Waiata
Encyclopedia
Waiata is the sixth studio album by New Zealand New Wave
band Split Enz
, released in 1981. Its Australian release was titled Corroboree. Waiata is the Māori term
for song and singing, while corroboree
is the Aboriginal
term. According to Noel Crombie
the intention was to name the album using a word from the natives of every country it was released in. This did not go ahead and the only country to adopt this change was Australia. The rest of the world kept the New Zealand title Waiata.
Although the album hit #1 on the Australian and New Zealand charts it could not match the huge sales of band's previous release, True Colours. A lot of this was due to internal conflicts between the band and their producer/engineer David Tickle
, whom they chose not to use again after the album was complete.
Drummer Malcolm Green
, in spite of his strong performances, was fired before the album's release due to musical differences between himself and Tim Finn
. While the split was not amicable at the time, Malcolm rejoined the group for their 2006 reunion.
"Ships" was originally titled "Up to the Nines"; "Clumsy" started life as "Cheated".
Noel Crombie
was annoyed about the album cover change for the American market, as they had an aversion to the colour brown.
The songs "History Never Repeats" and "One Step Ahead" were among the first music videos aired on MTV
when the cable television channel launched in the United States in 1981.
, except where noted.
Side one:
Side two:
, except where noted.
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
band 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...
, released in 1981. Its Australian release was titled Corroboree. Waiata is the Māori term
Maori language
Māori or te reo Māori , commonly te reo , is the language of the indigenous population of New Zealand, the Māori. It has the status of an official language in New Zealand...
for song and singing, while corroboree
Corroboree
A corroboree is a ceremonial meeting of Australian Aborigines. The word was coined by the European settlers of Australia in imitation of the Aboriginal word caribberie. At a corroboree Aborigines interact with the Dreamtime through dance, music and costume. Many ceremonies act out events from the...
is the Aboriginal
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
term. According to Noel Crombie
Noel Crombie
Noel Crombie is a New Zealand singer and former member of the band Split Enz. He fulfilled multiple roles including costume and hair designer, percussionist, album cover designer, and music video director...
the intention was to name the album using a word from the natives of every country it was released in. This did not go ahead and the only country to adopt this change was Australia. The rest of the world kept the New Zealand title Waiata.
Although the album hit #1 on the Australian and New Zealand charts it could not match the huge sales of band's previous release, True Colours. A lot of this was due to internal conflicts between the band and their producer/engineer David Tickle
David Tickle
David Tickle is a British record producer and engineer. As a producer, he is most noted for his work with Split Enz, and in Canada, for his mid-80s work with Red Rider, Platinum Blonde and Gowan...
, whom they chose not to use again after the album was complete.
Drummer Malcolm Green
Malcolm Green (musician)
Malcolm Green is an English-born drummer best known as a member of New Zealand band Split Enz from 1976 to 1981.Green was recruited by Split Enz in Britain, where he had formerly played with Love Affair, The Honeycombs -- both of them long after their run of '60s hits -- and Octopus...
, in spite of his strong performances, was fired before the album's release due to musical differences between himself and Tim Finn
Tim Finn
Brian Timothy "Tim" Finn, OBE is a New Zealand singer and musician. Finn is most known for his music with New Zealand 1970s and 1980s rock group Split Enz, and later for his solo work, a temporary membership in his brother Neil's band Crowded House and his joint efforts with Neil Finn as the Finn...
. While the split was not amicable at the time, Malcolm rejoined the group for their 2006 reunion.
"Ships" was originally titled "Up to the Nines"; "Clumsy" started life as "Cheated".
Noel Crombie
Noel Crombie
Noel Crombie is a New Zealand singer and former member of the band Split Enz. He fulfilled multiple roles including costume and hair designer, percussionist, album cover designer, and music video director...
was annoyed about the album cover change for the American market, as they had an aversion to the colour brown.
The songs "History Never Repeats" and "One Step Ahead" were among the first music videos aired on MTV
First music videos aired on MTV
This is a list of the first music videos broadcast on MTV's first day, August 1, 1981. Video of the launch of MTV was uploaded onto YouTube in 2009.-List:#"Video Killed the Radio Star" by The Buggles#"You Better Run" by Pat Benatar...
when the cable television channel launched in the United States in 1981.
Track listing
All songs written by Tim FinnTim Finn
Brian Timothy "Tim" Finn, OBE is a New Zealand singer and musician. Finn is most known for his music with New Zealand 1970s and 1980s rock group Split Enz, and later for his solo work, a temporary membership in his brother Neil's band Crowded House and his joint efforts with Neil Finn as the Finn...
, except where noted.
Side one:
- "Hard Act To FollowHard Act To Follow (Split Enz song)"Hard Act To Follow" is a single from New Zealand art rock group Split Enz's album Waiata. It was written by Tim Finn and released as a single in 1981.-Track listing:Canada Promo 7"#"Hard Act To Follow" 3:21#"Ghost Girl" 4:39Holland 7"...
(3:17)" - "One Step Ahead" (Neil FinnNeil FinnNeil Mullane Finn, OBE is a New Zealand Pop recording artist. Along with his brother Tim Finn, he was the co-frontman for Split Enz and is now frontman for Crowded House...
) (2:52) - "I Don't Wanna DanceI Don't Wanna Dance"I Don't Wanna Dance" was a single, written by Tim Finn and recorded by Split Enz for their 1981 Waiata album. Lead vocals were by Tim Finn and the track was notable for Tim's voice constantly changing throughout the song...
" (3:34) - "IrisIris (Split Enz song)"Iris" is the final single from New Zealand New Wave group Split Enz's album Waiata. It was written by Neil Finn and was released as a promo single in 1981.-Track listing:Released as a 7" promo in the United States.#"Iris " 2:51...
" (N. Finn) (2:50) - "Wail" (Eddie RaynerEddie RaynerEddie Rayner , is a New Zealand musician who has played in bands such as Split Enz, Space Waltz, Crowded House, The Makers and 801....
) (2:49) - "Clumsy" (3:29)
Side two:
- "History Never RepeatsHistory Never Repeats"History Never Repeats" was a single written by Neil Finn and recorded by Split Enz for their 1981 Waiata album. The song remains one of their most popular. The video was one of the first to be played on MTV upon its launch in 1981....
" (N. Finn) (3:00) - "Walking Through the Ruins" (4:15)
- "Ships" (N. Finn) (3:01)
- "Ghost Girl" (4:26)
- "Albert of India" (Rayner) (4:03)
2006 remaster
All songs written by Tim FinnTim Finn
Brian Timothy "Tim" Finn, OBE is a New Zealand singer and musician. Finn is most known for his music with New Zealand 1970s and 1980s rock group Split Enz, and later for his solo work, a temporary membership in his brother Neil's band Crowded House and his joint efforts with Neil Finn as the Finn...
, except where noted.
- "Hard Act To FollowHard Act To Follow (Split Enz song)"Hard Act To Follow" is a single from New Zealand art rock group Split Enz's album Waiata. It was written by Tim Finn and released as a single in 1981.-Track listing:Canada Promo 7"#"Hard Act To Follow" 3:21#"Ghost Girl" 4:39Holland 7"...
(3:17)" - "One Step Ahead" (Neil FinnNeil FinnNeil Mullane Finn, OBE is a New Zealand Pop recording artist. Along with his brother Tim Finn, he was the co-frontman for Split Enz and is now frontman for Crowded House...
) (2:52) - "I Don't Wanna DanceI Don't Wanna Dance"I Don't Wanna Dance" was a single, written by Tim Finn and recorded by Split Enz for their 1981 Waiata album. Lead vocals were by Tim Finn and the track was notable for Tim's voice constantly changing throughout the song...
" (3:34) - "IrisIris (Split Enz song)"Iris" is the final single from New Zealand New Wave group Split Enz's album Waiata. It was written by Neil Finn and was released as a promo single in 1981.-Track listing:Released as a 7" promo in the United States.#"Iris " 2:51...
" (N. Finn) (2:50) - "Wail" (Eddie RaynerEddie RaynerEddie Rayner , is a New Zealand musician who has played in bands such as Split Enz, Space Waltz, Crowded House, The Makers and 801....
) (2:49) - "Clumsy" (3:29)
- "History Never RepeatsHistory Never Repeats"History Never Repeats" was a single written by Neil Finn and recorded by Split Enz for their 1981 Waiata album. The song remains one of their most popular. The video was one of the first to be played on MTV upon its launch in 1981....
" (N. Finn) (3:00) - "Walking Through the Ruins" (4:15)
- "Ships" (N. Finn) (3:01)
- "Ghost Girl" (4:26)
- "Albert of India" (Rayner) (4:03)
- "In the Wars"
Singles
- "One Step Ahead" (Reached top 10 in Australia and New Zealand)
- "History Never Repeats" (Reached top 10 in Australia and New Zealand)
- "I Don't Wanna Dance" (Reached #65 in Australia but failed to chart in New Zealand)
Chart positions
| Chart (1981) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia | #1 |
| New Zealand | #1 |
| USA | #45 |
| Canada | #17 |
Split Enz
- Tim FinnTim FinnBrian Timothy "Tim" Finn, OBE is a New Zealand singer and musician. Finn is most known for his music with New Zealand 1970s and 1980s rock group Split Enz, and later for his solo work, a temporary membership in his brother Neil's band Crowded House and his joint efforts with Neil Finn as the Finn...
– vocals - Neil FinnNeil FinnNeil Mullane Finn, OBE is a New Zealand Pop recording artist. Along with his brother Tim Finn, he was the co-frontman for Split Enz and is now frontman for Crowded House...
– vocals, guitar - Noel CrombieNoel CrombieNoel Crombie is a New Zealand singer and former member of the band Split Enz. He fulfilled multiple roles including costume and hair designer, percussionist, album cover designer, and music video director...
– percussion - Malcolm GreenMalcolm Green (musician)Malcolm Green is an English-born drummer best known as a member of New Zealand band Split Enz from 1976 to 1981.Green was recruited by Split Enz in Britain, where he had formerly played with Love Affair, The Honeycombs -- both of them long after their run of '60s hits -- and Octopus...
– drums - Nigel GriggsNigel GriggsNigel Griggs is a musician who played bass guitar in Split Enz. He is the brother of Paul Griggs from the 1970s vocal group Guys 'n' Dolls...
– bass - Edward RaynerEddie RaynerEddie Rayner , is a New Zealand musician who has played in bands such as Split Enz, Space Waltz, Crowded House, The Makers and 801....
– vocals, keyboards - International Management – Nathan D. Brenner
Technical
- Produced and engineered by David Tickle.
- Assistant Engineer Scott (Blackhand) Hemming.
- Recorded at AAV Studios, Melbourne
- Mixed at AAV Australia and Farmyard Studios, UK