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Story: Recording companies and studios

'Blue Smoke'

Audio file

In lilting 3/4 time and with plaintive lap-steel guitar accompaniment, Pixie Williams' version of Ruru Karaitiana's 'Blue smoke' was the perfect choice to become the first wholly New Zealand sound recording. This is the label for that historic record, made in 1949 by the record label TANZA (To Assist New Zealand Artists). It proved an instant hit. It also sold widely overseas, and was later recorded by international stars such as Dean Martin.

Using this item

Western Bay Museum

Reference: Katikati Heritage Museum collection, IMG_2222.JPG

Sound courtesy of Blue Smoke Records

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How to cite this page

Mark Derby, Recording companies and studios – Birth of a recording industry, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/music/45088/blue-smoke (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Mark Derby, published 2 May 2014.