entertainment scene Hanlon on higher trails

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33963, 2 October 1975, Page 4

entertainment scene Hanlon on higher trails

(By

JOHN McNEILL)

The release of John Hanlon’s third album, “Higher Trails” (Pye 226) comes at a time when John is in Ireland — a representative of New Zealand at the annual Rose of Tralee contest. That bushy-bearded, hairy man will provide no opposition to the pretty girls entered in the main contest. John is there to represent us in the entertainment section, which is held at the same time as the more attractive feature. I have heard Hanlon live only once. He was the supporting artist for the international folk star, Julie Felix. Hanlon was so good that night that — the heading in "The Press,” over the review put it quite accurately — John Hanlon almost stole the show. With the progress he has made since that time he would probably do so now without any effort. It is more interesting to see if this easy-going, relaxed song - writer - performer’s appeal is caught on record. John is almost 26 years old. He was bom in Malaysia, went to school there, in Singapore, Australia, and in New Zealand, where he finished a fine arts course, and worked in advertising. He later changed his job from art-work to copy-

writing, and was discovered singing his own songs at a party. After an audition he won a recording contract with Pye, which released “Floating,” an album which received little public attention but which won an award as the best New Zealand album of the year. Late in 1973, his first big break came with "Damn the Dam” reaching No. 5 on the national charts. It won the R.A.T.A. award for the best single of the year and for John’s arranger and friend, Mike Harvey, the “best arrangement of the vear” award. During 1974, John wrote “I Care.” This song received considerable airplay to tie in with the ecology campaign run by the N.Z.B.C. “Is It Natural?” won R.A.T.A. awards for the best New Zealand composition and best produced single of the year. This song was the centre of much controversy. The N.Z.B.C. banned it because of “questionable lyrics.” “Garden Fresh,” John's second album, was released last September and was the first New Zealand-produced album to reach gold status for many years. “Garden Fresh” includes his hit tracks, "I Care.” “Is It Natural?,” “Damn the Dam,” “Knowing” and “I’d Rather be a Bird.” John entered five songs in “Studio One” last year. “Lovelv Lady” was placed

second and released as a single. It became a No. 1 hit and won Hanlon another “gold.” Higher Trails opens with that number, though whoever did the graphics for the cover did not seem to realise it. The string section from the Symphonia of Auckland is featured here, and on several other tracks. This gives an almost larger than life sound to the disc not heard on the previous two. For all that, John sounds better on the sections where the accompaniment is lighter. "Mouldy Sunday” is an example. Then comes “Lovely

Lady,” which everyone knows, “Crazy Woman” sounds like the repayment of a debt to Elton John’s arranger, but John is allowed to play his own guitar on this track, and the words evoke some sympathy for the practitioners of the oldest profession. Does Hanlon come through as well on record? I think not, but there is still much of his magic there, certainly enough to warrant these recordings and make him one of the very best prospects New Zealand show business has had in a long time.