Made up of lead guitarist Graham Johnston, rhythm guitarist Max Johnston, bass guitarist Ian Irvine and Stewart, The Cresendos started out in Whanganui in about 1964.
Together they would tune into Top of the Pops on a Thursday night, which they would record and then learn from, inspired by English bands like The Beatles and The Kinks.
"In those days they had talent quests around and bands got picked to go and do some recording. Fortunately enough, we were one of them," Stewart said.
"We made a couple of records, they got a bit of airplay, but nothing really came of it."
One of those records was a 45RPM featuring Now She's Mine and I Want Your Love. Fifty-three years later the former is part of an album now in its third pressing overseas.
Stewart thought the band was together for eight years, but probably ended when Irvine, who was also their songwriter, passed away in a car accident.
He said it was a "brilliant time" when they were together.
"Ian and I were mad surfers. We used to surf every Saturday, then get changed down the beach and rush off to wherever we were playing.
"We used to play at dances and we would have two or three hundred people there, easily.
"We played a number of gigs in the Memorial Hall. Whanganui was a big band place and a number of touring New Zealand bands played here," Stewart said.
He put the success of the album down to collectors in the UK that love "garage band" music.
"It doesn't mean fame and fortune for us, but it's a bloody nice feeling actually. In a lot of people's opinion in my generation, that kind of music has never died," he said.
"It's a real privilege to be on this. There are some really great New Zealand bands in this CD set, like The La De Das and The Underdogs.
"I'm just glad that people get enjoyment out of that period of music. I could listen to that stuff all day."
