Stebbings Recordings

ROCKHAPPENZ Public Collection

Stebbings Recordings  —  Perhaps New Zealand's leading recording facility - bas in Auckland.

Stebbing Recordings was established more than 70 years ago back in 1950 by Eldred Stebbing and has been widely acclaimed as the most important record label to have set up shop in New Zealand.  The label recorded and released countless significant NZ acts as well as providing recording facilities and expertise to many more bands and musicians through its historic studios.  Initially Eldred began his enterprise at his Methuen Road, Avondale studio, then at his Pacific Building, Queen Street studio, his basement studio in Saratoga Avenue, Herne Bay, and latterly in the purpose-built Jervois Road premises that still operate today.  Along with record labels TANZA, Viking and Allied International; the Stebbing and Zodiac labels were there at the establishment of New Zealand's burgeoning recording industry.  Zodiac was the first NZ label to have an presence outside the country as well as the first to achieve an international number one release, with Ray Columbus and The Invaders' She's a Mod (1964) topping the charts in Australia.  The Zodiac catalogue is filled with iconic NZ recordings that have become part of our musical heritage including Hello Sailor's Gutter Black, Patsy Riggir's Beautiful Lady and Golden Harvest's I Need Your Love.

Eldred Stebbing at the console

Stebbings advertisement

Stebbings record sleeve

Since its formal inception in 1946, Stebbing's recording and music production business continues to be a significant part of New Zealand's music history - from the days of 78 rpm shellac recording to the age of the CD, the DVD and the digital download.  Eldred Stebbing's association with recording music began when he and his older brother Phil Stebbing recorded concerts put on during the war years by the American Red Cross to entertain American troops in NZ.  One of the most famous was by US jazz/swing legend Artie Shaw who was here on tour in 1943.  By the end of the war in 1945, Eldred and his new bride Margaret had committed their working lives to recording music.  Early in '46 they had started their first studio at their home in Methuen Road, Avondale.  Eldred and Margaret recorded music of many genres in their Methuen Rd studio, in community and school halls and in musicians' own homes.

Eldred and Phil Stebbing

Eldred Stebbing

Stebbing facilities

Stebbings control room with Patsi Rigir

Margaret and Eldred Stebbing

They recorded sound for weddings and recorded commercials for radio, via a telephone link to their studio.  By 1950 Eldred had established his second studio in the Pacific Buildings in Queen St, Auckland City, extending the couples' enterprise to manufacture 78 rpm shellac records from their pressing plant in Great North Road, Grey Lynn, then by 1959 the Stebbing family had moved into Saratoga Avenue in Herne Bay central Auckland, establishing their famous basement studio beneath their family home the following year.  Famous bands with legendary connections to that Saratoga Avenue studio, include: Ray Columbus and the Invaders, The Hi Revving Tongues, The La De Da's and The PleaZers.  From 1965 to 1967 Stebbings ran their live music nightclub venue marketed as the Galaxie Lounge in a building where Auckland's Downtown Centre now stands at the bottom of Queen Street.

STEBBING 78rpm pressing ...

STEBBING 78rpm pressing ...

ZODIAC 78rpm pressing

ZODIAC 78rpm pressing

UK "ZODIAC" pressing ...

Original ZODIAC 45rpm

ZODIAC ICON

ZODIAC Yellow Label

ZODIAC White Label

ZODIAC Black Label

ZODIAC PHILIPS

ZODIAC PHILIPS

ZODIAC VISCOUNT

ZODIAC VISCOUNT