Peter Conway Photo: Ross Teppett Collection
Now that the election is over, let's listen to some Kiwi political songs.
Mervyn Thompson Photo: Art New Zealand
Mervyn Thompson's theatre pieces were full of political clout and songs were part of the armament. Mervyn was a man, as William puts it, "who fervently believed that a good strong song could exert a power well beyond its two to three minutes". William plays one song from Thompson's autobiographical work Coaltown Blues and two from his Songs to Uncle Scrim (one of which features Shona Laing). These are excerpts from archival RNZ recordings of the shows (made in 1991 and 1987 respectively) supplied to us by Ngā Taonga Sound and Vision.
The second half of the show is devoted to a newish CD called For Pete's Sake, which pays tribute to Wellington union man and political songwriter Peter Conway, who died in 2015.
We're indebted to Ross Teppett for help with audio and photos.
Music Details
'Song title' (Composer) – Performers
Album title
(Label)
'There is No Depression in New Zealand' (McGlashan/von Sturmer) – Blam Blam Blam
The Complete Blam Blam Blam
(FMR)
'The Wakamarina' (Thatcher) – Tamburlaine
Songs of a Young Country
(Kiwi Pacific)
'Pease Porridge Hot' (Thompson) – Mervyn Thompson
Coaltown Blues
(RNZ/Ngā Taonga)
'My Man's Gone Now' (Thompson/McCurdy) – Shona Laing
Songs to Uncle Scrim
(RNZ/Ngā Taonga)
'Strolling in the Botanical Gardens' (Thompson/McCurdy) – Bill Johnson, John O'Leary
Songs to Uncle Scrim
(RNZ/Ngā Taonga)
'Union Rights are Human Rights' (Conway/Teppett) – Not The Day Job
For Pete's Sake – The Political Songs of Peter Conway
(Private)
'Are You Alright (original version)' (Conway) – Not The Day Job
For Pete's Sake – The Political Songs of Peter Conway
(Private)
'Are You Alright' (Conway) – Not The Day Job
For Pete's Sake – The Political Songs of Peter Conway
(Private)
'Make Don Uncomfortable' (Conway) – Not The Day Job
For Pete's Sake – The Political Songs of Peter Conway
(Private)
