Netherworld Dancing Toys

Last updated

Netherworld Dancing Toys
Origin Dunedin, New Zealand
Years active1982–1985
Labels Flying Nun Records
Virgin Records
Past members Malcolm Black
Nick Sampson
Graham Cockroft
Brent Alexander
Annie Crummer
Kim Willoughby
Grant Hughson

Netherworld Dancing Toys, often simply known as The NDTs, was a New Zealand band from Dunedin formed in 1982. In 1985, their single "For Today" reached number 3 in the New Zealand singles chart.

Contents

History

The group formed at the University of Otago. The band members included Malcolm Black, Nick Sampson, Graham Cockroft, Brent Alexander and later Annie Crummer and Kim Willoughby. The original brass section was composed of Otago students including Alistair Perry, Matthew Trbuhovic and former chief information officer for NSW health Michael Rillstone (Mick Rillstone). The band's name is from a Roxy Music song "Spin Me Round" from their Manifesto album: "A nether world dancing toy/I'm wired for sound..." .

The band drew full houses frequently at Dunedin venues, notably the Captain Cook and Oriental Taverns, and were a popular student dance band. Musical influences were varied ranging from Dexy's Midnight Runners-styled brassy new soul, to classic Motown and ska. The band quickly developed a suite of original music which was distinctive in sound despite several brass section lineup changes.

In 1983, they played at Sweetwaters Music Festival and in 1984 they supported Blam Blam Blam on tour and a double sided LP of the concert at Mainstreet, Auckland was released.

Don McGlashan produced "The Real You"/"Standing in the Rain"/"New Zealand Love Song" which was released in November 1984.

In 1985 "For Today" reached No. 3 in the singles chart [1] and the Netherworld Dancing Toys won five categories at the 1985 New Zealand Music Awards. Malcolm Black and Nick Sampson won the 1985 APRA Silver Scroll for "For Today".

In the early 2000s their song, "For Today" received renewed prominence when it was used as an advertisement for New Zealand Post and at one stage for a driving safety campaign, and is also included on the soundtrack of the film Sione's Wedding . In 2015 the song was used in a Pak n Save advertisement celebrating 30 years in business. For Today was released the same year as the Pak 'n Save brand was founded.

Malcolm Black became a music industry lawyer. In The Mechanics of Popular Music, A New Zealand Perspective he says of the band's demise, "We were university graduates who had a number of different options and wanted security and a regular pay packet..." Graham Cockroft is CFO of Contact Energy. [2] Black died in Auckland on 10 May 2019. [3]

Discography

Albums and EPs

Date of ReleaseTitleLabelChartedCountryCatalog Number
Albums
1983 The Trusted Ones 12" Flying Nun Records --NDT 002
1984 The Blam Blam Blam Story/Netherworld Dancing Toys CBS Records --
1984 The Real You Virgin Records --
1985 Painted Years Virgin Records --
1989 Everything Will Be Alright -
1996 For Today - The Best Years Columbia Records --
EPs
1983 Netherworld Dancing Toys 12"" Flying Nun Records 10-NDT 001
1984 Song And Dance 12"" Flying Nun Records 33-NDT 002

The group have appeared on a few compilations and soundtracks since the 1980s. The following is a list of these albums that have featured tracks by Netherworld Dancing Toys.

Singles

YearSingleAlbumNZ Singles ChartCertification
1985"For Today"Painted Years3-

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Music of New Zealand</span> Overview of music traditions in New Zealand

The music of New Zealand has been influenced by a number of traditions, including Māori music, the music introduced by European settlers during the nineteenth century, and a variety of styles imported during the twentieth century, including blues, jazz, country, rock and roll, reggae, and hip hop, with many of these genres given a unique New Zealand interpretation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Split Enz</span> New Zealand new wave band

Split Enz were a New Zealand band formed in 1972. Regarded as the first New Zealand band to gain significant recognition outside of Australasia, they were initially noted for their progressive/art rock sound, flamboyant visual style and theatrical performances. The band later moved toward a pop/new wave sound that yielded the breakthrough hit single "I Got You" (1980). Split Enz broke up in 1984. Since that time, the band has staged several brief reunions.

The Dunedin sound was a musical and cultural movement in Dunedin, Otago, in the early 1980s. It helped found indie rock as a genre. The scene is associated with Flying Nun Records an independent label.

Blam Blam Blam were a New Zealand pop/rock/alternative band. Tim Mahon (bass) and Mark Bell had been members of The Plague and The Whizz Kids. After losing their drummer Ian Gilroy to The Swingers in 1980, Tim and Mark joined up with Don McGlashan, a multi-instrumentalist who played drums and sang many lead vocals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don McGlashan</span> New Zealand musician, songwriter, composer

Donald McGlashan is a New Zealand composer, singer and multi-instrumentalist who Is best known for membership in the bands Blam Blam Blam, The Front Lawn, and The Mutton Birds, before going solo. He has also composed for cinema and television. Among other instruments, McGlashan has played guitar, drums, euphonium and French horn.

The Plague was a New Zealand theatrical punk/art rock band that existed from 1977 to 1979, and was led by Richard von Sturmer. Their most famous performance was at the Nambassa Music Festival in 1979 and they recorded four tracks for the Infectious EP. Von Sturmer went on to a career in writing and film-making and other members went on to play in bands such as The Whizz Kids, Blam Blam Blam, The Swingers, Coconut Rough and Pop Mechanix.

Andrew Snoid is a New Zealand musician, singer, and songwriter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jan Hellriegel</span> Musical artist

Jan Hellriegel is a singer/songwriter based in Auckland, New Zealand.

Supergroove is a New Zealand funk rock music group. Their debut album Traction was released in 1994. The group disbanded in 1997 but reformed in 2007.

Shayne P. Carter is a New Zealand musician best known for leading Straitjacket Fits from 1986 to 1994, and as the only permanent member of Dimmer (1995–2012).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Westlake Boys High School</span> School

Westlake Boys High School is a state secondary school for boys in Forrest Hill, Auckland, New Zealand. The school opened in 1962, when Westlake High School split into Westlake Girls High School on the existing site and Westlake Boys High School on a new site. Serving Years 9 to 13, the college has 2,711 students as of February 2024.

Radio One is a student radio station operating from the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand. It broadcasts on a frequency of 91.0 MHz. it is a member of the Student Radio Network group of stations, all of which are run from New Zealand University campuses.

<i>Natures Best 2</i> 2002 compilation album by Natures Best series

Nature's Best 2 is a two-disc compilation album of 35 New Zealand popular music songs, numbers 31-65 on the APRA 75th Anniversary Top 100 New Zealand Songs of All Time. See Nature's Best for more information on the selection process of this list.

The following lists events that happened during 1985 in New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Annie Crummer</span> New Zealand singer

Anne Crummer is a New Zealand pop singer and songwriter of Cook Islands descent who has seen success in both a solo career and as part of various musical groups.

<i>Language</i> (Annie Crummer album) 1992 studio album by Annie Crummer

Language is the debut solo album by New Zealand singer Annie Crummer, released in 1992.

Julian Temple Band is an Indie band from Dunedin, New Zealand, fronted by Californian/New Zealand singer-songwriter Julian Temple. They formed in February 2004 as a surf-rock inspired project after post-graduate work at the University of Otago. The band has independently recorded and released seven albums; In Sea (2006), Quiet Earth (2009), Balance Escapes (2010), Upsidedownbackwards (2012), Ceiling in the Sky (2015), Antarctica (2018), and Tunnels (2023).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Six60</span> New Zealand rock band

Six60 is a New Zealand pop rock band formed in Dunedin, Otago in 2008. The band consists of Matiu Walters, Ji Fraser, Chris Mac, Marlon Gerbes (synthesiser), Hoani Matenga and Eli Paewai (drums).

Malcolm James Prentice Black was a New Zealand musician and lawyer. He was a member of 1980s Dunedin band, Netherworld Dancing Toys, and was the first specialist music industry lawyer in New Zealand.

References

  1. ↑ "charts.org.nz – Netherworld Dancing Toys – For Today". Charts.nz. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  2. ↑ "Leadership Team - Contact Energy". Archived from the original on 14 January 2015. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  3. ↑ "Malcolm Black: fair-minded and humble NZ music hero". Radio New Zealand. 10 May 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2019.

Bibliography

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.