I am so happy to have recently discovered this...the lp is amazing...yeah, i'm a big fan of Bowie, but this stands alone...the narrative through the songs, the production is fantastic...can't get enough of it!
This is a brilliant piece of tape. Beautiful Boy followed by Shortnin' Bread. Awesome juxtaposition. It just proves the aphorism that you can't underestimate the taste of the viewing public.
Space Waltz were as good as anything else anywhere in the world at that time, not just good for New Zealand. The Hammonds were the kind of act that made people think NZ was Britain, but two decades out of date.
Just got into Space Waltz via the British 'Velvet Tinmine' compilation ... You certainly had a diamond of a band there, New Zealand. How come they never came to the U.K in the seventies? ... They would have been up there with The Spiders and Roxy for sure.
Even tho Space Waltz performance makes me cringe due to the Bowie "influence", (same feelin I get when I see kiwi "rappers"who think they grew up in ghettos in the states), the judges were a bit harsh. The song is well written, poignant & a classic Kiwi tune.As 4 Morrison, he's hardly the most diverse of musical talents so why he "expected more" puzzles me when his only offerings range from snore balllads to the "comedic" my old man's an All Black that would be best suited performed by minstrels
This should be required viewing for every high school :"How NZ is run by small minded pricks. Make sure you never try ... anything, or suffer the consequences"
I have 'out on the street' that s**t hot slice of Kiwi vinyl! I asked my old man (Paddy RIP) why he gave such a low score and he felt Riddell was a Bowie clone.i.e The originals are generally the best. Fair comment. 'self appointed' don't make me laugh,pirate ship Tiri - know ya history!
Quite a bit of the old NZBC's archival footage has been lost, too bad the Hammond Family & their racist song wasn't among the lost footage. Oh well, at least they r forgotten, while Space Waltz will always be remembered for their ORIGINAL contribution to Kiwi music!
The Hammond family bring a new meaning to the term "politically incorrect"! Good on Phil Warren for recognizing a truely original talent when he saw it.
For shame Avalon and TVNZ for dumping N.Z. art into landfill's and erasing tape for ads, good on ex staff for saving some of N.Z. most classic 'Music Moments'.
Alistair Riddell did some great stuff which I think will stand up for all time as high quality writing, performance AND production, even this vid turned out quite well!.
In 1974 there was no one to equal this in NZ !
By the way, IMHO, none of the clowns on this "talent" show appear in any way qualified to be able to pass comment on it, let alone judge it!
TV powers-that-be nowadays are generally not much better....still a combination of retired footy players, drunks and used car salesmen.... :)
There was no Kiwi rock show in 1974, so Space Waltz and Split Enz had to go through ritual humiliation like this just to get on TV. Judge Phil Warren has plainly had himself a wee party beforehand, and the Hammond Family. Oboy. Gloriously talent-free and blithely singing about the feeding 'dem darkies' on Shortnin' Bread. It was truly another time and place. Cool Space Waltz song though, and thanks for posting.
Don't know why this isn't well known when subpar stuff like Jobriath gets the underground press thumbs up. Gotta find the reissue.
kynoceph 2 months ago
I am so happy to have recently discovered this...the lp is amazing...yeah, i'm a big fan of Bowie, but this stands alone...the narrative through the songs, the production is fantastic...can't get enough of it!
cosmiczeuk 5 months ago
This is a brilliant piece of tape. Beautiful Boy followed by Shortnin' Bread. Awesome juxtaposition. It just proves the aphorism that you can't underestimate the taste of the viewing public.
Space Waltz were as good as anything else anywhere in the world at that time, not just good for New Zealand. The Hammonds were the kind of act that made people think NZ was Britain, but two decades out of date.
Feed dem darkies dat shortnin' bread, yeeha!
phingerspex 7 months ago
The Time code on this probably means it came off a dubbed copy (2 inch tape)
reel of Studio One New faces. So sad bugger all was kept or archived in those days.
One of the last shows recorded at WNTV 1's Waring Taylor Street in Studio One. All moved to Avalon (and colour) very shortly after this.
nztvx 7 months ago
Oh. my. god. This exceptional band was deemed lesser than that Hammond family crap?
stormandnightingale 11 months ago
Just got into Space Waltz via the British 'Velvet Tinmine' compilation ... You certainly had a diamond of a band there, New Zealand. How come they never came to the U.K in the seventies? ... They would have been up there with The Spiders and Roxy for sure.
TheKurt1969 1 year ago
Even tho Space Waltz performance makes me cringe due to the Bowie "influence", (same feelin I get when I see kiwi "rappers"who think they grew up in ghettos in the states), the judges were a bit harsh. The song is well written, poignant & a classic Kiwi tune.As 4 Morrison, he's hardly the most diverse of musical talents so why he "expected more" puzzles me when his only offerings range from snore balllads to the "comedic" my old man's an All Black that would be best suited performed by minstrels
213HBK 1 year ago
"television chews up performers and spits them out."
Anybody who wants to get a hit squad together to go after any surviving judges ...please get in touch.
...."three little darkies lying in bed....". Um- perhaps the Hammond family could be ambassadors fr the Rugby World Cup. Just a thought.
davidwatson 1 year ago
That's Brent Eccles from The Angles?
songsilikejk 1 year ago
where are the hammond family now?
rew428 1 year ago
This should be required viewing for every high school :"How NZ is run by small minded pricks. Make sure you never try ... anything, or suffer the consequences"
davidwatson 1 year ago
Alistair Riddell is great...and the line up behind him....great peice of work putting this up.
spercepolnes21 2 years ago
I have 'out on the street' that s**t hot slice of Kiwi vinyl! I asked my old man (Paddy RIP) why he gave such a low score and he felt Riddell was a Bowie clone.i.e The originals are generally the best. Fair comment. 'self appointed' don't make me laugh,pirate ship Tiri - know ya history!
nzskins 2 years ago
Quite a bit of the old NZBC's archival footage has been lost, too bad the Hammond Family & their racist song wasn't among the lost footage. Oh well, at least they r forgotten, while Space Waltz will always be remembered for their ORIGINAL contribution to Kiwi music!
uzzle65 2 years ago
Yeah, Phil got, and marcswadel, Phil Warren was hardly some self appointed tastemaker..he kinda invented Rock'n'roll in NZ
snig27 2 years ago
Oops, and Peter Cuddihy on bass, but I couldn't see him in the band line-up facing the judges.
sinzt 2 years ago
Except that there's no Chunn brothers there. It's Riddell and Eccles, Greg Clark (guitar), Eddie Rayner (keys). Fantastic.
sinzt 2 years ago
The Hammond family bring a new meaning to the term "politically incorrect"! Good on Phil Warren for recognizing a truely original talent when he saw it.
tomfy1979 2 years ago
My thoughts exactly RIP Phil Warren, the only one qualified to be on the panel IMHO.
TJNthevisitor 2 years ago
Comment removed
TJNthevisitor 2 years ago
Bloody Hell I remember this. Your right Phil Warren had been on the piss.
Had to laugh at the horrible Hammond family and the feedin dem darkies shortin bread.
POZZA691 2 years ago
Yes another time another place, but Phil Warren was the only one that recognised Alastair's true talent on this occasion .
Got anymore uploader Marcswadel ??.
TJNthevisitor 2 years ago
Final final though think it was Alan Galbraith @ EMI.
TJNthevisitor 2 years ago
Final thought love the reverb on this lip synced track (of course everyone lip sync's, even back in '74).
Who did this bet it was the master of the day Peter Dawkins@ EMI
TJNthevisitor 2 years ago
For shame Avalon and TVNZ for dumping N.Z. art into landfill's and erasing tape for ads, good on ex staff for saving some of N.Z. most classic 'Music Moments'.
TJNthevisitor 2 years ago
Excellent.
I won't ask where you got this time clocked what must have been film >tape>dvdr.
Alastair Riddell and Space Waltz were N.Z.'s answer to Bowie and Ziggy Stardust, very Glam, way ahead of it's time for the squares at the NZBC.
Phil Warren was onto it, aperitif's in the green room ?.
Sir Howard who gives a flying f ck what he thinks ?.
'G String rated' huh Paddy ?.
Classic stuff !!.
TJNthevisitor 2 years ago
Alistair Riddell did some great stuff which I think will stand up for all time as high quality writing, performance AND production, even this vid turned out quite well!.
In 1974 there was no one to equal this in NZ !
By the way, IMHO, none of the clowns on this "talent" show appear in any way qualified to be able to pass comment on it, let alone judge it!
TV powers-that-be nowadays are generally not much better....still a combination of retired footy players, drunks and used car salesmen.... :)
rikvee 2 years ago
There was no Kiwi rock show in 1974, so Space Waltz and Split Enz had to go through ritual humiliation like this just to get on TV. Judge Phil Warren has plainly had himself a wee party beforehand, and the Hammond Family. Oboy. Gloriously talent-free and blithely singing about the feeding 'dem darkies' on Shortnin' Bread. It was truly another time and place. Cool Space Waltz song though, and thanks for posting.
Slammerworm1 3 years ago
LOL mark.
thekiwione 3 years ago
Wow! Kiwi glam was superior to Aussie glam :(
MetalionSOS 3 years ago
Space Waltz, in my view blew away, the Kiwi answer to The Osmonds. Those judges were idiots!
jpx08 3 years ago
Comment removed
jpx08 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Do you enjoy homosexual love?
The Osmonds were a homosexual family... doooooo yooooooooou Likeeeeeeee
markduff 3 years ago
Are you an arse often?
jpx08 3 years ago
F*CK YEAH!!!!! I looooooove this song!
damnthisusername 3 years ago