Rob Aickin was New Zealand's top record producer in the late 70's early 80s. He produced many gold and platinum records for artists like, Patsy Riggir, Hello Sailor, Golden Harvest, Th Dudes With Dave Dobbyn, Toni Williams, Murray Grindlay and many others while working for Stebbing Recording studios.
Career
1960s In the early 1960s, he was in a band from an Auckland called Papakura. The band was called Four Quarters.NZ Musician Magazine June/July 2015 Page 30 - 31 moments like these - Curated by Trevor Reekie Later he was bass player in a group from Clevedon, just outside of Auckland called The Clevedonaires. Other members were Ron and Graham Brown on guitar and drums and sister Gaye playing keyboards. In 1966, they were signed by Benny Levin to his record label, Impact. After releasing a few singles they were set to go to Vietnam to entertain the troops. As the Vietnam War was escalating their promoter didn't guarantee them return tickets. So they went to Australia instead. They did quite well and eventually became a group called Bitch. Aickin came back to New Zealand in the mid-1970s.Radio New Zealand 14 May 2011 Sweet Folk to Bitchin Prog Rock
In 2015, he was interviewed for the NZ Musician magazine about his days with The Clevdonaires and Bitch. It was published in the June/July issue.NZ Musician Magazine June/July 2015 Page 30 - 31 moments like these - Curated by Trevor Reekie
Producer Rob Aickin was the "in house" producer at Stebbing Studios in Auckland.witchdoctor.co.nz 1 May 2013 Karl Gordon: Sights Set High - Gary SteelAudio Culture 13 May 2013 Bitch Profile - Grant Gillanders
In 1978, he won the Producer of the year award for the Hello Sailor album by Hello Sailor.NZ Music Awards Producer of the Year 1978, Nominees, Winner: Rob Aickin – ‘Hello Sailor’ (Hello Sailor)
Production + EP and mini albums Artist Title Release info Year Notes Gary Havoc & The Hurricanes Havoc! RTC RTS 71012 1979 Co-produced with Gary Havoc Th'Dudes So You Wanna Be A Rock'n'Roll Star Key L 20041 1982 Hello Sailor Last Chance To Dance Key L 20042Festival Records L 20042 1982
+ Albums Artist Title Release info Year Notes Hello Sailor Hello Sailor Key L 36336 1977 Murray Grindlay Murray Grindlay Key KK4 1977 Toni Williams The One I Sing My Love To Interfusion L-36339 1977 Golden Harvest Golden Harvest Key L 36681 1978 Hello Sailor Pacifica Amour Key L 36682 1978 Th'Dudes Right First Time Key L 36685 1979 Patsy Riggir Lay down beside me & Are you lonely EPIC 1981 Both albums made Gold & Platinum sales Th'Dudes / Hello Sailor So You Wanna Be A Rock 'N' Roll Star / Last Chance To Dance Key D 30560 1991 CD compilationProduction: Ian Morris (tracks: 1 to 12)Production: Rob Aicken (tracks: 1 to 4, 6 to 11) Hello Sailor The Sailor Story 1975-1996 Festival Records D 31672 1996 2 x CD compilation Various artists Give It A Whirl(The Soundtrack To The Major Television Series) Propeller REV504Universal New Zealand 99632 2003 2 x CD compilationProducer on, Hello Sailor - "I'm A Texan"Th'Dudes - "Right First Time"
References
External links Website Discogs: List of productions