Lilis Suryani - Popsound PSY6352003

POPSOUND PSY 6352003
LILIS SURJANI
"Kunang Kunang"
Band: Zaenal Combo
Conductor: Zaenal Arifin.
Year: 1970?
Genre: Regional - Jakarta.

Lilis Surjani describes the Kampong - life of Jakarta.
A few to higlight:
"HARI RAYA" is about the Idul Fitri, or Lebaran (end of the Islamic fast period), when people meet each other giving good wishes and forgivingness of their faults.
"RONDA MALAM" The song starts with the sound of the "Tong Tong" . Than a Intro music plays, in the mind seeing before us an imaginary theatre curtain opens and then Lilis Surjani starts to sing of those dark nights.
she brings back the days of old Jakarta. Its about the guardsmen who make their round in a dark moonless night. The kampungs ( dwelling areas of the common people ) of Jakarta often have a group of young able men to do their nightly vigilance rounds. This is a necessity in the more remote areas with lots of greenery. Tropical nights are dark, especially in the old days with no electricity and the policemen could not be everywhere. Just think of the "Tempo Doeloe" ( The old days ) when telephones were scarce, or before that nonexistent. So in order to to make a warning sound for the community the "Tong Tong" was used. A hollow block of wood was beaten. Everyone could be alarmed, so when in case of theft the men who were on duty for the "Ronda Malam"(nightly round) could search a thief and eventually catch the criminal.
"SENANDUNG NELAYAN" Little dwellings, fishing boats near a muddy river by the seashore. These sights are scarce now, maybe just here and there looking down below from one of the many elevated highways near the the coast.
"MBOK KERAN" in this song the a summary of phrases, words and exclamations of the Jakarta dialect.
"CINTA SETIA" nice song almost chinese sounding.
The band of Zaenal Arifin adapted the music to the Jakarta or "Betawi" gambang kromong music.
This record has some funny songs with all kind of stories from the kampung-life: Nenek Grondong, Ciputri, Mbok Keran, Minta Kawin, Se-enaknye deh!, Babe Genit and Dikibulin. In many of this songs she sounds like a kampong-lady.
The remaining songs are more poetical and solemn.
The design of the cover is not referring to the record, maybe because it was produced in Singapore they had no other pictures available. More apropriate would be a picture of a group of kampong houses and Lilis Surjani standing before it dressed as local girl or otherwise it would have been nice if she had been photographed wearing a Betawi wedding dress just for the picture.

Kunang Kunang - ( Atjep S. )             Lilis Surjani        
Nenek Grondong - ( Atjep S. )             Lilis Surjani        
Ci Putri - ( Atjep S. )                  Lilis Surjani        
Hari Raya - ( Atjep S. )                  Lilis Surjani        
Ronda Malam - ( Atjep S. )             Lilis Surjani        
Senandung Nelayan - ( Atjep S. )         Lilis Surjani        
Mbok Keran - ( Atjep S. )             Lilis Surjani        
Minta Kawin - ( Ilin Sumantri )             Lilis Surjani        
Cinta Setia - ( Zaenal Arifin )             Lilis Surjani        
Se Enaknye Deh! - ( Ilin Sumantri )         Lilis Surjani        
Babe Genit - ( Ilin Sumantri )             Lilis Surjani        

Mesra LP16 - Various Artists " Ini & Itu "

MESRA LP 16
Various Artists:
"Ini & Itu"
Band: Zaenal Combo
Conductor: Zaenal Arifin.
Year: approx. 1968

"Apakah Arti Mimpilu" ( What is the meaning of my dream ) Tuty Subardjo. Good solid voice and timbre.
Typical indonesia-early modern sound
"Janggo" ( Django ) Lilis Surjani. In Japanese language. It is about a Cowboy movie.The Japanese are intrigued the cowboy character because of the similarity to a samurai, both brave lonesome fighters.
"Kisah Asmara" ( Love story ) by Sandra Sanger. A more delicate voice.
"Dung Ditonga Borngin" by Alfian. A Batak song. Its differs also in melody.
"Lambaian Bunga" ( Waving flowers ) by Elly Kasim. Good monumental song. Alas there is a bump due to a scratch on the record, its ooverall quality is still rather good, so its sad just this song is affected by this damage.
"Katakanlah" ( Speak, sy something ) Onny Surjono. The composer is Mustafa. Same as Mus K. Wirja ?
"Tiada Cinta Seindah Cintaku" ( No love is more precious than mine ) by Elly Kasim. A monumental composition, typical for Zaenal Arifin's work.
"Bintang Leo" ( The sign of leo ) by Lilis Surjani. Not just some statement, she was really from this constellation. Just in the nick, 22 aug 1948.
"Mungkin" ( Possible ) by Sandra Sanger.
"Bintang Taurus" ( The sign of taurus ) by Alfian. Another singer who reveals his sign of birth.
"Mungkin Disabrang Lautan" ( Maybe across the ocean ) by Tuty Subardjo. Fine song.
"Walaupun Tiada Lagi" ( Although not being here ) By onny Surjono.
All artist belong to the early modern stage of Indonesian popmusic, which goes roughly from 1960 to 1967.
Characteristics: Nice original compositions often by Zaenal Arifin. Songs from regional areas, often modernized, also to be found in this period songs in a latin american fashion.
Other artists from this period: Titiek Puspa, Diah Iskandar, Mus D.S., Oslan Husein, Rachmat Kartolo, Retno.

Apakah Arti Mimpiku - ( Rachman A. )              Tuty Subardjo        
Janggo                                                      Lilis Surjani        
Kisah Asmara - ( Muslihat )                  Sandra Sanger        
Dung Ditonga Borngin                              Alfian        
Lambaian Bunga                              Elly Kasim        
Katakanlah - ( Mustafa )                              Onny Surjono        
Tiada Cinta Seindah Cintaku - ( Zaenal Arifin )         Elly Kasim        
Bintang Leo - ( Zaenal Arifin )                  Lilis Surjani        
Mungkin - ( Muslihat )                              Sandra Sanger        
Bintang Taurus - ( Zaenal Arifin )             Alfian        
Mungkin Disebrang Lautan - ( Muslihat )             Tuty Subardjo        
Walaupun Tiada Lagi - ( Mashadi )             Onny Surjono        

Irama LPI17576 - Various Artists

LPI 17576
"Bertemu Kasih"
Various Artists and Bands
Year: approx. 1963
"Bertemu Kasih" ( Seeing my lover ) Band: "Kumbang Tjari" conductor: Nuskan Syarif
Nice orkestration, I like it. Its not sung in the Minangkabau language, like Elly Kasim mostly did.
"Kasiah Bacarai" ( My love,divorced? ) it is in Minang language, difficult for me, the Music is not Minang styled, but like a Latinamerican combo, Not uncommon in the early sixties. Band: " Osria " Conductor: Oslan Husein.
"Di Utara Minahasa" ( In the north of Minahasa ) this is the northern part of Sulawesi, Its in the regional language. Never heard before of the two singers. Band: Gaja Remadja ( Gaya Remaja in new spelling ) Conductor Eugene Maulana ( Also known by the name Ireng Maulana )
"Mada Pujangga" Mazef had to look it up in a dictionary, because it was not in his own vocabulary. It appeared to be something like:
"according to the sayings of a learned man" I learnt from Budiman "Made Pujangga" is a Composition by Rahman Ali / Sharif Rahman from Malysia in the year 1951. It has the typical solemnity of Malaysian songs more than 40 years ago. Band: "Pamor" conductor:Fred Firmanshah
"Parenai" another songtitle I cannot translate because it is in the language if the Minang people. Its very nice in its happy modernity.
I like it. Never heard of other recordings bu Mieke Widjaja. Band: "Pamor"
"Pesanku" ( My request ) on the record label is printed by Onny, but just in nick of time I came uo in my mind:, oh than he must be Onny Surjono.A bariton voice, like Bing Slamet. Band: "Osria"
"Bareh Solok" It is in Minang again, it means "Rice from Solok" because the city of Solok is amidst a rice growing region.
Band: "Kumbang Tjari"
"Erawati" That must be a girl's name. Ireng Maulana acting as vocalist this time. His Band: "Gaja Remadja"
All songs are in a kind of happy modernity nice to hear. The middle class people in the suburds would have like it.
All Minang songs are polished up in a way to please everyone in the country fom east to west.
In those days not so many people upcountry could buy records, because to operate a gramophone or record player one needs
110 or 220 volt power, which was mostly available in the cities, mostly just the business areas and the wealthier districts.
So maybe this caused the immense popularity of the cassette player in the seventies, to operate it just a few batteries are needed. Music came to the kampung. Maybe this accounts for the change in musical taste in the seventies and the newer interests in Pop Melayu, Dangdut, and the many Boys Rock Groups. Also the regional styles became more authenitic, each region could operate its own recording studio now. Before that making a record was a costly affair, it could only take place in Jakarta.

Bertemu Kasih - ( M. Jusuf )                  Elly Kasim        
Kasiah Bacarai - ( Mawardi Ms. )             Oslan Husein        
Di Utara Minahasa                              Anita & Djuria        
Mada Pujangga                                          Ida        
Parenai                                                      Mieke Widjaja        
Pesanku - ( Hasmanan )                  Onny Surjono        
Bareh Solok - ( N. Sjarif )                  Elly Kasim        
Erawati - ( E. Maulana )                              Ireng Maulana        
                          

Maja Sopha - Canary Records CLP17006

CANARY RECORDS CLP 17006
MAJA SOPHA
"Tanda Tanja"
Band: Eka Sapta
Genre: Regular - Pop
Year: approx. 1970
Not many records of this singer to be found: Maybe 3 or 4 tottally.
Another Canary record she can be heard with Bing Slamet.
In the song "Hadiaku Di Ulang Tahun" ( My Birthday present ) the typical Eka Sapta sound can be heard. The song is about a shirt she has bought for a boy friend's birthday. But when opening the parcel it appears to be a ladies blouse.
Maybe it is because of the language, like in English. When the seller asks "Is it for you Madam?
the answer is: No, it is for a friend ( untuk teman ) undetectable it is about a boy or a girl.
In this case Dutch language is more practical, a boy friend is "vriend" and girl friend as "vriendin"
So when a husband comes home late and questioned by his wife about its whereabouts he can answer without fear: "I met an old"vriend"." ( male friend )
There something strange on this record: The songs "Kuharap Akan Jumpa" ( I hope we will meet) and "Bila Kembali" ( When Back ) are the same lyrics and melody.
"Dalam Kerinduan" ( Longing ) is one of the nicest songs on this record, in my opinion.
"Cinta Abadi" ( Eternal Love ) sounds almost like a modern version of a mandarin song. I don't know the male voice is Ireng Maulana's or someone else's. Bing Slamet, also a member of Eka Sapta and also a vocalist had a lower voice.
"Si Petruk Jadi Raja" ( Petruk became king ) its about Petruk a wayang-shaped comic-book character, also known from the wayang theatre. He is always playing the funny part, so it is understandable what happens when such figure becomes king.
"Kawin Lari" ( Runaway marriage ) has an eery "asylum" sound.
Tanda Tanya - ( Jasir Sjam )                          
Si Bagong - ( Tom R.S. - Tati )                          
Milikmu Dan Milikku - ( Jasir Sjam )                          
Hadiahku Di Ulang Tahun - ( Jessy Wenas )                          
Kuharap Akan Jumpa - ( Tom R.S. - Tati )                          
Bila Kembali - ( Hengky F. )                          
Dalam Kerinduan - ( Tom R.S. - Tati )                          
Takkan Pergi Lagi - ( Mus K. Wirya )                          
Cinta Abadi - ( Lyrics - Ireng Maulana )                          
Si Petruk Jadi Raja - ( Mus K. Wirja )                          
Teman Baru - ( Tom R.S. - Tati )                          
Kawin Lari - ( Kiboud - Ireng Maulana )                          

Wiwiek Abidin - Cassette

Cassette
Side 1: Wiwiek Abidin and Sam
Songs in Melayu style.
Band: D'Lloyd
Conductor Bartje van Houten.
"Boneka India" ( Doll from India ) is a well known one.
Tarik Tambang ( pulling the rope of a ferry ) this melody originates from India.
The male singer on this side of the cassette is Sam, whose full name was: Syamsuar Hasyim.
.

Side 2 of this cassette: IVO's group ( Volume 5 )
Rather unknown to me.
In this period ( 1973 and after ) many boys band's were sprouting up ( The Mercy's, Panbers, and many others ) It is possible this cassette origanates from 2 LP records released before ( approx 1973-74 )
Boneka India                  Wiwik Abidin        
Oh Dimana                     Sam        
Ayo Berpantun               Wiwiek Abidin        
Sebatang Kara                Sam        
Ee Jangan Marah            Wiwiek Abidin        
Tak Terulang Lagi           Sam        
Tarik Tambang                Wiwiek Abidin - Sam        
Adikku Sayang                Wiwiek Abidin        
Sayang Sayang                Wiwiek Abidin        
Selama Hidupku              Wiwiek Abidin   

Arie Koesmiran - Mutiara MLL060

MUTIARA MLL060
ARIE KOESMIRAN
Band: Empat Nada
Conductors: Janwar-Hasanudin-A. Rijanto.
The winner of a contest Miss Popsinger of East Java 1970.
She was just 13 or 14 years and standing there with two enormous trophies.

Many songs on this record are coversongs 6 in total, maybe because on the Mutiara label the composers were
very busy making songs for Titiek Sandhora, the leading star, who was then launching her 16th LP
The audience and people who bought this kind of records did not bother much, as long it was a nice piece of music, often they were not aware it was an imported song, there was little knowledge then, the awareness grew a few years later when the cassette recording began and everyone could buy all kind of songs from the western world for a few hundred rupiahs.

The nicest songs to hear are two Indonesian ones: "Tanda Mata" and in Javanese language "Ande Ande Lumut" which existed before already, kind of oldie or traditional.

The imported ones:
"Mata biru" originally: "El Condor Pasa"
"Naik Kuda" orig: "Oh Suzanna"
"Ibunya Dua orig: "Dominique"
"Senang" orig: "Sugar" (?) I'am not quite sure, maybe later I correct this, if my memory allows.
"Hati Tersiksa" orig: "Aldila"
"Corina" orig: "Corina"

Two Lp's followed, the nicest is "Buto Galak" ,( Mutiara MLL 104 )
Later on approx 1976 she did some cassettes, ( Dangdut, Jawa etc. )
On this recording she already has an agreable voice, not too high pitched or childish.
Mata Biru - ( Lyrics - Setiawan S. )                          
Asyik - ( Budiman )                          
Harapanku - ( Jasir Sjam )                     
Naik Kuda - ( Lyrics - Imay Masfar )                          
Kenangan Desember - ( Is Haryanto )                          
Ibunya Dua - ( Lyrics - Sumo S. )                          
Senang ( Lyrics - Is Haryanto )                      
Setialah - ( Jasir Sjam )                          
Ande Ande Lumut                      
Tanda Mata - ( Wisjnu Mouradhi )                          
Hati Tersiksa - ( lyrics - A. Rijanto )                          
Corina - ( lyrics D. Djufari )                          

Titiek Sandhora - Mutiara MLL017

MUTIARA RECORD MLL 017 ( Remaco moulding nr 12181 - 12182 )
TITIEK SANDHORA
"Si Djago Mogok"
Band: Empat Nada
Conductors: Janwar/Hasanudin, & A. Rijanto.


The 6th record album of Titiek Sandhora produced by Remaco Industries in 1969.
She became a very populair singer, this record is re- released with a cover different from the original release
The song "Ingat Padamu" ( Think of You ) sounds similar with the song "Please Help Me I'm falling" by Hank Locklin.
The song "Melody Untukmu" ( Melody for You ) is echoing the sound of Kroncong Music.
"Si Jago Mogok" is about a friend who takes her on a ride in a car that often refuses to perform, girls hate that.
"Merantau" ( = : being overseas, far from friends and family ) is rendered with great emotion.
"Anakku Sayang" ( My Beloved Child ) The melody sounds more orginating from Japan than from China, but Maz. is not quite sure. Commonly this genre was rubricated as "Mandarin Songs"

Lotto Harian - ( Jessy Wenas )                          
Ingat Padamu                           
Dahulu Dan Sekarang - ( Mus K. Wirja )                          
Jangan Paksa Dong - ( Wedhasmara )                          
Melody Untukmu - ( A.Rijanto )                          
Cinta Terpendam -( Harry Santosa Betty S)                          
Si Jago Mogok - ( Jessy Wenas )                          
Merantau - ( Jasir Sjam )                          
Rasain Deh - ( Mustafa Wirijat )                          
Anakku Sayang                          
Bergembira - ( Jasir Sjam )                          
Di Pantai - ( Mus K. Wirja )