As well as the standard designs for their labels, record companies sometimes designed special labels for individual recordings. This record was, as the label states, recorded in 1927 in New Zealand during a Royal visit: although electrical recording was widely established by then it seems it hadn't reached New Zealand - or perhaps electricity wasn't available wherever this recording was made.

The singer is a well-known Maori performer of the time, Ana Hato, and the song, 'Waiata Poi' was written by Alfred Hill in 1904: it became popular for a time in England where it was known by line from the chorus, 'Tiny ball on end of string': the words are given here.

The duration is 2m 30s and the file size is 1.7 MB.




© Roger Wilmut