Zodiac timewarp

Stebbings have been working on an extensive reissue program, the latest being one called the 'Archive Series'. It marks the digital reissue of nearly every single Zodiac and Stebbings released between 1945 and 1956, and runs to 12 digital albums.

"House engineer at Stebbing Recording Centre, Steve McGough, has led the project and has just finished a long grueling process decrackling, restoring and remastering the singles of artists under the Stebbing and Zodiac labels from 1945 to 1956.

Many of the singles in the ‘Archives series’ have not been available since they were originally pressed on 78-rpm records. Steve says, "It is like you’re listening to the old Shellac 78 rpm records for the first time.” He has got the sound of the albums as close as possible to the analogue sound of the original records.

Legendary Kiwi artists featured in the Archives series include greats such as Esme Stephens, Johny Grainger, Julian Lee, The Duplicats, Edwin Duff, Mavis Rivers, Jack Rigger, Del Harris, and Bill Wolfgramm’s Hawaiians.

It was a difficult, time-consuming process trying to locate the records. About two thirds were found in the Stebbing Recording Centre vault, and the rest were discovered amongst private collections. With the invaluable help of avid enthusiast, Mark Matheson, all but 4 of the singles made by Zodiac and Stebbing from 1945-1956 were located.

The albums have been grouped in genres as apposed to chronological release dates. This enables customers to buy a unique and historical album filled with the greatest local singles spanning the decade in a musical style of their choice.

Currently Steve is working on the ‘Heritage Series’. This is along the same lines as the ‘Archives Series’ but is compiled from singles from 1957 onwards." Source: NZ Musician

Volume one and two of the ‘Heritage Series’ has just recently been released on iTunes and on Amplifier- Vol 1 is titled ‘Then Rock ‘n Roll Hit New Zealand’. Vol 2 is called 'In polite company.' Here on iTunes.

Dobbyn joins NZ music hall of fame

Dave Dobbyn has been announced as the latest inductee to the NZ Music Hall Of Fame, and will get the nod at the Apra Silver Scrolls, next Tuesday. The Silver Scrolls traditionally feature unique cover versions of the finalists and a musical tribute to the inductee - at last year's event, Kora played a tribute to inductees Herbs. Dobbyn performed Slice of Heaven at the close of that evening, and put up with Herbs referring to him jokingly as Yoda, from the stage. The musical director for this year's event at Vector Arena is Godfrey de Grut.

Dave Dobbyn's music has featured previously at the Silver Scrolls - in 1998, Phil Fuemana and his Urban Pacifika crew (incl AKA Brown, Lost Tribe and Dei Hamo) performed Dobbyns' Beside You at the Silver Scrolls, joined by Dobbyn. The song was later released as a single.

Beside You won Dobbyn his third Silver Scroll that year - he'd previously won it for You Oughta Be In Love (1987) and Belle of the Ball (1993).

The New Zealand Music Hall of Fame was created in 2007, with inductions shared between APRA and Recorded Music New Zealand. Inductees to date are Jordan Luck, Johnny Devlin, The Topp Twins, Straitjacket Fits, Hirini Melbourne & Richard Nunns, Ray Columbus & The Invaders, The Fourmyula, Shihad, Hello Sailor, Dragon, Toy Love and Herbs. Unfortunately the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame exists in name only  - it's not a place you can visit.


Apra's press release:

Dave Dobbyn to be inducted into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame

"The New Zealand Music Hall of Fame pays tribute to those musicians who have had a significant impact on New Zealand life and culture through music. APRA (Australasian Performing Right Association) is proud to announce that Dave Dobbyn will be inducted into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame at the 2013 APRA Silver Scroll Awards.

“Music brings us together, in both our everyday lives as well as at times of special celebration and commemoration. Dave Dobbyn’s music is very much at the heart of New Zealand’s national soundtrack, and it is APRA’s privilege to honour him by welcoming him into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame” says Anthony Healey, Director NZ Operations APRA|AMCOS.

Through his career of nearly 40 years, Dobbyn’s music has made its way into virtually every New Zealand home and heart, his songs now woven into the fabric of New Zealand life and culture. Dave Dobbyn will be inducted into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame as a part of the 2013 APRA Silver Scroll Awards. The night will mark a return for Dave, who has been awarded the APRA Silver Scroll Award three times in his career – the most of any songwriter in the award’s 47 year history.

“Dave Dobbyn’s songs can be many things: devotional, angry, playful… but most of all they’re generous and brave. They can be whispered stories of hope and longing, or anthems bellowed by happy drunks along empty streets after the last bus has gone. Often one song can be both those things. Dave’s songs are deep inside every New Zealander. We’re lucky to have him.” says Don McGlashan, APRA New Zealand writer director.

The 48th annual APRA Silver Scroll Awards - Tuesday 15th October at Vector Arena. The event will be streamed live via NZ Herald Online."

New Salmonella Dub single

New single out 18 October. Salmonella Dub celebrate 20 years in existence. Off their new album, due out 2014.

'Same Home Town' will be released on 12" vinyl and digitally Friday 18th October 2013, plus with remixes from good friends Dub Fx, Organikismness plus Tui Soundsystem'sremix of 'Thats What I Want' will follow late October 2013.

Salmonella Soundsystem shows
With Andrew on the mix, live horn section, percussion + Might Asterix on the mic.

Same Home Town vinyl launch party
QUEENSTOWN - October 27th, Base Backpackers

Back to our Roots Community Halls shows
MAPUA - December 28th, Mapua Hall
TAKAKA - December 31st, Pohara Hall

Check www.salmonelladub.com for ticketing details.

DJ Rhys B recalls the World DMCs, 1990

DJ Rhys B. Scanned from Volume mag

DJ Rhys B at 1990 DMC World DJ Champs, Hammersmith Palais, London, March 20, 1990. [originally published in the sadly defunct Volume magazine, 20 Dec 2011]

DJ Rhys B: "I was only 20, so it was a big experience for me. I competed in the first New Zealand DMC Final at The Gluepot - competition was tough, but I took it out. The prize was a trip to London to compete in the World DJ Championships.

I travelled with Simon Grigg who ran the DMC competition in New Zealand, and it was my first time in the Northern Hemisphere. I was excited to be the first Maori DMC champion to represent Aotearoa in an international DJ competition.

It was a bit overwhelming at first, especially in the elimination round when you'd see all these other competitors that you'd read about. DJ Dave from Germany - he won the competition that year, the Japanese guy DJ Yoshi, the Italian guy Francesco Zappala, the American champion was Baby G - there were heaps of big names.

I had Twin Hype in my set - a song called 'Do it to the Crowd' - and I used 'Jam Master Jay' by Run-D.M.C., I had a couple of 12-inches of those. It was more back-to-back and scratching and body tricks in the early '90s. The DMC is a six-minute competition and they want to see all-around DJ skills, scratching, beat-juggling and beat-mixing, all in one package.

There were 23 competitors in the eliminations and they chose 10. I came 12th, and I'm proud of that. It was a very eye-opening experience and I'm lucky to have had it.

This is probably when the DMC competition was at its height, and lots of people played. I met A Tribe Called Quest, Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E. - I went to McDonald's with them and they were real cool. Public Enemy and Professor Griff were there, Inner City, 3rd Bass, Digital Underground. That's where I met Tupac - he was a dancer for Digital Underground, and it was funny because everyone was around Shock G 'cause he was the star of the show, and just to the side was Tupac and their DJ, Money-B.

This is before Tupac had the tattoos and stuff. I just walked up to him and introduced myself: 'Hi, I'm Rhys B from New Zealand'. I was pretty starstruck with some of those people but I figured I wasn't going to get an opportunity like that again. I just did the New Zealand thing, walked up and said, 'Gidday, mate - how's it going?'

ADDED: I found a video of the entire DJ finals, plus some live footage of one of the acts that performed that night, Public Enemy...

Back to the 80s: edits

Ring The Alarm playlist, BaseFM, Oct 5

Larry Young's fuel - Turn off the lights
Temptations - Cant get next to you - JSki edit
Roy Ayers - Love will bring us together
James Brown - Blind man can see it - full version
Cold blood - Kissing my love
Chuck Brown and the soul searchers - We need money
Billy TK - Move on up pts1&2
Steel an skin - Afro punk reggae dub
International observer - Saturday night in Camden town
Prince Jammy - 42nd st dub
Jose James - Blackmagic - Joy Orbison recreation mix
Yellow magic orchestra - Computer games
Theo Parrish feat Larry Mizell - Untitled
Adi Dick - Save me
Ermehn - Walls of steel
Riot jazz brass band - Slinky
Chic - I want your love
Candido - Thousand finger man
Althea & Donna - Uptown top ranking - Andres Digital remix
Mad lion - Take it easy
Pointer sisters - Yes we can can
Tony Alvon and the Belairs - Sexy coffee pot

Marbecks closes more music stores

Marbecks are shutting their Dunedin store, tho the cafe attached to it will remain open. In January they announced plans to focus more on the cafe side of that location.

Marbecks are also closing down the pop/rock shop in Auckland's Queens Arcade. Some good news though, Roger Marbeck is keeping Marbecks Classical open down there. Marbecks Classical is owned separately from Marbecks pop/rock shop in Queens Arcade. Final day is in about two weeks, apparently.

From Marbecks Queens Arcade Facebook page...

"FINAL CURTAIN... Hi friends, we are shutting up shop for good on October 14, which is bad news for us but good news for your wallets.

We're having a 50% OFF EVERYTHING SALE from now until our final day.

For those who haven't visited our store for a while there are many, many gems in store yet to find a happy home. Maybe that home could be yours, or maybe a music and film loving friend's home? Please share this post with your audio-visual fanatic friends who do enjoy a bargain or two.

There is somewhat of a happier music store story though -Marbecks Classical, Jazz & Specialist Imports are staying open, and in fact will be expanding both their store size, and their range, so there will still be at least one fantastic store located in Queens Arcade. They're not going anywhere.

Thanks to all of you who have shopped here over the years and requested all manner of weird and wonderful titles. Your patronage has been much appreciated by the in-store team."

Roger Marbeck took the Queens Arcade Classical store back in April of this year, and there was a big publicity push to get the word out in August. No word on any job losses.