(Wayne Mason)
New
Zealand
Original version
#1 NZ
Single on HMV, also on 1969 album Creation.
Nature was written by Fourmyula guitarist, keyboardist and founding member Wayne Mason (b. 1949).
In 2001 Nature was voted the top New Zealand song of all time by the Australasian Performing Rights Association (APRA). In 1970 it had won APRA New Zealand’s Silver Scroll Award.
The Fourmyula were a popular and original New Zealand band. They had eleven charting singles in New Zealand 1969-1971 including Come With Me (#2 1968), Alice Is There (#4 1968), I’ll Sing You A Song (#3 1969) and Lady Scorpio (#7 1969).
Much of the band’s material was written by Wayne Mason, often with bassist Ali Richardson. The lead singer, who joined when the band was signed to HMV, was Carl Evenson, formerly of The Kal-Q-lated Risk. Also in the band were drummer Chris Parry and guitarist Martin Hope, both of whom contributed some songwriting.
Further reading:
1. History of The Fourmyula at Bruce Sergent’s NZ Music site.
2. Wikipedia articles on The Fourmyula and Wayne Mason
3. Wayne Mason and the Song ‘Nature’
from NZ History Online [archived].
4. The Fourmyula and Wayne Mason at
AudioCulture
(Wayne Mason)
New
Zealand
Later version
#4 NZ
Rocked up version of the NZ 60s classic. Backing vocals are by Jan Hellriegel.
The Mutton Birds were led by former Blam Blam Blam guitarist Don McGlashan. Their debut, self-titled
album (1992) was the New Zealand Music Awards Album of the Year. From 1992 to 1996 in New Zealand, three of their albums charted
Top 5 and they had ten Top 40 singles, including their biggest hit The Heater (#1 1994), written by McGlashan [YouTube].
Reference: 1. Mutton Birds biography by Jason Ankeny at All Music.
2. Mutton Birds Discography at Wikipedia.
Further reading: 1. Detailed Wikipedia article on Don McGlashan. 2. Mutton Birds history at AudioCulture
(Wayne Mason)
Australia
Later version
On the album Second Nature, a collection of favourite songs previously recorded by New Zealanders.
See also Love, Hate, Revenge, another song on Second Nature, earlier recorded by New Zealand’s Avengers.
Margaret Urlich (1965-2021) was a New Zealand-born singer based in Sydney from the late 80s. Her popular debut album Safety In Numbers (1989), recorded in Sydney, opened with Escaping also her debut solo single (#1 NZ, #14 Sydney, #4 Melbourne, #13 Brisbane, #7 Adelaide, #14 Perth; ♫ Listen at YouTube).
Back in Auckland Margaret Urlich had been in Peking Man (Room That Echoes 1985 #1 NZ) along with her brother Pat Urlich who was co-lead singer with her. New Zealand musician Peter Urlich (Th’Dudes) is a cousin.
Further reading: Profile at AudioCulture.
Pop Archives
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Website by Lyn Nuttall. © Lyn Nuttall 2004-2024. Chart positions courtesy of Gavin Ryan’s Australian Chart Books and Dean Scapolo’s Complete NZ Music Charts. Special thanks to Terry Stacey for information, corrections and suggestions. Thanks also to Tony Watson, Philippe Edouard, Dave Overett.., More…