Dalvanius: A Man of Passion

By GRAHAM REID

(Herald rating: * * *)

Timely too this month to remember the late Dal, who was a musician, mentor and prime mover behind Patea Maori's success. Before Poi E, however, he'd spent years on the club circuit, played musical director to Porirua's Shevelles ("the Maori Supremes") and then formed the Fascinations, took off to Australia with the Shevelles, reformed the Fascinations over there and hit the RSL clubs and casinos singing covers to huge acclaim.

This collection is of those years, so there are covers (Love Train, Funny How Time Slips Away, Respect Yourself) alongside some of his generic originals (Checkmate on Love, Fool Over You, his 90 Afro-influenced Chudka Pa Poy where he went all Johnny Clegg), the re-arrangement of E Hine and the rewrite of the Staples' soul-funk Washington We're Watching You as Canberra We're Watching You prompted by the forced resignation of PM Gough Whitlam. Some Christmas songs round out this MOR family-friendly collection which opens with Dal telling of the origins of his name.

Label: Maui