REX AND NOELENE FRANKLIN: Trip to Paradise

Rex and Noelene Franklin

Trip to Paradise

© 2007 Rex and Noelene Franklin (634479567155) (format: CD-R)

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Good straight traditional Country Music

notes

Rex and Noelene met, when both were competing in a radio talent quest in the Regent Theatre in Palmerston North, New Zealand, in May 1954. They were really attracted to each other, but Noelene already had two other man friends, and it took a while before Noelene and Rex crossed paths again.
It was November 1955, when they actually sang together, on stage, for the first time, at a Womens' Institute meeting at Ormondville, Hawkes Bay.

They began doing radio programmes, "Live to air", from stations in Palmerston North,(2ZA) Wanganui,(2XA) and Napier,(2YZ) and later- at less-frequent occasions- at 2XP New Plymouth,1YZ Rotorua,1XH Hamilton, and also stations in Invercargill, and Dunedin, to name some.

In 1956, they signed-up with the TANZA label, and recorded four songs, with just Rex's guitar for backing. This was done in a living room of the recording engineer Ivan Tidswell, in Dannevirke. From this session, a 78rpm recording was released in October 1956, with the coupling of "would you mind"/"I wonder where you are tonight", and this became very popular right throughout the country, and was played on most regional radio stations, especially on request sessions, and "Cowboy Corners".
In 1958, their second release involved two of Rex's own songs, "Rocky Mountain Lullaby", and "Oh why can't you say?".

The following year, they signed to VIKING RECORDS, and in 1960, they released two 7inch extended-play 45rpm records, and their first 12inch long-play record, entitled "A thousand miles out yonder". Around this time, Rex was writing several songs, and they included many of these songs on their radio shows, and later, on record.

They went on to record a further five EPs, onr single 45, and another six long-play records, before being asked by the Philips company to record two LPs and two 45s.

About this time, the sales tax on records was raised dramatically, and record companies cut back on recording. So there was a break of nearly 20 years, when Rex and Noelene decided to self-fund their own cassette recording, "OUT BEHIND THE BARN", IN 1993. This sold exceptionally well, and they followed it up in 1997, with "TRIP TO PARADISE". These were later released as CDs, and they continue to sell well today.
They also released all the material they'd recorded for the Philips label, on a CD called "THE REDBACK ON THE TOILET SEAT", and in 2005, they recorded yet another CD called "SILVER BELL". On all their independent releases, they have a refreshing variety , of duets, solos, and guitar instrumentals by Rex, on his Washburn "Prairie Song" acoustic guitar.

A big plus for Rex and Noelene, happened in 1999, when Richard Weize from the world-famous BEAR FAMILY RECORDS , contacted them, wishing to release some of their early recorded material, so, two CDs were released, and are still available, titled "A REAL NEW ZEALAND COWBOY SONG", and UPON THE OUTLAW TRAIL". A total of 63 titles are featured, including the tracks from their 78rpms, for TANZA, and many of their earliest VIKING - released songs.

Over the years, Rex and Noelene have done concerts, dances, talent quests, festivals, several television shows, (including "Have a shot on Television" in the earliest days of television in NZ) Rex sang his own song on "Studio One", and featured on thr TEX MORTON show "COUNTRY TOUCH".

They've toured the South Island of New Zealand, Tasmania, and Vanuatu,(the latter-named country with guitarist Peter Posa in 2001) Rex has toured with EDDIE LOWE, AND LOU AND SIMON, they did their own Western Variety shows around Hawkes Bay in 1958, Rex had his own radio disc-jockey show on 2ZA Palmerston North 1969 - 72, and 2ZN Nelson 1972-76, where he featured and interviewed artists like Hank Snow, Buck Owens, Susan Raye, Gray Bartlett, Brendan Dugan, The Webb Brothers, Slim Dusty, Dusty Spittle, Connie Smith, Wanda Jackson, Johnny Cash, Mother Maybelle Carter, Anita Carter, Rex Dallas, and many more.

Rex features in Tamworth's Hands of Fame, and both Rex and Noelene were honoured at the Gore Hands of Fame. In 1988, they received the Pioneer Award at the "Professional Country Music Industry Awards" at the Fowler Centre in Wellington.

Hank Snow asked Rex to introduce "The Rainbow Ranch Boys" on stage in Nelson in 1973, and Rex was the sole Country Music representative at the memorial service of the passing of TEX MORTON in Nelson in 1983.

These days, Rex and Noelene entertain at resthomes, festivals, and private bookings around the country.
For the past 18 years, Rex has played in the band for the Old -time Country Music concert in Napier, firstly as rhythm guitarist, and then as lead guitarist.
Rex also does session work on several recordings. They still love to entertain, and Noelene's humour "goes down a treat".

reviews

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  • First class traditional country by New Zealand's pioneering recording artists
    author: PHIL GODFREY - BIG RIVER FM

    Having been an avid admirer of the genuine country music delivered by New Zealand’s pioneer recording artists, Rex & Noelene Franklin, since my earlier radio days in Australia, it was indeed a great pleasure to meet with the Franklin’s for the first time in December 2006, for a radio interview. It was only since then that I have had the pleasure of airing songs from their second privately produced album “Trip To Paradise”, produced in 1997. This is country music as we used to enjoy it, back before radio began giving preference to the “popped-up” crossover style of country. Some of the titles are well known country standards but many of the songs were new to me, obviously a lot of thought and research went into the selection of the sixteen tracks contained here. Rex has included three instrumentals, played in his inimitable style on his “Prairie Song” Washburn guitar, one of these being his own composition, “Riverbank Ramble.” Being familiar with several of the duo’s recordings from 1956 – 1966 on the Tanza & Viking labels, (now available on Bear Family records), I could detect no falling off in vocal quality over four decades. Just listen to “I Wish All My Children Were Babies Again”, Noelene’s rendition here is as good as anything I have heard from her previous recordings. Rex’s strong guitar work comes to the fore on most tracks being well balanced by New Zealand’s foremost pedal steel player, Joe Martin. This is the most enjoyable, well produced, country album I have heard in a while and I would thoroughly recommend it to anyone who enjoys the “fair dinkum” country experience. Reviewed by: Phil Godfrey Big River FM – Dargaville. New Zealand

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