77 Years On: NZ’s First Pop Song Returns To Vinyl

WELLINGTON: On 3 October 1948, a young wahine from Mohaka stepped into a Wellington studio and recorded a song that changed Aotearoa’s musical history.

Blue Smoke, sung by Pixie Williams and written by Ruru Karaitiana on his way to war, became New Zealand’s first locally written, recorded, and commercially released pop song. The recording marked the birth of the New Zealand recording industry.

Although recorded in October 1948, Blue Smoke was not officially released until 26 June 1949, after Radio Corp’s self-taught technicians mastered the process of pressing records for the first time in Aotearoa.

Seventy-seven years later to the day, her voice returns to vinyl. Originally pressed on fragile 78rpm shellac discs, Blue Smoke will be reissued on a landmark double LP: For the Record – The Pixie Williams Collection / The New Blue. The album pairs Pixie Williams’ remastered originals with contemporary reinterpretations by leading New Zealand artists.

The release is part of Holiday Records’ acclaimed Drops series, limited edition vinyl releases exclusive to Holiday Records, and reflects the company’s mission to preserve and celebrate the stories that shaped Aotearoa’s music.

“Pixie Williams’ recording of Blue Smoke was a defining moment, as was the vision of the Radio Corp pioneers who built New Zealand’s first purpose-made studio so our own music could finally be recorded here,” says Holiday Records co-founder Ben Wallace. “Until then, homegrown songs couldn’t be captured locally, and while Blue Smoke was recorded in October 1948, it wasn’t released until June 1949 as the team figured out how to press records from scratch. With this reissue, we’re proud to honour both Pixie’s legacy from the pioneers who built the foundations of New Zealand’s recording industry, bridging generations and returning Blue Smoke to vinyl.”

Limited Edition First Pressing 

• 150 individually hand-numbered copies
• Heavyweight clear and blue smoky vinyl
• Premium gatefold sleeve
• Foreword by Nick Bollinger, award-winning writer and critic
• Liner notes by Chris Bourke, music historian and author of Blue Smoke: The Lost Dawn of New Zealand Popular Music

Honouring the Originals

This project continues the work of Blue Smoke Records, founded by Pixie’s daughter Amelia Costello, to ensure the music of Pixie Williams and the story of New Zealand’s recording pioneers are preserved and celebrated.

As Pixie herself once said: “No matter where you are, music will always have some meaning. When you have music in your heart, it stays with you. Music will always live on.”

“That’s what this project is about,” adds Wallace. “And Holiday Records are proud to pick up the baton.”

The release of For the Record – The Pixie Williams Collection reflected that same spirit of resourcefulness as the originals. Audio engineer Mike Gibson undertook the

painstaking process to restore and create the remastered album in 2011, working from multiple scratchy original discs. In true DIY fashion, Gibson even used a $2 coin as part of the restoration process - a modern echo of the ingenuity shown by the Radio Corp pioneers more than 60 years earlier. A decade later, alongside Riki Gooch and Lisa Tomlins, Gibson co-produced The New Blue and composed the orchestral arrangement for the reimagined Blue Smoke.

Adding a rare living connection to history, John Shears, the original recording technician who captured Blue Smoke in 1948, is available for interviews and filming at Holiday Records.

“John brings a direct line back to that moment in the studio,” says Wallace. “His memories connect Pixie’s voice, the Radio Corp pioneers, and the birth of our recording industry.”

Fact Sheet – Blue Smoke Double LP Release

About Blue Smoke

“No matter where you are, music will always have some meaning. When you have music in your heart, it stays with you. Music will always live on.” – Pixie Williams

• First locally written, recorded, and commercially released pop song in NZ 
• Written by Ruru Karaitiana 1940, on his way to war
• Recorded: 3 October 1948, Wellington
• Released: 26 June 1949, after Radio Corp technicians taught themselves how to press and process records
• Sung by Pixie Williams, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Pahauwera - a young wahine from Mohaka, Hawke’s Bay
• The first time New Zealanders could record their own music here at home. A moment that changed our industry forever marking the birth of the New Zealand recording industry.
• Legacy: This project continues the work of Blue Smoke Records, headed by Pixie’s daughter Amelia Costello, to preserve her music and the story of New Zealand’s recording pioneers.

“Mum never imagined her voice would carry this far. Seeing Blue Smoke return on vinyl, alongside new interpretations, is a tribute to her and to all who made that first recording possible.” – Amelia Costello, daughter of Pixie Williams

The New Release: For the Record – The Pixie Williams Collection / The New Blue Double LP: remastered originals + contemporary reinterpretations

“By returning Blue Smoke to vinyl, we’re honouring the moment New Zealanders first recorded their own music - and picking up the baton from those pioneers.” – Ben Waallce, Holiday Records

Part of Holiday Records’ Drops series: exclusive, limited-edition vinyl releases

“The Drop series is about celebrating landmark records that shaped Aotearoa. Blue Smoke is where it all began.” – Ben Wallace, Holiday Records

Collector’s First Edition

• 150 individually hand-numbered copies
• Heavyweight clear & blue smoky vinyl
• Premium gatefold packaging
• Foreword: Nick Bollinger: writer & critic
• Liner notes: Chris Bourke: music historian, author

Audio Engineering & Production: For the Record / The New Blue Mike Gibson:

o Audio engineer: For the Record - The Pixie Williams Collection (2011 remastered originals)

o Co-producer: The New Blue (2021)

o Composer: Orchestral arrangement of the reimagined Blue Smoke (2021)

Launch & Availability

• Pre-orders open: 3 October 2025
• Release: 12 December 2025
• Pre-orders: Available via holidayrecords.com

About Holiday Records

• NZ’s first vinyl pressing plant since the 1980s
• Mission: to press vinyl and preserve the stories that shaped Aotearoa’s music 
• Drops series: limited-edition local releases

“Pixie Williams’ Blue Smoke was a defining moment for our music industry. We’re proud to pick up the baton and honour both her legacy and the ingenuity of the Radio Corp pioneers with a release that bridges generations and returns Blue Smoke to vinyl.”

– Ben Wallace, Co-founder, Holiday Records

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