On February 25, 1986, Ramli Sarip released his second solo album, and he named it after its second track, “Bukan Kerana Nama.” The song runs 04:37. Today the title refers both to that track and to an album that became a big seller in Malaysia.
Who wrote it
Ramli Sarip sang “Bukan Kerana Nama,” but he did not write it. Mohd Bakri Johari wrote both the words and the music. Bakri Johari also wrote the album track “Mana Harummu.” Ramli wrote other songs on the record himself, including “Taligram” and “Ketuk Pintu,” and he is credited as the album’s Producer, Arranged By.
The 2018 reissue lists the vocals on the title track as Ramli Sarip, A. Romzi. The same two names appear on the song in later digital releases.
The album and its release
Before going solo, Ramli made his name with the band Sweet Charity. With them he earned platinum discs for albums such as Pelarian in 1980 and Sejuta Wajah in 1981. His first solo album, Ramli Sarip, came out in 1985. Singapore’s National Library Board says he co-produced his first solo album in just 98 hours, and it sold more than 25,000 copies.
According to the National Library Board, Bukan Kerana Nama sold more than 50,000 copies, not counting the many pirated copies on sale at the time. The album also earned a platinum disc in 1986. It was released by WEA in Malaysia on LP (catalog number M 93526) and on cassette. The rock and blues album has 10 tracks and runs about 42 minutes.
Ramli followed it in the same year with Perjalanan Hidup, and Istilah came out in 1987. Between 1985 and 2002 he released 12 solo albums, which sold an average of 50,000 copies each.
Later life of the song
Warner Music Malaysia reissued the album on CD in 2011 as part of its Siri Legenda series of classic Malaysian albums. On February 26, 2018, it came out again as a limited-edition 24-bit remastered gold disc. That was the first time released on CD with full album cover. In 2016 the title track was included on the compilation Jelajah Universiti.
FAQ
– Who wrote “Bukan Kerana Nama”?
Mohd Bakri Johari wrote both the words and the music. Ramli Sarip, who sang it, produced and arranged the 1986 album it comes from.
– When did “Bukan Kerana Nama” come out?
It came out on February 25, 1986, as the second track of Ramli Sarip’s album of the same name on WEA. The album was reissued on CD in 2011 and again in 2018.