Sensitive to a Smile (album)

Last updated

Sensitive to a Smile
Herbs - Sensitive to a Smile - album cover.jpeg
Studio album by
Released1987
RecordedMascot Recording Studios, Auckland
Genre Pacific reggae
Label Warrior
Producer Billy Kristian
Herbs chronology
Long Ago
(1984)
Sensitive to a Smile
(1987)
Homegrown
(1990)
Singles from Sensitive to a Smile
  1. "Sensitive to a Smile"
    Released: 1987
  2. "Rust in Dust"
    Released: 1987
  3. "Listen"
    Released: 1988
  4. "No Nukes (The Second Letter)"
    Released: 1989

Sensitive to a Smile is a 1987 album by New Zealand reggae band Herbs. It reached number 10 and spent 30 weeks in the New Zealand album chart [1] and was awarded Album of the Year at the 1987 New Zealand Music Awards. [2] The album included the four singles "Sensitive to a Smile", "Rust In Dust", "Listen" and "No Nukes (The Second Letter)", all of which charted. [3] Sensitive to a Smile was re-released digitally in 2012 with extra tracks from Herbs' 1984 album Long Ago and their 1982 single "French Letter (A Letter To France)". [4]

Contents

The album was launched at Mangahanea marae in Ruatoria, as a gesture of unity to Ruatoria after it had seen conflict between local Rastafarian groups and the community, as well as arson attacks. [5] The launch concert was filmed by director Lee Tamahori and became the basis of the music video for the first single "Sensitive to a Smile". [6]

Fred Faleauto and Dilworth Karaka first recorded a version of "E Papa" with the Pātea Māori Club who released it as a reggae pop single in 1985. [7] [8] The song is a traditional composition sung during tītī tōrea (stick games). [7]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."E Papa"Traditional2:06
2."Travellin In Style"Tama Lundon/Willie Hona 4:18
3."No Nukes (The Second Letter to France)"Dilworth Karaka/Charlie Tumahai4:13
4."Sunshine at Night"Willie Hona/Tama Lundon/Todd Casella3:31
5."Sensitive to a Smile"Dilworth Karaka/Charlie Tumahai4:29
6."Rust in Dust"Dilworth Karaka/Charlie Tumahai3:25
7."Listen"Willie Hona/Tama Lundon/Todd Casella4:31
8."Station of Love"Willie Hona/Thom Nepia/Fred Faleauto3:53
9."Pay The Man"Dilworth Karaka/Charlie Tumahai3:54
10."Jah Knows"Dilworth Karaka/Willie Hona3:03
2012 digital bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
11."Karanga Ra"Miro Hawke/Dilworth Karaka0:29
12."Long Ago"Willie Hona/Tama Lundon4:19
13."Nuclear Waste"Willie Hona/Tama Lundon/Rob Van De Lisdonk4:25
14."French Letter (a Letter to France)"Toni Fonoti4:35
15."Repatriation"Peter Stretch/Dilworth Karaka4:14

Personnel

Awards

YearNominee / workAwardResult
1987Sensitive to a Smile1987 New Zealand Music Awards – Album of the YearWon [2]
1987Billy Kristian for Sensitive to a Smile1987 New Zealand Music Awards – Best ProducerWon [2]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1987)Peak
position
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) [9] 10

Year-end charts

Chart (1987)Position
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) [10] 23

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References

  1. "HERBS – SENSITIVE TO A SMILE (ALBUM)". charts.nz. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 "1987 Winners". NZ Music Awards. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  3. "HERBS IN NEW ZEALAND CHARTS". charts.nz. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  4. "Herbs albums being released digitally". 3 News . Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  5. Kara, Scott (22 November 2008). "Politics, peace and love (stories behind 5 songs as told by Karaka)". The New Zealand Herald . Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  6. "Herbs Profile". Audio Culture. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  7. 1 2 "Shake Summation". Rip It Up. No. 101. 1 December 1985. p. 30. Retrieved 12 November 2021 via Papers Past.
  8. Poi E (booklet). Patea Maori. Maui Records, WEA Records NZ. 1987. MAUILP 14.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. "Charts.nz – Herbs – Sensitive to a Smile". Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  10. "Top Selling Albums of 1987 — The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Recorded Music New Zealand . Retrieved 5 February 2022.