Poi E (album) - Misplaced Pages

Poi E is an album released by New Zealand Māori music group the Pātea Māori Club. In 1984, the Māori language title track "Poi E" topped the New Zealand pop charts for four consecutive weeks, and was that year's biggest selling single - outselling all international recording artists. The album also produced three other charting singles in New Zealand (Aku Raukura, Hei Konei Rā, and E Papa) but did not chart itself until nearly three decades after its original release.

Dalvanius Prime, the album's producer and leader, was known for merging the styles of traditional Maori show bands and more recent Maori hip-hop.

Later, in the early 1990s, Poi E was produced as a Māori musical with additional songs, and in 2000, selections were performed in Sydney, at the Waitangi Day Concert.

Development

Poi E was recorded almost entirely at Mascot Studios in Auckland over a four-year period from April 1983 ("Poi E") to December 1987 ("He Tangata Tini Hanga," "Ngakau Maru," and "Parihaka - Tewhiti - Tohu - Tawhiao"). The only exception was "Ngoi Ngoi," recorded at Marmalade Studios in Wellington. Prime self-produced the album, financially supported by businesses in Pātea, after being rejected by record labels across New Zealand.

Many of the album's songs are collaborations between Prime and lyricist Ngoi Pēwhairangi. The two began a musical partnership in 1982 after a meeting at Pēwharaingi's Tokomaru Bay home that was initially intended to last a day or two but ultimately went on for weeks due to the pair's songwriting chemistry. "Ngoi Ngoi" - the opener of the second half of Poi E - is a tribute to Pēwhairangi written after her 1985 death, while the album's first side ("E Pa To Hau" to "Hei Konei Rā") traces the history of the iwi of Taranaki.

Track listing

*Poi E* – original release track listing
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"E Pa To Hau"	Traditional	1:02
2.	"Ko Aotea"	Traditional	0:53
3.	"Taranaki Patere - Kahuri"	Traditional	2:59
4.	"Parihaka - Tewhiti - Tohu - Tawhiao"	Dalvanius Prime	4:13
5.	"Nga Ohaki"	Prime Ngoi Pēwhairangi	2:21
6.	"Ngakau Maru"	Prime N. Pēwhairangi	2:59
7.	"Hei Konei Rā"	Prime N. Pēwhairangi	3:13
8.	"Ngoi Ngoi"	Prime Lee Fox Martha Fox Tui Fox Ada Haige Ngaro Herewini Ara Kopua Wikitoria Matahiki Taite Pēwhairangi Noel Raihania	4:25
9.	"He Tangata Tini Hanga"	Prime N. Pēwhairangi	2:28
10.	"E Papa Waiari"	Traditional	4:15
11.	"Aku Raukura"	Prime N. Pēwhairangi	4:01
12.	"Poi E"	Prime N. Pēwhairangi	3:51

*Poi E* – reissue bonus tracks
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
13.	"Haeremai"	Tuini Ngāwai	2:52
14.	"Kua Makona"	Prime Ngamaru Raerino	2:51
15.	"Paikea"	T. Pēwhairangi	2:19
16.	"Anei Ra Overture & Aria"	Prime Raerino	5:27

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Poi E.

Musicians

Brent Black Music Co-Op – arrangements (10)
Ruka Broughton – vocals (4)
Gary Byrd – vocals (8)
Greg Carroll – beach recordings (1), rākau (10), poi piu percussion (12)
Waimarie Cassidy – poi piu percussion (12)
Annie Crummer – vocals (8)
Huia Davis – poi piu percussion (12)
Willie Dayson – slide guitar (10)
Fred Faleauto – rākau (10), timbales (12)
Dale Ferris – vocals (8)
Victor Grbic – rākau (10)
Hoani Heremaia – vocals (4)
Dave Hurley – arrangements (2, 3)
Gordon Joll – Drumulator (5, 11), drums (7)
Maggie Kahu – lead vocals (2, 3, 12), poi piu percussion (12)
Steve 'Foot' Kanuta – rākau (10)
Wiremu Karaitiana – Emulator II synthesizer (4, 6, 9, 10), arrangements (9, 10)
Dilworth Karaka – guitar (6, 10)
Carl Levy – arrangements (10)
Hohepa Malcolm – kōauau (1)
Moana Maniapoto – vocals (8)
Pātea Māori Club – haka (4)
Bill Millett – rākau (10)
Les Palmer – arrangements (10)
Dave Parsons – arrangements, Drumulator (8)
Stuart Pearce – arrangements, keyboards (5-7, 9-12)

Kara Pēwhairangi – vocals (8)
Dalvanius Prime – arrangements (1-12), lead vocals (7)
Haami Prime – lead vocals (5)
Miri Prime – poi piu percussion (12)
Pauline Prime – poi piu percussion (12)
Timothy Prime – lead vocals (11)
Tama Renata – arrangements, guitar (11, 12), Syndrum (12)
Alastair Riddell – Drumulator (12)
Aunty Lil Rongonui – karanga (5)
Don Selwyn – narration (2, 3)
Clarence Smith – kōauau (4)
Ropata Smith – keyboards (4, 8), arrangements (8)
Henare te Ua – arrangements (1, 4)
Rob Winch – arrangements, guitar (8)
Adele Yandall – vocals (7)
Mary Yandall – vocals (7)
Pauline Yandall – vocals (7)

Technical

Dave Ginnane – engineering, mixing, production (8)
Victor Grbic – mixing (10)
Dave Hurley – production (2, 3, 5-7, 10, 12), engineering (5-7, 10, 12)
John Jones – engineering (1)
Dalvanius Prime – production (1-12)
Henare te Ua – recording (1), production (1, 4)
Phil Yule – recording (10)

Charts

Chart (2016)	Peak position
New Zealand Aotearoa Albums (RMNZ)	8

References

Poi E - the history
Mitchell, Tony. "Kia Kaha! (Be Strong!): Maori and Pacific Islander Hip-hop in Aotearoa-New Zealand." In Global Noise: Rap and Hip-Hop Outside the USA, ed. Tony Mitchell, 280-305. Middletown: Wesleyan University Press, 2001
^ Poi E (booklet). Patea Maori. Maui Records, WEA Records NZ. 1987. MAUILP 14.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
McCaull, Ashleigh; Tahana, Jamie (13 August 2022). "Pātea gathering as Poi E turns 40: 'It was a blessing, it was a privilege'". Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
"The search for the sound of young Polynesia". Te Tangata. New Zealand Department of Māori Affairs. 1 December 1983. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
Cammick, Murray (29 May 2013). "Dalvanius". AudioCulture. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
Walker, Piripi (1 February 1988). "Records". Rip It Up. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
"Official Top 20 Aotearoa Albums". Recorded Music NZ. 19 August 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2024.

External links

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