A place for Orlando in the hearts of Pinoys

Tony Orlando, the popular entertainer is coming to town. With two pretty girls collectively known as Dawn, this guy made big hits out of Tie A Yellow Ribbon (Round The Old Oak Tree), Knock Three Times (On The Ceiling) Candida, Steppin’ Out (Gonna Boogie Tonight) and other songs. Recent news have it that he will be performing at the Newport Performing Arts Theater at Resorts World Manila (RWM) on July 9 at 8 p.m.

I do not recall if Orlando has been here before. But given the number and variety of acts from past eras who have visited the Philippines several times over, I am almost sure that he has. But even if he hasn’t and that it has now been 40 years since he started making hits, Orlando remains popular among music-loving Pinoys. This is not just because those perky tunes Knock Three Times and Candida are still big favorites, but also because of the now iconic Tie A Yellow Ribbon.

Orlando’s song tells about a former convict wondering if he would still be welcomed home after three years in the slammer. He has asked his wife to please tie a yellow ribbon round the old oak tree if they want him home. If he sees the ribbon, he will get off the bus. If he sees no ribbon, he will just go on his lonely way. The story has a happy ending. There are a hundred yellow ribbons around the old oak tree.

While awaiting the release of political prisoner Benigno Aquino Jr. from prison, somebody thought of using Tie A Yellow Ribbon as Ninoy’s song. I still take my hat off to whoever thought of this. It was not only a brilliant idea, it also proved to be extremely popular. Orlando’s song became the theme of the opposition and yellow, which is traditionally the color of cowardice, came to symbolize the brave uprising against the Marcos regime. And because of that, there will always be a place for Orlando in the hearts of Filipinos.

Take note though that aside from Tie A Yellow Ribbon, Orlando, also an actor who starred in Smoky Joe’s Café on Broadway, has an impressive catalogue of songs that everybody can enjoy. In fact, a few days ago, I came across one of them. If I am not mistaken, Bless You was recorded before his Dawn period. It is a typical pop tune from the early ’70s but what I like most about it are Orlando’s vocals, so clear and so young. It is just like what I have always imagined teen idols should sound like. Well, he was once a teen idol. He is now a full-fledged entertainer.

So check him out at the Newport in RWM. It would be fun to see him do his hits live. Some of the engaging songs you might have forgotten that he also popularized or successfully covered are He Don’t Love You (Like I Love You), Cupid; Halfway To Paradise; What Are You Doing Sunday; Say Has Anybody Seen My Sweet Gypsy Rose; Who’s In The Strawberry Patch With Sally; I Play And Sing; Summer Sand; Runaway/ Happy Together; Midnight Love Affair, Vaya Con Dios; You’re A Lady; You Say The Sweetest Things; and Up On The Roof.

 It is unfortunate that there is no Tony Orlando compilation among the new titles of the Gold The Greatest Hits Collection series. But if reading about his hits has aroused your appetite for ’70s pop music then this line-up is your best bet to get your fill of great tunes and most importantly to fill up those gaps in your CD library. Remember most of these songs were released in the before CD era.

Now also available in the Gold Greatest Hits Collection series are:

The Carpenters by Richard and Karen, the most successful brother and sister act of all time. Almost every single they released was a hit. Yesterday Once More, Superstar, Rainy Days And Mondays, Goodbye To Love, I Won’t Last A Day Without You, For All We Know, Touch Me When We’re Dancing, Please Mr. Postman, I Need To Be In Love, Solitaire, We’ve Only Just Begun, They Long To Be Close To You, This Masquerade, Ticket To Ride, Top Of The World, Only Yesterday, Sing and Calling Occupants Of Interplanetary Craft. Too, bad Merry Christmas Darling is not included.

The Commodores. Two discs. Thirty-nine cuts. Still the funkiest group ever. I still recall how easy it was for them to get audiences off their butts and dancing. And don’t forget, it was because of them that we later got one fantastic soul balladeer in Lionel Richie. Machine Gun, Are You Happy, Don’t You Be Worries, Slippery When Wet, I Feel Sanctified, Young Girls Are My Weakness, The Bump, This Is Your Life, Sweet Love, Just To Be Close To You, Easy, High On Sunshine, Brick House, Too Hot Ta Trot, Three Times A Lady, I Like What You Do, Still, Sail On, Wonderland, Heroes, Jesus Is Love, Nightshift and Animal Instinct. Also included is Cebu, which they wrote and recorded after sold-out gigs in Manila and Cebu in 1974.

The Supremes. Two discs. Forty cuts. The biggest selling girl trio of all time which would later give birth to the great soul diva Diana Ross. Where Did Our Love Go, Baby Love, Stop! In The Name of Love, Back In My Arms Again, Come See About Me, I Hear A Symphony, My World Is Empty Without You Babe, You Keep Me Hanging On, You Can’t Hurry Love, Standing at the Crossroads of Love, Love Is Like An Itching In My Heart, Reflections, Love Child, Forever Came Today, I’m Gonna Make You Love Me, Love Train, etc.