New album launch of old songs
Uncovering an old recording tape online has led to a new album launch for musician Chris Thompson and a release party in Hamilton next month.
Waihi Beach-based Chris Thompson could not believe it when he stumbled across part of his 1974 recording tapes for sale on the online platform, Ebay.
The songs, recorded in Ireland and transferred into stereo in London by Apple Corps, the label founded by the Beatles, should have been part of Chris’ second album at the time.
Chris says he shipped his collection of first generation masters to New Zealand in 1975 but they were lost in a house fire nearly 10 years later, in 1982.
Some of his recordings survived and for others he left the acetate — the sample version of a recording disc — at the EMI studio in England before coming back home.
The acetate got lost for another 20 years, moving from the studio to a record shop in Soho then another one in London.
The acetate was listed for auction in March from the UK under the title, “a rather mysterious album thought to have connections to George Harrison”.
“My connection in Greece, collector Giorgio OddYad Zavos, spotted it and messaged me to let me know about the listing. I did not expect it at all,” he says.
Donald McLeod from Pinenut Records in the Waikato bought the recordings, which were digitalised in Auckland.
“These songs — 12 on the CD version and 13 on the LP — have never been released before. It is a new collection,” Chris says.
A bonus track of the LP is Chris’ interview in his Waihi Beach home.
A large number of musicians contributed to the Drunken Nights In Dublin album along with Chris’ guitar and lead vocals. The style is wide, mainly with roots in folk and blues, but encompassing a broad range of eclectic sounds. They include lyrical songs with an Australian humour twist, Indian tunes played with a sitar, a tabla (drum), rhythmic Spanish castanets and electric guitar rock solos.
Chris’ music is complete, mainly due to his travels in northern and southern Europe, his country home in Hamilton and his father’s connections to France where he discovered old French songs.
“The old French songs played in the Middle Ages by the troubadours had some very bluesy tones. Yes, they were bluesy, very lyrical and romantic, singing about love.
“Many believe that blues sing sad songs but I believe that blues is a happy style,” he says.
All the songs have been recorded live and maintain the authenticity of the music.
“It is not commercial music, it is underground,” he says. The launch party is at the Nirvana Lounge in Hamilton on Saturday, November 24 at 8pm accompanied by The Kings of Rhythm.
This will be followed by solo gigs in Auckland, Taupo¯ and Waihi Beach between November and December.
■ Tickets for the launch party are online at Eventfinda, $22.50.