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早期鑽石唱片發行的唱片大多集中在江玲及潘迪華身上﹐隨後流行著一片 Band Sound﹐加上唱片公司定位極之洋化﹐於是發了一張“江玲與回音樂隊” 的專輯﹐唱片同時發了 Stereo 版 (右圖) 及 Mono 版 (左圖)。

傳統的夜總會歌星江玲﹐加上菲律賓樂隊 Fabulous Echoes 伴奏﹐配上 Vic Cristobal 的編曲﹐形成一種 East Meets West 的感覺。當然隨著唱片的成功﹐往後唱片公司也成功捧出 Fabulous Echoes 來﹐並且為他們出版首張專輯 Those Fabulous Echoes。

當時這種配搭說穿了其實並不算新奇﹐因為隨著時代轉變﹐唱片公司意圖把江玲那種50年代 Vocalist /歌星的味道﹐以時興的樂隊伴奏﹐改變較新穎的60年代摩登風格來﹐不過任用菲律賓樂手伴奏及編曲根本不是新奇的事﹐自海派歌曲從上海南移到香港﹐唱片公司的國語時代曲失去了白俄樂隊伴奏﹐一直以來這方面都是菲律賓樂手操刀的﹐只是唱片公司從沒有利用這一點作為宣傳策略吧了。

筆者認為上一張Theme For A Dream 比較適合江玲的演唱風格﹐這次選來的歌曲﹐比較年輕化﹐而伴奏﹑編曲與及錄音上﹐感覺就有點急就章﹐沒有理想中的細緻﹐所以製作出來的只是一張極為普通的 Cover Version 專輯。另一方面﹐若細心比較 Fabulous Echoes 往後的唱片風格﹐這裡他們只能說是 Musician 吧了﹐實在也談不上甚麼風格。專輯中最突出的是 Yum Yum Cha Cha﹐稍後鑽石為鄧寄塵出版的專輯﹐便改編了此曲﹐成為“噯姑乖”。

江玲與回音樂隊 Kong Ling + The Fabulous Echoes + Vic Cristobal = Dynamite! (1962/Diamond) Track List:
01 I‘ve Told Every Star
02 Love Me Warm And Tender
03 Yum Yum Cha Cha
04 Sad Movies
05 Let’s Twist Again
06 Moon River
07 Al Di La
08 Mr Sandman
09 I Can’t Stop Loving You
10 La Paloma Twist
11 Why Not Now
12 You Don’t Know Me


以下轉載自唱片封套的介紹﹕

Hoagkong's favourite female vocalist is back with a collection of tweleve great hits.

In times susch as these where many singers fade out of the scene after one hit, Kong Ling has established herself as Hongkong's most sought after vocalist. Her popularity has extended to Singapore, Malaya, other parts of the Far East and across the Atlantic to the United States where she wi1l shortly return for her third stint with the Arthur Godfrey TV Show.

Many critics have said that Kong Ling's repertoire is restricted to ballad singing only, but she has proved them wrong. In her first album on Diamond, she exuberantly let herself go to the rhythm or twelve exciting off-beat cha cha numbers and in her second LP she can be heard belting out bluesy Julie London type numbers ("Jilted").

This LP shows yet another side of Kong Ling. In addition to ballads and cha chas, she come through with great zest on two twist numbers ("Let's Twist Again" and "La Paloma Twist").

The superb vocal backing is supplied by The Fabulous Echoes. The group was formed some five years ago and are undoubtedly the liveliest teen group Hongkong has ever produced.

When Diamond wanted vocal background for Kong Ling they decided that she should get the best. And the best she did get-The Fabulous Echoes. The recording sessions were greatly enjoyed by all concerned. The Echoes and Kong Ling had a wonderful time playing pranks on each other. On one occassion the Echoes went into their "Mashed Potato" routine, and Kong Ling who was watching, begged to be taught the new dance. In no time flat the whole studio was in an uproar with everyone including, the usually quiet Vic Cristobal trying their hand at the new dance. The Fabulous Echoes at present consist of Tony (guitarist and leader); Danny (drums); Cliff (lead vocalist); Terry (Pianist); Stan (guitar and bass); and Bert (percussion).

When it came to assigning arranging and conducting duties Diamond did not have to look further than Vic Cristobal-the man responsible for Kong Ling's second LP "'Theme For A Dream" (BLP 1005) and other success albums on Diamond.

Vic Cristobal is perhaps the most talented arranger-musician-composer in these parts. He has been credited with numerous film scores and has "sat in" on countless recordings.

Vic has a talent for composing and this was clearly displayed in Kong Ling’s "Theme For A Dream" LP in which he wrote four numbers specially for her. These are "Lost In A Dream"; "Wishing"; "Jilted"; and "The Stars Are Filled With Bliss". Vic is also a very accomplist pianist.

Kong Ling, The Fabulous Echoes and Vic Cristobal are "stars" in their own right. Put them together for a recording and you cannot but come up with great results. Spin the disc once and you'll understand what we mean!

受本港特別寵愛的女歌星江玲再次有十二首名曲獻出。
現時﹐不少歌星只能有一曲幸成成便不聞而失。但是江玲不但在本港成立了她的名譽﹐在星加坡﹐馬來亞等遠東各地也極受歡迎和讚賞。此外她將第三次在美國雅打哥非(Arthur Godgrey) 電視節目出現了。
曾經有批評家言明江玲之長處只限於短篇艷情歌﹐可是她已在鑽石唱片司公所錄音的第一張 (Off Beat Cha Cha) 及第二張 (Theme for a Dream) 長壽唱片中確實證明了批評家的短覺﹐因這兩張唱片中﹐已顯出她能將自己的情感豐盛的發表於愉快的 Off-Beat 韻律中或造出與茱莉倫敦 (Julie London) 所園的「性感式」的動人「歌聲」。
這張唱片又帶來江玲的另一面。在於Fabulous Echoes之贊助下﹐她熱烈的把兩首扭腰舞節奏的歌曲唱出 (Let’s Twist Again 與 La Palma Twist) 。
Fabulous Echoes 已成立了五年多。在這時間中﹐該隊的組織曾有過一兩次的改革。現時﹐樂隊人員及各人所專長如下:
東尼 (Tony) - 給他(領隊)
丹尼 (Danny) - 鼓
奇里夫 (Cliff) - 歌唱
史丹 (Stan) - 結他及大提琴
寶奇 (Bert) - 其他 (Percussion)
經過了一番苦幹﹐Fabulous Echoes 已是屬於本港最受年青入所擁護的。
在編排﹐指揮等方面﹐鑽石唱片公司幸得有Vic Cristobal 一位難得而富有天才的作曲及音樂家。他曾經為鑽石唱片公司灌了不少受聽眾喜愛的唱片﹐包括江玲之第二長壽唱片 - 夢裡喜相逢 (Theme For A Dream): DLP 1005。在該片中﹐有四首歌曲是特別為江玲作的﹕
消失於夢中 (Lost In A Dream)
祝禱 (Wishing)
輕棄所歡 (Jilted),
群星爭輝 (The Stars Are Filled With Bliss)
此外﹐他還在電影歌曲方面有無數的貢獻。同時他也是一流的琴手。奇怪的﹐他所愛好是籃球。
江玲﹐Fabulous Echoes 及 Vic Cristobal﹐在音樂的圈子裡﹐都是出色的﹐而在他們合力獻出之結晶品﹐毫無疑問必定是成功的。只要聽該唱片一次﹐你便有此同感了。


I‘ve Told Every Star﹕原是1932年音樂劇“Music In The Air”的歌曲﹐最著名的版本有Linda Scott (1961/Canadian American)﹐是 Billboard 流行榜季軍歌曲。
(Jerome Kern / Oscar Hammerstein II)



Yum Yum Cha Cha﹕原唱為 Roberta Shore (1961/Dot)。
(Unknown)



Let’s Twist Again﹕原唱為 Chubby Checker (1961/Parkway)﹐為扭腰舞經典歌曲之一。
(Kal Mann / Dave Appell)



Moon River﹕原是1961年電影Breakfast at Tiffany's 插曲﹐最著名的版本有 Andy William (1962/Columbia)。
(Henry Mancini / Johnny Mercer)




筆者相關文章介紹﹕
Kong Ling - Hong Kong Presents Off-Beat Cha Cha
江玲 - 夢裡喜相逢
Kong Ling - Theme For A Dream
Fabulous Echoes - Those Fabulous Echoes
Fabulous Echoes - Zoom!! With The Fabulous Echo
Fabulous Echoes - Lovin’ Feeling
Fabulous Echoes – In Action
Fabulous Echoes - The Best Of Fabulous Echoes
Fabulous Echoes - Singles & EP
Fabulous Echoes - Breakin’ It Up At Dukes! Recorded “Live"
鑽石名曲選 - The History Of Diamond Records



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