Up until 1982 ... the award was known as Sleeve Design of the Year. Maybe it was the creeping rise of the CD that made things ambiguous.

It's currently called Best Album Cover, but perhaps in future it will be renamed Best iTunes Thumbnail.

But RIANZ, commercial radio and most of the media provide a fairly good reason as to why most folks in NZ simply had little idea of what was being produced by the likes of...

That's more or less what I meant by 'bleak'!

And I actually think the design of la Urlich's "Safety In Numbers" was worthy of that award.

And by way of credit where credit's due, it was Polly Walker & Debbie Watson who were that year's worthy winners.

Up until 1982 – the year that Simon Grigg received Outstanding Contribution to…

Having said that, the late '80s were still fairly bleak for NZ music.

I reckon I could scribble out a fairly long list of why they weren't. But RIANZ, commercial radio and most of the media provide a fairly good reason as to why most folks in NZ simply had…

Even the "best cover" prize (WTF?) went to a version of the song that won Urlich best single.

I was just having a look around the NZ Music Awards winners lists from the late '80s (research, I swear) and I realised what "best cover" actually means. It's the album cover;…

James, I like how you slid past being called on the fact that the regime in control of Burma are actually right-wing, and much of the opposition to them – both parliamentary and outside parliament, is left-wing.

James is always very selective in his outrage, and often finds the urge…

You know, there is one thing communism is good for, if you look at the state of Tsarist Russia or pre-communist China. And that is taking hopelessly corrupt, ossified and pitifully poor countries and turning them into economic powerhouses within two generations.

Although once you're there it's a bit of…

closed Communist societies, not the free and open societies which carry within themselves the seeds of internal disintegration.

Yeah right, those seeds can spout anywhere.
How do ya think empires crumble.

and so the explanation that you occasionally hear that Gorby just woke up one day and thought “Gee, let’s…

Gives me faith in the non-changing nature of some things.

http://www.stratfor.com/weekly/20091109_russian_dilemma

An article that sums things up the inherent faults in communism quite well, including this quote from JFK:

http://www.commentarymagazine.com/viewarticle.cfm/the-berlin-wall-15282.

__"it is clear that the forces of diversity are at work inside…

Think of the millions who still suffer, are imprisoned and / or die in Cuba, North Korea, Burma & Zimbabwe, Marx’s worker's paradises all.

You really are a moron.
Burma. Zimbabwe....Marxist workers paradises?
Millions dying in Cuba?
And just to help you along read Hitchens on what N Korea governance most…

I must also admit some ignorance as to the other realities of Cuba, but it's on my wish list of places to go.

Friends of mine who've been have come away somewhat disillusioned. Its performance on various institutional measures is good — it has a better adult literacy rate than…

If you are bent out of shape by Gitmo and Abu Ghraib, you ought to be in a paroxysm of rage about North Korean Cuba et al.

Glod forgive me for rising to this troll, but: who says "we" aren't? State repression in those countries and others is widely campaigned…

"We…

Feel free to continue feeling superior

I trust you're being ironic. No encouragement needed.

(It was shit then and it is shit now? I dare say people who are rude about the ANC don't jump out fucking windows. Seriously,…

the NZ Navy stopped the distribution of the free tot of rum

Was still bloody cheap by the late 90s from the non-profit store on base. And port for about four dollars a bottle if that's any measure.

My apologies. I still think were overlooking Mandela's very real contribution for the sake of your argument, but I could have said that in a more measured fashion.

Accepted although not necessary. Think about it though. Which is more likely: the levers of power willingly decided that a massive blood…

I remember Ice-T's 'High Roller' 12" hitting the shelves in mid '89. The most shocking cover I'd ever seen

She dressed like that over the three nights at The Siren / Box that year when Ice came to town. I spent most of a week with Tracy (as he is…

I've read a lot about it. I recommend Johnson's recent book "South Africa's Brave New World: The Beloved Country Since the End of Apartheid".

I'd recommend actually going there.

When you had a system that relies on screwing the majority population for the benefit of a tiny minority, then dismantling…

Sorry to ruin your Friday platitudes. It isn't historically illiterate. It's the truth. I've read a lot about it. I recommend Johnson's recent book "South Africa's Brave New World: The Beloved Country Since the End of Apartheid".

My apologies. I still think were overlooking Mandela's very real contribution for the…

madchester baby...oh yeah!!!

historically illiterate douchebaggery Brickley

Sorry to ruin your Friday platitudes. It isn't historically illiterate. It's the truth. I've read a lot about it. I recommend Johnson's recent book "South Africa's Brave New World: The Beloved Country Since the End of Apartheid".

Also, for the umpteenth time, your entry to a…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2Eyao-2KWo

The WINZ office in Riccarton backs onto the only Gun Shop for miles & across the road from the Blood Bank.

I always wondered about that particular piece of juxtaposition...

That Fabric Mix also has a Liverpool crowd sample of "You'll never walk alone".

A moving piece from the Kop Choir followed by the Undertones – teenage kicks ...boy does it work!

Because it's Friday

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCHuNpkGvSo

we sat in bed all morning and cried

At the fact that an inept Lear figure was taking over South Africa? What a disappointment. All he did was smile for a couple of years while Mbeki destroyed the country paved by Mandela's own promise of the succession. Mandela is his…

Given their inability to cope with the idea that if my father was dead last year he would still be dead this year, I can imagine.

They are deeply unable to cope with anyone who is just about to cross the age threshold for means-testing applying for an allowance to…

the commentary from the 1980 European Cup Final and Ray Kennedy's winning goal for Liverpool against Real Madrid.

Doh! And when I say Ray I mean Alan Kennedy... Pretty sure Ray Kennedy was also playing.

My old man owned his own business by then, and the means testing scheme wasn't set up to understand something or other about how that worked, disaster!

Given their inability to cope with the idea that if my father was dead last year he would still be dead this year,…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKPgE_Chouk

Here's the story. Half of Morgan McVey is Cameron McVey, the husband of Neneh Cherry (who can be seen being all cool in…

here's the football chant sung by the Liverpool crowd in 1965

What struck me most about that clip was the sparse commentary – lots of empty space, with just the football to watch and "Wonderful singing by the Anfield choir" :-)

And for my contribution to the afternoon – Berlin…

“Wonderful singing from the Anfield Choir. Here for a day out.”

Case in point: I used to go and see West Brom play occasionally (before it all got too violent), and as their home turf is smack bang in the middle of the Black Country (near Birmingham), with its exceedingly…

I'd pay a hundred dollars to watch tiddly-winks if it was amongst 50,000 people who sang

One of my favourite things in London in the early 90's was going to the football & joining in with all the singing & chanting. Pre all-seated stadiums.

Seeing as it's Friday – here's the football chant sung by the Liverpool crowd in 1965:

I wish that was part of our sport viewing culture. I'd pay a hundred dollars to watch tiddly-winks if it was amongst 50,000 people who sang.

And then when…

1990, it took eight weeks for student allowances to be processed, during which period one was apparently living on lovely chewy oxygen.

Looxury....

When I was at Wellington Polytech in 1982 they didn't come through till around the last week of the first term.

And they were real terms in…

1990, it took eight weeks for student allowances to be processed, during which period one was apparently living on lovely chewy oxygen.

Oh, don't worry, Studylink are still bastards. Before they closed the on-site UC branch, the manager had a hobby of making people cry about just this sort of…

1990 and 91 I paid 10% fees. So yes, they were means-tested but you pretty much had to be living in a shoebox in middle of t' road to qualify.

Not means tested. Just in 1990 and 91 still charging the fee that Labour set. National fobbed them off on…

I remember Ice-T's 'High Roller' 12" hitting the shelves in mid '89.

Yep, that cover was certainly attention-grabbing. I remember exactly where I was the first time I saw it.

And, in defence of Ms Urlich, she had a great voice (although perhaps not matched by song choice, at times).…

you pretty much had to be living in a shoebox in middle of t' road to qualify

Because it's Friday

Python

1990 and 91 I paid 10% fees.

I seem to recall dropping about $40 per paper.

Urlich was interviewed on TV3 by a rooster

Specifically, Russell Rooster.

I remember Ice-T's 'High Roller' 12" hitting the shelves in mid '89. The most shocking cover I'd ever seen – Darlene the syndicate queen wearing togs that would shame even Borat. It was duly purchased and created its own Friday night…

One…

...and the rise of the native tongues

those sooooooo were the days !!!

I think you're right about '92 being the first year of loans, but means-tested fees? That doesn't ring true for me.

1990 and 91 I paid 10% fees. So yes, they were means-tested but you pretty much had to be living in a shoebox in middle of t' road to…

Wo-oh-OH-OH!

Ah, Escaping.

You know, just recently I've started hearing this song being played around in airports, malls, etc.

Is my mind playing tricks or did I see a group singalong on the telly just this week (or so?)

Yup, fees were first, and means tested.

I think you're right…

Russell we must have been at the same show – Astoria in London IIRC? I remember her pointing her mic at her belly & getting the baby to join in!

Yes!

The idea that '89 was great for Europe, not so great for NZ, resonates for me. But student loans and other barbarities aside, it is still a time I remember fondly.

Student loans was 1993. Labour's fees were 1989. From a period where fees will still low enough that it…

Also, 1989 was the year that Neneh Cherry released "Buffalo Stance" and that, like, totally changed my life.

You're so right. That song is IT. Bomb the bass, rock this place.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qufEM2lsWVo

And in the New Zealand Music Awards that year, Margaret Urlich won best album, best single and best female vocalist.

You know, just recently I've started hearing this song being played around in airports, malls, etc. It's creeping me out because the undulating nature of La Urlich's voice is not…