Pop Mechanix - Pale Sun 1988

This is the final single from Pop Mechanix. Originally formed in Christchurch in 1979 as Splash Ally. By the time Pale Sun was release only Bassist Paul Scott and Guitarist Paul Mason remained from the first line up. The final line up, now based in Auckland featured vocalist Andrew McLennan and ex D.D. Smash drummer Peter Warren. In the meantime they had a couple of minor hits in New Zealand. They moved to Australia and changed their name to NZ Pop then Zoo. Andrew McLennan left to join The Swingers and then rejoined the band. They had also moved back to New Zealand and change their name back to Pop Mechanix.  A detailed history of the band can be found here.

Peter Warren	Drums
Paul Scott	Bass
Mark Bell	Guitar
Andrew McLennan	Vocals
Paul Mason	Guitar

New Zealand Vinyl Discography *As NZ Pop
Singles	Label	Year
Now	Ripper	1980
The Ritz	RCA	1980
Jumping Out A Window	XSF	1981
Holidays*	XSF	1981
Texas	XSF	1982
Looking Through The Eyes Of Love	Hit Singles	1985
Celebration Skin	Hit Singles	1986
Pale Sun	WEA	1988
EPs
Pop Mechanix	Hit Singles	1985
Albums
Cowboys And Engines	XFS	1982

Pop Mechanix - Pale Sun.mp3

Pop Mechanix - It's Alright Here.mp3

Blerta - Joy Joy 1975

Blerta or Bruno Lawrence's Electric Revelation and Traveling Apparition was formed in October 1971 by Bruno Lawrence. Blerta's first single Dance Around The World peaked at number 13 on the New Zealand Charts in May 1972. Joy Joy was their fourth single. Blerta had an ever changing line up of musicians, dancers, actors and film makers. Click here for a history of Blerta.  

New Zealand Vinyl Discography
Singles	Label	Year
Dance All Around The World	HMV	1972
Aunty Ada	HMV	1972
Hullo Hullo	Harvest	1972
Joy Joy	EMI	1975
This Is Life	EMI	1975
Wild Man	EMI	1977
Albums
Live	EMI	1973
This Is Life	EMI	1975
Wild Man	EMI	1976

Recorded off of the 7" vinyl single

Blerta- Joy Joy.mp3

Blerta - Rain Song.mp3 

 

 

National Anthem - Chapter One1984

My copy was a test pressing. Hence the stamp.

This is Auckland Pop band National Anthem's first single. They featured ex-Split Enz and Citizen Band Mike Chunn on bass. They re-released their second single Please Say Something three times on three different record labels. There is a rumour that ex-Blam Blam Blam and The Mutton Birds' Don-McGlashan played drums on Chapter One but I cannot confirm this. If you know please leave a message or email me. 

Michael Harrolambi	Drums
Mike Chunn	Bass/Piano
Craig Smith-Pilling	Guitar/Vocals
Anthony Johns	Vocals/Guitar

New Zealand Vinyl Discography
Singles	Label	Year
Chapter One	Mushroom	1984
Please Say Something	Mushroom	1985
Play, Play	Reaction	1985
Please Say Something	Reaction	1986
Wonderful Reason	Reaction	1986
Wild As The Wind	Reaction	1988
Please Say Something	Epic	1989
Albums
One Day Different	Reaction	1986

Recorded off of the 7" vinyl single

National Anthem - Chapter One.mp3

National Anthem -Tracks On Glass.mp3

The Kal-Q-Lated Risk - Looking Through The Eyes Of A Beautiful Girl1971

 

This is the fourth single from The Kal-Q-Lated Risk. They were formed in Featherston in 1967. Original singer Carl Evenson left early on to front The Fourmyula. He was replaced by Ian Taylor. Ian Taylor went on to become the host of Spot On, a children's program on TVNZ. Later he founded the Sports Emmy award winning television production company Taylormade Media. In 2012 he was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit. Looking Through The Eyes Of A Beautiful Girl was The Kal-Q-Lated Risk's most commercially successful single. It reached number 14 in the New Zealand Top Twenty. A year after its release the band shorted their name to The Risk. They called it a day in 1974.

Barry Rushton	Drums
Dave Cameron	Bass
Phil Hope	Guitar/Vocals
Ian Taylor	Vocals
Bernie Carey	Keyboards

New Zealand Vinyl Discography
Singles	Label	Year
I'll Be Home	HMV	1970
What Makes A Man	HMV	1970
Angelina	HMV	1971
Looking Through The Eyes Of A Beautiful Girl	HMV	1971
Touching Me, Touching You	HMV	1972
Lady One And Only	HMV	1972
Waiting On You	HMV	1972
Lazy River	HMV	1972
As The Risk
21st Birthday Party	HMV	1972
Clap Your Hands	HMV	1973
Soul Singing	HMV	1974
Albums
Holding You Own	HMV	1972

Recorded off of the original 7" vinyl single.

The Kal-Q-Lated Risk - Looking Through The Eyes Of A Beautiful Girl.mp3

The Kal-Q-Lated Risk - Pixie Rock.mp3

 

The Jumblies - Stuff Of Dreams1984

This is Christchurch band The Jumblies only release. The Jumblies were Peter Arnold with  help from Claire Timings. An early release for Flying Nun Records. Unusually the A-Side contains two tracks and the B-Side one.

Recorded off of the original 7" vinyl single. 

Surface Noise.

The Jumblies - The Stuff Of Dreams.mp3 

The Jumblies - The Tears Of A Clown.mp3 

The Jumblies - Trouble Sleeping.mp3

 

 

The Wedge - So Long Marianne 1969

This is the only release from Wellington band The Wedge. It was produced by legendary New Zealand producer and musician Alan Galbraith. Who had played in Sounds Unlimited and would go on to become H.M.V./EMI's in-house producer. This was his first credit as a producer. So Long Marianne was a cover of a Leonard Cohen song. Twenty years later it was covered by Dunedin Band Straitjacket Fits for their album Hale.

John Lang	Drums
Graeme Thompson	Bass
Warren Willis	Keyboard
Milton Parker	Guitar
Geoff Culverwell	Trumpet
Matt Milton	Sax

Recorded off of the original 7" vinyl single. 

Surface Noise.

The Wedge - So Long Marianne.mp3

The Wedge - Bubble Gum.mp3

 

 

The Grammer Boys - World Of Our Own 1982

This is the first single by Auckland Pop band The Grammar Boys. They featured Simon Alexander who had previously played in The Garage Crawlers and would go on to play in Chrome Safari. He was also an accomplished recording engineer. He engineered this recording and the band's album. As well as the Garage Crawlers' and Simon Raby's singles. On the cover the band's name is stated as Grammar Boys on the label of the A-side it's The Grammer Boys and the B-side it's The Grammar Boys.

Martin Williams	Drums
Peter Solomon	Bass
Geoff Martin	Guitar
Simon Alexander	Guitar/Vocals

New Zealand Vinyl Discography
Singles	Label	Year
World Of Our Own	EMI	1982
Don't Know You	EMI	1983
Albums
Daring Feats	EMI	1983

Recorded off of the original 7" vinyl single. Surface Noise.

The Grammar Boys - World Of Our Own.mp3

The Grammar Boys - Caroline.mp3 

Bulldogs Allstar Goodtime Band - Television Mama1974

This is Wellington group Bulldog Allstar Goodtime Band's fourth and final single. Their first two singles Miss September and Everybody Knows both released in 1973 reaching number 2 and 3 in the New Zealand charts. That same year they were finalists in the NZBC's TV talent show New Faces. They won group of the year at the RATA Awards and also received the group award at the NEBOA Entertainer Of The Year. But by the end of 1974, when this single was release it was all but over. Television Mama failed to chart and they had broken up.

Danny Shaw	Drums
Kevin Findlater	Bass
John Donoghue	Banjo/Guitar/Vocals
Tony Hooper	Tenor Banjo/Vocals
Neil Worboys	Kazoo/Mandolin/Vocals

New Zealand Vinyl Discography
Singles	Label	Year
Miss September	EMI	1973
Everyone Knows	EMI	1973
Baby Get Out	EMI	1974
Television Mama	EMI	1974
Albums
Buldoggin'	EMI	1974

Recorded off of the original 7" vinyl single

Bulldogs Allstar Goodtime Band - Television Mama.mp3

Bulldogs Allstar Goodtime Band - Day In The Sun.mp3

 

 

The Actors - Since Sunday1984

This is Wellington Synth Pop Band The Actors' first release and that is all I know about them.

Russ Mattar	Drums
Graham Carman	Bass
Greg White	Guitar/Vocals
Lance Wiltshire	Keyboards

New Zealand Vinyl Discography
Singles	Label	Year
Since Sunday	Jayrem	1984
The Actors 12" EP	Jayrem	1984

Recorded off of the original 7" vinyl single
The Actors - Since Sunday.mp3

The Actors - Sara.mp3

 

 

The Henchmen - Death Machine 1985

This is West Auckland Punk/Metal Band The Henchmen's third and final single. Unlike most early New Zealand Punk bands they were more influenced by Detroit bands than London ones. Often seen as too Metal by the Punks and too Punk by the Metalers. The Henchmen played what they liked and didn't care what others thought. They evolved from The Dum Dum Boys who had released New Zealand's first Punk album "Let There Be Noise" in 1981. Eventually The Henchmen moved to Australia and became Reptiles At Dawn. 

Billy Williams	Drums
Jeremy Chunn	Bass
Rowan Shedden	Guitar
Tony Collins	Vocals
Anthony Norman	Guitars

New Zealand Vinyl Discography
Singles	Label	Year
I Got A Right	Cadaver	1982
Do The Maelstorm	Cadaver	1983
Death Machine	Cadaver	1985
Albums
We've Come To Play	Cadaver	1983
Grim Relics	Sonic Heist	1989
Lust For Glory	Raw Power	2000

Recorded off of the original 7" vinyl single
The Henchmen - Death Machine.mp3

The Henchmen - Bitch Goddess.mp3

Count Hamilton's Fenurl - Your Turn Now1969

The NZBC was the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation.
 

Count Hamilton's Fenurl were The Hamilton Country Bluegrass Band. Your Turn Now was the New Zealand Labour Party campaign song for the 1969  general election. So they released this single using a pseudonym. The B-Side was inspired by BBC Radio show The Goons.

David Calder	Mandolin/Vocals
Lyndsay Bedogni	Bass
Alan Rhodes	Guitar/Vocals
Len Cohen	Dobro/Mouth-Harp
Colleen Bain	Fiddle
Paul Trenwith	Banjo

Recorded off of the 7" vinyl single

Count Hamilton's Fenurl - Your Turn Now.mp3

Count Hamilton's Fenurl - Someone Stole My Gal.mp3

The Crocodiles - Hello Girl 1981

This was Wellington band The Crocodiles' fifth and final single to be released in New Zealand. The Crocodiles were formed in 1979 by guitarists Tony Backhouse and Fane Flaws, drummer Bruno Lawrence, and keyboardist Peter Dasent. All of whom played in Spats. They were joined by vocalist Jenny Morris and bassist Tina Matthew who both played in The Wide Mouthed Frogs. Their first single, Tears, was a New Zealand top twenty hit in 1980. Only Tony Backhouse and Jenny Morris were left of the original line up by the time Hello Girl was released. Soon after its release they relocated to Australia and disbanded a few months later. In their two years together The Crocodiles released two albums and five singles as well as two singles and two albums in Australia and a single in Britain. Hello Girl is sung by newcomer Rikki Morris (not relation to Jenny). While Jenny Morris sings the B-Side Romantic as Hell.

Barton Price	Drums
Jonathan Zwartz	Bass
Rick Morris	Guitar/Vocals
Jenny Morris	Vocals
Tony Backhouse	Guitar

New Zealand Vinyl Discography
Singles	Label	Year
Tears	RCA	1980
Whatcha Gonna Do?	RCA	1980
Telephone Lover	RCA	1980
Teenarama	RCA	1980
Hello Girl	XSF	1981
Albums
Tears	RCA	1980
Looking After Ourselves	RCA	1980

Recorded off of the 7" vinyl single

The Crocodiles - Hello Girl.mp3

The Crocodiles - Romantic As Hell.mp3 

 

 

Zonk! - Heya1970

Zonk! were a one off recording project. Put together to record this single. They were something of a New Zealand super group. The singer, Shane was a household name due to his regular appearances on the TV music show C'Mon. Both drummer Bruno Lawrence and keyboardist Rufus Rehu were members of Quincy Conserve. Bruno would go on to form BLERTA. Bassist Rick White had been in Tom Thumb. Heya was released in the U.S.A. on United Artists.  American trade magazine Cashbox selected it as their "newcomer hit pick of the week". The B-side Long Life's Road was written by The Fourmyula member Wayne Mason.

Bruno Lawrence	Drums
Rick White	Bass
Bruce Robinson	Guitar
Shane Hales	Vocals
Rufus Rehu	Keyboards

Recorded off of the 7" vinyl single

Zonk! - Heya.mp3

Zonk! - Long Lifes Road.mp3

M.C.O.J And Rhythm Slave - That's The Way (Positivity) 1990

This is M.C.O.J And Rhythm Slave's first release. It reached No.12 on the New Zealand singles charts. M.C.O.J And Rhythm Slave supported De La Soul and M.C. Hammer on their New Zealand tours in the early 1990s. M.C. O.J. was Otis Frizzel a graffiti Artist and son of Dick Frizzell. He met Californian born Mark James Williams (Rhythm Slave) while in high school. They both went on to play in Joint Force. Otis is now the owner of Lucky Taco food truck company and Mark James Williams is a filmmaker and touring DJ for Fat Freddy’s Drop

New Zealand Vinyl Discography
Singles	Label	Year
That's The Way (Positivity)	Southside	1990
Body Rhymes (Protect Yourself)	Southside	1991
Money Worries	Southside	1991
Joined At The Hip-Hop 12"	Southside	1992
Albums
What Can We Say	Southside	1991

Recorded off of the 7" vinyl single

 M.C.O.J And Rhythm Slave - That's The Way (Positivity).mp3

 M.C.O.J And Rhythm Slave -  The One About Girls.mp3

 

 

Katango - Pop Boys 1984

This is Auckland Synth-Pop band Katango's first release. Along with Car Crash Set they were one of the first bands in New Zealand to play live without guitars, bass or real drums. They were formed by two ex-pat Brits Paul Eversden and Carl Robinson. Originally called The Entebbe Rebels. They built a following playing underage venues and appearing on the teen music show Shazam! In 1984 they won the Shure Golden Microphone Best New Band competition. They also supported Nik Kershaw on his New Zealand tour. Both their singles had Pick It Up as the B-Side. It was remixed by Dave McArtney for the second single.

Carl Robinson	Synthesiser
Steven Glaister	Synthesiser
Andrew Milne	Synthesiser
Paul Eversden	Vocals

New Zealand Vinyl Discography
Singles	Label	Year
Pop Boys	Zulu	1984
Dial L For Love	Zulu	1985

Recorded off of the 7" vinyl single

Katango - Pop Boys.mp3

Katango - Pick It Up.mp3