The sounds of Vicor

Raon St., once known as the Philippines’ Tin Pan Alley, is gone. I do not know what they call it now but its record stores that music lovers used to frequent many years ago are not there anymore. That is just like the once influential jukebox where people dropped money to hear their favorite songs. Your song is no hit if it is not in jukeboxes all over the country. We now get our tunes by streaming via Spotify. And this reminds me, gone too are the

gitaristas. No singing contest whether on television or during fiesta time in the barrios was ever without a guitarist to accompany the singers. They now have karaoke machines.

A lot of things have changed in the way we enjoy music these past 50 years. But no matter what the inventions, no matter what trends get to these shores from abroad, the songs we have listened to over the years remain unchanged. Those are the hits that we may adore or hate depending on how they play in our memories. Listen to Eddie Peregrina’s

Memories Of Our Dream today and it is the same one that made him a Jukebox King in the ‘60s.

I am sure you also remember Vilma Santos singing Sixteen and her then favorite leading man Edgar Mortiz with his My Pledge of Love or Tirso Cruz III pining for Maria Leonora Teresa then waxing romantic with Nora Aunor with

Together Again. Of course, there was also Victor Wood, with his Mr. Lonely, I’m Sorry My Love, Eternally, Sweet Caroline, Malupit Na Pag-ibig, etc., etc. Give or take a few years, those songs are now 50 years old. They came from the hit factory known as Vicor Music Corporation. Formed by cousins Vic del Rosario and Orly Ilacad in a one-room office in Raon, Vicor became the first independent label to take on the majors and won. It also gave foreign labels a big run for their money with a formidable line-up of talents that remain unequalled to this day. Vicor is 50. It is now Gold. So are its songs. Here are some of them to savor for your memories. Kapantay Ay Langit by Pilita Corrales; Rain by Boy Mondragon; I Am A Soldier by Lew Soratorio; Dearest One by Lord Soriano; Salidummay by Bobby Gonzales; Kawawang Cowboy by Fred Panopio; Hanggang Magdamag by the Soul Jugglers; Kung Sakali by Pabs Dadivas; Can We Just Stop And Talk A While, Refrain by Jose Mari Chan; The Way We Were, Kapalaran by Rico J. Puno; Ang Himig Natin, Balong Malalim by the Juan de la Cruz Band; T.L. Ako Sa ‘yo, Bato Sa Buhangin by Cinderella; Bakit Nga Ba by Aloha; O Lumapit Ka by Ella del Rosario; Saranggola Ni Pepe, Mamang Sorbetero by Celeste Legaspi. Paniwalaan by Bluejeans; Ang Pag-ibig Kong Ito, Kailangan Kita by Leah Navarro; Ikaw Ang Miss Universe Ng Buhay Ko, Manila by Hotdog; Number One by Vernie Varga; Magellan, Mag-exercise Tayo by Yoyoy Villame; Ikaw Pa Rin by Tito Mina; Bakit Ako Mahihiya, Araw-Araw, Gabi-Gabi by Didith Reyes; Binibini by the Rainmakers; Maging Sino Ka Man, Naalala Ka by Rey Valera; Balatkayo, Maghihintay Ako Sa ‘yo, by Anthony Castelo; Bonggahan, Laguna by Sampaguita; A Samba Song by Bong Penera and the Batucada; Ngayon At Kailanman, Hindi Kita Malilimutan by Basil Valdez; Saan Ako Nagkamali by Tillie Moreno; Gihidlaw Na Intawon Ako by Max Surban; Anak, Bayan Ko by Freddie Aguilar; Mr. DJ, Kahit Maputi Na Ang Buhok Ko by Sharon Cuneta; Dukha by Judas. Masdan Mo Ang Kapaligiran, Itanong Mo Sa Mga Bata by Asin; Awitin Mo (At Isasayaw Ko), Rock Baby Rock by VST&Co.; Katawan, Legs by Hagibis; O Babe by Singsing; Apoy by Imelda Papin and Anthony Castelo; Ako Ang Nagwagi by Dulce; Even If by Jam Morales; I Love You Boy by Timmy Cruz; Kaba by Tenten Munoz; Farewell, I Need You Back by Raymond Lauchengco; Special Memory by Iwi Laurel; Be My Lady, Say That You Love Me by Martin Nievera; Growing Up, Di Na Natuto by Gary Valenciano; Oras Na by Coritha; Dito Ba?, Till I Met You by Kuh Ledesma; Kahit Konting Pagtingin, Don’t Know What To Do by Ric Segreto; Hindi Magbabago, Babaero by Randy Santiago. Hold On by Side A; Shining by Becca Godinez; Hiram, Ikaw Lamang by Zsa Zsa Padilla; Don’t Say Goodbye by Pops Fernandez; Nag-iisang Ikaw by Louie Heredia; Aso’t Pusa by Pat Castillo; Ipagpatawad Mo by Janno Gibbs; I’ll Face Tomorrow by Marco Sison; Narito Ako by Regine Velasquez; Say You’ll Never Go by the Neocolours; Tuloy Pa Rin by Labuyo; You’re My You by Nyoy Volante; Pagdating Ng Panahon by Aiza Seguerra; Love Story by Princess Velasco; and Lakas Tama by Vice Ganda.

Vicor has journeyed for 50 years from Victor Wood to Vice Ganda. That is quite a trip. And we are all still enjoying the ride.