The Mutton Birds
Encyclopedia
The Mutton Birds was a band
from New Zealand
formed in 1991 by Don McGlashan
, Ross Burge
, and David Long.
and The Front Lawn
, guitarist Long had played in the Six Volts and Burge had played in the Spines and Sneaky Feelings
. Burge was also playing in Dribbling Darts alongside the Mutton Birds. They gained bassist Alan Gregg
, also from Dribbling Darts in 1992 and recorded their first self-titled album. It went platinum in New Zealand
and gained them notice outside college radio, notably for a cover of Wayne Mason
's "Nature" - originally recorded by Mason in 1970 with The Fourmyula
and subsequently voted in 2002 as New Zealand's greatest song of the previous 75 years. The Mutton Birds debut album remained on the charts for over a year.
For their second album, Salty, they signed with EMI Australia. It was self-produced and mixed by Tchad Blake
. Again the album went platinum in NZ but received little notice beyond Australia and New Zealand.
Their next album, Nature, was a collection of songs from their first two CDs with production assistance from Neil Finn
, released by Virgin Records
.
Their third proper CD, Envy of Angels, was recorded in Wales and released in 1996 worldwide. It sold typically well in Australia
and New Zealand
, and sales increased from those of Nature in the rest of the world. This year also saw The Mutton Birds' contribution to the soundtrack of Peter Jackson
's film The Frighteners
with a remake of Blue Öyster Cult
's 1976 classic "(Don't Fear) The Reaper
". The band now moved to the United Kingdom where they would remain based until 2000.
As they began touring, David Long quit, replaced by Chris Sheehan. Two self-released CDs followed, Angle of Entry (an acoustic live album) in 1997 and Too Hard Basket (subtitled B-sides and Bastards, it contained various rarities) in 1998 as the band looked for a record company. By 1999, Alan Gregg
had decided to leave the band. He was replaced by Tony Fisher for their latest CD, Rain, Steam, and Speed which was also released independently. Another independently released live album (Live in Manchester
) was issued in time for the 2000 UK tour. A greatest hits collection called Flock was released in 2002.
s since the inception in New Zealand. The following is a list of these albums that have featured tracks by the Mutton Birds.
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
from New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
formed in 1991 by Don McGlashan
Don McGlashan
Don McGlashan is a New Zealand musician and songwriter who has been a member of bands such as The Plague, From Scratch, The Whizz Kids, Blam Blam Blam, The Front Lawn, The Mutton Birds and, from 2009, The Bellbirds. He composed several pieces for the Limbs Dance Company...
, Ross Burge
Ross Burge
Ross Burge is a New Zealand musician, who started playing drums with the Nelson College rock band Mandias in 1973. He decided that this was to be the life for him, and called the NZPO to ensure back-up....
, and David Long.
History
All three members came into the band with experience: McGlashan came from Blam Blam BlamBlam Blam Blam
Blam Blam Blam were a New Zealand pop/rock/alternative band. Tim Mahon and Mark Bell had been members of The Plague and The Whizz Kids...
and The Front Lawn
The Front Lawn
The Front Lawn was a New Zealand musical/theatrical duo formed by Don McGlashan and Harry Sinclair. From 1989-90, they were joined by Jennifer Ward-Lealand. Their song Andy appeared at number 82 in the Top 100 New Zealand Songs...
, guitarist Long had played in the Six Volts and Burge had played in the Spines and Sneaky Feelings
Sneaky Feelings
Sneaky Feelings were a 1980s New Zealand pop/rock band, led by Matthew Bannister, who recorded on the Flying Nun label. Initially recording with the line-up of Bannister , David Pine , Kat Tyrie and Martin Durrant , Tyrie was replaced by John Kelcher early in the band's career...
. Burge was also playing in Dribbling Darts alongside the Mutton Birds. They gained bassist Alan Gregg
Alan Gregg
Alan Gregg is a New Zealand musician, originally from Palmerston North, now based in London. Originally a keyboard player, Alan has mainly played Bass Guitar in his professional life. After moving to Auckland, New Zealand, Alan was a member of the Dribbling Darts of Love before joining The Mutton...
, also from Dribbling Darts in 1992 and recorded their first self-titled album. It went platinum in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
and gained them notice outside college radio, notably for a cover of Wayne Mason
Wayne Mason
Wayne Mason is a New Zealand musician born in New Plymouth in 1949. He was a founding member of 1960s pop group The Fourmyula and later formed Rockinghorse and The Warratahs before embarking on a solo career in 1994....
's "Nature" - originally recorded by Mason in 1970 with The Fourmyula
The Fourmyula
The Fourmyula were a New Zealand rock group formed in 1967. Ten of their fourteen singles reached the New Zealand Top 20.The group consisted of Martin Hope , Wayne Mason , Ali Richardson and Chris Parry...
and subsequently voted in 2002 as New Zealand's greatest song of the previous 75 years. The Mutton Birds debut album remained on the charts for over a year.
For their second album, Salty, they signed with EMI Australia. It was self-produced and mixed by Tchad Blake
Tchad Blake
Tchad Blake is an American record producer, audio engineer, mixer and musician.He has worked with numerous artists and musicians, including State Radio, Apartment 26, Elvis Costello, Peter Gabriel, Pearl Jam, Tom Waits, Richard Thompson, Brazilian Girls, Sheryl Crow, November 2nd, Travis, Marike...
. Again the album went platinum in NZ but received little notice beyond Australia and New Zealand.
Their next album, Nature, was a collection of songs from their first two CDs with production assistance from Neil Finn
Neil Finn
Neil Mullane Finn, OBE is a New Zealand Pop recording artist. Along with his brother Tim Finn, he was the co-frontman for Split Enz and is now frontman for Crowded House...
, released by Virgin Records
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
.
Their third proper CD, Envy of Angels, was recorded in Wales and released in 1996 worldwide. It sold typically well in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, and sales increased from those of Nature in the rest of the world. This year also saw The Mutton Birds' contribution to the soundtrack of Peter Jackson
Peter Jackson
Sir Peter Robert Jackson, KNZM is a New Zealand film director, producer, actor, and screenwriter, known for his The Lord of the Rings film trilogy , adapted from the novel by J. R. R...
's film The Frighteners
The Frighteners
The Frighteners is a 1996 comedy horror film directed by Peter Jackson and co-written with his wife, Fran Walsh. The film's cast includes Michael J. Fox, Trini Alvarado, John Astin, Jeffrey Combs, Dee Wallace, Jake Busey and Chi McBride...
with a remake of Blue Öyster Cult
Blue Öyster Cult
Blue Öyster Cult, often abbreviated BÖC, is an American rock band, most of whose members first came together in Long Island, NY in 1967 as the band Soft White Underbelly...
's 1976 classic "(Don't Fear) The Reaper
(Don't Fear) The Reaper
" The Reaper" is a song by the rock band Blue Öyster Cult from their 1976 album, Agents of Fortune. It was written and sung by the band's lead guitarist, Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser and was produced by David Lucas, Murray Krugman, and Sandy Pearlman. It is built around Dharma's guitar riff that...
". The band now moved to the United Kingdom where they would remain based until 2000.
As they began touring, David Long quit, replaced by Chris Sheehan. Two self-released CDs followed, Angle of Entry (an acoustic live album) in 1997 and Too Hard Basket (subtitled B-sides and Bastards, it contained various rarities) in 1998 as the band looked for a record company. By 1999, Alan Gregg
Alan Gregg
Alan Gregg is a New Zealand musician, originally from Palmerston North, now based in London. Originally a keyboard player, Alan has mainly played Bass Guitar in his professional life. After moving to Auckland, New Zealand, Alan was a member of the Dribbling Darts of Love before joining The Mutton...
had decided to leave the band. He was replaced by Tony Fisher for their latest CD, Rain, Steam, and Speed which was also released independently. Another independently released live album (Live in Manchester
Live in Manchester
Live In Manchester is a live album recorded by the Mutton Birds on the Rain, Steam, and Speed tour of England on Valentine's Day 1999 and released on their managers' label. It was sold at gigs and over the internet...
) was issued in time for the 2000 UK tour. A greatest hits collection called Flock was released in 2002.
Albums
| Date of Release | Title | Label | Charted | Country | Catalog Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | The Mutton Birds The Mutton Birds (album) The Mutton Birds is the eponymous debut album of The Mutton Birds. It was a huge hit in their native New Zealand, remaining on the charts there for over a year.-Track listing:#"Dominion Road" – 3.55... |
Bag Records (EMI) | 2 | NZ | 8282612 |
| 1993 | Salty Salty (album) Salty is the second album by The Mutton Birds. "Anchor Me" reached the top 10 in the New Zealand singles chart.-Track listing:#"The Heater" – 4.22#"Ngaire" – 3.52#"You Will Return" – 4.32... |
Virgin Records Virgin Records Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny... |
3 | NZ | |
| 1995 | Nature | - | - | ||
| 1996 | Envy of Angels Envy of Angels Envy of Angels is an album released in 1996 by New Zealand band, The Mutton Birds. The title seems to be taken from "Puer Natus", a poem by New Zealand poet .... |
EMI EMI The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major... |
4 64 |
NZ UK UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
|
| 1997 | Angle of Entry Angle of Entry Angle Of Entry is an acoustic live album recorded by the Mutton Birds on the Envy Of Angels tour of England on 7 July 1997 and released on their managers' label. It was sold at gigs and over the Internet. The production run was very small . However, when this run was sold an alternative version was... |
Gravy Train Records | - | - | GRAVY CD1 |
| 1998 | Too Hard Basket Too Hard Basket Too Hard Basket subtitled B Sides and Bastards is a compilation of B Sides and unreleased tracks by New Zealand band the Mutton Birds. It was given an extremely limited release via the band's website and gig sales.-Track listing:... |
- | - | GRAVY CD2 | |
| 1999 | Rain, Steam, and Speed Rain, Steam, and Speed Rain, Steam, and Speed is an album released in 1999 by New Zealand band, The Mutton Birds.This, the fourth studio album by the band, marked the departure of bassist, vocalist and sometime song contributor Alan Gregg, and also guitarist David Long... |
shhh! Records | - | - | SHCDA 001 |
| 2000 | Live in Manchester Live in Manchester Live In Manchester is a live album recorded by the Mutton Birds on the Rain, Steam, and Speed tour of England on Valentine's Day 1999 and released on their managers' label. It was sold at gigs and over the internet... |
- | - | None on Sleeve or CD | |
| 2002 | Flock: The Best of the Mutton Birds | EMI EMI The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major... |
- | - |
Featured appearances
The group have appeared on many compilation albumCompilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
s since the inception in New Zealand. The following is a list of these albums that have featured tracks by the Mutton Birds.
- (1999) - The Best Beer Drinking Songs In The World (EMIEMIThe EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
) - "Nature" - (2001) - Live At Helen's (Festival Mushroom Records) - "Pulled Along By Love"
- (2001) - 100% Kiwi Rock (Warner Music) - "Dominion Road"
- (2002) - Nature's BestNature's BestNature's Best is a two-disc compilation album of thirty New Zealand popular music songs, selected by a panel as the top thirty New Zealand songs of all time.-Selection:...
(Sony Music) - "Dominion Road" - (2002) - Absolute BlissAbsolute BlissAbsolute Bliss is a New Zealand music compilation album released in 2002 by recording label, Festival Music.-Track listing:#"Outlook for Thursday" – DD Smash#"Something So Strong" – Crowded House#"Sweet Lovers" – Holidaymakers...
(Festival Records) - "Dominion RoadDominion RoadDominion Road is an arterial road in Auckland, New Zealand, running north-south across most of the central Isthmus. The road is also a major public transport route which carries 50,000 bus passengers each week, making it one of the few roads in Auckland on which similar or greater numbers of people...
" - (2002) - Nature's Best 2Nature's Best 2Nature's Best 2 is a two-disc compilation album of 35 New Zealand popular music songs, numbers 31-65 on the APRA 75th Anniversary Top 100 New Zealand Songs of All Time...
(Sony Music) - "Anchor MeAnchor Me (Greenpeace song)"Anchor Me" is a song by the New Zealand band The Mutton Birds from their 1993 album, Salty. In 2005, an all-star line-up of New Zealand artists collaborated to re-record the song, under the name Greenpeace, as a charity-fundraising single to mark the twentieth anniversary of the bombing of...
" - (2009) - The Great New Zealand Songbook (Sony Music) - "Dominion Road"
Singles
| Year | Single | Album | Charted | Certification |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | "Dominion Road" | The Mutton Birds The Mutton Birds (album) The Mutton Birds is the eponymous debut album of The Mutton Birds. It was a huge hit in their native New Zealand, remaining on the charts there for over a year.-Track listing:#"Dominion Road" – 3.55... |
#10 (NZ) | - |
| 1992 | "Nature" | The Mutton Birds | #4 (NZ) | - |
| 1992 | "Giant Friend" | The Mutton Birds | #20 (NZ) | - |
| 1993 | "Your Window" | The Mutton Birds | #19 (NZ) | - |
| 1994 | "Heater" | Salty Salty (album) Salty is the second album by The Mutton Birds. "Anchor Me" reached the top 10 in the New Zealand singles chart.-Track listing:#"The Heater" – 4.22#"Ngaire" – 3.52#"You Will Return" – 4.32... |
#1 (NZ) | - |
| 1994 | "In My Room" | Salty | #14 (NZ) | - |
| 1994 | "Ngaire" | Salty | #19 (NZ) | - |
| 1994 | "Anchor Me Anchor Me (Greenpeace song) "Anchor Me" is a song by the New Zealand band The Mutton Birds from their 1993 album, Salty. In 2005, an all-star line-up of New Zealand artists collaborated to re-record the song, under the name Greenpeace, as a charity-fundraising single to mark the twentieth anniversary of the bombing of... " |
Salty | #10 (NZ) | - |
| 1996 | "She's Been Talking" | Envy of Angels Envy of Angels Envy of Angels is an album released in 1996 by New Zealand band, The Mutton Birds. The title seems to be taken from "Puer Natus", a poem by New Zealand poet .... |
#19 (NZ) | - |
| 1997 | "Come Around" | Envy of Angels | #35 (NZ) | - |
| 1999 | "Pulled Along By Love" | Rain, Steam, and Speed Rain, Steam, and Speed Rain, Steam, and Speed is an album released in 1999 by New Zealand band, The Mutton Birds.This, the fourth studio album by the band, marked the departure of bassist, vocalist and sometime song contributor Alan Gregg, and also guitarist David Long... |
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