Every New Zealand #1 single… 5 In the Shadows Topped the NZ chart: for 1 week from 23 August 2004. In the last column, I covered ABBA’s ‘Fernando‘. This week the randomiser threw up another track from Scandinavia, from Finland’s…
It’s that time of the week – identifying more compilations! There are a few compilations in my collection this week. But also some weird, tricky, arty covers that you might find tough even if you know the artist. I…
Karla Bonoff emerged from the same LA scene as musicians like Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, and the Eagles. She watched those artists quickly graduate from Monday open mic nights to stars. But Bonoff had to bide her time. It wasn’t…
Before he became Patti Smith’s lead guitarist, Lenny Kaye compiled Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era. Released in 1972, the two-LP set covered American garage rock and psychedelia from the years 1965 to 1968 and was a major…
These greatest hits quizzes are fun, so let’s do another one. Identify the greatest hits based on its cover. IMO this was easier than the last few, with some big-name bands. But I did it when I was tired and…
Kacey Musgraves was born in Golden, Texas. She didn’t release her debut album until she was almost 25. Before that, she performed as Hannah Montana at children’s birthday parties and appeared on the talent show Nashville Star. In 2012 she…
Every New Zealand #1 single… 9 Fernando Topped the NZ chart: from 4 June 1976 for 9 weeks 1976 was the year of ABBA in New Zealand. The Swedish quartet topped the singles chart for 15 of 45 possible weeks…
You probably know the drill by now – link the artist to the greatest hits compilation. We’re down to the fifteenth selection of twenty artists, so it’s getting pretty obscure. I like the collection of artists who don’t usually surface…
Before he became Patti Smith’s lead guitarist, Lenny Kaye compiled Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era. Released in 1972, the two-LP set covered American garage rock and psychedelia from the years 1965 to 1968 and was a major…
As I wrote in Part 1 of this Paul Kelly series, he’s barely known outside of his native Australia. But he’s one of his country’s most beloved musicians. His literate songs are plain and unadorned, often with a rock band…
