1969: Harry Bipthday Trebor 27 November

Hilarious 10 year old humour.


Rob has the symmetrical joy of turning 44 today. I can find pleasure in many numerical patterns, but the simplicity of double digits is always pleasing.


I want to live to 99.


After that it is triple digits, and that is a bit creepy.


Anyway let's get into it, some years since my last post. Is there anybody out there?


In recent years, Rob has become a big fan of "the boss". I kinda missed it all- apart from the " born in the USA" stuff from 1984, which was ever present for the latter part of that year. I was a youthful 16/17; Rob a baby faced 14.


So, in a fraternal spirit of birthday wishes, here is a very early track from Springsteen- happily from 1969; weirdly a big white boys rhythym and blues wig out; but still . . . Not too bad.


Steel Mill-Jeannie i want to thank you (Live)







It is always a bit grim when the end arrives for a such an influential artist as Lou Reed. It nearly inspired me to start the blog again at that time; but it seemed too bleak to use death as a motivator for anything really. Like many, it meant a week or two of reflective (and instructive) listening to the Velvets and Lou. (Oddly, growing up in Dunedin, I was a bit late to knowing much about them, despite the fact that I found out later many of the flying nun bands I loved then cited the velvet underground as a key influence - the so called "thousand bands" launched by the Velvets. Strangely- for me at least- Nico - a very unpleasant woman according to Germaine Greer, among others, (see my comment at the bottom of this article) played at the very first orientation of my university time in 1986- And I missed her, not knowing the significance.)

This is another track from 1969 . . . patience people - so far they are both long songs with long intro's. So very 1969.

Velvet underground- Sister Ray (Live)





Ok. I know Elvis has already appeared in this blog, so this will only be an oblique reference, but one in keeping with the 1969 theme. In 1984, the marvellous and disturbing Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds released their first single- a cover of the magnificent Elvis track from 1969 "In the Ghetto". In keeping with the wonderful and unsettling from Nick, here is a beautiful track from the macabre, hilarious, and quite wonderful "murder ballads" album from 1996, featuring the magnificent PJ Harvey.



Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds (featuring PJ Harvey) - Henry Lee






And finally, from Vol.9, here is- frankly a bit of a shocker, but Rob seems to like a bike.


Billy Sans- Bicycle Morning






Happy birthday brother, and may there be many more. Let's eat weetbix at Wembley one day.

Hey Hey

It all feels a bit melancholic, this post.

The Monkees  was an early staple of my television life in the mid 1970's. I think the tv show must have screened about 5pm if during the week (tea at the table, not in front of the telly!); or maybe as late as 5:30 if on a weekend. Endless re-runs of M*A*S*H and Happy Days on NZ television throughout the ‘80’s (and probably ‘90’s- now it is the turn of Friends) only highlighted the absence of the made for tv fab four. John Pertwee as Dr Who; the Goodies; Spot On; Vision On; and Muhammed Ali (conserving energy on the ropes, past his prime but still the greatest) defending his title, starting just after school finished on rainy Christchurch days- and we watched while our mother brought through a jug of cocoa to share. Elvis movies (I know they are mostly slated, and generally neither musical nor dramatic masterpieces, but I still kinda love them. And check this. The track- which can only be described as hokey- yes, hokey- was the only one in the movie, which was actually pretty good). Ah, innocent times (even though, given the vagaries of NZ television at the time, 5-10 years late in many cases.)

But now, Davey Jones is dead. Already, as many words have been written about him and the Monkees as there have been tears shed at his passing. Maybe it is just the thing of mortality staring us all down; but also, it is another severed link to a perfect pop music past.

Like many, I did a wee “youtube” memory lane trip upon hearing of his death last week, and it took some surprising tangents. Some good, some great, some not-so-much.

The first track, of course, has to be the Monkees.

The Monkees- Valleri 

This track is wonderful, discovered by me a few months ago on this excellent blog- well worth bookmarking.


I first heard this song was when it was covered by "This Mortal Coil", but did not know it was a cover. Quite liked it then, but this version- heartbreaking, beautiful, and performed on a Monkees episode- is so, so much better.

Tim Buckley- Song to the Siren



Elizabeth Fraser was the vocalist on "This Mortal Coil's" version, and is also vocalist on this track from Massive Attack, taken from their first album, Mezzanine. It is not the Monkees, but it is very cool.

Massive Attack- Teardrop




I really have to end it with another Monkees track. I did not really realise how many of their songs were sung by Mickey Dolenz, with Davy Jones leading the way on seemingly more simple tracks. But the show was always fun, and some timeless pop music coming from them. Sad to see it end.


The Monkees- Theme Song

2010- "You're Already Down in the Sand"

There is a form of pure joy in playing air guitar to a song you love. Generally, this is best done in the privacy of your own home, and often after a beer or three. For parents, it is usually preferable that the offspring are sound asleep.

But what happens when one of them is nearly 18 years old, and is introducing the parent to new music?

This is a fantastic song, which I did check with aforementioned son that I had not ruined forever by faking my lost dreams of rock stardom in his room on Friday night whilst it was blasting from his stereo. He assures me he still loves it, and I have not ruined it for him forever by my antics.

Possibly because he shunted me from (air) guitar to (air) keyboards.

I know my place.

This is from 2010, part of the still exciting and original music coming from Dunedin then and now. Whether deliberate or not, knowing or not, to me I can hear tones of the Chills (the key boards) and the Puddle (just general pop brilliance)- what to me seems to be a nod to the brilliant past while blazing into the future.

Communist Rainbow Relationship- Two Horse Pony Loser

Maybe I am cheating by putting this under 2010, as it was released in November of 2009. But I only got it last year, and this is my blog, so my rules. The Black Keys have just released an album (El Camino)that already seems to be making into many “album of the year” lists (check this nice video from it)

Their album Brothers was released last year, and 2008’s Attack and Release is also a favourite and worth checking out- as are most of their videos.

This is from a collaboration with a number of hip hop artists, where they record under the guise of Blakroc- the whole album is brilliant, and this song is just goddamned sexy.

Blakroc- What You Do to Me (feat. Jim Jones, Billy Danze and Nicole Wray)

This lot supported the 3d’s at Sammy’s last year, and tore the stage apart. Snarling, spitting, funny and frightening; aggressive rock’n’roll- just the way its meant to be. Brilliant live, and a great debut album to boot.

Street Chant- Yr Philosophy

As well as just neglecting this blog the last few months, a few posts have also neglected its very Raison d'être (that’s French, y’know!)- a salute to the fine year of 1974 and its musical masterpieces, all nicely collected on 20 Solid Gold Hits vol 9.

Having watched an episode of The Untouchables (Ma Barker and her boys) on Stratos TV 

the other night, there was only one choice . . .

Paper Lace- The Night Chicago Died

1981: I want you to be happy

Just a quick reminder- sign the petition and/or make a submission to prevent the sale/closure of Radio 1. Needs to be done by Thursday. My previous post (and rant) tells why I think you should- check out their site for more coherent stuff about what is happening.

1981 was pretty weird times in NZ, with politics at it’s most obviously ugly. Rob Muldoon exploited the Springbok Tour and ran a hideous “Law and Order” campaign to get re-elected. It seems odd to think it was 30 years ago this week that protestors invaded the pitch in Hamilton to force the cancellation of the match there. I remember reading something from Desmond Tutu years later, saying how there was dancing in the streets of Soweto when the game was cancelled. In this doco he described it as “like the sun coming out”.

(Graham Reid’s excellent “Elsewhere” site has a piece on one song of the time, “1981”, by Riot 111. I made a comment below the piece, and it is worth checking the clip I mention)

In the midst of the tour, a more positive sporting occasion occurred. A strong Dunedin City football team came second in the National League (losing out on goal difference to Wellington Diamond United), but won the Chatham Cup 3-1 over Mt Wellington- a team containing a few New Zealand players, including one Ricki Herbert who was part of the All Whites team to qualify for the World Cup the following year. The League was great- competitive, and with plenty of NZ representatives (including Steve Woodin for City around that time, but not in the final).

I remember being sick in bed, listening to the game on my transistor, (which was by that time held together by sticking plasters). I don’t know who did the commentary, but in my mind’s eye, I can still see Mike Glubb receive the ball with his back to goal, swivel, turn and shoot- his second goal in the final helping City to a 3-1 win. (And, 30 years on Caversham are through to the semi-finals after a quarter final win on the weekend).

Aah, sport, music, politics. Gotta love 'em.

In 1987 I saw Brownie McGhee play at the Dunedin Town Hall- a fantastic experience. Sadly, Sonny Terry had died the year before. In 1981, Sonny Terry was with him when they played Nambassa. Being 14 at the time, and not there (possibly listening to 4XO on my transistor at the time) I have no idea what they played, but this track (and video!) is fantastic. (Sonny Terry, with his song “Fox Chase”, provided the soundtrack for Len Lye’s “Colour Cry” in 1953. Great clip, but dodgy quality on You Tube)

Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee- Hootin’ Blues

Perhaps their anthemic “There is no Depression in New Zealand” was a more fitting 1981 song, but this has always been a favourite- ever since the unusual pairing of Blam Blam Blam with the Netherworld Dancing Toys on a live album- “The Blam Blam Blam Story” (one side for each band)- after they had toured together.

(I have never met anyone called Marsha- only one I ever knew was on the Brady Bunch. And she spelt it Marcia.)

Blam Blam Blam- Don’t Fight It Marsha (It’s Bigger than both of us)

Alas, never saw them live. Probably would have frightened a 13 or 14 year old. Christchurch’s finest- the Gordon’s. Latterly released on Flying Nun, but originally on Failsafe Records. (This video is available on the excellent Flying Nun “Very Short Films” compilation.)

The Gordon’s- Adults and Children

Possibly scary in it’s own way to, it is time to revisit Vol. 9. One of only two NZ tracks on the album, it is probably hard to find a bigger difference between Bunny Walters “1970’s cabaret” styles, and this New Zealand Glam-classic from Alastair Riddell’s Space Waltz. Fantastic.

Space Waltz- Out on the Street

Radio One- Nostalgia for the future

A few weeks ago, Molly and I bumped into Ryan watching football on a Saturday morning. Never knew Ryan was a football fan- but was pleased he had popped to our place to see if Isaac wanted to come down as well, only to be refused because there was vacuuming to be done. Not sure if that was Isaac’s like of following parental instruction, or dislike of sport- but hey, the couch was cat-hair free when I got home.

Ryan, saying kind things about this blog, also said “It’s a kind of nostalgia thing for you, eh?” Ouch- made me feel old (not that being my age is a bad thing at all!),  but also reminded me that I have not touched on anything at all from this decade.

Recent events in Dunedin have evoked both feelings of nostalgia, and a heightened awareness of needing to be involved in the present and plan for the future.

Radio One has been, and continues to be, hugely influential on the music I listen to and enjoy. I also had the thrill  of being news reader and “acting news editor”;  voiced a few ads (with my radio voice, short run campaigns were best); I have had my own show (in 1988, the “Hydro Surf Dawn Patrol”- hilarious  really- I know I can barely swim, let alone surf (poor upper body strength, as the whanau will all attest!) and suspect the same of my co-host of the time) and various shows- both regular and irregular until about 1993 or 1994.

There were lots of laughs. I remember doing a show from 11pm till 1am one Easter, and ending up drinking whiskey and Stones Ginger Wine with the very dapper, but slightly dishevelled, station manager who stumbled in having completed playing organ at one of the Cathedrals in town for an Easter service. His usual attire included a knobbly woollen jersey, and gumboots- one white, one black. Arriving around midnight at the station, in his formal tails and bow tie, I was pleased to see he was still wearing the gummies, and wondered how they went on organ pedals.

I remember the hilarity  of reading the news (which at that stage was often just lifted from Teletext), and realising that each sports story one particular morning was so laden with sexual innuendo, that neither I nor the show host could complete a sentence without cracking up, and had to finally cut to music when it all became too silly. (legend also had it that the station was the first to broadcast the news of the first Fiji coup, beating the state radio station by about 20 minutes)

While the station has professionalised a lot since those days (generally for the better) all those experiences were wonderful for me, and led to some great friendships and experiences.

But far more important is the role Radio One has played, and continues to play, in the social, cultural and political fabric of Dunedin and beyond. A diverse news and political perspective; a broad exposure of the arts – local, national and international; and a constant exposure to an exciting and often exhilarating range of new and not-so-new music- all combine to make the station an escape from the usual drudgery and depressiveness of most other news and/or music stations available in the city.

And it is all under imminent threat because of a proposal under consideration by the Otago University Students’ Association (OUSA) to sell the station they have owned and operated since 1984.

I think this would be a tragedy for those who have benefited from the station- musicians, artists, performers,  and students (as well as OUSA as an organisation). And most especially, listeners who are continually exposed interesting, exciting, challenging, and provocative music. I also think it would be a betrayal to those students who over the past 27 years and more put in time, effort and money to create such a vibrant radio station.

If in any way you value “the arts”, and share a love of music, wherever on the planet (or beyond!) you live, please get involved in the campaign to save Radio One. Regardless of any views you have on who or how the station should be funded, please take the time to check their websites, facebook pages, and offer support and suggestions.

Via Radio One, Dunedin city has nurtured many local acts (The Verlaines; Die!Die!Die; Del Girl; The Puddle; 3D’s; Haunted Love; the Clean; Alizzarin Lizard; the Suds; TFF; Cult Disney; Hannah Howse; Sonic Smith; and many, many more) by giving them airplay, interviews, promoting gigs etc, some of whom have gone on to great things, and some of whom have brought joy for only a short time. Radio One has also done the same for national and international acts that exist outside the mainstream (wanted to avoid that godammed word!), and who have had the opportunity to be exposed to Dunedin and New Zealand audiences without being financially or artistically crippled in the process- to the benefit of both artist and audience.

The loss of Radio One could be the start of the creation of a cultural wasteland, where it is hugely difficult for music beyond the dictates of Australian radio programme directors running commercial stations to get any broadcast exposure.

The very thing the station was created to rebel against.

The following tracks are of relatively recent stuff I enjoy, and which I first heard on Radio One.

This one- well, it is just a very cool song off an excellent album. And I am a bit of a sucker for a duet. (One of my all-time favourites- Rae and I used to be able to do a pretty good rendition- is Duet, by the very wonderful early 1990's band Mink - featuring among many other notables, Dermania Lloyd and George D. Henderson)

Princess Chelsea- Cigarette Duet

Unfortunately no video with this one, but this is a great psychedelic pop track from Ruban Neilson's new band, Unknown Mortal Orchestra.

Unknown Mortal Orchestra- Thought Ballune



Just love this, and the "lyrics" have become a bit of a throwaway line with me and the kids. The song is a few years old now (2008), but still gets a bit of deserved airplay. (As does other stuff from Sonic Smith- a fine local exponent of electronica)

 Sonic Smith- Condensation 101



I heard a lovely interview with this artist on Aaron Hawkins' breakfast show a few weeks ago- on, of course, Radio One. Unfortunately could not get out to Chick's Hotel in Port Chalmers to see her when she was here. Stunning song- gorgeous and original voice, great guitar playing.

Tiny Ruins- Little Notes

1986- "Keeps Spiders in Her Pocket"

Short(ish) and sweet this week, since I am already late posting. (And last week may have been too much talk and too much music). Just four tracks this time, and each, for me, is  resonant of the time.

I decided ages ago this clip had to be posted. It is another one that was on regular rotate at Radio One in 1986/1987. 

Oddly, I only ever saw a few episodes of Spitting Image- on the show, Thatcher was always brilliant, but really, for me it was all about this song- the clip of which I did not see for years. It was highly topical for NZ, the year after widespread demonstrations against the planned All Blacks rugby tour to Aparthied South Africa, combined with legal action, meant the tour  was called off- only to take place in 1986 under the guise of “the Cavaliers”. (And which also led to this song- by a veritable who’s who of NZ music of the time- “Don’t Go”,  reaching the NZ charts)

Of course, South Africa, still appallingly unequal and economically and socially divided, is a better place. Rae is visiting at the moment, and thus far has only met nice South Africans.

Spitting Image- I’ve Never Met a Nice South African

Look Blue Go Purple were legends. It was very cool being a high school kid and popping over to the EMI record shop on Princes Street and seeing Lesley Paris selling records behind the counter. You just don’t get that with downloads! This song is probably more accurately 1985, from their “Bewitched” EP, but I think the vid came out in 1986. 

I did 6^th form Classics at school, so always loved the title and topic of this song. (Inside information is that the whiskey they are knocking back in the video is really just cold tea. Not so rock and roll, but probably for the best, given the high, windy (both meanings of the word) roads of the Otago Peninsula) Perfect Pop music.

Look Blue Go Purple- Circumspect Penelope

Bjork. Genius. And something of her solo stuff will no doubt appear at some stage in this blog. 

But this is the Icelandic version of the first most of us ever heard of her- in English it is called “Birthday”, and came out in 1988, but this version is from 1986.
I remember playing it over and over one afternoon, living on Cargill Street in 1989. Oddly, Buck and I took turns at resetting the needle on the turntable, and stood on the arms of different armchairs while it played. About 20 times.

Hippies.

It is worth also checking out a brilliant live version of this, as well as the English language version. Just lovely. And you can sit in your armchair for each, if you so wish.

Sugar Cubes- Ammæli (Birthday)

With so many gorgeous tunes, it was always going to be hard to pick something from the Bats. So if you don’t know much of their stuff, check out more. If you do- well, you know you are going to anyway. This is from the album “Daddy’s Highway”- again, it is listed as being 1986/87, so I am taking the liberty of including it here regardless.

Happily, we got to see the Bats perform either early this year or late last year- twice within 24 hours. They played an excellent gig at Sammy’s on a Saturday night, and then an intimate afternoon gig at  Chicks Hotel in Port Chalmers on the Sunday afternoon. Just like having them play in the front lounge, and was lovely, because both Isaac and Molly came along and enjoyed it. Kinda cool that nearly 30 years after first hearing them that they are still putting out beautiful, original stuff- and that we can introduce it to our own kids.

I decided on this one both because it is just wonderful, and for the poignancy of the site for the video shoot- an intersection of inner city Christchurch that was devastated in the February earthquake. Indeed, it doesn’t look good.

The Bats- Block of Wood

1979 “The Loving Finger Points at You- As You Whip Your Back With Thorns”

For me, the main event of 1979 was shifting from Christchurch to Dunedin, a few months short of my 12^th birthday. Oddly, music was important in demonstrating the huge change that can occur changing cities and schools. Ultimately the change was great- I have said before how great it was to be a teen in Dunedin during the 1980’s. with so much wonderful music coming from (and to) the city. But I did not know that at 11 years old . . .

My schooling in Christchurch had been at a large, state, co-ed school for kids aged 5- 12/13. We plenty of space- sports fields, outdoor 25 meter swimming pool. It was in a far from affluent area of the city, but I think that was just the way schools were built by the state. It was all very liberal- sport was encouraged, but it did not matter what sport you played (despite one of the teachers being in a NZ rugby team ( I think NZ “B”) which played in Argentina in the late 1970’s); Richard Hadlee visited and bowled a ball so hard it broke through a fence on the school boundary; Selwyn Maister came to the school and showed us his 1976 Olympic Hockey Gold Medal. We sent a letter to Margaret Mahy, and she came to read A Lion in the Meadow to our class under the shelter of a huge weeping-willow tree on a sweltering Canterbury day. Singing at assembly was a big thing- often 1960’s American and British “folk”; or a seemingly newly developing New Zealand variant for schools- songs about the first Maori waka; conservation themed stuff. My god- maybe it was a school of hippies!

The shift to a small Catholic school for boys aged 8-12/13; school uniform (including “garters” for your socks- what the hell were garters??!!); a concrete playground; and pretty much only religious songs- well, it was a bit of a shock. (Although, in fairness, one of the teachers who was there when we arrived- and left on tour soon after- was the lead singer in “The Knobz”)

All the while, 1979, like any year really, was creating some musical gems . . .

Overall, this post is very much reggae influenced (although no actual reggae appears). The first track, however, is just snotty-nosed pop-punk from Invercargill’s finest front-man, Chris Knox, here as part of Toy Love. They released two fine “Double-A-Side” singles, this being one side of one of them.

Toy Love- Squeeze

I remember at high school “discovering” the Clash. For a short while there was the nonsensical tribal debate of “who is the best? The Sex Pistols; the Clash; or the Jam?” All great in their own way, but it was more the Clash for me.

And so starts the reggae infused sound of the rest of this week’s post. The politics of this always attracted me- released before the Brixton riots of 1981 (which is when I first heard this album, and thus thought it was about- as well as always linking it to Blair Peach who was killed by the British police in 1979)

And so starts the reggae infused sound of the rest of this week’s post. From London Calling; a great live version of one of only a few of songs Paul Simonon wrote and sang,

The Clash- The Guns of Brixton

Until this week I never noticed that the following song was a cover when it appeared on London Calling. Glad I know now, coz this is kinda cool. This track was originally released in 1958 by Vince Taylor (who was also an influence on Bowie in creating the Ziggy Stardust persona)

Vince Taylor- Brand New Cadillac

Vince Taylor - Brand new Cadillac (live) by fredozydeco

The Slits toured with the Clash, and had the whole punk/reggae/ska vibe going on too. Sadly, Ari Up, the youngest member of the band (17 when this track was released) died last year. (Interestingly- or not- her mother married John Lydon, aka Johnny Rotten)

This track is lovely- although the video quality is a bit dodgy. It is worth checking out other stuff of theirs- in particular, listen to “Typical Girls” and tell me that Bjork was not influenced by the Slits.

The Slits- Instant Hit

With  the behaviour of a number of high profile French men of late perhaps exposing the stylised, black-and-white, chain-smoking  cinematic view of the libidinous Gallic male for what it is, this might not be the best time to introduce the serial charmer Serge Gainsbourg to the blog. But this song, with lyrics from the French national anthem, and featuring Sly and Robbie, along with the “I Three’s”- Rita Marley, Judy Mowat and Marcia Griffiths, is fantastic.

Serge Gainsbourg- Aux Armes Et Caetera

It seems almost sacrilege to post the next song. But hey, it is from Vol 9, so it has to be done. Sticking with the reggae theme, the Bob Marley origninal is far better. (Easy to say but true) This was a big hit for Eric Clapton.

Appropriation, or helping bring a different style to the mainstream? I guess it could be asked of all of the stuff above . . . and probably any art form that is influenced by something that has gone before . . .

Eric Clapton- I Shot the Sheriff