Searching the nooks, crannies and crevices of five decades of our music for obscurities, rarities, curiosities and other New Zealand music that just takes that bit longer to find.

We’ll go looking for the b-sides to the big hits, album tracks from acts remembered for just one or two songs, the earlier works of the now well known, and anywhere else we think we can track down.

  

Questions and comments about Couch can be sent to michael@kiwifm.co.nz

 

 

MICHAEL HIGGINS 

Michael Higgins has been actively listening to music, and collecting it, since the early 70s. The first New Zealand bands that made a serious impact on him were Space Waltz and Christchurch glam rockers Odyssey.

He is one of the people who were never quite the same after Dylan Taite’s Sex Pistols story in 1977 - and the Enemy had a similar effect. He was the programme director for Christchurch student station Radio U in the late 70s and early 80s - and Rip It Up’s local correspondent - where he observed the early days of Flying Nun at close quarters (and the explosion of New Zealand independent music in the 80s).

In the course of a couple of decades spent working in the television industry he researched the first series of the “Give it a Whirl” documentary series - and produced the second. He also made two series of a music video show for TVNZ called “Hum” (which briefly flitted across screens late on a Friday or Saturday night).

“Down The Back of the Couch’’ is his attempt to share music that just doesn’t get out often enough - and a rather disappointing reflection on how easy it is for NZ music to become "rare". (Try finding a Straitjacketr Fits album - other than the compilation) 

 

5 SONGS THAT SUM UP THE SHOW:

 

1. Jason Sad and the Tears - “Was It Something I Said” (1980) (self released power pop from a self confessed T.Rex fan)

 

2. Fair Sect - “Rattler” (1968) (One of our first all female bands. There were 4 singles - nothing of their has ever made it to CD)

3. Straitjacket Fits - “So Long Marianne” (1988) (from their first album - but there’s only a greatest hits available and this isn’t on it)

4. Snapper - “Gentle Hour” (1994) (simply gorgeous vinyl only b-side - rescued from oblivion by Flying Nun’s very fine “Where In The World Is Wendy Broccoli” compilation 

5. Waves - "Dolphin Song" (1975) Folk rockers at a time when art rock and pub rock were more the order of the day. There was one album that never made it to CD

Barbara Manning - “Smoking Her Wings”  (The Bats) on “Perfect Green Blanket”

Barbara Manning - “Joed Out”  (The Verlaines) on "No Alternative” (Arista)

 

Barbara Manning - “Whatever I Do Is Right/Wrong” (The Clean) on "In New Zealand”

 

Belinda Carlisle - "Stuff and Nonsense" (Split Enz) on "Belinda"

 

Bonnie “Prince” Billy - “Dream Of The Sea” (The Renderers) on "More Revery”

 

Diskettes - “How Bizarre” (OMC) on 

 

Frente - “Not Given Lightly” (Chris Knox) on 

 

Jimmy Little - "Into Temptation"  (Crowded House) on "Messenger"

 

Kasey Chambers - "Better Be Home Soon"  (Crowded House) on "The Captain (Bonus Disc)"

 

Lava Baby - "I Got You"  (Split Enz) on "Big Muff"

 

Lemonheads - "I Am A Rabbit" (Proud Scrum) on "Lick" (Taang)

 

Mary Black - "Fall at Your Feet"  (Crowded House) on "Speaking With the Angel"

 

Paul Young - "Don't Dream It's Over" (Crowded House) on "From  Time to Time: The Singles Collection"

 

Pavement - "Oddity" (The Clean) on "God Save the Clean" (Flying Nun)

 

Pearl Jam - "I Got You" (Split Enz) on  2000-09-05: Pittsburgh, PA, USA (disc 2)”

 

Peter Andre - "Message To My Girl" (Split Enz) on "Natural"

 

Ryan Malcolm - "Don't Dream It's Over" (Crowded House) on "Home"

 

Sambassadeur – “Claudine” (the Bats) on Costal Affairs (Labrador Records)

 

Shawn Colvin - "Private Universe" (Crowded House) on "KGSR Broadcasts Vol 3 (disc 2)"

 

Sixpence None the Richer - "Don't Dream It's Over" (Crowded House) on "Divine Discontent"

 

Superchunk - "Lying in State" (The Verlaines) on "Incidental Music 1991-1995"

 

Superchunk -  "Night of Chill Blue" (The Chills) on "Incidental Music 1991-1995"

 

The Connells -  "I Got You" (Split Enz) on "Freedom of Choice" Vitamin C -  "I Got You" (Split Enz) on "Vitamin C"