The Weeds ‎– Wheatfields (1985)

Sometimes they played in their underwear and in 1985 they released the raucous folk-blues ‘Wheatfields’ as a one-off single, flipped with a live take on Elvis Presley’s ‘Trouble’ on Flying Nun Records.

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The Weeds ‎– Soundtrack (1986)

Homemade tape on Robert Scott's EST imprint played as a fake hootenanny with The Weeds performing as different bands. 

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Drone - The Land Of The Free (1986)

This is Art band Drone's first single. They were formed from the ashes of Tauranga band Rome. Darryl Hocking and Daniel Newnham had both played in Rome and where attending Elam Art School at University of Auckland. Rosemary Whitehead also hailed from Tauranga. They released two singles and an album in New Zealand as well as an E.P. in the UK.

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The Crocodiles ‎– Hello Girl (1981)

This was Wellington band The Crocodiles' fifth and final single to be released in New Zealand. The Crocodiles were formed in 1979 by guitarists Tony Backhouse and Fane Flaws, drummer Bruno Lawrence, and keyboardist Peter Dasent. All of whom played in Spats. They were joined by vocalist Jenny Morris and bassist Tina Matthew who both played in The Wide Mouthed Frogs. Their first single, Tears, was a New Zealand top twenty hit in 1980. Only Tony Backhouse and Jenny Morris were left of the original line up by the time Hello Girl was released. Soon after its release they relocated to Australia and disbanded a few months later. In two years The Crocodiles released two albums and five singles as well as two singles and two albums in Australia and a single in Britain. Hello Girl is sung by newcomer Rikki Morris (not relation to Jenny). While Jenny Morris sings the B-Side Romantic as Hell.

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The Knobz ‎– I Like It (1980)

This is the debut single from Dunedin band The Knobz. It was released in 1980 by EMI. Who later rejected their second single, the hugely successful Culture on the grounds it was too political. The Knobz released a total of four singles and one album. They also self-released the single Radiation For Free as Rockylox the previous year.

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Grey Parade – Call To The Trees (1985)

Not to be confused with the British band Grey Parade from around the same time. This is the Auckland Pop band of the same name. They featured two members of The Exponents. The A-side is produced by Exponents bassist Dave Gent who also plays the guitar in the group along with drummer 'Harry' Harralambi. This was their only release.

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Spines - Fishing (1982)

This was the first release from Wellington (via Hamilton) band Spines. Jon McLeary was the only constant member of the group. They released records on three of New Zealand most respected independent labels Ripper, Jayrem and Flying Nun. The Fishing EP features Caroline Easther who went on to play in Beat Rhythm Fashion and The Chills. The sleeve has a 45 RPM sticker on it as the label was printed stating the speed was 33 1/3 RPM but the correct speed is 45. The sleeve was also printed with an incorrect track listing. Side one is  1. It's All Inane, 2. Sideways and Side two is 1. Gillian 2. Fishing.

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Techtones ‎- That Girl (1981)

This is Auckland Power Pop band The Techtones first single. They emerged from the the ashes of Auckland Punk band  Sheerlux. They released an album as well as three singles. Their album T.T.23 moved away from  Power Pop sound of That Girl to a more lofi sound. It was co-produced by Flying Nun's Doug Hood.

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Jamboree - Melt Down (1985)

This four piece hardly meshed with the Kiwi pop aesthetic at all, and even more frustrating Melt Down's first selection (title track) found this foursome absorbed in rote "modern rock" mode, definitely sounding like a glossy product of their era. Next up, the hushed and insular "A Familiar Quietness" makes a break for the very polar extreme, but unconvincingly I have to say. Nonetheless, Jamboree manages to salvage the remainder of Melt Down in robust fashion, delivering three slices of pensive, forward thinking guitar pop that would do everyone from Lloyd Cole to Steve Kilbey proud. A happy ending after all.

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The Body Electric - Presentation And Reality (1983)

One of the first electronic bands in New Zealand, and hugely influential, The Body Electric were formed in 1982 by Alan Jansson, although he was credited on first releases as Alan Jimson, and Andy Drey. During their initial rehearsals, they were then joined by actor-turned-singer Garry Smith. The group's debut single, Pulsing, was picked up by radio programmers and spent 27 weeks in the charts. Not entirely indicative of their sound, the track has a novelty quality to it. Following the success of Pulsing, Andy Drey was replaced by Spines bassist Wendy Calder and the group released two more minor hits (Dreaming In A Life and Imagination) and a full length album before splitting in 1984. The Body Electric released their first and only album Presentation And Reality in November 1983. It would spend 3 weeks in the charts, reaching No.32. This is a masterpiece of electronic music hands down. Playing sporadically around Wellington in late 1982 and early 1983, the band made its first foray north to Auckland in August 1983, playing at A Certain Bar in Wellesley Street with three shows promoted by Propeller Records' Simon Grigg. Famously, Auckland radio DJ (and general legend) Barry Jenkin hated the electronic sounds and on the first night went behind the stage, pulled the plug and then stormed out. In early 1984 The Body Electric disbanded. Jansson moved permanently to Auckland, went into record production and had a global smash hit with 'How Bizarre' by OMC in the mid-1990s. Smith went on to later manage The New Zealand Ballet Company.

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The Drongos - Small Miracles (1985)

Their follow-up, Small Miracles, was recorded on the streets of New York, with just a few sidewalk sessions and some bass overdubs needed to complete the recording (on the street, Mitchell didn’t use a bass drum). ‘Substance Abuser’, the single, was a mix of power-pop and the cartoon punk of The Ramones.  The album reached #4 on the playlist charts of the US college radio stations, and many enthusiastic reviews. The Drongos’ New York attitude and initiative were apparent when they returned to New Zealand for several gigs in the summer of 1985-86. They arranged a local release of Small Miracles through WEA, and pre-arranged the venues and publicity.

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The Drongos - The Drongos (1984)

The Drongos were a quartet of New Zealanders that performed from 1979-1986 primarily in New York City. They were notable for their successful "busking" performances on busy Manhattan street corners. The New York Times called their eponymous first album "a delightful melange of funk rhythms, country harmonies, precisely layered electric guitar counterpoint and airy folk-rock sounds, with many influences, old and new, absorbed into a delightfully original sound." The Drongos originated from Wellington, where, as Red Alert, they were the backing band of the theatrical troupe Red Mole. Shortly after recording the live album Crossing the Tracks live at the Maidment, both Red Mole and Red Alert left for the USA. By this stage Red Alert were Richard Kennedy on guitar and vocals, Jan Preston on keyboards, Jean McAllister on guitar and vocals, Tony McMaster on bass and Stanley John Mitchell on drums.Their self-titled debut was produced by Steve Katz, formerly guitarist with Blood Sweat & Tears; it included the single ‘Don’t Touch Me’. 

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Three Leaning Men - Songs in the Key of E (1987)

Fun in the Key of E, the band's lone full length, harbors a few misfires (most accumulating on side two) but the highlights are dazzlingly high indeed. Including the ten brief songs on the album proper, there are two compilation appearances as well. Some of the only pertinent details on the group are included in an online article regarding the Leanies record label, Meltdown. The band's lineup includes brothers Alan and frontman Lindsay Gregg, that passed away in 2011. Post-3LM, Alan went on to the considerably more renown The Mutton Birds. If any of the surviving members of the band happen to read this, do get in touch.

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The Remarkables - Vegetarian/Skin Condition (1986)

Second single ‘Vegetarian’/‘Skin Condition’ with Zane Greig drumming arrived in 1986 as did contributed songs on Palmerston North compilation Meltdown Town and national student radio collection Weird Culture, Weird Custom. A must have!!

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This Sporting Life ‎- Show Me To The Bellrope (1982)

This Sporting Life was a souped up extension of Alms For Children, Auckland city boys with a cut down amped up sound who left their mark with a landmark indie single and minor chart hit on the truly independent REM Records in August 1981. Paul Fogarty (guitar), Ben Hayman (bass), Daron Johns (drums) and Gary “Rodent” Charlton (vocals) had been at the innovative edge of the early 1980s New Zealand indie boom for nearly two years by then. A great piece of NZ history right here.. Raw punk at it's finest! One of the lost treasures of Flying Nun!!

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The Dum Dum Boys ‎– Let There Be Noise (1981)

New Zealand Stooges obsessed punks from Auckland formed in the early 80's and released their first and only album in August 1981; an unreleased second album, "Death Or Glory" was recorded, but with no shows and recognition sparse, the band changed their name becoming The Henchmen in late 1982. A lot of songs from "Death Or Glory" ended up (with different lyrics) on the Henchmen first Album "We've Come To Play".  Founded 1980 by Anthony (guitar), Tony (vocals) and completed with Chris (bass) and Dean (drums). This album was released via Bondage Records and it was the first complete punk rock album by a New Zealand group and offers eleven catchy superbs, the right sound to forget your troubles and now exactly right for me. An unreleased second album Death or Glory was recorded, but with no shows and recognition sparse, the determined duo changed their name, but not their sound, becoming The Henchmen in late 1982.

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DD Smash - The Optimist (1984)

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DD Smash - Cool Bananas (1982)

Led by the highly respected singer/songwriter Dave Dobbyn, DD Smash was among the most popular New Zealand bands of their era. Formed in mid-1981, the group was originally named Dave Dobbyn's Divers, and also consisted of ex-Lip Service guitarist Rob "Revox" Guy, drummer Peter "Rooda" Warren and bassist Lisle Kinney. After a handful of gigs they rechristened themselves DD Smash, and soon issued their first single, "Repetition"; it quickly reached the Top 25 and led to the 1982 release of the LP Cool Bananas, which entered the charts at number one. After an auto accident, Kinney left the band, and with new bassist Ian Morris, DD Smash resurfaced in 1983 with the hit "Outlook for Tuesday." After a concert LP, Live: Deep in the Heart of Taxes, Dobbyn fired everyone but Warren, recording 1984's The Optimist with session players. On December 7 of that year, the new DD Smash played a free concert which ended in rioting; Dobbyn was made the scapegoat of the incident, and was tried for inciting the crowd to violence. The charges were eventually dismissed, but in the wake of the trial, DD Smash quietly disintegrated, as Dobbyn began focusing more and more of his energies on solo work.

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Various ‎- Rip Shit Or Bust (1983)

A fine little 12inch from Kiwi territory with six guns on it, released via Ripper Records. A small selection of songs that have already been released as singles and today are rare and expensive. The Instigators track stands a bit out here: perfect driving mid-tempo punk with female vocals and saxophone (this is more in the background) and good lyrics, rulez like hell. Overall a great little compilation which brings 15 minutes of joy!

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Various - New Zealand 7'' EP (1987)

This litte treasure came out on Out Of Order Records and five bands gave themselves the honor to show the world that even in far away New Zealand Punkrock was and is present.

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