Rob Smith - Good Memories Are Made To Last (Mp3 Single)

Rob Smith - Good Memories Are Made To Last (Mp3 Single)
(Released 1st July 2009)
Released by Polar Music New Zealand

Produced by Rob Smith @ Polar Music New Zealand Studio's, Ratapiko, Taranaki, New Zealand
Mastered by Rob Smith @ Polar Music New Zealand Studio's, Ratapiko, Taranaki, New Zealand

1. Good Memories Are Made To Last (Richard Anderson, Rob Smith)
- released in memory of Michael Jackson, with deepest respect

Notes by Richard Anderson:
Originally this song was written for the "GONE WILD II" album (as with "On Common Ground" also from "Never A Dull Moment" Rob Smith's 3rd solo album) but we felt that it was probably too mellow compared to the other songs on the album, so rather than waste what was a good recording, Rob chose to complete the track and put it on "Never A Dull Moment".

Late one night we discussed writing a tribute to Michael Jackson, when Rob pointed out that everytime he listened to "Good Memories Are Made To Last" that his mind wandered to Michael Jackson (who had only just died around the time of the release of the "Never A Dull Moment" album), so we released this as an mp3 single for free download. Meanwhile we did co-write another Michael Jackson tribute called "One Lonely Life", which is yet to be released.

Rob Smith & Nils-Ole Finbak - Atmospheres (2009)

Rob Smith & Nils-Ole Finbak - Atmospheres
(Released June 2009)
Released by Polar Music New Zealand
Piano Recorded @ Finbak Music Studio's, Bobo, Norway
Vocals & Guitars Recorded @ Polar Music New Zealand Studio's, Ratapiko, Taranaki, New Zealand
Produced by Rob Smith @ Polar Music New Zealand Studio's, Ratapiko, Taranaki, New Zealand
Mastered by Rob Smith @ Polar Music New Zealand Studio's, Ratapiko, Taranaki, New Zealand

- Rob Smith
- Vocals, Guitars

- Nils-Ole Finbak
- Piano, Programming - "Mother Love" & "...And I Think (Song For Freddie)"

1. Intro + Our Love Will Always Shine (R.Smith, N.Finbak)
2. Sometimes (C.Bosley, R.Anderson, R.Smith, N.Finbak)
3. New Zealand Bound (R.Smith, N.Finbak)
4. It Won't Be Long (R.Anderson, R.Smith, N.Finbak)
5. I Wish I Didn't Have To Say Goodbye (R.Anderson, R.Smith, N.Finbak)
6. We Will Live (R.Anderson, R.Smith, N.Finbak)
7. Michigan (R.Anderson, R.Smith, N.Finbak)
8. ...And I Think (Song For Freddie) (R.Anderson, R.Smith, N.Finbak)
9. Mother Love (R.Anderson, R.Smith, N.Finbak)
10. Winter (R.Smith, N.Finbak)
11. Goodbye (Richard Anderson, R.Smith, N.Finbak)
12. Seascape (Instrumental) (R.Smith, N.Finbak)


Notes by Richard Anderson:
This collection has been 2 and a half years in the making (although technically it was only really worked on between other projects). Rob had always wanted to make a stripped back collection of songs with the vocals and piano being the main focus, so it was something special when Nils-Ole (aka Nilsy) came onboard and said he was up for it.

Rob and I had both seperately at different times had visions of working on projects that featured just vocals and piano - stripped back songs in essence, where the vocals and the words did all the talking, and the music sat back and just took the mind to different places. This was what lead to us working on this album with Nilsy, also we wanted to showcase what a remarkable piano player Nilsy is. I am personally rather touched by several of the songs on this album, I think they have shown a whole other side to our abilities as songwriters, working with the likes of Rob and Nilsy is something I never take for granted, so to have been so wonderfully represented here is a blessing.

Nils-Ole Finbak - Green

Nils-Ole Finbak - Green
Released in Norway in 2007
Produced by Nils-Ole Finbak

1. Now I Do (Nils-Ole Finbak)
2. In The Bleak Mid-Winter (Rosetti, Holst)
3. Green (Nils-Ole Finbak)
4. Staria (Nils-Ole Finbak)
5. Saving Grace (Richard Anderson, Nils-Ole Finbak)
6. Let The Music Play (Richard Anderson, Nils-Ole Finbak)
7. Love For All (Richard Anderson, Nils-Ole Finbak)
8. Like Shadows Across The Sun (Richard Anderson)
9. Adore (Nils-Ole Finbak)
10. In the Bleak Mid-Winter (Acoustic Version) (Rosetti, Holst)
11. Never Known Love (Nils-Ole Finbak)

Notes by Richard Anderson:
This albums is essentially a collection of Nilsy's versions of several Always Forever tracks (including "Like Shadows Across The Sun" - my Bob Dylan-esque song that I wrote both the music and lyric for). As Nilsy is quite prolific with his own songs it is a bit of a blessing to have our collaborations put in there amongst his own material.

GONE WILD - GONE WILD

GONE WILD - GONE WILD

GONE WILD + Friends @ Facebook

Released January 2007
Released by Polar Music New Zealand / GONE WILD Productions
Produced by Rob Smith @ Polar Music New Zealand Studio's, Ratapiko, Taranaki, New Zealand
Mastered by Rob Smith @ Polar Music New Zealand Studio's, Ratapiko, Taranaki, New Zealand

- Rob Smith - Vocals, Guitars, Keyboards, Programming
- Richard Anderson - Vocals, Narrations
- Nils-Ole Finbak - Norske Narration, Piano, Keyboards, WILD Guitars
- Matt Sturgess - Bass
- Carol Smith - Harmonica - "Don't Need Them Blues"
- Chris Szkup - Lead Guitars - "Montage"
- Robin Wellaway - Sax - "The Good Ole Boys", "Heavens Above" & "Don't Need Them Blues")

1. Don't Wanna Be A Star (R.Anderson, R.Smith, M.Sturgess)
2. Escape (R.Anderson, R.Smith, M.Sturgess, N.Finbak)
3. The Good Ole Boys (R.Anderson, R.Smith, M.Sturgess, N.Finbak)
4. GONE WILD (R.Anderson, R.Smith, M.Sturgess, N.Finbak)
5. Heavens Above (R.Anderson, R.Smith, M.Sturgess, N.Finbak)
6. Achilles (Instrumental) (R.Smith, M.Sturgess, N.Finbak)
7. War Of Words (R.Anderson, R.Smith, M.Sturgess, N.Finbak)
8. Don't Need Them Blues (R.Anderson, R.Smith, M.Sturgess, N.Finbak)
9. Montage (Richard Anderson, Rob Smith, Matt Sturgess, N.Finbak)
10. El Pronto Mofo (R.Anderson, R.Smith, M.Sturgess, N.Finbak)
11. Ditto (R.Anderson, R.Smith, M.Sturgess, N.Finbak)
12. Comfort Within (R.Anderson, R.Smith, M.Sturgess, N.Finbak)
13. Introspective/Outrospective (R.Anderson, R.Smith, M.Sturgess, N.Finbak)
14. Turn Off The Lights (R.Anderson, R.Smith, M.Sturgess, N.Finbak)

Notes by Richard Anderson:
Both Rob Smith and Tim P Hall had been at me to put together a solo album of my own at some point, but I didn't really think anyone would want to be hearing me do my thing. As a compromise I had said to Rob that perhaps we should pool our efforts alongside Nils-Ole Finbak, who I had been writing a lot of material with (and also Rob had some material he was working on with him) and create a hard rock project that we could be listed within as equals rather than a solo album. Rob was at first keen to come onboard to play some guitar as needed, but then he thought about it further and suggested that why don't we go the whole hog and have him come onboard fulltime as both guitarist and producer?. Given that Rob had other projects he was working on we felt that he must have indeed been quite serious in his wanting to come onboard, so we took him up on the offer - and thus GONE WILD was born. Actually the name was supposed to be GOING WILD but somewhere along the line one of us (we've blamed Nilsy) typed the wrong name in an email. During one of his get-togethers (christened Ratapiko Rockfest) at his place I met Matt Sturgess and having heard good things about him from Rob, we struck up a conversation and I mentioned to him how Rob, Nilsy and I were going to be working on a hard rock-blues rock based collection of songs and that we would be keen for him to come onboard as a bass player if he wanted. Matt didn't have to take a second asking, he was keen as. The "GONE WILD" album took only 4 months to complete.

More information on the making of this album and also some reviews will be added to this blog soon.


You can purchase this album by simply emailing: robertsmith@xtra.co.nz or breakfree74@hotmail.com

Rick Bone & Friends - MS Blues

Rick Bone & Friends - MS Blues

Released January 2007
Aching Bone Music
Produced by Scott Rose & Rick Bone

1. MS Blues (Rick Bone)
2. Positive Light (Rick Bone, Scott Rose)
3. Help Me (Rick Bone, Scott Rose)
4. Surfin' Monkey (Rick Bone)
5. We Look Good (Rick Bone)
6. Don't Be Afraid To Love (Rick Bone)
7. Cry Through The Pain (Richard Anderson, Rick Bone)
8. Flying Free (Debbie Kelson, Rick Bone)
9. Pity Party (Debbie Kelson, Rick Bone)
10. The Cavern Monkeys Song (Rick Bone)
11. Payin' For The Rich Man (Rick Bone)
12. Cryin' Out (Rick Bone)

Proceeds from this release were and are donated to MS Research.

Notes by Richard Anderson:
Rick Bone is a friend of Scott Rose, he suffers from MS. "Cry Through The Pain" was my lyrical tribute to Rick, I was amazed at how he would power through his illness to pick up the guitar and play even though all the time he would be in pain. My good friend and co-writer Chris Szkup leant his talents to the cause and played lead guitar on that track too. Chris and I were only too happy to lend our time and efforts to this project, especially given the fact that proceeds were being (and still are) donated to help aid MS research in the US. Since the release of this album, Rick has forged ahead with the Broken Feather collaboration with Debbie Kelson, keeping the MS Awareness vibe flowing.



- Review by Lin Sarnecki-
www.nytedancer.com/MSChat/monster
A professional musician during the '70s and '80s, Rick initially gave up his music career back in 1983 to raise a family. Before that job was done (is it ever,really?) he was diagnosed with MS in 1999, which progressed to the point he was forced on disability in 2001.

Rick became very depressed over the loss of many things, as we all do, but especially over his inability to create and sing his music. For anyone with a passion, to lose it is tantamount to losing a huge part of oneself. We also must compensate for changes in our methodologies as well as adapt to changes forced by MS.

For a long time, Rick was convinced he could never sing or play again - especially at the level he did before MS. He couldn't feel his guitar strings because of the numbness in his fingers, he couldn't be in his studio long due to MS fatigue, he wasn't able to write songs and music due to MS cognitive loss, and he felt his voice quality was forever impaired. I am one of his friends with MS who knows we can do far more than we sometimes believe if we just try. I also knew how beautiful his voice was and is, and have urged him, scolded him, begged him, and even at times yelled at him to get back into his music! At long last, he has.


You can purchase this album here

Scott Rose - Deep Sumthin'

Scott Rose - Deep Sumthin'

Released in 2006
Country Rose Productions
Produced by Scott Rose

1. Deep Something (Scott Rose)
2. Born To Play Country (Scott Rose)
3. See You Later (Scott Rose)
4. Out Of Order When Lit (Scott Rose)
5. Baby Girl (Scott Rose)
6. She's A Red Head, Red Neck (Scott Rose)
7. The Caulk Sucker (Scott Rose)
8. Kentucky Fried Knight (Scott Rose)
9. Positive Light (Scott Rose, Rick Bone)
10. Miracles Happen (Scott Rose)
11. All In The Cards (Scott Rose)
12. Don't Forget Me, When I'm Gone (Richard Anderson, Scott Rose) - originally titled "When I'm Gone"

"Don't Forget Me, When I'm Gone" was a re-working of "When I'm Gone" which was demoed by Richard Anderson in 2004.

Notes by Richard Anderson:
I came across Scott Rose by way of Nils-Ole Finbak who I had been working with, Scott leant his talents to a track we had written and recorded called "Never Let You Down". We discussed perhaps working together on something - little did I know at the time that a song I had demoed would be moulded into an album-worthy track. Normally I am not the biggest country fan on the planet but I thought in keeping with the spirit that I would lend my support to a good friend and sincerely had hoped the album would turn out well - and it did.

You can still purchase this album here

Rob Smith - Actions Speak Louder Than Words

Rob Smith - Actions Speak Louder Than Words


Released in 2006
Released by Polar Music New Zealand
Produced by Rob Smith @ Polar Music New Zealand Studio's, Ratapiko, Taranaki, New Zealand
Mastered by Michael Hill @ Killermoa Music Studio's, Waitara, Taranaki, New Zealand

- Rob Smith (Vocals, Guitars, Keyboards, Programming)
- Catherine Smith (Backing Vocals - "An Angel Flies")
- Laura Smith (Backing Vocals - "An Angel Flies")

1. My Sanity (Rob Smith)
2. Why Did We Fall So Far (Rob Smith)
3. Actions Speak Louder Than Words (Richard Anderson, Rob Smith)
4. An Angel Flies (Richard Anderson, Rob Smith)
5. What Don't Kill Me Will Just Make Me Strong (Dawn Sinclair, Rob Smith)
6. What I Would Do For You (Richard Anderson, Rob Smith)
7. Let's Get To The Heart Of The Matter (Richard Anderson, Rob Smith)
8. In The Bottom Of A Bottle (Richard Anderson, Rob Smith)
9. I'm Gonna Miss You Baby (Rob Smith)
10. Forget Yesterday (Dawn Sinclair, Rob Smith)
11. Can't Stop Loving You (Rob Smith)
12. Inside Me (Rob Smith)
13. How Do You Feel? (Rob Smith)
14. The Woman I Never Knew (Richard Anderson, Rob Smith)
15. When The Wind Blows (Rob Smith)

Rob's second official solo album.

Notes by Richard Anderson:
After the release of "Be Careful What You Wish For", it was easy to see that there were still other tracks there left over from the same sessions that could be used for a second solo album. So we put aside some of those tracks and also co-wrote some new material specifically for what was to become "Actions Speak Louder Than Words".

Another lyricist was brought into the fold, English lyricist/poet Dawn Sinclair, who had been writing a fair bit with other artists, but took an instant liking to Rob's writing and recording style. As a thanks for her support, Rob included 2 Dawn Sinclair co-writes on "Actions Speak Louder Than Words".

I liked the fact that Rob was able to progress musically into rockier places where need be on this album - whilst it still sounding like a Rob Smith album, there was indeed some progression rather than just getting caught into repeating an exact formula, something we wanted with this label's releases was to always keep mixing it up. Thankfully Rob is inspired by a lot of different types of music and artists (and life experiences too), and as those things are all thrown into the pot with his own experiences the Rob Smith sound is always going to be varied.

It was an interesting experience seeing this project come together, as we had written some things that we both felt rated up there (and still do) as some of the best and most heartfelt things either of us had written, I take great pride in knowing that we were able to follow-up a great album that is "Be Careful..." with something equally as brilliant.

Rob Smith - Be Careful What You Wish For

Rob Smith - Be Careful What You Wish For

Released 2005
Released by Polar Music New Zealand
Produced by Rob Smith @ Polar Music New Zealand Studio's, New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand
Mastered by Michael Hill @ Killermoa Music Studio's, Waitara, Taranaki, New Zealand

- Rob Smith (Vocals, Guitars, Keyboards, Programming)
- Otto Beesling (Bass - "Le Merci" & "Wish")
- Robin Wellaway (Sax - "Wish")
- Catherine Smith (Backing Vocals - "Wish")
- Laura Smith (Backing Vocals - "Wish")

1. One Heart (Rob Smith)
2. Emerald Isle (Rob Smith)
3. It's Over (Rob Smith)
4. Mary Doesn't Need Tomorrow (Rob Smith)
5. Le Merci (Rob Smith)
6. Lost Without Your Love (Rob Smith)
7. The Memory Of Us (Rob Smith)
8. Nobody's (Rob Smith)
9. Wish (Rob Smith)
10. Lately (Rob Smith)
11. The Time Of Your Life (Rob Smith)
12. In The Beginning (Rob Smith)
13. Without You (Richard Anderson, Rob Smith)
14. We Won't Be Forgotten(Rob Smith)
15. Toddyar (Rob Smith)

Polar Music New Zealand was formed especially to release Rob Smith related recordings, "Be Careful What You Wish For" having the distinction of being the first release from the label, as well as being Rob's first official album.

Notes by Richard Anderson:
I met Rob at Music Services in New Plymouth early in 2004, at the time I had been doing some online promotion for the Tim P Hall Band, Rob had heard about what I had been doing for them and wondered if I might be able to help him do the same. It quickly became apparent to me that Rob really did have a gift way beyond his humble saying "I dabble a bit", so I discussed with him some goals and how he should really set about releasing his material to the world, so we put together the independent label Polar Music New Zealand.

My intial role was to help manage Rob and to also take care of online promotional actitivies. We also co-wrote a few things together, "Without You" being the first official release, but "Tears Of The Sun" was in fact the first song we co-wrote, Rob also gave me some titles to write lyrics to with the plan being that he would set those lyrics to music and we'd release them on various projects we had planned on putting together over the next few years (we have actually sat down and wrote a few ditties in person too...more on those later)...needless to say this album itself is very special to the Polar Music New Zealand family as a standalone entity, but also in the grand scheme of things it helped create a vision.

Pleasingly, 5 years after this albums release we still get people commenting on the songs favourably, new people have taken an interest and it continues to sell (thats right folks you too can own a copy if you want to contact me about purchasing a copy that'd be great!)

Annan - I Wish You Love

Annan - I Wish You Love

Released in 2003 Japan (Out Of Print)
Desert Lake Label / Southern Air Records

Producer: Annan
Executive Producer: Akira Minamino

Annan: Vocals, Guitars, Piano, Percussion etc.
UK Kurita: Percussion and Chorus

Guest Musicians:
Tetsuji Ogawa - Guitars
Toshiaki Furihata - Drums, Guitars and Chorus
Takeo Konishi - Drums
Nok "Yuichiro" Koshila - Computer Programming

1. I Wish You Love (Parrish Coppedge, Annan, Rosei Kobayashi)
2. Cheers! (Annan)
3. My Guardian Angel (Richard Anderson, Yohei Eto)
4. The One (Annan)
5. Freedom (Annan)
6. Maze (Annan)
7. YOKOHAMA (Annan)
8. ごめんね～ひとつの心残り (Annan)
9. 砂の仮面 (Annan)
10. 日常 (Annan)

Notes by Richard Anderson:
After having worked together on the last of the Kween EP's, it was nice that Yohei had asked me to come onboard to collaborate on his solo endeavour (under the name of Annan), in fact he rang me from Japan about 3 years before this album was released to ask me if he could use my lyric and put it to music and use it, which I thought was particularly nice of him. "My Guardian Angel" was written as a tribute to Kara Graff, a lady from the US (and another Queen fan, who Tim Davis used to visit), sadly she passed away much too young but was a wonderful support to me in our brief friendship, in fact she was the one person who managed to persuade me to let the world in on my lyrical meanderings.

Sadly this album is now out of print, I had hoped that perhaps the label might have picked it up for a bigger release. Annan did make a couple of quite good videos for the album.

Several times since we have discussed working together on something new - which is something that I hope we can bring to fruition here at some point.

003 - Not For Sale

003 - Not For Sale

Released in 2001 in Japan

Produced by 003

Shun'ei - Vocals, Keyboards
Luigi - Guitar, Bass, Backing Vocals
Roman - Drums, Backing Vocals

1. Chasing The Sun (Richard Anderson, Luigi Yamagata)
2. Welcome Song (Luigi Yamagata)
3. Morning (Luigi Yamagata)
4. Birthday (Luigi Yamagata)
5. Horizon (Luigi Yamagata)
6. Sakaba no Taishou (Luigi Yamagata)
7. Afternoon (Luigi Yamagata)
8. Angel (Luigi Yamagata)
9. Tadeima (Luigi Yamagata)
10. Mitsukenikui Sagashimono (Luigi Yamagata)
11. Ashita no Hako (Luigi Yamagata)
12. Sorahe (Luigi Yamagata)
13. Yamato Daikon
14. Sakaba-Daikon (Live Take) (Luigi Yamagata)

Notes by Richard Anderson:
From memory I think this collection served as a kind of "Best Of" collection, so was rather pleased that 003 would deem our little ditty worthy of inclusion alongside some of their own material.

003 - Chasing The Sun

003 - Chasing The Sun

Released in Japan in 2001
Produced by 003

Shun'ei - Vocals, Keyboards
Luigi - Guitar, Bass, Backing Vocals
Roman - Drums, Backing Vocals

1. Afternoon (Luigi Yamagata)
2. Tadeima (Luigi Yamagata)
3. Ashita no Hako (Luigi Yamagata)
4. Chasing The Sun (Richard Anderson, Luigi Yamagata)
5. Mitsukenikui Sagashimono (Luigi Yamagata)
6. Sorahe (Luigi Yamagata)
7. Yamato Daikon (Luigi Yamagata)

Notes by Richard Anderson:
I came across 003 online, and whilst all their music was in Japanese (which I couldn't understand a word of) I appreciated their efforts and their great ear for melody, so I sent the lead vocalist/guitarist Luigi Yamagata a note to ask him if he would be interested in co-writing a song in English, thankfully he was up for it.

"Chasing The Sun" was inspired by a conversation I had on a bus trip with a chap named Terry Blake in 2000, he had seemed like an inspirational type of gent, often wandering off on his jaunts for weeks at a time. It struck me as to what his family might be thinking while he was off wandering - he said to me "I am chasing the sun",which I thought would make a great song title...in the end I used our whole meeting as inspiration for this tune.

003 even wound up having a picture of a car with the number plate reading "003" on the front cover of this collection, which I thought was rather cool.

Later, 003 performed "Chasing The Sun" live in a reggae kind of format, thankfully I was able to obtain an mp3 of this performance (I once had the video footage too, but thats since seemingly been lost unfortunately), it really worked quite well in this style, I was stoked to have had a co-write performed so far away live for the first time.

Unfortunately this was the only song that we collaborated on, 003 have since seemingly split up.