Tony McCarthy Recordings

Tony McCarthy Recordings was a New Zealand record label associated with songwriter and record producer Tony McCarthy. The label operated in the local popular-music industry and released recordings by several New Zealand performers, including Mahia Blackmore, Deane Waretini, Kount 5 Plus 2 and Tui Fox. It is also associated with recordings by singer Abe Phillips, whose short career ended after his death in a road accident in December 1971. The label's documented catalogue reflects the broad range of New Zealand popular music of the late 1960s and 1970s. Releases included singles by solo singers, vocal groups and performers connected with television variety shows, Māori popular music and the country's club and dance-band circuits. The first release identified with the label was Mahia Blackmore's single "The Long Road" backed with "Need You." McCarthy wrote the B-side and produced both sides; the A-side was credited to Lambert and Porter. Blackmore later became associated with Powerhouse, a band assembled by guitarist Billy TK. Deane Waretini had two singles issued through the label: "Trouble in My Life" backed with "The Long Road," and "Melody Butterfly" backed with "Trouble in My Life." Waretini subsequently achieved a major New Zealand success with "The Bridge," which reached number one in 1981, although that later hit is not identified as a Tony McCarthy Recordings release. The label also issued material by Kount 5 Plus 2, a seven-member group comprising five men and two women. The group appeared in the final heat of New Zealand television variety competition New Faces and released "Anybody There" followed by "Tomorrow's Child." Tui Fox, also known as Tui Hemana, was another performer linked with the label. His recordings included "You Can't Stop Love" backed with "Only a Fool Breaks His Own Heart" and the 1974 single "Bounce Baby Bounce" backed with "Les Bicyclettes de Belsize." Fox performed in New Zealand and Fiji and appeared on television during the 1970s. "Bounce Baby Bounce" was later included on a compilation covering Māori showbands, balladeers and pop performers. Abe Phillips is among the most historically notable artists associated with the label. Phillips had been a member of the Hastings group the Shadracks before pursuing solo work. McCarthy recorded Phillips and the Shadracks in Wellington in 1971, and Phillips later recorded the single "Don't Think You Remember Me" backed with "The Impossible Dream." He won the Schweppes talent contest in November 1971 and was being discussed as a possible emerging star when he was killed in a head-on car collision on 18 December 1971 while returning from a concert in Wellington. The single was reportedly selling at the time of his death, and Phillips's surviving recordings came to represent the only released recordings of his brief solo career. His story and the Shadracks' history were later revisited in a documentary tribute by Dean Mardon. McCarthy's wider professional work included songwriting and production beyond the label. His composition "Tellabout," recorded by Toni Williams, was nominated for an APRA Silver Scroll in 1972. In 1973 he participated in a recording session with teenage singer David Curtis, who had previously reached the New Zealand top 20 with "Wheel of Fortune." McCarthy also co-wrote "E Te Iwi E" with Sonny Keepa. The available reference material does not establish a formal founding date, corporate structure, current catalogue activity or present operating status for Tony McCarthy Recordings.

Tony McCarthy Recordings was a New Zealand label owned by Tony McCarthy, a songwriter and record producer active in the country's recording scene during the late 1960s and 1970s. The available historical record does not provide a precise launch date, formal corporate history or clear evidence that the label remains active. Its known catalogue is nevertheless useful as a record of New Zealand's independent popular-music networks during the period. Mahia Blackmore made the label's first documented release. Her single paired "The Long Road," written by Lambert and Porter, with "Need You," written by McCarthy. McCarthy produced both sides. Blackmore later performed with Powerhouse, a group assembled in the early 1970s by guitarist Billy TK. The release illustrates the label's connection to artists moving between solo records, live performance and band work. The label's other documented artists included Deane Waretini, Kount 5 Plus 2 and Tui Fox. Waretini released two singles through the imprint, while later reaching number one in New Zealand in 1981 with "The Bridge." Kount 5 Plus 2 consisted of five men and two women and appeared in the final heat of New Faces, a New Zealand television variety competition. Its recordings included "Anybody There" and "Tomorrow's Child." Tui Fox, also known as Tui Hemana, performed in New Zealand and Fiji and appeared on television in the 1970s. His associated recordings included "You Can't Stop Love" / "Only a Fool Breaks His Own Heart" and "Bounce Baby Bounce" / "Les Bicyclettes de Belsize." The latter song was later preserved on a compilation devoted to Māori showbands, balladeers and pop performers. The label's most consequential association was with Abe Phillips. Phillips had joined the Hastings group the Shadracks in 1968, contributing vocals during a period when the group gained attention. The band included Tom Greening, Haromi Greening, Bill Prentice, Kepa Toa, Ricky Witoko and Lambeth Bennett alongside Phillips. In 1971, McCarthy recorded Phillips and the Shadracks in Wellington. Phillips then left the group to pursue a solo career and recorded "Don't Think You Remember Me" / "The Impossible Dream." After winning the Schweppes talent contest in November 1971, he appeared to be on the verge of wider recognition. He died on 18 December 1971 in a head-on collision while returning from a Wellington concert. His recordings therefore became the only released documentation of a solo career cut short by the accident. Prince Tui Teka and the Shadracks performed at his funeral, and a later documentary by Dean Mardon brought renewed attention to Phillips and the group. McCarthy's activities extended beyond label ownership. In 1972, his composition "Tellabout," recorded by Toni Williams, was nominated for an APRA Silver Scroll. In 1973, he took part in a recording session with teenage singer David Curtis, previously known for the New Zealand top-20 song "Wheel of Fortune." McCarthy also composed "E Te Iwi E" with Sonny Keepa. These activities place Tony McCarthy Recordings within a broader creative practice involving songwriting, production and artist development rather than as a large corporate label. The surviving references identify artists and recordings but do not establish comprehensive release dates, sales figures, distribution arrangements or a current business successor.

• 1974

  Tui Fox releases "Bounce Baby Bounce"

  [1]Tony McCarthy Recordingsen.wikipedia.org

  Tui Fox's "Bounce Baby Bounce" / "Les Bicyclettes de Belsize" was released and later appeared on a New Zealand compilation.

• 1972

  "Tellabout" receives an APRA Silver Scroll nomination

  [1]Tony McCarthy Recordingsen.wikipedia.org

  Tony McCarthy's composition "Tellabout," performed by Toni Williams, was nominated for an APRA Silver Scroll.

• 1971

  McCarthy records Abe Phillips and the Shadracks

  [1]Tony McCarthy Recordingsen.wikipedia.org

  McCarthy recorded Abe Phillips and the Shadracks in Wellington during Phillips's transition from group performance toward a solo career.

• 1971

  Abe Phillips records his surviving solo single

  [1]Tony McCarthy Recordingsen.wikipedia.org

  Phillips recorded "Don't Think You Remember Me" / "The Impossible Dream" before his death later that year.

• 1971

  Abe Phillips dies after a concert

  [1]Tony McCarthy Recordingsen.wikipedia.org

  Phillips was killed in a road collision on 18 December while returning from a concert in Wellington.

• Mahia Blackmore makes the label's first documented release

  [1]Tony McCarthy Recordingsen.wikipedia.org

  Mahia Blackmore's "The Long Road" / "Need You" is identified as the first release associated with Tony McCarthy Recordings.

A locally focused New Zealand independent label centered on recordings by emerging solo singers and vocal groups, with links to Māori popular music and the country's television and live-entertainment circuits.

• Single

  Mahia Blackmore releases

  The label's first documented release was Mahia Blackmore's single "The Long Road" backed with "Need You." Lambert and Porter wrote the A-side, while Tony McCarthy wrote and produced the B-side; McCarthy produced both recordings.

• Single · 1971

  Abe Phillips releases

  Abe Phillips's associated single "Don't Think You Remember Me" backed with "The Impossible Dream" represents the released solo recordings connected with his brief career after leaving the Shadracks. Phillips died in December 1971 soon after the record appeared to be gaining sales.

• Singles

  Deane Waretini releases

  Deane Waretini had two singles associated with the label: "Trouble in My Life" / "The Long Road" and "Melody Butterfly" / "Trouble in My Life." Waretini later became known for the New Zealand number-one song "The Bridge" in 1981.

• Group singles

  Kount 5 Plus 2 releases

  Kount 5 Plus 2 was a seven-member vocal group comprising five men and two women. Its documented recordings include "Anybody There" and the follow-up "Tomorrow's Child." The group also appeared in a final heat of the New Faces television competition.

• Singles · 1974

  Tui Fox releases

  Tui Fox, also known as Tui Hemana, was linked with recordings including "You Can't Stop Love" / "Only a Fool Breaks His Own Heart" and "Bounce Baby Bounce" / "Les Bicyclettes de Belsize." Fox performed in New Zealand and Fiji and appeared on 1970s television.

1. 1Tony McCarthy Recordingsen.wikipedia.org