Blue Smoke

New Zealand artists’ cover versions of overseas hits – and early original pop songwriting. Read more Audio

Rock’n’roll bands, teen pop and folkies... Chris Bourke looks at New Zealand’s pop scene in the early 60s. Read more Audio

Chris Bourke enters the world of musical comedy and cabaret that New Zealand nightclubs offered in the early 1960s. He warns that some of the recordings are deeply corny - while others remain risqué.

It’s often said that the early years of New Zealand pop recording were dominated by local artists doing cover versions of overseas hits. In this episode of Blue Smoke, Chris Bourke looks at the… Read more Audio

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… Read more Audio

Covering early mainstream pop acts, small jazz combos, and the role played by radio in disseminating New Zealand popular music. It looks at the changes in pop radio, from the conservative approach of… Read more Audio

Chris Bourke considers the changes in New Zealand’s nightlife during the late 50s and early 60s. Includes early recordings of New Zealand musical comedians, cabaret acts and solo artists including… Read more Audio

Chris Bourke looks at the radio dance bands that broadcast live to air during the 1940s and 1950s, covers the impact of radio, and considers the influence of broadcasters such as Arthur Pearce… Read more Audio

In this episode Chris Bourke covers Maori pop music pioneers such as Ana Hato, Dean Waretini, the Tahiwis, the influential guitar teacher and songwriter Walter Smith, and the legendary Campbell… Read more Audio

In this episode Chris Bourke features pioneers such as Tex Morton and the Tumbleweeds, as well as their acolytes such as Rex and Noelene Franklin, Johnny Granger, Jack Christie, Jack Riggir.

The… Read more Audio

The early stars of New Zealand recording: singers such as Marion Waite, Pixie Williams, Mavis Rivers, Esme Stephens, Pat McMinn, and vocal groups such as the Knaves and the Stardusters. 

Blue Smoke:… Read more Audio