Allison Durbin


Allison Durbin’s ‘I Have Loved Me A Man’ is one of the finest recordings ever made in New Zealand, period.

With a versatile, powerhouse voice, Durbin rose to the top of the charts during New Zealand’s golden age of female pop singers. Her career included a dramatic rise to Australasian success, followed by an equally dramatic and darker fall.

A Man And A Woman
Johnny Farnham & Allison Durbin - That's Old Fashioned (1972)
Allison’s second album, Soft And Soulful, recorded in Australia following her move there in 1969. The album was produced by then-husband Howard Gable.
Allison Durbin, 1968
Photo credit: Gordon Wong collection
Allison Durbin sings Eso Besso on 1969 TV show A Girl To Watch Music By
Elton John, Liberace, Allison Durbin, Johnny Farnham - Australian King of Pop Awards, 1971
Doug Elliott and Roy Young present The Allison Durbin Show! Special guest star Larry Morris, formerly of Larry's Rebels, now incredible as a solo artist ... Bobby Davis ... George Tumahai ... Knife Dancers ... Quincy Conserve. All on the one big family show. [ca 1968].. Cabot, Charles Henry, 1890-1978: [Collection of ephemera, posters and programmes. 1900-1976]. Ref: Eph-D-CABOT-Music-1968-02. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22752287
The cover art, with photography by Geoffrey Harris, for Allison Durbin’s Amerikan Music, her third and final solo album for EMI. Produced in Sydney by Howard Gable, with engineering by John Sayers, Ernie Rose and Roger Savage.
I Have Loved Me A Man (Australian live performance)
Allison Durbin - I Have Loved Me A Man (HMV NZ, 1968). Arranged by Wayne Senior; produced by Howard Gable
He Don't Want Your Love Anymore
I Have Loved Me A Man
Allison Durbin (left), providing free entertainment at Levin North School fiesta. Standing beside her (right) is Brian Blenkhorn of Levin.
Photo credit: Horowhenua Historical Society Inc
2003 interview and career overview
A story on Allison Durbin's first single in Countdown magazine. Discovered by Eldred Stebbing at Dave Dunningham's Surfside Ballroom in Milford, Auckland, this single was issued in September 1964 but failed to chart.
Allison Durbin sings Looking Through a Tear on 1969 TV show A Girl To Watch Music By
1968 tour programme
Allison Durbin at soundcheck in the Top Hat
Allison Durbin interview, Give It A Whirl, 2003 (NZ On Screen, 2022)
Allison Durbin at soundcheck in the Top Hat, John Lindsay on guitar.
Allison Durbin - Put Your Hand In The Hand
Looking Through A Tear
River Deep Mountain High
Allison Durbin and John Rowles top the bill in a packed line up assembed by promoter Ken Cooper. Winter Show Buildings, Wellington, 28 February 1969. The fabulous 20-piece TV 'Come Dance' orchestra is flying into Auckland, and the Fiesta Time Dancers will give a floorshow spectacular. Plus Isobel Cowan, the Shevelles ... and Chic Littlewood. 
Photo credit: Ken Cooper Collection
World Of Music
Allison's Howard Gable produced 1968 album is regarded as something of classic, with vocal performances that set new standards in New Zealand pop.
The 1968 Loxene Golden Disc
Words Of Love (They Don't Come Easy) (1972)
Allison Durbin
A young Allison Durbin at a talent quest
Allison Durbin with her 1968 silver disc for I Have Loved Me A Man
1967 Impact Records tour programme
Allison at Wellington's Downtown Club, 11 January, 1969 with dancer Barbara Deans at the end of the Loxene Golden Disc Tour
Photo credit: Courtesy of Barbara Fraser
Esso Besso (1969)
NZ Woman's Weekly, 1968
Photo credit: NZ Woman's Weekly
He's Bad, Bad, Bad - HMV studio, Wellington, c.1968
Allison Durbin - Don't Come Any Closer (1968)
Allison Durbin - Can't Get Over You (1992)
Allison Durbin and Johnny Farnham - Green Green Grass and Nobody Knows
Allison Durbin, in a publicity still given to the Top Hat's Bernie Meredith
Photo credit: Lee Pritchard collection
Labels:

HMV


Columbia


Impact


Zodiac

Trivia:

Allison Durbin's single 'Don't Come Any Closer' was originally recorded by UK singer Samantha Jones. There's also a French version by Francoise Hardy.

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