Blue Smoke

Jim Carter, the lap-steel guitarist on the original recording of 'Blue Smoke', and guitarist on several significant early New Zealand pop records, died in October 2022, aged 103. This episode of Blue… Read more Audio

New Zealand's most successful record producer of the late 70s was only active for five years. He had hits with Hello Sailor, Th' Dudes, Golden Harvest, and Patsy Riggir. Then he left the industry he… Read more Audio

Perhaps thinking of the cover bands of the 1970s, the human jukeboxes and the booze barns and musicians since the 80s have turned away from what they call cover versions. This episode of Blue Smoke… Read more Audio

Before the guitar bands came along, the piano was the songwriter's main tool in popular music. In this episode of Blue Smoke, Chris Bourke looks at a period in the 70s and 80s when - inspired by Elton… Read more Audio

New Zealand musicians embraced the blues boom of the 1960s, inspired mostly by British R&B groups emulating their heroes from the Southern United States and Chicago. In this episode of Blue Smoke… Read more Audio

Chris Bourke looks at the musical landmarks of Christchurch, with an ear on the 60s & 70s. Read more Audio

Johnny Devlin cracked open the New Zealand rock'n'roll market in 1958. This episode of Blue Smoke digs deep into early Devlin. Read more Audio

Nick Bollinger and Chris Bourke discuss and share New Zealand musicians responding to Bob Dylan. Read more Audio

New Zealand has been a fertile climate for rock'n'roll and R&B from New Orleans since the mid 50s with Johnny Cooper's 'See Ya Later Alligator', and Johnny Devlin's 'Lawdy Miss Clawdy'. This episode… Read more Audio

Soul music has always been popular in New Zealand, and comes and goes in fashion. In the 60s and early 70s, local bands knew how to fill dancefloors with rhythm and blues from Memphis or Detroit. This… Read more Audio

When it comes to gender equity and the history of New Zealand popular music, without question women musicians have been poorly served. Singers such as Dinah Lee, Alison Durbin and the Chicks are… Read more Audio