Eddie Rayner
Encyclopedia
Eddie Rayner is a New Zealand musician who has played in bands such as Split Enz
, Space Waltz, Crowded House
, The Makers
and 801
.
He has also released two solo albums. The first, Horse, was an instrumental offering released in 1995, recorded entirely at Rayner's home studio in Melbourne, Australia. The second was entitled Play it Straight, a play on a Philip Judd Split Enz
song called Play it Strange that was a particular favourite of Rayner's during the mid- to late-1970s. The song never made an album, but was played live when Judd rejoined the band in 1977. Play it Straight consisted of re-arranged and re-recorded versions of material gleaned from other New Zealand composers.
Rayner's keyboard talents were a notable part of the Split Enz sound. Paul McCartney
caught one of their shows in 1979 and became a fan of the band, eventually inviting Rayner to play keyboards on his 1986 album, Press to Play
. Rayner has also produced material for many artists including Models
, Margaret Urlich
, Margot Smith, and The Exponents
, as well as two ENZSO
recordings with Split Enz members, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa
and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
.
During the late 90's Eddie Rayner decided to take the Split Enz songs to an orchestral setting. This sparked the idea for the Enzso project
. Along with his synth, the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, some Newland Singers and some of his old mates from Split Enz, he created orchestral versions for Split Enz songs. The project ended between late 1999 and early 2000.
Recently he has acted as Musical Director for the show New Zealand Idol
, and participated in reunions of Split Enz and Space Waltz. He is currently a member of the 1960's cover band The Con-Rays.
, Eddie used a wide, changing array of keyboards. Mainstays during the Enz days were a Yamaha CP-80, a Yamaha CS-80
, and a Prophet 5. When he played keyboards for Crowded House
on tour during the late 1980's, he was seen to be using a Yamaha DX7
and a Yamaha Clavinova of some type. Lately, when touring with the Enz, Eddie used a Yamaha Motif
and a Clavia Nord Wave
.
Split Enz
Split Enz were a New Zealand band of the 1970s and early 1980s featuring Phil Judd and brothers Tim Finn and Neil Finn. They achieved chart success in New Zealand, Australia, and Canada during the early 1980s ‒ most notably with the single "I Got You", and built a cult following elsewhere...
, Space Waltz, Crowded House
Crowded House
Crowded House are a rock band, formed in Melbourne, Australia and led by New Zealand singer-songwriter Neil Finn. Finn is the primary songwriter and creative director of the band, having led it through several incarnations, drawing members from New Zealand , Australia and the United States...
, The Makers
The Makers
The Makers may refer to:*The Makers , a garage rock/rock-n-roll band from Spokane, Washington, formed in 1991*The Makers , a band formed around 1988...
and 801
801 (band)
801 were an English experimental rock band that were originally formed in 1976 for three live concerts by*Phil Manzanera *Brian Eno...
.
He has also released two solo albums. The first, Horse, was an instrumental offering released in 1995, recorded entirely at Rayner's home studio in Melbourne, Australia. The second was entitled Play it Straight, a play on a Philip Judd Split Enz
Split Enz
Split Enz were a New Zealand band of the 1970s and early 1980s featuring Phil Judd and brothers Tim Finn and Neil Finn. They achieved chart success in New Zealand, Australia, and Canada during the early 1980s ‒ most notably with the single "I Got You", and built a cult following elsewhere...
song called Play it Strange that was a particular favourite of Rayner's during the mid- to late-1970s. The song never made an album, but was played live when Judd rejoined the band in 1977. Play it Straight consisted of re-arranged and re-recorded versions of material gleaned from other New Zealand composers.
Rayner's keyboard talents were a notable part of the Split Enz sound. Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
caught one of their shows in 1979 and became a fan of the band, eventually inviting Rayner to play keyboards on his 1986 album, Press to Play
Press to Play
-Personnel:* Paul McCartney – bass, acoustic and electric guitars, lead vocals* Neil Jason – bass* Eric Stewart – acoustic and electric guitars* Pete Townshend – electric guitars* Carlos Alomar – acoustic and electric guitars* Eddie Rayner – keyboards...
. Rayner has also produced material for many artists including Models
Models (band)
Models were an alternative rock group formed in Melbourne, Australia, in August 1978 and went into hiatus in 1988. They are often incorrectly referred to as The Models. They re-formed in 2000, 2006 and 2008 to perform reunion concerts. "Out of Mind, Out of Sight", their only No. 1 hit,...
, Margaret Urlich
Margaret urlich
Margaret Urlich is an ARIA Award-winning musician based in New South Wales. Urlich came to Sydney, Australia, in 1988 to pursue her singing career. Her debut solo album, Safety in Numbers, was highly successful winning Breakthrough Artist - Album at that years ARIA Awards, as was the follow-up...
, Margot Smith, and The Exponents
The Exponents
The Exponents are a New Zealand rock group led by vocalist and songwriter Jordan Luck.Their major hits, including "Why Does Love Do This To Me", "Who Loves Who The Most", "Victoria", "I'll Say Goodbye " and "Whatever Happened To Tracey" have been taken up by successive generations of younger New...
, as well as two ENZSO
Enzso
ENZSO was an orchestral project started by former Split Enz keyboardist Eddie Rayner.-History:The project began with Eddie Rayner. He wanted something more from the old Split Enz songs, and doing orchestral arrangements seemed perfect...
recordings with Split Enz members, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa
Kiri Te Kanawa
Dame Kiri Jeanette Te Kanawa, ONZ, DBE, AC is a New Zealand / Māori soprano who has had a highly successful international opera career since 1968. Acclaimed as one of the most beloved sopranos in both the United States and Britain she possesses a warm full lyric soprano voice, singing a wide array...
and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra is the national orchestra of New Zealand. It is a crown entity owned by the Government of New Zealand, with 90 full-time players....
.
During the late 90's Eddie Rayner decided to take the Split Enz songs to an orchestral setting. This sparked the idea for the Enzso project
Enzso
ENZSO was an orchestral project started by former Split Enz keyboardist Eddie Rayner.-History:The project began with Eddie Rayner. He wanted something more from the old Split Enz songs, and doing orchestral arrangements seemed perfect...
. Along with his synth, the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, some Newland Singers and some of his old mates from Split Enz, he created orchestral versions for Split Enz songs. The project ended between late 1999 and early 2000.
Recently he has acted as Musical Director for the show New Zealand Idol
New Zealand Idol
NZ Idol, more commonly known as New Zealand Idol, was the New Zealand version of the Idol series originated as the hit British TV series Pop Idol. New Zealand first saw the Idol format when TV2 aired American Idol 2, which garned impressive ratings...
, and participated in reunions of Split Enz and Space Waltz. He is currently a member of the 1960's cover band The Con-Rays.
Gear
During the career of Split EnzSplit Enz
Split Enz were a New Zealand band of the 1970s and early 1980s featuring Phil Judd and brothers Tim Finn and Neil Finn. They achieved chart success in New Zealand, Australia, and Canada during the early 1980s ‒ most notably with the single "I Got You", and built a cult following elsewhere...
, Eddie used a wide, changing array of keyboards. Mainstays during the Enz days were a Yamaha CP-80, a Yamaha CS-80
Yamaha CS-80
The Yamaha CS-80 was a polyphonic analog synthesizer released in 1977. It supports true 8-voice polyphony as well as a primitive settings memory based on a bank of micropotentiometers , and exceptionally complete performer expression features, such...
, and a Prophet 5. When he played keyboards for Crowded House
Crowded House
Crowded House are a rock band, formed in Melbourne, Australia and led by New Zealand singer-songwriter Neil Finn. Finn is the primary songwriter and creative director of the band, having led it through several incarnations, drawing members from New Zealand , Australia and the United States...
on tour during the late 1980's, he was seen to be using a Yamaha DX7
Yamaha DX7
The Yamaha DX7 is an FM Digital Synthesizer manufactured by the Yamaha Corporation from 1983 to 1986. It was the first commercially successful digital synthesizer. Its distinctive sound can be heard on many recordings, especially Pop music from the 1980s...
and a Yamaha Clavinova of some type. Lately, when touring with the Enz, Eddie used a Yamaha Motif
Yamaha Motif
The Yamaha Motif is a series of music workstations, first released by Yamaha Corporation in August 2001. Other workstations in the same class are the Korg Triton, Roland Fantom-G and Alesis Fusion.-Motif Classic:...
and a Clavia Nord Wave
Clavia Nord Wave
The Nord Wave is a 49-key polyphonic synthesiser developed by Clavia. It is part of the growing market of keyboards whose functionality fuses analog, FM, and digital synthesis engines together into one package...
.