Back in the Day
A hunt through second-hand stores has unearthed a bunch of recordings from a diverse group of New Zealand’s creative talent. To date…
Back In the Day… they were on Parade It was inevitable in a world where one had to fight to survive that music should be used to inspire feats of arms. Drums, with their ability to produce great noise were the first instruments used in the development of martial music. Fifes and bugles were soon added, and The Voice of the Guns was soon heard around New Zealand. The most notable performance by the Royal Marines Band of the Royal New Zealand Navy was the opening of Parliament in 1958. They were also called upon to play at receptions for visiting royals. So to all those Sons of the BraveBack in the Day – quick, slow, quick, slow. Present arms!
Back In the Day… there was Big Norm Narrated by David Excel and featuring the song Big Norm by Ebony, this documentary LP is the story of Norman Kirk, Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1972, and includes speeches such as The Core of the Matter and The Frigate Speech. ‘A leader, a thinker and a doer, he was one of our greatest sons. Norman Kirk the boy from Waimate lived through – and squarely faced – the hardships created in a society battered by international economic cudgels. It was his endeavour to guarantee that no New Zealander should ever be victimised by any political or economic system. His belief was that systems should exist to serve the people. People were his priority. It was this attitude which led him to send the frigate Otago to protest against French nuclear tests, take the French before the International Court of Justice and refuse a tour of New Zealand by a racially selected Springbok Rugby team.’ A dedicated idealist, yet practical man, Back in the Day our Big Norm, was a big man in every way.
Back In the Day… there was ECF I only had one drink yeah, but I think it was one too many… Drop Me Off was the single on the 12″ EP, Radio We Are Not Kidding, by ECF. It’s a song about a guy asking his mates to drop him off home rather than going to a party, cos he couldn’t sleep in and be late for PD the next day. They told me last week ‘if you’re late again, I’ll breach you and you’ll be doing time’. ECF quickly gained cult following after a rousing debut at the 1983 3ZM Christchurch Music Festival, from which they were removed from the stage. The EP debuted at No14 on the national music charts in October 83. Back in the Day ECF were touted as the Sex Pistols of New Zealand and, riding the wave of their success, extensively toured the country. But in the end… listen here mate, if it ain’t too much trouble, could you stop at my place and drop me off.
Back In the Day… there was 20 Years of New Zealand Trotting Cups A classic in all respects, this album has been made using original tapes from Radio New Zealand and cover photographs by Colin Berry, a legend in race photography. With horses featured such as False Step, (one of only two horses to have won the New Zealand Cup three times in succession – 1958/59/60) and Lordship (as a four-year-old was one of the youngest horses to have won the cup), and others like Johnny Globe and Cardigan Bay, this album would have made essential listening for any New Zealand racing fan.
Back In The Day… There were Maori Love Songs St Joseph’s Maori Girls’ College, Napier – a college with considerable recognition for its magnificent choral work, and excellent musical recordings released this 45-inch of Maori love songs back in the day. There are those who are moved by our modern-day warriors performing the haka on rugby fields before huge stadium crowds, but in contrast, these love songs express a gentler side of human emotions: “Whether the theme is the maternal love of a child or a lover’s poignant farewell plea, the depth of feeling expressed in these songs is unmistakable’”.
This is best expressed by one of the albums best known tracks, Pokarekare Ana. Back in 2002, obviously moved by this most treasured song, Jim Anderton proposed the song be given status as a national song stating; “Sport should not be the only source of New Zealand identity and pride… One of the musical distinctive sounds of New Zealand is Pokarekare Ana. For New Zealanders overseas to hear it playing is spine tingling. I would support giving Pokarekare Ana status as a national song for less formal occasions than our national anthem.”
With this sentiment in mind, we propose you too, strike a chord and share the love.
Back In the Day… there was Sharon O’Neill Maybe I’ll get to take him home. So how DO you talk to boys? The reverse of this sleeve has Sharon O’Neill dressed in gym frock, tights, short socks and killer heels… When it comes to relating to the opposite sex, not everyone is born with such confidence as this song released in 1980 from the smash album Words will attest to. (The song is penned by Steve Kipner of Physical fame, the aerobic hit from Olivia Newton John.) Back in the day, O’Neill sang of the defeaning silence encountered while a boy she fancied waited for her to speak. She bemoaned the shyness that made it so difficult for her to communicate. Self-doubt and uncertainty lurked beneath the confident and alluring front of sexy school-girl chic, and sadly, the bside track is titled ‘Bitter the heart’… But still, as the old adage purports, ‘you’ve gotta be in to win’.
Back In the Day… there was Jazzercise While some of us were ripping holes in our fishnets, repairing holes in our black jumpers and debating if there really was no depression in New Zealand, lip gloss devotees were donning lurid, flouro lycras and heading to the gym to embrace the new upbeat music phenomenon that had ignited the New Zealand fitness world. 1981 saw Golden Editions release long player and cassette versions of Jazzercise!, with tunes such as Locomotion or Another One Bites the Dust, for the ultimate workout. This revolutionary exercise programme had first been introduced here a couple of years earlier by fitness gurus, the Mills family. Les Mills’ son Philip had studied extensively in the fields of kinesiology and dance and, alongside mother Colleen, was primarily responsible for the nation-wide enthusiasm of this new craze. Jazzercise, as outlined on the sleeve, is “the combination of stimulating music, simple jazz dance and exercise routines that can really shake off the pounds, tone the body, strengthen both heart and lungs while having a really good time”. But sadly the good times are gone and today Jazzercise is a dead art. Jane Fonda has gone back to protesting against wars and Richard Simmons has stopped Sweatin’ to the Oldies and instead is just old and sweatin’. Never mind, as Kanye West says, “all the mocha lattes, you gotta do Pilates”.
