Sensitive to a Smile is the fourth studio album by New Zealand reggae band Herbs. It reached number 10 and spent 30 weeks in the New Zealand album chart and was awarded Album of the Year at the 1987 New Zealand Music Awards. The album included the four singles "Sensitive to a Smile", "Rust In Dust", "Listen" and "No Nukes (The Second Letter)", all of which charted. Sensitive to a Smile was re-released on CD and digitally, with extra tracks from Herbs' 1984 album Long Ago and their 1982 single "French Letter".
The album was launched at Mangahanea marae in Ruatoria, as a gesture of unity to Ruatoria after it had seen conflict between local Rastafarian groups and the community, as well as arson attacks. The launch concert was filmed by director Lee Tamahori and became the basis of the music video for the first single "Sensitive to a Smile".
Fred Faleauto and Dilworth Karaka first recorded a version of "E Papa" with the Pātea Māori Club who released it as a reggae pop single in 1985. The song is a traditional composition sung during tītī tōrea (stick games).
Track listing
Personnel Personnel as listed in the album's liner notes are:
Herbs Fred Faleauto – drums, vocals Dilworth Karaka – guitar, vocals Morrie Watene – saxophone, vocals Willie Hona – guitar, vocals Tama Lundon – keyboards, vocals Charles Tumahai – bass guitar, vocals Thom Nepia – percussion, vocals
Production Billy Kristian – producer Victor Grbic – engineer Hugh Lynn – executive producer
Awards
| 1987 | Sensitive to a Smile | 1987 New Zealand Music Awards – Album of the Year
| 1987 | Billy Kristian for Sensitive to a Smile | 1987 New Zealand Music Awards – Best Producer
| 1987 | E Papa — Jah Knows | 1987 New Zealand Music Awards – Best Polynesian Album
Charts
Weekly charts Chart (1987) Peakposition
Year-end charts Chart (1987) Position New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) 29
Certifications
References
External links Glen Moffatt's Sensitive to a Smile page Sensitive to a Smile at Discogs