Music Review: The Breakaways, All for One

It's 2017 and Midge Marsden, now a household name across the country, is embarking on what he says is his swansong, to a career that started out in New Plymouth in the early 1960s.

Enamoured with the new sounds he was hearing as the Beatles and other groups out of Britain began to invade even ultra-conservative New Zealand radio, Midge bought a really expensive Fender Stratocaster guitar.

Although he couldn't play a note, word got out around the Taranaki music community about the guitar.

Long story short, Midge was soon learning his trade as rhythm guitarist in a hot new band, Bari and the Breakaways.

Between 1964 and 1967 Bari and the Breakaways lived the dream, based in Wellington but gigging in towns and cities on both islands.

And they did what few other groups did during that embryonic era of the Kiwi music scene, in recording a stash of singles and two albums.

Those singles and albums are now valued treasures for avid fans of a certain age.

The good news though, is that most of the songs that the Breakaways recorded back then are available again on vinyl no less, and a record called All For One.

Yes, they were raw and if you weren't old enough to see them live in the 1960s it's perhaps difficult to get your head around the fact that they were unique, and definitely trendsetters.

The songs are covers from of both British bands and r'n'b legends like Chuck Berry, although the title track was written by Breakaways bassist Dave Orams.

Whether you were around at the time, or not, the Breakaways' All For One, isn't just a piece of historical memorabilia, it's a slice of music inspiration.

Rating: 4/5 stars