Kiwi rocker Maxwell James Merritt was born on the 30th of April 1941 in the university town of Christchurch, New Zealand. At an early age, he was musically inclined and he started taking guitar lessons at the age of twelve for his pleasure. In 1956 at the age of fifteen, he quit school to work as an apprentice in his father's bricklaying business, and during that year he became aware of the newly emerging rock 'n' roll music. From then onwards Max Merritt dreamed of becoming a musician, and from his wages, he bought his first electric guitar.
In 1959 Max Merritt and The Meteors were signed by the major label His Master's Voice. Their first release in the fall of 1959 coupled an original rocker, Get A Haircut b/w Dixieland Rock which was a song Elvis Presley sang in the movie King Creole. Max Merritt and The Meteors were gaining popularity in the Eastern and Southern Hemispheres and The Meteors line-up constantly changed. The line-up for their 1960 Australian tour comprised; Ian Glass, Rod Gibson, Bernie Jones, and Billy Karaitiana. This formation along with augmenting studio musicians was used when His Master's Voice in 1960 requested the band to record a long-play album. The band for the album release were billed as Max Merritt and His Meteors, and the album entitled C'mon Let's Go
In early 1962 Max Merritt and The Meteors relocated to Auckland, Australia to further pursue fame and fortune, and recorded two more 45RPMs for His Master's Voice. Their first release was a double-sided cover of Gene Vincent's 1961 Capitol release Mister Loneliness b/w If You Want My Lovin', which became a moderate hit in New Zealand. Their second release was also a double-sided cover version the top-side was Eddie Cochran's song Weekend b/w Easy To Dream which British group Dave Sampson and The Hunters made popular in their homeland. As the year rolled over His Master's Voice ended their contract and the band signed with the New Zealand-based Zodiac label they recorded an original instrumental tune entitled Soft Surfie b/w She's Everything I Wanted You To Be, which Ral Donner previously recorded for the Gone label. In 1964 they were signed to the New Zealand-based Viking label and the recordings fall outside of the album scope
The Max Merritt and The Meteors sleeve notes from reissue producer Dee Jay Mark Armstrong are informative and enlightening and tell the story of an artists who is mainly known by collectors. The album is housed in an attractively designed cardboard sleeve, emblazoned with stunning design by artist Dayvk Martins. The songs are mastered for the best possible sound by our mastering team at our El Paso, Texas, Studio.
Rockstar Records endeavours to use some lesser-known and for some, perhaps more obscure titles and adds something unexpected to every album. The album is ideal for Dee Jays to fill the dance floor with, and for home listening or while cruising around and scaring the neighbourhood. You are listening to music from the past and preserving the future! Rockstar Records “Often imitated, never duplicated.”
All that remains is to say, “Crank up the volume and dig these musical gems.”
Dee Jay Mark Armstrong Bühl, Germany
Max Merritt and The Meteors, Get A Haircut, Rockstar Records (RSR50105 CD)
01 Max Merritt and The Meteors Get A Haircut (Merritt, Letussier) HMV 1959
02 Max Merritt and The Meteors Dixieland Rock (Schroeder, Frank) HMV 1959
03 Max Merritt and The Meteors Kiss Curl (Merritt) HMV 1959
04 Max Merritt and The Meteors You Made Me Love You (Monco, McCarthy) HMV 1959
05 Max Merritt and The Meteors Weekend (Sheeley, Cochran) HMV 1962
06 Max Merritt and His Meteors C'mon Everybody (Cochran,Capehart) HMV LP 1960
07 Max Merritt and The Meteors Mr Loneliness (Boobis, Stevens, Nephew) HMV 1962
08 Max Merritt and The Meteors If You Want My Lovin (Turner, Marascalco) HMV 1962
09 Max Merritt and His Meteors Sea Cruise (Smith) HMV LP 1960
10 Max Merritt and His Meteors Diamond Ring (R&J Isle) HMV LP 1960
11 Max Merritt and The Meteors Soft Surfie (Merritt) Zodiac 1963
12 Max Merritt Cossack (Bourner) HMV 1963
13 Max Merritt and His Meteors Hallelujah I Love Her So (Charles) HMV LP 1960
14 Max Merritt and His Meteors I Was The One (Schroeder, DeMetrius, Blair, Peppers) HMV LP 1960
15 Max Merrittand His Meteors I'll Take You Home Again Kathleen (Trad.) HMV LP 1960
16 Max Merritt and His Meteors Teen Beat (Nelson) HMV LP 1960
17 Max Merritt and His Meteors Shine That Ring HMV LP 1960
18 Max Merritt and His Meteors Tennessee Waltz (Stewart, King) HMV LP 1960
19 Max Merritt and His Meteors Too Much Tequila (Burgess) HMV LP 1960
20 Max Merritt and His Meteors The Way I Walk (Scott) HMV LP 1960
21 Max Merritt and The Meteors She's Everything I Wanted You To Be (Uncredited) Zodiac 1963
22 Max Merritt Easy To Dream (Uncredited) HMV 1962
23 Max Merritt and His Meteors Little Angel (Winn) HMV LP 1960
24 Max Merritt The Slow One (Cook) HMV 1963
