In the 1960s there was a wave of pop DJs who decided to flip roles and become recording artists? Was this vanity? Certainly. Were the early local record companies offering sweeteners hoping their other releases might get airplay? Possibly. In this edition of Blue Smoke, Chris Bourke looks at DJs who crossed over from patter to platter.
More to explore:
- AudioCulture: The Kieth Richards Images Collection
- AudioCulture Profile: Des Britten
- The Genesis of the NZ Pop Charts
- The RNZ Mixtape: Barry Jenkin aka Dr. Rock
Music Details
Artist: Librettos
Track: Let’s Go (excerpt)
Composer: Duncan-Duncan
Album: Let’s Go with the Librettos
Label: EMI
Artist: Lou Paul
Track: King Tawhiao
Composer: Walter Smith
RNZ Sound Archive
Artist: Red Hewitt
Track: DJ Blues
Composer: Hewitt-Stephenson
Album: Early Rock’n’Roll from NZ, vol 3 & 4
Label: Collector
Artist: Bas Tubert
Track: Surfin’ Paekakariki
Composer: Ken Avery
Album: Ricochet
Label: Kiwi EP EA93
Artist: Bas Tubert
Track: The Way She Handled the Clutch
Composer: Ken Avery
45rpm single SA34
Label: Kiwi
Artist: Neville Chamberlain
Track: You’re Swell
Composer: Rowe
45rpm single HR175
Label: HMV
Artist: Keith Richardson
Track: Gather Round archive audio
RNZ Sound Archive
Artist: Keith Richardson
Track: 2ZC Beat
Keith Richardson archive
Artist: Keith Richardson
Track: Fab 50 trailer
Keith Richardson archive
Artist: Keith Richardson
Track: Lovin’ Sound
Composer: Tyson
45rpm single HR321
Label: HMV
Artist: Stewart Macpherson
Track: What is Truth
Composer: Johnny Cash
45rpm single HR440
Label: HMV
Artist: Radio Hauraki Good Guys
Track: White Christmas
Composer: Irving Berlin
45rpm single GOOD1
Label: Music for Leisure
Artist: Librettos
Track: Let’s Go
Composer: Duncan-Duncan
Album: Let’s Go with the Librettos
Label: EMI
With thanks to AudioCulture NZ