Sensitive to a Smile (album)

Sensitive to a Smile
Studio album by
Herbs
Released1987
RecordedMascot Recording Studios, Auckland
GenrePacific reggae
LabelWarrior
ProducerBilly Kristian
Herbs chronology
Long Ago
(1984) 		Sensitive to a Smile
(1987) 		Homegrown
(1990)
Singles from Sensitive to a Smile
  1. "Sensitive to a Smile"
    Released: 1987
  2. "Rust in Dust"
    Released: 1987
  3. "Listen"
    Released: 1988
  4. "No Nukes (The Second Letter)"
    Released: 1989

Sensitive to a Smile is a 1987 album by New Zealand reggae band Herbs. It reached number 10 and spent 30 weeks in the New Zealand album chart[1] and was awarded Album of the Year at the 1987 New Zealand Music Awards.[2] The album included the four singles "Sensitive to a Smile", "Rust In Dust", "Listen" and "No Nukes (The Second Letter)", all of which charted.[3] Sensitive to a Smile was re-released digitally in 2012 with extra tracks from Herbs' 1984 album Long Ago and their 1982 single "French Letter (A Letter To France)".[4]

The album was launched at Mangahanea marae in Ruatoria, as a gesture of unity to Ruatoria after it had seen conflict between local Rastafarian groups and the community, as well as arson attacks.[5] The launch concert was filmed by director Lee Tamahori and became the basis of the music video for the first single "Sensitive to a Smile".[6]

Fred Faleauto and Dilworth Karaka first recorded a version of "E Papa" with the Pātea Māori Club who released it as a reggae pop single in 1985.[7][8] The song is a traditional composition sung during tītī tōrea (stick games).[7]

  1. ^ "HERBS – SENSITIVE TO A SMILE (ALBUM)". charts.nz. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference nzma was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "HERBS IN NEW ZEALAND CHARTS". charts.nz. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  4. ^ "Herbs albums being released digitally". 3 News. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  5. ^ Kara, Scott (22 November 2008). "Politics, peace and love (stories behind 5 songs as told by Karaka)". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  6. ^ "Herbs Profile". Audio Culture. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  7. ^ a b "Shake Summation". Rip It Up. No. 101. 1 December 1985. p. 30. Retrieved 12 November 2021 – via Papers Past.
  8. ^ Poi E (booklet). Patea Maori. Maui Records, WEA Records NZ. 1987. MAUILP 14.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)