Tuesday 22 July 2014

The Q-Tees & The Jazzmen - Diana
1957



This is the first single from Manawatu vocal group The Q-Tees. They are backed by The Jazzmen. Released on Viking Records in 1957. It is one of the earliest "Rock and Roll" records released by a New Zealand artist. It came out in the same year as Johnny Cooper's Pie Cart Rock And Roll. As was usual for the time both sides are covers. The Q-Tees released three more singles and four EPs.


The Q-Tees

Nepia Tawharu
Vocals
Rangi Tawharu
Vocals
Basil Tawharu
Vocals
Smoky McGrath
Vocals
Jacko Tawharuh
Vocals
 
The Jazzmen

Bill Pearson
Drums
Terry Tawharu
Bass
Nick Nicholson
Guitar
Allan Brabyn
Piano


Vinyl Discography

Singles
Diana Viking 1957
Don't Go Home TANZA 1958
I'll Hide My Love TANZA 1959
Silent Night Soundex 1960
EPs
Little Darling Viking 1957
Teenage Hit Parade Viking 1957
Oh Boy! TANZA 1958
Just A Butterfly TANZA 1958

Recorded off of the 7" vinyl single 
 

 

Wednesday 2 July 2014

Knobz - I like it 1980


This is the debut single from Dunedin band Knobz. It was released in 1980 by EMI. Who later rejected their second single, the hugely successful Culture on the grounds it was too political. Knobz released a total of four singles and one album.  They also self-released the single Radiation For Free as Rockylox the previous year.

Keven Fogerty        Guitar /Vocals
Peter McManus        Bass/Vocals
Rob Reid                           Drums
Mark Stanton               Keyboards

Vinyl Discography
Singles
I Like It EMI 1980
Culture Knobz/Bunk 1980
Culture (re-released) WEA 1980
Sudden Exposure WEA 1981
Liverpool To America WEA 1981
EPs
Road To Rome WEA 1982
Albums
Sudden Exposure WEA 1981

Recorded off of the 7" vinyl single 



Monday 30 June 2014

Salad Daze - Salad Daze EP 1990



This EP was the first release from Auckland Punk band Salad Daze. Release in 1990. They released two more singles and another EP.


Robbie Kay           Gutiar
Simon Kay             Bass
Kieran Coone      Vocals
Miles Gillett          Drums

Vinyl Discography
Singles
Pulling The Strings Salad Daze 1991
Flicker And Burn String 1992
EPs
Salad Daze EP String 1990
GIB String 1991

Recorded off of the 7" vinyl single 



Monday 9 June 2014

Shade Smith - The Life Of A Song 1972


This is Shade Smith's first solo single from 1972. He was still a member of The Rumour at the time. He released a total of six solo singles. He also wrote Sunshine Through A Prism a hit for Suzanne in the same year. The B-Side was later re-recorded and released by The Rumour.

 Solo Vinyl Discography
Singles
The Life Of A Story Polydor 1972
Women In My Life Polydor 1972
A Better Way Family 1974
Peter Costello Theme Reynolds 1974
A Better Way (Re-release) Reynolds 1974
Like You PR 1982
Thoroughbred Theme Ode 1985

Recorded off of the 7" vinyl single
 

 

Saturday 7 June 2014

The Steriods - Shadows
1981



This is the third and final single from Wellington band The Steroids. The guitarist/singer is Alan Jansson, (credited as Alan Jimson) who after The Steroids broke up played with Body Electric and produced and co-wrote OMC's worldwide 1995 hit How Bizarre. The B-Side Sign Of The Times has some pretty dodgy lyrics.


Lee Keane
Drums
Andrew Dray
Bass
Alan JimsonAlan Jimson
Guitar/Vocals

Vinyl Discography
Singles
Mr Average White Light 1980
Credit Card Bunk 1981
Shodows Straight 1981

Recorded off of the 7" vinyl single 
 
 

Friday 6 June 2014

The Avengers - I Wouldn't Do That
1969



This is the eleventh and last New Zealand single from Wellington Band The Avengers. They released one more single in Australia before disbanding. They also released one EP and three albums.This was released in 1969. I brought this copy second hand. The original owner put the sticker on the sleeve, its from the year before. The phone number after the name on the top right hand corner only has three digits.

 
Hank Davis
Drums/Voices
Eddie McDonald
Bass/Voices
Dave Brown
Guitar/Voices
Clive Cockburn
Voices/Guitar/Organ


Vinyl Discography
Singles
Lovers Of The World Unite HMV 1967
Everyone's Gonna Wonder HMV 1967
Only In My Life HMV 1967
1941 HMV 1968
Love, Hate, Revenge HMV 1968
Days Of Pearly Spencer HMV 1968
Night In The City HMV 1969
I Wouldn't Do That Columbia 1969
Listen Listen Columbia 1969
Albums
Electric Recording HMV 1967
Alive! HMV 1968
Medallion HMV 1968

Recorded off of the 7" vinyl single 
 


Saturday 24 May 2014

Soul On Ice - Summer Love 1987



I don't know much about these guys. Only that this was their second single and it was released on WEA in 1987. It was produced by Herbs members Dilworth Karaka and Charlie Tumahai.

 
Dave Larsen
Drums
Glen Peters
Bass
Malcolm Smith
Guitar
Paul Moss
Keyboards
Tim Bale
Congos
John Rogers
Trumpet
Scott Wineray
Trumpet
Clare Bennett
Voices
Liz Diamond
Voices


Vinyl Discography
Singles
I Want You WEA 1986
Summer Love WEA 1987

Recorded off of the 7" vinyl single
 

 

Wednesday 21 May 2014

Johnny Devlin - How Would 'Ya Be EP
1958



Johnny Devlin has released 55 singles, 16 EPs 7 albums and one 78 in New Zealand, Australia, the USA and the UK. This is his second New Zealand EP, released in 1958. It features a 17 year old Mike Nock, the future Jazz great playing the piano. The track order printed on the front cover is different from the one printed on the back. Both don't match the order of the tracks pressed on the vinyl.


Don Branch
Drums
Gene Blazer
Bass
Johnny Devlin
Guitar/Vocals
Mike Nock
Piano
Bernie Allen
Sax


Recorded off of the 7" vinyl single
 
 

Monday 19 May 2014

Death Ray Cafe - I Love The News
1990



This is the only single from Dunedin band Death Ray Cafe. Released in 1990 on Pagan Records. The band also released an album, Built On Good And Right  in 1991 also on Pagan. The A Side I Love The News was written by David Pine. Both songs on the B Side were written by Mark Brooke. Guitarist David Pine had previously play with Flying Nun band Sneaky Feelings. He is currently the New Zealand High Commissioner to Malaysia and Brunei and is the former New Zealand ambassador to the Philippines.




Mark Brooke     Guitar, Vocals
Peter Bell                       Bass
David Pine        Guitar, Vocals
Nathan McConnell       Drums

 Recorded off of the 7" vinyl single




Monday 21 April 2014

Steve Gilpin Anne, No Can Do -
1972


This was Steve Gilpin's third release. He had previously released two singles on Strange Records also in 1972. Just after this was released he became a household name in New Zealand by winning the TV talent show New Faces. Which set him up for a career as a middle of the road Cabaret Singer. He performed regularly on New Zealand TV singing bland versions of the safer hits of the day. He wore a tuxedo and a bow-tie in concert. But in 1978, aged 29, inspired by early John Foxx period Ultravox he formed the New Wave Pop band Mi-Sex. Which had several big hits in New Zealand and Australia. Sadly Steve Gilpin died in 1992 after a car accident.

Vinyl Discography
Singles
Spring Strange 1972
Stone Me Strange 1972
Anne, No Can Do HMV 1972
Knowing Polydor 1973
Hey, Little Girl Polydor 1973
Cosmic Way Polydor 1974
Key To The Sun Radio NZ 1977
Albums
Knowing Polydor 1973

Recorded off of the 7" vinyl single



Wednesday 19 February 2014

The Instigators - In Line 1981



This is the first single from Auckland Ska band The Instigators. Released on Ripper Records in 1981. It looks like Not Really Bad was originally going to be the A-Side as there were stickers placed over the track number of the labels. They released one further single (Hope She's Alright).



Eddie Olsen
Drums
Tarawai Wesley
Bass
Tom Rossey
Guitar
Sonya Waters
Keyboards/Vocals
Ed Geddes
Saxophone


Vinyl Discography
Singles
In Line Ripper 1981
Hope She's Alright Ripper 1982

Recorded off of the 7" vinyl single 
 

 

Tuesday 4 February 2014

The Gremlins - The Coming Generation EP 1966




This is the only EP released by Auckland Pop Band The Gremlins. Between 1966 and 1968 they released seven singles including two in the UK. This EP has five songs on it, the longest is 2 minutes 28 seconds. Release through Zodiac Records on their Viscount label.


Roger Wiles
Drums
Ben Grubb
Bass
Peter Davis
Guitar
Paddy McAneney
Guitar
Glyn Tucker Jr (credited as Conway)
Vocals

Vinyl Discography
Singles
But She's Gone Allied 1966
Coming Generation Viscount 1966
Understand Our Age Viscount 1966
You Gotta Belive Zodiac 1967
Blast Off 1970 Viscount 1967
Never You Mind Viscount 1967
Ballard Of A Busker Zodiac 1968
Kingsforth Hemmingseen Viscount 1968
EPs
Coming Generation Viscount 1966

Recorded off of the 7" vinyl single

Friday 31 January 2014

The Bongos - Monotony 1982



This is the only single from Auckland band The Bongos. It was released in 1982 on Propeller Records. The Bongos had evolved from Rhythm Method, who had contributed a track to the Propeller Records compilation  Class Of 81. Keyboardist Gill Civil went on to play for Marie And The Atom who released two EPs on Flying Nun Records. 


Phil Steel
Drums
Brian Tipa
Bass
John Quiegley
Guitar
Gill Civil
Keyboards

Recorded off of the 7" vinyl single



Thursday 23 January 2014

Murray Grindlay - Don't Look Back 1977


Murray Grindlay is probably best known to most New Zealanders as the voice of dozens TV jingles. He also played in The Underdogs, Brew and Cruise Lane among others (let's forget Monte Video). He has  also contributed to several soundtracks including Broken English, Once Were Warriors and Sleeping Dogs were this single comes from. It was his second solo single. He released one more solo single and an album as well many other singles and albums with various bands.

Solo Vinyl Discography
Singles
Nova's Song Zodiac 1974
Don't Look Back EMI 1977
So In Love With You Key 1977
Albums
Murray Grindlay Key 1977
Recorded off of the 7" vinyl single

Wednesday 22 January 2014

Dark Harbour - Crossfire
1989


This is Auckland band Dark Harbour's only release. It was produced but DD Smash drummer Peter Warren. They were signed to Reaction Records but this single was issued on WEA Records in 1989.

Rick Tredrea
Drums
Ash Hare
Bass
Grant Wills
Guitar
Shane Tredrea
Keyboards
Marty Clark
Vocals

Recorded off of the 7" vinyl single