Author Archive
Super boy
You gotta hear these! Christopher Hart sings “Gipsy Man” with the St. Julian’s School Choir under the “leadership” of Maestro Cesar Batalha. RT Records (1981) Art: Maria Lucia / Photography: Lourenco (Portugal) Thanks to lp cover lover, Paolo Martins for writing “Christopher Hart rocks all you teens out of your closet with his fabulous double 45.”
Gipsy Man: Every kid dreams of freedom outdoors.
“I’m am the gayest Gipsy man that rides inside a caravan”
The “B” side: “Super Boy”
Super Boy: A song about British superpowers.
“I’m always so supreme when I have my daydream”
Paolo adds: Maestro César Batalha composed a lot of children music. He’s responsible for the theme of the band Onda Choc in the 90’s and several others. Onda Choc was a pre-teen cover band. Gipsy Man was also sung in Portuguese and its melody spread everywhere where emigrants with children went. A French friend of mine recalls the song in Portuguese as Little Gipsy Woman, not Man. I’m not sure where Christopher Hart came in, but he’s British and probably sang in St Julians School Choir. Maybe there was some effort to internationalize Maestro Cesar’s themes by bringing in some foreign singers.
Birthday girl
Heather-Harvey & The Thunderbirds “Birthday” Pop Sound Records
Heather Batchen was a British girl staying in Singapore. She teamed up with some British servicemen to form Heather with The Diamond Four. Heather was later backed by The Thunderbirds. Heather’s interpretation of Love is blue (I’amour est bleu) was splendid. Her other more popular hits were: I’ll never be the same, We two forever shall be one, Nobody’s child, Mr. tambourine man. Heather married Harvey Fitzgerald, vocalist and rhythm guitarist of The Thunderbirds.
The Thunderbirds was formed in 1962. The lineup of Derrick Fitzgerald (lead), Harvey Fitzgerald (vocals, rhythm), William Wee (bass), Freddie Tan (drums) recorded a single in 1966 with “My lonely heart†on the A side. The song became No. 1 in Singapore and Malaysia. Harvey sang the haunting ballad with Derrick playing some very effective slide guitar licks using a comb.






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