Herbs (band)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Herbs | |
|---|---|
| Origin | New Zealand |
| Genre(s) | Reggae |
| Years active | 1979-1995 |
| Former members | |
| Dilworth Karaka Carl Perkins Toni Fonoti Spencer Fusimalohi |
|
The Herbs were a New Zealand reggae vocal group from 1979 until 1995.
Contents |
[edit] History
The Herbs produced a stream of reggae hits with some of the country's top talent. Between 1986 and 1987, Slice of Heaven with Dave Dobbyn reached number one on both the New Zealand and Australian charts. In 1989, Tim Finn joined them for Parihaka and in 1992, Annie Crummer fronted the huge hit See What Love Can Do.
The Herbs also worked alongside UB40, Taj Mahal, Tina Turner, Neil Young and Stevie Wonder.
In the 1980s, and the first half of the 90s, the Herbs had ten Top 20 singles hits.
Sometime in the late 1980s, the band was assisted by Eagles member Joe Walsh, who did some production work and also played slide guitar on the band's cover of "Walk Away Renee", originally recorded by The Left Banke.
The Herbs third album which featured the single Long ago was produced by Well known New Zealand bass player, Billy Kristian.
Though upbeat, the Herbs' music is clear in its messages. Their 1982 New Zealand hit French Letter, which spent 11 weeks on the charts, came to express New Zealand's anti-nuclear stance. Fourteen years later, it was re-recorded to garner support for the prevention of nuclear testing at Mururoa. Similarly, No Nukes (The Second Letter), Nuclear Waste and Light Of The Pacific expressed much the same sentiment.
The Herbs are considered pioneers of the pacific reggae sound[citation needed], having paved the way for contemporary New Zealand reggae groups such as Fat Freddy's Drop, Katchafire and Trinity Roots.
[edit] Band Members
- Dilworth Karaka
- Carl Perkins
- Toni Fonoti
- Spencer Fusimalohi
- Charlie Tumahai
- Willie Hona
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
| Date of Release | Title | Label | Charted | Country | Catalog Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | What's Be Happen | - | - | ||
| 1983 | Lights Of The Pacific | - | - | ||
| 1984 | Long Ago | - | - | ||
| 1995 | 13 Years (Best Of) | - | - | ||
| 2002 | Listen: The Very Best Of | - | - |
[edit] Singles
| Year | Single | Album | Charted | Certification |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | "French Letter" | #11 (NZ) | - | |
| 1982 | "Jah's Son" | #15 (NZ) | - | |
| 1984 | "Long Ago" | #22 (NZ) | - | |
| 1985 | "Nuclear Waste" | #32 (NZ) | - | |
| 1986 | "Slice of Heaven" (with Dave Dobbyn) |
Footrot Flats: The Dog's Tale | #1 (NZ) #1 (AUS) |
- |
| 1987 | "Sensitive To A Smile" | #9 (NZ) | - | |
| 1987 | "Rust In Dust" | #11 (NZ) | - | |
| 1988 | "Listen" | #7 (NZ) | - | |
| 1989 | "No Nukes (The Second Letter)" | #48 (NZ) | - | |
| 1989 | "Parihaka" (with Tim Finn) |
#6 (NZ) | - | |
| 1991 | "Homegrown" | #41 (NZ) | - | |
| 1992 | "See What Love Can Do" (with Annie Crummer) |
#3 (NZ) | - | |
| 1993 | "Til We Kissed" (with RAY COLUMBUS) |
#46 (NZ) | - | |
| 1994 | "Good For Life" | #50 (NZ) | - | |
| 1995 | "French Letter '95" | #9 (NZ) | - |
