• Enzology

  • By: RNZ
  • Podcast

  • Summary

  • The story of New Zealand's most iconic band - Split Enz.
    (C) Radio New Zealand 2025
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Episodes
  • Beginning of the Enz (1950s-1975)
    Oct 4 2012

    We hear about the formation of the band as Split Ends and the songwriting partnership of Tim Finn and Phil Judd.

    Songs in this programme include 'Split Ends' 'Time For A Change', '129', 'No Bother To Me' and 'Lovey Dovey', plus rarities 'Near Hosts' and 'The Instrumental'. It also features rare pre-Enz recordings from as early as 1968 and Split Ends in concert, 1973-75.

    Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

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    52 mins
  • Mental Notes (1974-1976)
    Oct 4 2012

    The band moves to Australia and infiltrates the Aussie rock scene. They record their debut album Mental Notes, which in 2004 was voted the number 1 New Zealand album of all time by Rip It Up magazine.

    Songs in this programme include 'Stranger Than Fiction', 'Under the Wheel', 'Spellbound', 'Maybe' and 'Late Last Night', plus rarities 'Prophecy', 'Tiny Tote' and others.

    Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

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    52 mins
  • Second Thoughts (1976-1977
    Oct 4 2012

    The band move to London, ​Mental Notes is re-recorded for the overseas market and the Enz tour the UK just as punk rears its snotty head. An ill-fated promotional tour of the US leads to the departure of key band members. Neil Finn is asked to join.

    Songs in this programme include 'Titus', 'Sweet Dreams', 'Another Great Divide', 'Jamboree' and 'Crosswords' plus rare recordings of 'Love Song' and 'Fallout With The Lads'.

    Album Trivia: Second Thoughts

    • The Enz lived opposite Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren's Sex Shop in Kings Road while recording Second Thoughts (or Mental Notes, as it was known in the Northern Hemisphere).
    • Eddie Rayner hired a double-Mellotron for these sessions.
    • Tim Finn was kept away from the studio during the recording of the rhythm tracks. "He was deemed too nervy", says bassist Mike Chunn.
    • 'Matinee Idyll', the re-recorded and re-named '129', features former Split Enz member Miles Golding on violin.
    • The demo of 'Late Last Night' contained an extra verse.
    • There were two studio versions of 'Late Last Night' released on record. The first was recorded in Melbourne with producer Ernie Rose and was released as a single in Australasia with a promo video. The second was the Phil Manzanera-produced version for the album. Unfortunately, the tape of the original 'Late Last Night' is no longer in the vault. Therefore, when the Split Enz DVD was being compiled, this song's video was synchronised with the album recording, causing some timing difficulties. See if you can spot 'em.
    • The 'Late Last Night' video, directed by Noel in the warehouse above the Armstrongs recording studio, features Mike as a drunk, puffing away on his cigarette. "I didn't drink or smoke back then, so it was fun."
    • UK's Sounds magazine named Mental Notes as the best debut LP for 1976.

    Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

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    52 mins

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