Founded in the early 1970s, Mandrill Studios was a recording studio in Parnell, a suburb of Auckland, New Zealand.Cammick, Murray. (4 May 2015). ‘Glyn Tucker’. AudioCulture. Many of New Zealand's prominent artists had their work recorded there. The Mandrill record label grew out of the name of the studio.Grigg, Simon. (3 May 2013). 'Mandrill'. AudioCulture. New Zealand. The studio stopped recording in October 1992. 'Mandrill Recording Studios Ltd'. p.23, New Zealand Musician, 1 October 1992. National Library of New Zealand.
Background The studio was located in the Auckland suburb of Parnell on York Street. It was owned by former 60s pop singers Glyn Tucker, Dave Hurley, along with composer and producer, Gary Daverne. Around 1980, Hurley and Daverne pulled out of the business, leaving Tucker as the sole owner of both the studio and the label.
Artists recorded In 1979, Kim Fowley, a producer from the United States, produced the five man group Streettalk at Mandrill Studios.Billboard, January 27, 1979 Page 87, International, Lauds New Creative Center, Fowley Steers N.Z. Rockers - By Phil Gifford
During the 1980s, artists such as Dance Exponents, The Mockers, Pink Flamingoes and the Screaming MeeMees were recorded there.National Library of New Zealand The history of recording in New Zealand, 9. Recording Studios The Mauri Hikitia album, which featured Rhonda, Ken Kincaid, and Deane Waretini was recorded there.National Library of New Zealand The Mauri Hikitia album (sound recording) / various artists.
In 1981, the cast recording of Eaton Magoon Jr and Sir Robert Helpmann’s musical Aloha starring Derek Metzger, produced by Carl Doy was recorded with a live orchestra at Mandrill with the show’s Musical Director, Derek Williams as arranger and conductor. Magoon, Eaton, Jr, 1922-2018, Metzger, Derek, 1962-, Williams, Derek, 1952-, Helpmann, Robert, Sir, 1909-1986. (1981). Aloha : a spectacular new musical / music and lyrics by Eaton Magoon Jnr. Musicals > Excerpts > Anthony Norton Collection, ATL-Group-00433: National Library of New Zealand.'Aloha > New Zealand Cast'. Vinyl. 1981. Producer: Carl Doy.
List (selective) The Citizen Band - Citizen Band - 1978 The Citizen Band - Just Drove Thru Town - 1979Discogs Citizen Band, Citizen Band Discographysergent.com.au Citizen Band Desire - Desire - 1985Elsewhere Jul 30, 2014 Desire: Broken Heart (1985Gary Havoc website Gary Havoc Gallery 1 Dance Exponents - Expectations - 1985
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