Subtitled, "Maori Showbands, Balladeers and Pop Stars", this 50-track collection arrives right on cue.
There are the two movies out reminding us of the showband roots of Billy T James. The showband stage play Raising the Titanics is still doing the rounds. John Rowles is on his final farewell tour,and much of this could help soundtrack a reading of latter chapters in Chris Bourke's tome Blue Smoke about NZ music pre-rock 'n' roll.
Put together by local compilation boffin Grant Gillanders who also pens the thorough liner notes, Waiata happily walks a fine line between kitsch Kiwiana, perennial closing-time sing-alongs, Roto-Vegas anthems and many undiscovered gems.
The big names are well represented. Sir Howard gets three tracks (one with the quartet) as does Rowles - four if you count The End recorded under his early Australian nom de cabaret "Ja-Ar".
Elsewhere, the likes of Prince Tui Teka (and Missy on E Ipo), Dalvanius and the Fascinations, Mark Williams, Bunny Walters, Deane Waretini, The Volcanics and Frankie Stevens are all prominent on the second disc, largely covering the wide-collared 1970s.
But the first disc is actually more of a revelation and the more entertaining with its trip through the preceding decade. Especially in how it captures the era of The Quin Tikis, The Kini Quartet and The Maori Troubadours, The Radars, our great lost girl group The Shevelles and more.
They all help make this collection a lively reminder that there was was Maori pop before Poi E. Even if opener Johnny Cooper's Rock Around the Clock (our not-quite-right first rock 'n' roll record) still hasn't managed to reach Bill Hayley's high notes after all this time.
Stars: 4/5 Verdict: Te jukebox. Every thing is ka pai
