sunda, Batak, Minangkabau, and Bali. Those rare music were recorded live from the place and the people who created those music. It's amazing. Thank God that there is foreign producer who recorded those music in the old time when Indonesian people might be not yet aware to do that. *


Discography:
Abum : Music of Indonesia
Producer : Ethnic Folkways Library, copyright 1950 by Folkways Record & Serv. Corp 117 W 46 St. N.Y.C.
Line Notes: Raden Suwanto
Tracks list:

1. Ile-ile (Batak Music recorded in Sumatra. Sinandang Sipirok Orch., Dir. Rapoesen Batoebara)
2. Tari Piring Sadang Lawas (Plate Dance. Recorded in Minangkabau Sumatra)
3. Tumba Lela-lelan (recorded in Mainangkabau)
4. Bah Motoh (Chorus, drums. Temior music recorded in Malaya at Gill. under Dir. of H.D. Noone, Malaya Advs. Corp.)
5. Udan Liris (Vocal with Ketjapi. Recorded in Sunda)
6. Sorban Palid (Vocal with Ketjapi and Violin. recorded in Sunda)

7. Lagu Babar Lajar (Instrumental. Gamelan, saron, bonang. Recorded in Central Java)
8. Lagu Srihardjono (gamelan, rebab, gender, suling. Recorded in Central Java)
9. Ganda Pura (Djanger-Abijan-Timbul. Instrumental. Gamelan, rebab. Recorded in Bali)
10. Peperangan Sira pandji (Parabangsa-Classic Opera. Recorded in Bali)
.