Subtitled, "Maori Showbands, Balladeers and Pop Stars", this 50-track collection arrives right on cue.
There are the two movies out reminding us of the showband roots of Billy T James. The showband stage play Raising the Titanics is still doing the rounds. John Rowles is on his final farewell tour, and much of this could help soundtrack a reading of latter chapters in Chris Bourke's tome Blue Smoke about NZ music pre-rock 'n' roll.
Put together by local compilation boffin Grant Gillanders who also pens the thorough liner notes, Waiata happily walks a fine line between kitsch Kiwiana, perennial closing-time sing-alongs, Roto-Vegas anthems and many undiscovered gems.
The big names are well represented. Sir Howard gets three tracks (one with the quartet) as does Rowles - four if you count The End recorded under his early Australian nom de cabaret "Ja-Ar".
Elsewhere, the likes of Prince Tui Teka (and Missy on E Ipo), Dalvanius and the Fascinations, Mark Williams, Bunny Walters, Deane Waretini, The Volcanics and Frankie Stevens are all prominent on the second disc, largely covering the wide-collared 1970s.
