''Nature's Best 3'' is a two-disc compilation album of 35

New Zealand New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...

popular music Popular music is music with wide appeal that is typically distributed to large audiences through the music industry. These forms and styles can be enjoyed and performed by people with little or no musical training.Popular Music. (2015). ''Fun ...

songs, numbers 66-100 on the APRA 75th Anniversary Top 100 New Zealand Songs of All Time. See ''

Nature's Best ''Nature's Best'' is a two-disc compilation album of thirty New Zealand popular music songs, selected by a panel as the top thirty New Zealand songs of all time. Selection The genesis of the idea was the 75th anniversary of the Australasian Per ...

'' for more information on the selection process of this list. ''Nature's Best 3'' was released as part of a Nature's Best Box Set on 29 November 2005.

Track listing

Disc one

#"Don't Fight It Marsha, It's Bigger Than The Both Of Us" –

Blam Blam Blam Blam Blam Blam were a New Zealand pop/rock/alternative band. Tim Mahon (bass) and Mark Bell (guitar, vocals) had been members of The Plague and The Whizz Kids. After losing their drummer Ian Gilroy to The Swingers in 1980, Tim and Mark jo ...

(

Don McGlashan Don McGlashan (born 18 July 1959) is a New Zealand composer, singer and multi-instrumentalist who is best known for membership in the bands Blam Blam Blam, The Front Lawn, and The Mutton Birds, before going solo. He has also composed for cin ...

, 1981) #"Gutter Black" – Hello Sailor ( Dave McArtney, 1977) #"Long Ago" –

Herbs Herbs are a widely distributed and widespread group of plants, excluding vegetables, with savory or aromatic properties that are used for flavoring and garnish (food), garnishing food, for medicinal purposes, or for fragrances. Culinary use typi ...

(Lundon/Hona, 1984) #"There Is No Depression In New Zealand" – Blam Blam Blam #"

You Oughta Be In Love "You Oughta Be In Love" is a single by New Zealand singer/songwriter Dave Dobbyn, released in 1986 on the soundtrack of the animated motion picture, '' Footrot Flats: The Dog's Tail Tale''. The single charted at No. 2 in New Zealand. Background D ...

" –

Dave Dobbyn Sir David Joseph Dobbyn (born 3 January 1957) is a New Zealand musician, singer–songwriter and record producer. In his early career he was a member of the rock group Th' Dudes and was the main creative force in pop band DD Smash. Since then h ...

(Dave Dobbyn, 1986) #"Andrew" –

Fur Patrol Fur Patrol were a New Zealand rock band, which formed in Wellington in May 1996 by Andrew Bain on bass guitar, Simon Braxton on drums, Julia Deans on lead vocals and guitar, and Steve Wells on lead guitar. Their debut studio album, '' Pet'' (Se ...

(Andrew Bain/

Julia Deans Julia Mary Deans (born 27 August 1974) is a New Zealand singer-songwriter best known as the lead singer of rock band Fur Patrol. Banshee Reel In the early '90s, Deans joined Wellington-based Celtic rock band Banshee Reel. The group releas ...

/Simon Braxton/Steven Wells, 2000) #"Billy Bold" – Graham Brazier (Graham Brazier, 1981) #"

Distant Sun "Distant Sun" is a song by Australian band Crowded House, released in September 1993 by Capitol Records as the first single from their fourth studio album, '' Together Alone'' (1993). The song gave the band another top-20 hit in the United King ...

" –

Crowded House Crowded House are an Australian-New Zealand rock band, formed in Melbourne, Victoria (state), Victoria, Australia, in 1985. Its founding members were Neil Finn (vocalist, guitarist, primary songwriter) and Paul Hester (drums), who were both for ...

(

Neil Finn Neil Mullane Finn (born 27 May 1958) is a New Zealand singer-songwriter and musician. He is best known for being a principal member of Split Enz and for being the lead singer of Crowded House. He was also a member of Fleetwood Mac from 2018 ...

, 1993) #"

Suddenly Strange "Suddenly Strange" is a song by New Zealand recording artist, Bic Runga. The song was released in September 1997 as the fourth single from her debut studio album ''Drive''. Track listing (New Zealand) ; New Zealand CD single (Columbia – 664940. ...

" –

Bic Runga Briolette Kah Bic Runga (born 13 January 1976), recording as Bic Runga, is a New Zealand singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist pop artist. Her first three studio albums debuted at number one on the New Zealand Top 40 Album charts. Runga ...

(Bic Runga, 1997) #" Forever Tuesday Morning" –

The Mockers The Mockers were a New Zealand pop band formed in Wellington in 1979 by Andrew Fagan Andrew Fagan (born 1962) is a New Zealand writer, singer-songwriter and long-distance solo sailor. He grew up in Wellington. He gained fame in New Zealand ...

(Gary Curtis/

Andrew Fagan Andrew Fagan (born 1962) is a New Zealand writer, singer-songwriter and long-distance solo sailor. He grew up in Wellington. He gained fame in New Zealand in the 1980s as the lead singer of the pop group The Mockers.Cruise Control Cruise control (also known as speed control, cruise command, autocruise, or tempomat) is a system that automatically controls the speed of an automobile. The system is a servomechanism that takes over the car's throttle to maintain a steady sp ...

" –

Headless Chickens The Headless Chickens was a New Zealand band. Going against the grain of the Dunedin sound that dominated the Flying Nun Records roster at the time, the Headless Chickens made extensive use of electronic instruments in their music. They reco ...

(Chris Matthews/Michael Lawry, 1991) #"Pressure Man" –

The Feelers The Feelers are a New Zealand pop rock band formed in the early 1990s in Christchurch by James Reid (singer/guitarist) and Hamish Gee (drums/guitar). History The Feelers were signed by Warner Music and released their first album, '' Super ...

(James Reid/Matt Thomas/Hamish Gee, 1998) #"

Private Universe "Private Universe" is a 1993 song by rock group Crowded House from the group's fourth studio album '' Together Alone''. It was released as a single in Australia in October 1994. The single peaked at #46 on the Australian ARIA singles chart in Janu ...

" –

(Neil Finn, 1994) #"

Room That Echoes "Room That Echoes" (also called "Room That Echoes (Round and Around)") is a 1985 single from New Zealand pop band Peking Man. It peaked at number one in the New Zealand singles chart. The song was included on Peking Man's self-titled album. Th ...

" –

Peking Man Peking Man (''Homo erectus pekinensis'', originally "''Sinanthropus pekinensis''") is a subspecies of '' H. erectus'' which inhabited what is now northern China during the Middle Pleistocene. Its fossils have been found in a cave some southw ...

(Neville Hall, 1985) #" Sensitive to a Smile" – Herbs (Dilworth Karaka/Tumahai, 1987) #"

E Ipo "E Ipo" (English: "By Love") is a 1982 song written by Prince Tui Teka and Ngoi Pēwhairangi in tribute to Teka's wife Missy, sung bilingually in Māori and English. The song was a number-one single in New Zealand for two weeks. The melody ...

" –

Prince Tui Teka Tumanako "Tui" Teka (8 March 193723 January 1985), better known by his stage names Tui Latui or Prince Tui Teka, was a Māori singer and actor. Teka was a member of the Maori Volcanics Showband before having a successful solo career. Career ...

(

Ngoi Pēwhairangi Te Kumeroa "Ngoingoi" Pēwhairangi (29 December 1921 – 29 January 1985) was a prominent teacher of, and advocate for, Māori language and culture, and the composer of many songs, including '' Poi E''. She spearheaded the Māori Renaissance in ...

/Missy/Prince Tui Teka, 1982) #"Andy" – Front Lawn (

Harry Sinclair Harry Alan Sinclair (born 1959) is a New Zealand film director, writer and actor. In his early career he was an actor and member of The Front Lawn, a musical theatre duo. He went on to write and direct several short films, a TV series and th ...

/Don McGlashan, 1987)

Disc two

#"Bitter" –

Shihad Shihad were a Rock music, rock band formed in Wellington, New Zealand, in 1988. The band consisted of founders Tom Larkin (musician), Tom Larkin (drums, backing vocals, samplers), Phil Knight (lead guitar, synthesiser, backing vocals) and Jon To ...

(

Karl Kippenberger Karl Brenton Jamie Kippenberger (born 26 August 1973) is a New Zealand musician, best known as the bass guitarist for the rock band Shihad. Biography He is the grandson of Captain E.T Kippenberger, great nephew of Major-General Sir Howard K ...

/ Tom Larkin/Phil Knight/

Jon Toogood Jonathan Charles Toogood (born 9 August 1971) is a New Zealand musician who is the frontman (lead vocals and guitar) of the rock band Shihad. He started playing guitar when he was "8 or 9" and became friends with Tom Larkin (musician), Tom Lark ...

, 1995) #"

Four Seasons In One Day "Four Seasons in One Day" is a song by rock group Crowded House, released as a single in June 1992. It was co-written by Neil Finn and brother Tim Finn, originally intended for their debut ''Finn Brothers'' album; however, it was moved onto the ...

" –

(Neil Finn/

Tim Finn Brian Timothy Finn (born 25 June 1952) is a New Zealand singer, songwriter, musician, and composer. He is best known as a founding member of Split Enz. Finn founded the band in 1972 with Phil Judd and served as lead singer and principal songw ...

, 1991) #"

Heavenly Pop Hit ''Submarine Bells'' is an album by New Zealand group the Chills, released in 1990. This was the band's first album on a major label, as Martin Phillipps signed to Warner Bros. Records subsidiary Slash Records, to release the album in the U.S. The ...

" –

The Chills The Chills are a New Zealand indie rock band that formed in Dunedin in 1980. The band were fronted by founding mainstay singer-songwriter, guitarist Martin Phillipps (singer), Martin Phillipps (2 July 1963 – 28 July 2024). During the mid-1 ...

(

Martin Phillipps Martin John James Phillipps (2 July 1963 – 28 July 2024) was a New Zealand singer-songwriter and musician. He was the lead singer and rhythm guitarist for The Chills. As part of the Dunedin sound, Phillipps and the Chills helped lay the groun ...

, 1990) #"Husband House" –

Sneaky Feelings Sneaky Feelings are a New Zealand pop rock band which releases on the Flying Nun Records music label. The band formed in 1980 with the line-up of Matthew Bannister (guitar & vocals), David Pine (guitar & vocals), Kat Tyrie (bass guitar & voca ...

(

Matthew Bannister Richard Matthew Bannister (born 16 March 1957) is a British media executive and broadcaster. Early career After attending King Edward VII School, Sheffield, he graduated in law at the University of Nottingham in 1978, and joined BBC Radio N ...

, 1995) #"Jumping Out a Window" –

Pop Mechanix Pop Mechanix is a New Zealand–based pop music band that played in New Zealand and Australia from 1979 to 1988. Their single "Jumping out a Window" reached number 87 of the all-time top 100 singles for APRA NZ, and number 12 in the all-time top 5 ...

(

Andrew Snoid Andrew Snoid (born Andrew McLennan) is a New Zealand musician, singer, and songwriter. He was featured in bands such as The Plague (New Zealand band), The Plague, The Whizz Kids, Blam Blam Blam (briefly), Pop Mechanix, The Swingers, and Coconut R ...

/Paul Scott, 1981) #"If I Were You" –

Straitjacket Fits Straitjacket Fits were a four-piece alternative indie rock band that formed in Dunedin, New Zealand, in 1986 and broke up in 1994. They released three studio albums, ''Hail'' (1988), '' Melt'' (1990), and '' Blow'' (1993), and several EPs. Thei ...

(

Shayne Carter Shayne P. Carter is a New Zealand musician best known for leading Straitjacket Fits from 1986 to 1994, and as the only permanent member of Dimmer (1995–2012). Carter is a member of the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame, and has been awarded the ...

/John Collie/Straitjacket Fits, 1993) #"I'll Say Goodbye (Even Tho I'm Blue)" –

Dance Exponents The Exponents, formerly The Dance Exponents, is a New Zealand rock group led by vocalist and songwriter Jordan Luck. Their major hits are "Victoria", " Why Does Love Do This To Me", "Who Loves Who The Most" and, "I'll Say Goodbye (Even Tho ...

(

Jordan Luck Jordan William Hunter Luck (born 15 October 1961) is the former lead singer and songwriter of the New Zealand rock band the Exponents. He was born in Vanderhoof in the province of British Columbia, Canada. His family moved to Tokarahi (near ...

, 1983) #"Maybe" –

Sharon O'Neill Sharon Lea O'Neill (born 23 November 1952) is a New Zealand singer-songwriter and pianist, who had an Australasian hit single in 1983 with "Maxine (Sharon O'Neill song), Maxine" which reached No. 16 on both the Australian Kent Music Report and Re ...

(Sharon O'Neill, 1981) #"One Day Ahead" –

Eye TV Eye TV (formerly 'Nixons') was a New Zealand alternative, indie and pop rock band, founded in Auckland, New Zealand, and active from 1990 until 2001, releasing 4 albums, 2 compilations and 10 singles and cassette singles. Eye TV was founded b ...

(Sean Sturm/Luke Casey/Michael Scott/Grant Winterburn, 2000) #"Renegade Fighter" – Zed (Ben Campbell/Nathan King, 2000) #"Part of Me" –

Stellar* Stellar (stylised stellar*) is a New Zealand pop rock band led by vocalist Boh Runga, sister of acclaimed recording artist Bic Runga. They have had four RIANZ top 10 singles (the highest being " Every Girl" at 3) and two No. 1 albums. The ban ...

(

Boh Runga Boh Runga (born 14 March 1970) is a New Zealand recording artist and was the lead singer and guitarist in New Zealand rock band Stellar. Boh is the older sister of Bic Runga and Pearl Runga who are also musicians. Early life Runga was born ...

, 1999) #"

Sierra Leone Sierra Leone, officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country on the southwest coast of West Africa. It is bordered to the southeast by Liberia and by Guinea to the north. Sierra Leone's land area is . It has a tropical climate and envi ...

" –

Coconut Rough Coconut Rough were a short-lived New Zealand pop/ new wave band formed in 1982. Despite their 1983 first single, "Sierra Leone", hitting the top five, and the band being named ''Most Promising Group of the Year'' at that year's RIANZ Awards th ...

(Andrew McLennan, 1983) #"Words" – Sharon O'Neill (Sharon O'Neill, 1979) #"Spellbound" –

Split Enz Split Enz were a New Zealand band formed in 1972. Regarded as the first New Zealand band to gain significant recognition outside of Australasia, they were initially noted for their progressive rock, progressive/art rock sound, flamboyant visua ...

(Tim Finn/

Phil Judd Philip Raymond Judd (born 20 March 1953) is a New Zealand singer-songwriter known for being one of the founders of the bands Split Enz and The Swingers. Split Enz In 1972, Judd and Tim Finn founded the arty folk band Split Enz. In its early d ...

, 1979) #"Rust In My Car" – Citizen Band (

Geoff Chunn Geoff Chunn is a New Zealand musician, best known as an early member of Split Enz. Chunn was a teenage friend of Tim Finn. Together the two of them and Chunn's elder brother, Mike Chunn, founded the band Stillwater while at high school in the la ...

, 1979) #"Mercy of Love" –

Shona Laing Shona Laing (born 9 October 1955) is a New Zealand musician. She was raised in Eastbourne, a suburb of Lower Hutt, and was a student at Hutt Valley High School when her musical talents first came to public notice. Laing had several folk hits ...

(Shona Laing, 1992) #" Can't Get Enough" –

Supergroove Supergroove is a New Zealand funk rock music group. Their debut album '' Traction'' was released in 1994. The group disbanded in 1997 but reformed in 2007. History The band was founded on New Year's Eve 1989/1990, having previously been name ...

(Joseph Fisher/Karl Steven, 1996) #"Naked Flame" –

(Dave Dobbyn, 1995)

Track listing

Disc one

Disc two

See also