ROCKHAPPENZ - Profile - Allan (Al) Park

Allan (Al) Park

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					ROCKHAPPENZ Public Collection

Allan (Al) Park — originally a Wellingtonian until he saw the light ...

Al Park grew up in Naenae and moved to Canterbury in 1975, deciding he liked the place and staying put. Over the years he has established and played in many popular pub-rock bands, from Vapour and the Trails, Louie and the Hotsticks, Old Denis, Big Elvis and many others following the trends of the times. He also appeared as the pimp in the Dance Exponents' 1982 video for their smash hit - Victoria. Ever the rhythm guitarist, Al is renowned for a wide knowledge of popular recorded music, which came in handy when he ran the secondhand section of key Christchurch record shop, Echo Records. He founded two prominent city venues, Mollett (aka Mollet) Street and Al's Bar, and has promoted many of performers and international acts. Music has always driven Al's direction in one way or another, whether entrepreneurial, performance orientated, mentoring or simply his choice of friends and associates.

Al Park and Pals
Wayne Jamieson, Al Park, Helen Mullholland, James Walmsley, Danny Wilson and Wayne Beecroft (front bottom)

The affection in which he is held by his peers is evident in the list of performers who needed no persuasion to sing on Better Already: The Songs of Al Park, a 10-track release distributed through Southbound in 2019. Al has lived in Lyttelton for decades and this edgy little port town with the large musical heart is present on the album in people and place. Delaney Davidson was producer and arranger, colouring the settings for the songs on piano and guitar with Mike Kime on bass, Ryan Chin drums, Elmore Jones guitar, Anita Clark strings and Paddy Long on steel guitar.The album was engineered by Josh Petrie, and recorded at Lyttelton's Sitting Room Studio through its owner Ben Edwards' goodwill.