An audio history of popular music recorded in New Zealand in the 1950s and early 1960s
The second series of Blue Smoke examines the boom in New Zealand recording in the years before musicians combed their hair forward, and beat bands would dominate the air waves. It features rare recordings and occasional excerpts of interviews with the participants.
From left: Red Hewitt and the Buccaneers; Eddie Howell; Keil Isles LP; Johnny Devlin at the Jive Centre.
Covering the arrival of rock’n’roll in New Zealand, the reactions of musicians, and the Twist phenomenon. Among the acts featured are Johnny Cooper, Johnny Devlin, Eddie Howell, the Keil Isles, Clyde Scott and the Zanyopolis, Rim D. Paul and the Quin-Tikis, and Max Merritt and the Meteors.
Music Details Pie Cart Rock'n'Roll:
Track: Lawdy Miss Clawdy
Artist: Johnny Devlin
Album: How Would Ya Be
Composer: Lloyd Price
Label: Ode CDMANU2047
Track: Rock With the Devils
Artist: Johnny Devlin
Album: How Would Ya Be
Composer: Johnny Devlin
Label: Ode CDMANU2047
Track: Rock Around the Clock
Artist: Johnny Cooper
Album: Waiata: Maori Showbands, Balladeers & Pop Stars
Composer: DeKnight-Freedman
Label: EMI 50999 6802952
Track: Boogie Twist
Artist: Don Ball Orchestra
Album: Early Rock'n'Roll from New Zealand, vol 3 & 4
Composer: D & T Ball
Label: Collector CLCD7754/A/B
Track: Rock Around the Island
Artist: the Stardusters
Album: The Tanza Years, Vol 1
Composer: Ken Darby
Label: Tanza
Track: Papakura Boogie
Artist: Lou Clauson
Album: Early Rock'n'Roll from New Zealand, vol 11 & 12
Composer: Lou Clauson
Label: Collector CLCD7758/A/B
Track: That'll Be the Day
Artist: Q-Tees
Album: Early Rock'n'Roll from New Zealand, vol 9 & 10
Composer: Allison-Holly-Petty
Label: Collector CLCD7765/A/B
Track: Johnny B Goode
Artist: the Keil Isles
Album: Early Rock'n'Roll from New Zealand, vol 1 & 2
Composer: Chuck Berry
Label: Collector CLCD7753/A/B
Track: Rocket in My Pocket
Artist: Johnny Devlin
Album: How Would Ya Be?
Composer: McAlpin-Logsdon
Label: Ode CDMANU2047
Track: Get a Haircut
Artist: Max Merritt and the Meteors
Album: Pie Cart Rock'n'Roll
Composer: Merritt-Letussier
Label: Zerox DZEROX02
Track: Little Bit
Artist: Carole Davies
Album: Early Rock'n'Roll from New Zealand, vol 3 & 4
Composer: copyright control
Label: Collector CLCD7754/A/B
Track: Chariot Rock
Artist: Maori Hi-Five
Album: Early Rock'n'Roll from New Zealand, vol 13 & 14
Composer: D. Burgess
Label: Collector CLCD7759/A/B
Track: Gum Drop
Artist: Howard Morrison Quartet
Album: Pie Cart Rock'n'Roll
Composer: Toombs
Label: Zerox DZEROX02
Track: Kansas City
Artist: Eddie Howell
Album: Waiata: Maori Showbands, Balladeers & Pop Stars
Composer: Leiber-Stoller
Label: EMI 50999 6802952 4
Track: Oasis
Artist: Maori Hi-Five
Album: Instrumental International
Composer: Winston
Label: Rex RA2009
Track: Gravedigger's Rock
Artist: Clyde Scott and the Zanyopolis
Album: Pie Cart Rock'n'Roll
Composer: O'Sullivan-Crookes
Label: Zerox DZEROX02
Track: Mean Woman Blues
Artist: Ronnie Sundin with Will Jess and his Jesters
Album: Early Rock'n'Roll from New Zealand, vol 9 & 10
Composer: De Metrius
Label: Collector CLCD7757/A/B
Track: Moo Cow Boogie
Artist: Vince Callaher with Will Jess and his Jesters
Album: Early Rock'n'Roll from New Zealand, vol 3 & 4
Composer: Williams
Label: Collector CLCD7754/A/B
Track: Pretty Baby (I Love You So)
Artist: Jack Riggir
Album: Early Rock'n'Roll from New Zealand, vol 3 & 4
Composer: Walton-Luke
Label: Collector CLCD7754/A/B
Track: Tumbleweed Boogie
Artist: the Tumbleweeds
Album: Early Rock'n'Roll from New Zealand, vol 9 & 10
Composer: Cole Wilson
Label: Collector CLCD7757/A/B
Track: DJ Blues
Artist: Red Hewitt and the Buccaneers
Album: Pie Cart Rock'n'Roll
Composer: Hewitt-Stephenson
Label: Zerox DZEROX02
Track: Mailman, Bring Me No More Blues
Artist: Apaapa Sisters
Album: Early Rock'n'Roll from New Zealand, vol 7 & 8
Composer: Roberts-Katz-Clayton-Holly
Label: Collector CLCD7756/A/B
Track: Psycho
Artist: the Saints
Album: Early Rock'n'Roll from New Zealand, vol 3 & 4
Composer: Neho
Label: Collector CLCD7754/A/B
Track: Come Along With Me
Artist: Bill and Boyd
Album: Early Rock'n'Roll from New Zealand, vol 3 & 4
Composer: Cate-Robertson
Label: Collector CLCD7754/A/B
Track: I'm Movin On
Artist: Little Joy Yates
Album: Early Rock'n'Roll from New Zealand, vol 9 & 10
Composer: Hank Snow
Label: Collector CLCD7757/A/B
Track: Hashhish
Artist: the Pic-tones
Album: Early Rock'n'Roll from New Zealand, vol 13 & 14
Composer: Clarke
Label: Collector CLCD7759/A/B
Track: My Twisting Mexicali Baby
Artist: Robbie Burnie
45rpm single
Composer: Pena-Barry
Label: Tala TSP722
Track: Taranaki Twist
Artist: Bill Hoffmeister Quintet Plus One
Album: Private Party - Guests Only (Various Artists)
Composer: Hoffmeister
Label: Kiwi SLC35
Track: Twisting New Zealand Way
Artist: the Keil Isles
45rpm single
Composer: Kal Mann
Label: Viking VS084
Track: Twist and Freeze
Artist: the Keil Isles
Album: Early Rock'n'Roll from New Zealand, vol 1 & 2
Composer: Trujillo
Label: Collector CLCD7753/A/B
Track: Twist & Shout
Artist: Jim McNaught and the Premiers
45rpm single
Composer: Russell-Medley
Label: HMV HR191
Track: Twist with the Yeti
Artist: Fia Chaplin
Album: Early Rock'n'Roll from New Zealand, vol 7 & 8
Composer: Fletcher
Label: Collector CLCD7756/A/B
Track: The Twist
Artist: the Keil Isles
Album: Early Rock'n'Roll from New Zealand, vol 1 & 2
Composer: Ballard
Label: Collector CLCD7753/A/B
Track: Poi Poi Twist
Artist: Rim D Paul and the Quin Tikis
Album: Waiata: Maori Showbands, Balladeers & Pop Stars
Composer: Rim D Paul
Label: EMI 50999 6802952
