Max Merrit & The Meteors "Max Merrit & The Meteors" 1970

...A North Island tour in December 1962 led to the offer of Auckland work. In recognition of The Meteors’ social and charity work, there was a civic farewell at a packed Majestic Theatre, attended by the Mayor and other dignitaries…

...The Meteors arrived in Auckland in March 1963 to kickstart a new venue, The Top 20. The line-up was Merritt and Peter Williams (guitars, vocals), Billy Karaitiana AKA Billy Kristian (bass) and Johnny Dick (drums); Kristian was replaced by Mike Angland after a quick trip to Sydney in September to appear on the Sheb Wooley tour.
At year’s end, The Meteors became Viking Records’ in-house band, providing the backing for Tommy Adderley's ‘I Just Don’t Understand’, Dinah Lee's ‘Don’t You Know Yockomo?’ and Peter Posa's ‘The White Rabbit’. Sadly, the band’s own Viking releases were poor sellers by comparison. Two 1964 EPs in particular, Giddy Up Max! and Good Golly Max Merritt!, display a raunchy band, suitably rough around the edges, which had successfully made the transition from 1950s rock and roll via Shadows-style instrumentals to the beat boom.
It was around this time that The Meteors earned a sobriquet which became something of a millstone – “musicians’ band”. Indeed, from this point on, Max Merritt and The Meteors would remain a firm favourite of fellow musicians, one of whom was ace Aussie saxophonist, arranger and producer Jimmie Sloggett, a regular guest at the Top 20.
“The Top 20 was open five or six nights a week,” Merritt remembers, “and the weekend hours were killers – 6pm to 2am, with only three minutes off every hour. Sloggett would join us around midnight so the last couple of sets were always hot. Sloggett provided the whiskey and Mikey Leyton, the English singer who worked at the drinks counter, provided the amphetamines. Man, by 2am we were bouncing off the walls!’’
In December 1964, new manager Graham Dent secured the band a three-month residency at Sydney’s Rex Hotel. Angland declined to go, replaced by Teddy Toi. 1965 was divided between Sydney and Auckland, where they recorded the Max Merritt’s Meteors album at Stebbings for RCA Records, not Viking. Looking back, Merritt says, “We didn't make a cent out of Viking. I don't even recall receiving a fee for the recording sessions behind Dinah and Tommy and them, and we certainly never received a royalty cheque.” - to be continued - audioculture...

trax:
1. Hey, Western Union Man 2. Fannie May 3. To Be A Lover 4. Louisiana Anna 5. You Touch Me 6. I've Been Away Too Long 7. Home Is Where The Heart Is 8. It's Just Wasting Time 9. Turkish Bath 10. Lay A Little Love On Me 11. You Can't Come Back 12. Western Union Man (Live)
…served by Gaius…