Hit Instrumentals (Diamond Records 鑽石唱片)

上世紀七十年代初，香港葡籍商人Ren da Silva於五十年代末期創立及經營的Diamond Records (鑽石唱片)，被當時附屬於西德Deutsche Grammophon唱片集團名下的Polydor Records (寶麗多唱片)英國分公司收購後，旗下的大牌歌星，如Joe Junior、Sam Hui 許冠傑、Teddy Robin 泰迪羅賓等，也轉投入了新公司。而往後其灌錄的新曲唱片，亦紛紛以Polydor、或Phonogram Inc.＊擁有的Philips及Fontana商標名義面世。儘管Diamond Records於其時的運作基本上已停頓下來，惟渡過了數年後的1973至1974年間，卻似靜悄悄的出現了共九張、也同是最後一批以Diamond Records 商標名義發行的Instrumental(器樂曲)錄音長壽唱片專集。

＊隸屬於Grammophon-Philips Group內的管控公司

該批名為《Hit Instrumentals》(HI)系列的唱片專輯，全是集合了一些六十至七十年代初至中期極流行於港澳樂壇的歐西歌曲，由一班香港著名樂手以純音樂模式演譯及灌錄。其中Vol. 4 & 5及Vol. 6 & 7皆是一封套兩唱片形式的印製安排，而不少收錄的樂曲是重覆地在隨後出版的專集內出現。編號HI-3008那張是以《All The Way With Ray》之名稱、及印製了兩款不同的封套正面圖像見世，其封套背面版內一篇由香港電台(RTHK)著名老牌歌曲播放人Ray Cordeiro 郭利民撰寫的文章中所顯示，負責選曲安排及參與灌錄該唱片專集的演奏組合名為The Night-Owls，其成員名字為：主音結他手的Norman Cheng 鄭東漢、低音結他手的Ricky Fung 馮添枝、電子琴及鋼琴手的Nick Domingo、及已故的鼓手Donald Ashley 唐龍。惟在系列其它專集內，卻並沒有列載有關的演譯成員名字，估計大多也是由這幾位昔日的大哥級樂手負責吧。此外，這系列唱片竟曾罕見地被Deutsche Grammophon利用旗下的廉價(budget lines)商標Tip Records或屬於Phonogram Inc.轄下之Selecta Series系列名義發行、及出現於當時之北歐國家地區市場內。

Hit Instrumentals Vol. 1            (HI-3001)

Side 1

1. Love Story    (Francis Lai)
2. Something╱My Sweet Lord    (George Harrison)
3. Temptation Eyes    (Harvey Price．Dan Walsh)
4. The Circle Game    (Joni Mitchell)
5. Close To You    (Burt Bacharach)
6. The Letter    (Wayne Carson Thompson)
7. He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother    (Bobby Scott)

Side 2

1. Black Night    (Ritchie Blackmore．Ian Gillan．Roger Glover．Jon Lord．Ian Paice )
2. Bridge Over Troubled Water    (Paul Simon)
3. One Bad Apple    (George Jackson)
4. I Just Can't Help Believing    (Barry Mann．Cynthia Weil)
5. Have You Ever Seen The Rain？    (John Fogerty)
6. Evil Ways    (Clarence "Sonny" Henry)
7. Both Sides Now    (Joni Mitchell)

Tip Records的1973年版本：

"Black Night (Instrumental)"試聽版﹕

"Bridge Over Troubled Water (Instrumental)"試聽版﹕

"Have You Ever Seen The Rain？ (Instrumental)"試聽版﹕

"Evil Ways (Instrumental)"試聽版﹕

Hit Instrumentals Vol. 2            (HI-3002)

Side 1

1. Sweet And Innocent    (Rick Hall．Billy Sherrill)
2. How Can You Mend A Broken Heart    (Barry & Robin Gibb)
3. Rose Garden    (Joe South)
4. It Don't Come Easy／What Is Life    (Richard Starkey／George Harrison)
5. Rainy Days And Mondays    (Roger Nichols)
6. Black Magic Woman／Soul Sacrifice    (Peter Green／Carlos Santana．David Brown．Marcus Malone．Gregg Rolie)

Side 2

1. Joy To The World    (Hoyl Axton)
2. For All We Know    (Arthur James．Fred Karlin．Robby Wilson)
3. Come Together／Hey Jude／Let It Be    (John Lennon．Paul McCartney)
4. Delta Lady／Feelin' Alright    (Leon Russell／Dave Mason)
5. Knock Three Times／Cracklin' Rosie／Yellow River    (Irwin Levine／Neil Diamond／Jeff Christie)
6. Wichita Lineman／By The Time I Get To Phoenix／Where's The Playground Susie    (Jimmy Webb)

"Sweet And Innocent (Instrumental)"試聽版﹕

"Knock Three Times／Cracklin' Rosie／Yellow River (Instrumental)"試聽版﹕

Hit Instrumentals Vol. 3            (HI-3003)

Side 1

1. Blossom Lady    (Robbie van Leeuwen)
2. What Are You Doing Sunday?    (Irwin Levine．Toni Wine)
3. Your Song    (Elton John)
4. It's Too Late    (Carole King)
5. Go Away Little Girl    (Carole King)
6. Let's See Action／Won't Get Fooled Again    (Pete Townshend)
7. You've Got A Friend     (Carole King)

Side 2

1. Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum／Soley Soley    (Giosafatte Capuano．Mario Capuano．Lally Stott／Fernando Arbex．Lally Stott)
2. Superstar    (Bonnie Bramlett．Leon Russell)
3. Melody Fair／In The Morning     (Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb／Barry Gibb)
4. Yo-Yo    (Joe South)
5. Imagine    (John Lennon)
6. Sweet City Woman     (Rich Dodson)
7. It's Impossible    (Armando Manzanero)

"Blossom Lady (Instrumental)"試聽版﹕

"It's Impossible (Instrumental)"試聽版﹕

Hit Instrumentals Vol. 4 & 5            (HI-3004／5)

Vol. 4    The Best Of Bee Gees／Beatles

Side 1

1. My World    (Barry & Robin Gibb)
2. How Can You Mend A Broken Heart     (Barry & Robin Gibb)
3. To Love Somebody     (Barry & Robin Gibb)
4. Melody Fair／In The Morning     (Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb／Barry Gibb)
5. First Of May     (Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb)
6. The Singer Sang His Song     (Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb)
7. Don't Forget To Remember    (Barry & Maurice Gibb)

Side 2

1. Get Back    (John Lennon．Paul McCartney)
2. Come Together ╱Hey Jude╱Let It Be    (John Lennon．Paul McCartney)
3. Imagine    (John Lennon)
4. It Don't Come Easy╱What Is Life    (Richard Starkey╱George Harrison)
5. The Long And Winding Road    (John Lennon．Paul McCartney)
6. Something╱My Sweet Lord    (George Harrison)

"My World (Instrumental)"試聽版﹕

"It Don't Come Easy╱What Is Life？ (Instrumental)"試聽版﹕

Vol. 5    The Best Of Simon & Garfunkei／Carpenters

Side 1

1. Scarborough Fair╱Canticle
2. The Sounds Of Silence    (Paul Simon)
3. A Hazy Shade Of Winter    (Paul Simon)
4. April Come She Will    (Paul Simon)
5. Mrs. Robinson    (Paul Simon)
6. El Condor Pasa    (Daniel Alomía Robles)
7. Bridge Over Troubled Water    (Paul Simon)

Side 2

1. Hurting Each Other    (Gary Geld)
2. Superstar    (Bonnie Bramlett．Leon Russell)
3. Bless The Beasts And Children     (Barry DeVorzon．Perry Botkin, Jr.)
4. Love Is Surrender     (Ralph Carmichael)
5. For All We Know    (Arthur James．Fred Karlin．Robby Wilson)
6. Rainy Days And Mondays    (Roger Nichols)
7. Close To You    (Burt Bacharach)

Tip Records的1973年版本：

"The Sounds Of Silence (Instrumental)"試聽版﹕

"Superstar (Instrumental)"試聽版﹕

"Rainy Days And Mondays (Instrumental)"試聽版﹕

Hit Instrumentals Vol. 6 & 7            (HI-3006／7)

Vol. 6    The Best Of Carole King．Tom Jones．Engelbert Humperdinck

Side 1

1. I Feel The Earth Move     (Carole King)
2. Green, Green Grass Of Home     (Curly Putman)
3. It's Going To Take Some Time    (Carole King)
4. Another Time, Another Place     (Mike Leander．Eddie Seago)
5. It's Too Late    (Carole King)
6. Puppet Man    (Neil Sedaka)
7. Pretty Ribbon     (Gordon Mills)

Side 2

1. Too Beautiful To Last     (Richard Rodney Bennett)
2. Sweet Seasons     (Carole King)
3. You've Got A Friend     (Carole King)
4. She's A Lady     (Paul Anka)
5. Will You Love Me Tomorrow？    (Carole King)
6. A Man Without Love     (Roberto Livraghi．Mario Panzeri)

"Too Beautiful To Last (Instrumental)"試聽版﹕

"Will You Love Me Tomorrow？ (Instrumental)"試聽版﹕

Vol. 7    The Best Of Creedence Clearwater Revival．Santana．Deep Purple

Side 1

1. Sweet Hitch-Hiker    (John Fogerty)
2. Down On The Corner    (John Fogerty)
3. River Deep, Mountain High    (Phil Spector．Jeff Barry．Ellie Greenwich)
4. Evil Ways    (Clarence "Sonny" Henry)
5. Lodi／Proud Mary    (John Fogerty)
6. Who'll Stop The Rain    (John Fogerty)
7. Black Night    (Ritchie Blackmore．Ian Gillan．Roger Glover．Jon Lord．Ian Paice )

Side 2

1. Bootleg    (John Fogerty)
2. Up Around The Bend    (John Fogerty)
3. Hush    (Joe South)
4. Have You Ever Seen The Rain？    (John Fogerty)
5. Black Magic Woman／Soul Sacrifice    (Peter Green／Carlos Santana．David Brown．Marcus Malone．Gregg Rolie)
6. Hey Joe

Tip Records的1973年版本：

"Who'll Stop The Rain (Instrumental)"試聽版﹕

"Black Magic Woman／Soul Sacrifice (Instrumental)"試聽版﹕

All The Way With Ray            (HI-3008)

Side 1

1. River Of No Return    (Lionel Newman)
2. My Love For You    (Abner Silver)
3. And The Sun Will Shine    (Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb)
4. Je T'aime (Love At First Sight)    (Serge Gainsbourg)
5. Cindy Oh Cindy    (Bob Barron．Burt Long)
6. Judy Judy Judy    (Doc Pomus．Mort Shuman．Johnny Tillotson)
7. Twelfth Of Never    (Jerry Livingston)
8. Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying／I'll Be There    (Les Chadwick．Les Maguire．Freddie Marsden．Gerry Marsden／Berry Gordy．Bob West．Willie Hutch．Hal Davis)

Side 2

1. Ginny Come Lately    (Gary Geld)
2. All Over The World    (Françoise Hardy)
3. Look For A Star    (Tony Hatch)
4. The World Is Getting Smaller    (Cy Coben)
5. Sealed With A Kiss    (Gary Geld)
6. You'll Never Walk Alone    (Richard Rodgers)
7. Silence Is Golden    (Bob Crewe．Bob Gaudio)
8. We Will Make Love    (Ronald Hulme)

"Je T'aime (Love At First Sight) 〔Instrumental〕"試聽版﹕

"Cindy Oh Cindy (Instrumental)"Youtube版本﹕

"Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying／I'll Be There (Instrumental)"Youtube版本﹕

"All Over The World (Instrumental)"試聽版﹕

"Look For A Star (Instrumental)"1分鐘試聽版﹕

"Silence Is Golden (Instrumental)"Youtube版本﹕

Hit Instrumentals Vol. 9              (HI-3009)

Side A

1. Waterloo    (Benny Andersson．Björn Ulvaeus．Stig Anderson)
2. Sha-La-La-La-La     (Torben Lendager．Poul Dehnhardt)
3. Mr. Natural    (Barry & Robin Gibb)
4. Let Me Be There    (John Rostill)
5. There Ain't No Way    (Kent LaVoie)
6. Top Of The World    (Richard Carpenter)
7. The Greatest Song I've Ever Heard     (Dick Holler)

Side B

1. Sunshine Lover    (Daniel Boone)
2. If You Love Me, Let Me Know    (John Rostill)
3. Billy Don't Be A Hero    (Mitch Murray．Peter Callander)
4. Seasons In The Sun    (Jacques Brel)
5. Standing At The End Of The Line    (Kent LaVoie)
6. Paper Roses    (Fred Spielman)
7. How Can I Tell Her    (Kent LaVoie)

"There Ain't No Way (Instrumental)"試聽版﹕

"If You Love Me, Let Me Know (Instrumental)"試聽版﹕

列載於上述系列專輯內的樂曲，迄今僅有"Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying／I'll Be There"及"Silence Is Golden"這兩首曾被收錄於繼承Diamond Records業務的PolyGram Records (寶麗金唱片)及其後的Universal Music Group (環球唱片集團)所出版的以下CD合集內：

寶麗金88極品音色系列‧極品珍藏英語版     (PolyGram Records (寶麗金唱片) - 1997／3145349662)

• Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying／I'll Be There    (Les Chadwick．Les Maguire．Freddie Marsden．Gerry Marsden／Berry Gordy．Bob West．Willie Hutch．Hal Davis)

環球百代 巨聲傳記‧101 6CD Hong Kong Muzikland Of The 60／70s II     (Universal Music (環球唱片) - 2013／8896833)

• Silence Is Golden    (Bob Crewe．Bob Gaudio)