Leilani (song)
Encyclopedia
"Leilani" was the first single by iconic Australia
n rock
group Hoodoo Gurus
when they were called Le Hoodoo Gurus and was released on Phantom Records
in October 1982. It had been written by all four Gurus: James Baker
, Dave Faulkner
, Roddy Radalj
and Kimble Rendall
. Rendall left shortly before its release and, not long after, the band dropped the 'Le' to become Hoodoo Gurus. Le Hoodoo Gurus were noted for having three guitars and no bass
player, creating a distinctive, layered sound. This was captured on "Leilani", which told the story of a maiden sacrificed to the gods and an erupting volcano while her true love looked on helplessly. The song was later released on Hoodoo Gurus' first album Stoneage Romeos
(1984).
Bird of Paradise (1951) is described at Internet Movie Database.
Backing vocals are ascribed to Orphan Rock and to The Three Sisters. Both The Three Sisters
and Orphan Rock are geological features of The Blue Mountains near Katoomba
, New South Wales
.
"Leilani" was performed by The Living End
on the 2005 tribute album Stoneage Cameos (see Stoneage Romeos
); while "Leilani Part 2" was performed by The Sailors.
The volcano erupted and she was killed.
The end of the song states her life served its purpose.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
group Hoodoo Gurus
Hoodoo Gurus
Hoodoo Gurus are an Australian rock band, formed in Sydney in 1981, by the mainstay Dave Faulkner and later joined by Richard Grossman , Mark Kingsmill , and Brad Shepherd...
when they were called Le Hoodoo Gurus and was released on Phantom Records
Phantom Records
Phantom Records was an Australian independent record label established by Dare Jennings Phantom Records was an Australian independent record label established by Dare Jennings Phantom Records was an Australian independent record label established by Dare Jennings (founder of Mambo (Clothing) and...
in October 1982. It had been written by all four Gurus: James Baker
James Baker (musician)
James Baker is a rock musician from Perth, Western Australia. He has drummed with, and was instrumental in the founding of several influential Australian bands including The Scientists, Le Hoodoo Gurus, Beasts of Bourbon, and The Dubrovniks.-Early days:Baker has named Ronnie Bond of The Troggs as...
, Dave Faulkner
Dave Faulkner (musician)
Dave Faulkner is an Australian rock musician who also performed as Dave Flick. Faulkner is a singer-songwriter, guitarist and keyboardist; he has performed with several bands, but is best known as a member of Hoodoo Gurus...
, Roddy Radalj
Roddy Radalj
Roddy Radalj is a rock musician and singer-songwriter who grew up in Perth, Western Australia...
and Kimble Rendall
Kimble Rendall
Kimble Rendall is an Australian director, musician and writer mostly known for his Second unit direction of Matrix Reloaded , Matrix Revolutions , I, Robot , Casanova and Ghost Rider...
. Rendall left shortly before its release and, not long after, the band dropped the 'Le' to become Hoodoo Gurus. Le Hoodoo Gurus were noted for having three guitars and no bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
player, creating a distinctive, layered sound. This was captured on "Leilani", which told the story of a maiden sacrificed to the gods and an erupting volcano while her true love looked on helplessly. The song was later released on Hoodoo Gurus' first album Stoneage Romeos
Stoneage Romeos
Stoneage Romeos was iconic Australian rock group Hoodoo Gurus' first album and saw them receive record sales to complement their already strong reputation for live performances. The album name is from a Three Stooges short film...
(1984).
"Astute listeners will note the absence of bass guitar in the band... "Leilani" was based on an old 50s movie, Bird of ParadiseBird of Paradise (1951 film)Bird of Paradise is a 1951 drama film directed by Delmer Daves. It stars Debra Paget and Louis Jourdan.-Plot:Andre Laurence takes a trip to a Polynesian island with his college roommate Tenga . He assumes the native life and marries his friend's sister, Kalua...
starring Jeff ChandlerJeff Chandler (actor)Jeff Chandler was an American film actor and singer in the 1950s.-Early life:Chandler was born Ira Grossel to a Jewish family in Brooklyn, New York, the only child of Anna and Phillip Grossel. He attended Erasmus Hall High School, the alma mater of many stage and film personalities...
..." - Dave Faulkner.
Bird of Paradise (1951) is described at Internet Movie Database.
Backing vocals are ascribed to Orphan Rock and to The Three Sisters. Both The Three Sisters
Three Sisters (Australia)
The Three Sisters is a rock formation in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales, Australia. They are close to the town of Katoomba and are one of the Blue Mountains' best known sites, towering above the Jamison Valley. Their names are Meehni , Wimlah , and Gunnedoo .-Geology:The Sisters were formed...
and Orphan Rock are geological features of The Blue Mountains near Katoomba
Katoomba, New South Wales
Katoomba is the chief town of the City of Blue Mountains in New South Wales, Australia and the administrative headquarters of Blue Mountains City Council. It is on the Great Western Highway 110 kilometres west of Sydney and 39 kilometres south-east of Lithgow. Katoomba railway station is on the...
, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
.
"Leilani" was performed by The Living End
The Living End
The Living End are an Australian rock band from Melbourne, Victoria, formed in 1994. The current lineup consists of Chris Cheney , Scott Owen and Andy Strachan...
on the 2005 tribute album Stoneage Cameos (see Stoneage Romeos
Stoneage Romeos
Stoneage Romeos was iconic Australian rock group Hoodoo Gurus' first album and saw them receive record sales to complement their already strong reputation for live performances. The album name is from a Three Stooges short film...
); while "Leilani Part 2" was performed by The Sailors.
Plot
Leilani is a beautiful maiden who went to the volcano to collect sea shells. However, despite the warnings of her lover, she still kept going.The volcano erupted and she was killed.
The end of the song states her life served its purpose.
Track listing
- "Leilani" (Faulkner, Baker, Radalj, Rendall) — 4:52
- "Leilani Part Two" aka "My Love is a Red Red Rock" (Faulkner) — 4:00
Personnel
Credited to:- James BakerJames Baker (musician)James Baker is a rock musician from Perth, Western Australia. He has drummed with, and was instrumental in the founding of several influential Australian bands including The Scientists, Le Hoodoo Gurus, Beasts of Bourbon, and The Dubrovniks.-Early days:Baker has named Ronnie Bond of The Troggs as...
— Drums - Dave FaulknerDave Faulkner (musician)Dave Faulkner is an Australian rock musician who also performed as Dave Flick. Faulkner is a singer-songwriter, guitarist and keyboardist; he has performed with several bands, but is best known as a member of Hoodoo Gurus...
— Vocals, guitar - Roddy RadaljRoddy RadaljRoddy Radalj is a rock musician and singer-songwriter who grew up in Perth, Western Australia...
— Vocals, guitar - Kimble RendallKimble RendallKimble Rendall is an Australian director, musician and writer mostly known for his Second unit direction of Matrix Reloaded , Matrix Revolutions , I, Robot , Casanova and Ghost Rider...
— Vocals, guitar
- Orphan Rock — Backing vocals
- The Three Sisters — Backing vocals
- Mixer — Graham "Buzz" BidstrupGraham BidstrupGraham "Buzz" Bidstrup is an Australian musician, songwriter, music producer and artist manager. He has been a member of The Angels, The Party Boys and Gang Gajang. He has managed Jimmy Little, Nathan Cavaleri and Diana Ah Naid. He is part of the management team for the Jimmy Little Foundation.-The...
(later a member of GANGgajangGANGgajangGang Gajang are an Australian rock band who formed in 1984. The three principal figures in the original lineup were former Riptides frontman Mark "Cal" Callaghan and two former members of popular Australian hard rock band The Angels, bassist Chris Bailey and drummer Graham "Buzz"...
) - Engineers — Gerry, Michael, Jonathan & Buzz
- Producers — Le Hoodoo Gurus, Martin Fabinyi