The Yandall Sisters Explained

The Yandall Sisters were a popular New Zealand-born Samoan all-female singing group of the 1970s, who made a major contribution to music in New Zealand.^[1] The members of the group were Caroline, Mary and Adele Yandall, and later younger sister Pauline Yandall.

In 1974, their hit song "Sweet Inspiration" stayed on the NZ Top 20 singles chart for eight weeks, and has become a classic favourite in New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.^[2] The track was a cover of the song by an American group of the same name.

In 1977, the Yandall Sisters were named New Zealand Group of the Year. Popular entertainers in their own right, they have provided backing vocals for hundreds of musicians and entertainers, in New Zealand and Australia. These include notable showbands and Maori artists including the late Prince Tui Teka, the late Sir Howard Morrison, the late Bunny Walters and John Rowles.^[3]

Mary Yandall recorded an album with Rodger Fox in 1987.^[4] She died aged 62 on 30 January 2012 at Auckland Hospital after a short illness.^[5]

In 2007, the Yandall Sisters were awarded the "Lifetime Achievement" award by the Pacific Music Awards Trust in Aotearoa in recognition of their significant contribution to Pacific Music.

Discography

Singles

• (1975) "Sweet Inspiration" #8^[6]
• (1984) "Hei Konei Rā" #21 (Pātea Māori Club featuring Dalvanius and the Yandall Sisters)^{[7] [8]}

Session work

• Will Crummer - Shoebox Love Songs - Ode CDMANU5113 - 2011^{[9] [10]}
• Space Waltz - Space Waltz - EMI HSD 1038 - 1975, (Also released on World Record Club E 3207)^{[11] [12]}
• Bunny Walters - "Take The Money And Run"^[13]
• Deane Waretini - Waretini - CBS SBP 237634 - 1981^{[14] [15]}

See also

• Samoan New Zealander

References

1. Web site: 5. Contributions to New Zealand - Samoans - Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand . Teara.govt.nz . 3 June 2010 . 2012-02-08.
2. Web site: Weekend Rewind: When Aotearoa got its groove on . Nicky Harrop . New Zealand Herald . 8 December 2017 . 16 March 2021.
3. Web site: The Yandall Sisters | Amplifier NZ Music . Amplifier.co.nz . 2012-02-08.
4. Web site: 1987. Mary Yandall and Rodger Fox. 2021-06-19. natlib-primo.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com. en.
5. News: Chart-topping siblings farewell eldest of trio . 2 February 2012 . The New Zealand Herald. 7 October 2014 . Vaimoana . Tapaleao.
6. Web site: THE YANDALL SISTERS - SWEET INSPIRATION (SONG). charts.nz. 26 October 2013.
7. Web site: PATEA MAORI CLUB - HEI KONEI RA (SONG) . charts.nz. Hung Medien. 14 November 2021.
8. Hei Konei Ra (Farewell). Patea Maori Club. 1984. 7-inch Single liner notes. Maui Records. MAUIE 6.
9. Discogs Will Crummer – Shoebox Love Songs
10. Elsewhere.co.nz, 28 Mar 2011 Will Crummer: Shoebox Lovesongs (Ode) - Graham Reid
11. Discogs Space Waltz – Space Waltz
12. National Library of Australia 2002, 1974, English, Sound, Recorded music edition, Space waltz (sound recording) / by Alastair Riddell.
13. 45Cat - Record Details, Artist: Bunny Walters, Catalogue: IR 1079
14. Discogs Deane Waretini (2) – Waretini
15. WorldCat Waretini