Tag: Steve Apirana

New Zealander Steve Apirana is back with his second album and while I liked his first album this is a huge improvement from that album. This is a straight up blues album and it is good, real good. Again this album wasn’t released in North America which is a pity because I think it would have sold pretty good. Most people will recognize the title track as done by DeGarmo and Key bur in fact it’s a traditional so they didn’t get credited. That said this version is very good and I think I prefer it to the D&K version. Track 7 is kind of an instrumental but has some humming. The real gem of the album is the last track “It’s No Miracle”. It’s a spoken word track over a fantastic instrumental score and at 10 minutes long it’s definitely one not to miss. All in all this is probably the best album I have listened to this month and if you like blues I bet you’re gonna love this one.

Tracklist
1 – That Same Old Road – 4:54
2 – Hear Me Knocking – 3:51
3 – Postscript – 5:45
4 – No Turning Back – 4:19
5 – Song For The Bride – 6:33
6 – I Choose To Follow – 4:58
7 – E Te Ariki – 5:31
8 – It’s No Miracle – 10:02

Credits
Steve Apirana – Producer, Arranger, Songwriter, Guitars, Lead and Background Vocals
Alison Ahu – Background Vocals
Ainsley Apirana – Lead and Background Vocals
Kuru Apirana – Drums
Tai Brown – Sounds, Haka, Vocals
Leza Corban – Background Vocals
Graham Flaws – Bass
Steve Garden – Producer, Engineer, Arranger, Drums, Percussion, Keyboards
Dallas Graham – Keyboards
John Misky – Sounds, Haka, Vocals
Pepe Nahu – Sounds, Haka, Vocals
Stuart Pearce – Keyboards
Donna Tai Rakena – Flute, Background Vocals
Jay Tamati – Sounds, Haka, Vocals
Ray Totorewa – Sounds, Haka, Vocals

Companies, etc.
Manufactured By – Someone Up There Records
Distributed By – Someone Up There Records
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Riverside Productions
Copyright © – Riverside Productions
Recorded At – Progressive Studios
Licensed To – Southern Heartland Music Company Pty Ltd

Though this was Steve’s first solo album he wasn’t new to the music scene. He had been in the band Butler in the 70’s who had one album. They were the go to opening act for bands touring through New Zealand in the early 70’s. Steve played gospel music through the earl 80’s and went full time in 1987. In 1989 he released this album. It was not released outside of New Zealand which I’m not surprised at as I really don’t think it’s that good. That said his second album is fantastic and we’ll be uploading it soon. Anyway this album has a bit of a blues style that Steve would perfect on his next album. I don’t want to be too negative about this album however as it is relatively good and it’s great to hear something from a music market I didn’t even know existed.

Tracklist
1 – Something Beautiful – 4:38
2 – The Ant Song – 5:50
3 – Cross Over – 3:56
4 – Of All The Wonders – 1:09
5 – Living Sacrifice – 4:40
6 – Cast Your Cares – 7:14
7 – Ruth’s Song – 3:02
8 – David’s Theme – 3:22
9 – Psalm 61 – 6:08

Credits
Backing Vocals – Donna Tairakena, Graham Flaws, Jacobien Birch, Jenny Newbery, Kit Grenon
Bass – Graham Flaws
Drums – Wally Tairakena
Flute – Donna Tairakena
Guitar – Kit Grenon
Keyboards – Donna Tairakena, Stephen Bell-Booth
Lead Vocals – Ainsley Apirana
Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Guitar – Steve Apirana
Saxophone – Graham Wilkinson

Companies, etc.
Recorded At – Tandem Studios
Mastered At – Marmalade Studios
Distributed By – Someone Up There Records