Waiata : Maori Showbands, Balladeers & Pop Stars

The album has been described as the first ever complete retrospective of popular Maori artists such as show bands, balladeers, and pop stars covers the period from 1955 to the early 1980s.[1] The musicians on the album range from rock‘n rollers, crooners and jazz musicians. It is representative of an era where Maori musicians were popular in dance halls, clubs and cabarets both in New Zealand and overseas.[2][3] The first disc is more of the 1950s rock and roll and harmony vocal style, while the second disc is more in the seventies rhythm sound and some of the disco genre.[4] On 5 September 2011, the album had dropped from chart position 6 to 7 in the Compilation Albums section.[5]

The music was compiled by compiled by Grant Gillanders, a music archivist based in Auckland. He had to employ a bit of detective work to track down the artists and their families. An example of what he came across was a song by Maori Allblack George Nepia. The song, "Beneath the Maori Moon" was recorded at Decca Studios in London. Supposedly licensed to Decca, Gillanders found out that Decca had no record of the licensing agreement so the ownership of the song now belongs to the Nepia family which gives them the right to license it to music collections or film, etc.[6] His involvement in the project was approximately five years.[7]

It was mastered by Simon Lynch and Robert Stebbing at Stebbing Recording Centre, with vinyl transfers by Steve McGough.[8] It was manufactured and distributed by EMI.[9]

His Master's Voice 50999 6802952 4, EMI – 50999 6802952
2011

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The review on the Elsewhere site gives the impression that the album is more in the MOR vein. Among the artists is Frankie Price who is the older brother of John Rowles. The album also includes "Hollywood Dreams" which was the final single release for Golden Harvest.[12] The album received a 3/5 star rating from Stephanie Arthur-Worsop of The Aucklander.[13]

The album was compiled by Grant Gillanders.[14]

Mastering and tape transfers were made at Stebbing Recording Center. The tape transfers were done by Steve McGough and the mastering by Simon Lynch. It was published in New Zealand by Sony Music Entertainment in 2013.[15] Grant Gillanders produced the album for Frenzy Music Productions.[16]

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