Soundtrack to your studies - 1986

Orientation drew heavily from the acts on Flying Nun. The Sneaky Feelings played with Look Blue Go Purple, then there was a separate gig by The Verlaines. Two of Auckland’s biggest breakthrough groups - Herbs and The Netherworld Dancing Toys - also played in the Uni Cafe.

This was also a time when bands would play in Rudman Gardens, which was a small patch of grass between the Quad and Princes Street, which is now long gone - on this occasion it was The Dolphins and Meg & the Fones.

There was a big shift for student radio on campus, with the station moving from 1404AM to a new FM frequency - 91.8FM slot. The station was actually known as “Campus Radio” at that time and only reverted to the name “Radio b” (aka bFM) a couple of years later.

The station made its first attempt atreleasing its own compilation album and it included the best Auckland-based acts of the time; Chris Knox, Headless Chickens, and The Able Tasmans. David Mitchell from one of the featured bands - Goblin Mix - provided the cover (Mitchell became better known in his later group, the 3ds).

The biggest single of the year was ‘Sailing Away’ which had been released to support the following year’s America’s Cup challenge by KZ 7. It features many of the big names of the time, including Dave Dobbyn, Billy T James, Annie Crummer, and - oddly enough - Barry Crump.

The most popular album by an international act that year was Brothers In Arms by Dire Straits and the single ‘Money For Nothing’ dominated the airwaves for most of the year.

What was on the turntable while you were on campus? Suggest songs to add to our 1980s playlist, and you could win $100 Flying Out voucher.