Sunday 29 October 2023

Tommy Adderley - Granny 1970

 
This is a single from 1970 by New Zealand musical icon Tommy Adderley. The story of his contribution to New Zealand music is covered here. This was his only release for MCA. The A-Side is called Granny. Tommy opened a night club called Granny's in 1971.The B-Side is credited to Tommy Adderley and The Head Band. Tommy formed the group Headband in 1971.
 




Sunday 4 June 2023

The Red - Just Starting Over 1981

 

In 1980 Andrew Fagan and Gary Curtis left Wellington band The Ambitious Vegetables to form The Mockers. The rest of the band kept going. They changed their name to The Red. They supported The B52's later that year. Just Starting Over was their only release. The band broke up just before the single was released.

 




Steve Emery
Drums
Murray Costello
Bass
Gordon Costello
Guitar/Vocals
Peter Henderson
Guitar

Recorded off of the 7" vinyl single
 
 


Tuesday 28 March 2023

Rick Bryant & The Jive Bombers - When I'm With You 1984

 



Rick Bryant was a true legend of the Wellington music scene. Having played in Blerta, Original Sin, Gutbucket, Mammal, Rough Justice, Top Scientists, and the Neighbours. The Jive Bombers were formed as a 12 piece Soul/Funk covers band in mid 1983 by Bryant.  They recorded an album in 1984. Fifteen years later they released a follow up. They release three albums in total. This is their only single. See here for a history of the band.

 

Recorded off of the 7" vinyl single  



Tuesday 14 February 2023

Kevin Bayley's Short Story - Halfway To Paradise 1979

 



This is Wellington band Short Story's second and final single. Released under the name Kevin Bayley's Short Story. Kevin Bayley had previously played in Taylor, Chapta and Rockinghorse.

Steve Garden
Drums
Leon Keil
Bass
Colin Bayley
Guitar/Vocals
Kevin Bayley
Guitar/Vocals
Gary Taylor
Keyboards

Recorded off of the 7" vinyl single
 

 

Thursday 5 January 2023

The Moving Folk - I Don't Want To Be a Memory 1970

 


This is Wellington folk group The Moving Folk's first single. They had previously released an EP and an album called Directions on Kiwi Records as a three piece (Minus Graeme Field) before signing to Ode Recordings. In total they released two albums, three EPs and five singles between 1970 and 1972. 


Colin Speir
Guitar/Banjo/Vocals
Graeme Field
Double Bass/Vocals
Hugh Milloy
Guitar/Vocals
Susan Norton
Vocals/Tambourine

Recorded off of the 7" vinyl single
Some surface noise
 

 
 

Sunday 4 December 2022

Alien Lover - Eighties Lover 1988

 


This is the only release from Wellington band Alien. It was released in 1988. That's all I know about this record. 

Recorded off of the 7" vinyl single
 
 






Monday 20 June 2022

The Spirals - (I Send My Love) To The Old Country 1989

I don't have a lot of information about Wellington pop band The Spirals. Belinda Bradley and Perry Bradley went on the form Recliner. Who had moderate success on US Collage radio. Guitarist Bill Wood turned to more experiment music. Releasing solo albums as well as play for Birchville Cat Motel and 1/3 Octave Band.  


Mike Yates
Drums
Ash Lienert
Bass
Bill Wood
Guitar
Perry Bradley
Xylophone/Saxophone
Belinda Bradley
Vocals

Recorded off of the 7" vinyl single
 

 

Wednesday 11 May 2022

Red Hot Peppers - Dreams To Come 1976


Auckland band Red Hot Peppers were formed in 1975 by multi-instrumentalists Marion Arts and Robbie Lavën. Both had been in the 1953 Memorial Society Rock 'n' Roll Band. Robbie's brother Hans soon joined them. Dreams To Come was their debut single. It was produced by ex-Underdog singer Murray Grindley. Here's a link to more about the Red Hot Peppers

Jim McMillan
Drums
Paul Baxter
Bass
Hans Lavën
Guitar/Trumpet
Marion Arts
Vocals/Guitar/Saxophone
Robbie Lavën
Multiple Instruments


Recorded off of the 7" vinyl single
Some surface noise 
 
 


Friday 15 April 2022

In Style - Baby, Now That I Found You 1983


 


Sorry, I know nothing about these guys except this was their only release, it's a cover of The Foundations song and it was produced by Glyn Tucker Jr. If you can shed some light on it please leave a comment. 
 
Recorded off of the 7" vinyl single
 

 

 

Friday 18 February 2022

Sonny Day & The Sundowners - Wolverton Mountian
1962

 


The Sundowners were formed in the late 1950’s in Auckland, New Zealand. They played an early form of Rock and Roll that had yet to be influenced by The Beatles. They released three singles and an EP for Viking Records before signing to Zodiac Records in 1963. Where they released a further five singles. They never recorded an album. Wolverton Mountain was their debut single. Here’s a link to more about Sonny Day & The Sundowners. In the 1980’s Sonny Day formed the Sonny Day & The All Stars.