New Zealand 80's!

6-20-08 New Zealand 80’s!

In the 1980’s, I went to New Zealand quite a few times. I was a big fan of their ‘local scene’ – groups like The Swingers, Toy Love, D.D. Smash, The Gordons, The Clean etc. A lot of other ‘scenes’ have come and gone – but I am still particularly fond of NZ 80’s music. Sadly, not everything from that era in New Zealand pop music is still available – many titles have never been released on CD.

So, revel with me in these world class records! Do you know them all? Would you like to?

Singles

Paul Agar & The Set – Look Into Your Eyes / Beat The Night
Androidss – Getting Jumpy / Auckland Tonight
The Bats – Block of Wood
Blam Blam Blam – Blam Blam Blam (EP)
The Chills – Rolling Moon / Bite / Flamethrower
Greg Clark & Mike Chunn – I’m So Up
The Clean – Boodle Boodle Boodle (EP)
Coup D’Etat – Doctor, I Like Your Medicine
The Crocodiles – Hello Girl / Romantic As Hell
Daggy & The Dickheads – Afternoon TV
Dance Exponents – All I Can Do
Dance Exponents – Sex & Agriculture
Dave Dobbyn – Lipstick Power
The Features – Victim (EP)
The Gordons – Future Shock (EP)
Hip Singles – Typewriter / So Strange
The Knobz – Culture?
Marching Girls – True Love / First In Line
The Mockers – Woke Up Today
Monte Video (Murray Grindlay) – Sheba (She Sha She Shoo)
Jenny Morris – Get Some Humour
The Narcs – No Turning Back (EP)
Pop Mechanix – Now
Pop Mechanix (as NZ Pop) – Holidays
Screaming Meemees – Stars In My Eyes
Sinclair Brothers (Citizen Band) – That Is The Way It Will Be
Sneaky Feelings – Better Than Before
Spelling Mistakes – Feels So Good
The Swingers – One Good Reason
The Swingers – Counting The Beat
Tall Dwarfs – Slugbuckethairybreathmonster (EP)
Tall Dwarfs – Louis Likes His Daily Dip (EP)
They Were Expendable – Big Strain (EP)
Toy Love – Bridge of Frankenstein
The Verlaines – Death And The Maiden
The Wastrels – The Jenner Affair (EP)

Albums

Blam Blam Blam – Luxury Length
Coconut Rough – s/t
The Crocodiles – Tears
The Crocodiles – Looking At Ourselves
D.D. Smash – Cool Bananas
D.D. Smash – The Optimist
Dance Exponents – Prayers Be Answered
Dance Exponents – Expectations
Dave Dobbyn – Loyal
Headless Chickens – s/t
I Am Joe’s Music – s/t
Phil Judd – Private Lives
Mi-Sex – Where Do They Go?
Alastair Riddell – Positive Action
Schnell Fenster – The Sound of Trees
Screaming Meemees – If This Is Paradise, I’ll Take The Bag
Split Enz – Coroboree (aka Waiata)
The Swingers – Practical Jokers
Tall Dwarfs – That’s The Short & Long Of It
Toy Love – s/t
Various Artists – AK 79
Various Artists – It’s Bigger Than Both Of Us (2LP)
Various Artists – Hits & Myths
Various Artists – More Hits & Myths
Various Artists – Hits & Myths ‘83
Zoo – Cowboys & Engines

This list was paired down from nearly 1,000 titles – literally 2/3 of my own NZ collection! I’ve listened to tons of music by New Zealand artists, and the above list is what I consider to be indispensable. Yes, I like NZ 60’s & 70’s – and even some 90’s music – but this list is 80’s-specific.

The other best albums by Split Enz and Mi-Sex are all 70’s LP’s. I continue to follow Dave Dobbyn and Phil Judd. I wish Fane Flaws would make some new music. I was always disappointed that there weren’t proper Pop Mechanix, Daggy & The Dickheads, Hip Singles or Wastrels LP’s.

pictured: "I Am Joe's Music" LP

I hope you are enjoying the solstice! If today isn't the longest day, tomorrow is!
The moon has been tremendous lately!