When the Cat's Away is a New Zealand female vocal group and covers band formed in 1985. They are best known for their cover of the

Blue Mink Blue Mink were a British six-piece pop group that existed from 1969 to 1977. Over that period they had six top 20 hit singles on the UK Singles Chart, and released five studio based albums. According to AllMusic: "they have been immortalised o ...

assimilationist Cultural assimilation is the process in which a minority group or culture comes to resemble a society's majority group or fully adopts the values, behaviors, and beliefs of another group. The melting pot model is based on this concept. A relat ...

song "

Melting Pot A melting pot is a Monoculturalism, monocultural metaphor for a wiktionary:heterogeneous, heterogeneous society becoming more wiktionary:homogeneous, homogeneous, the different elements "melting together" with a common culture; an alternative bei ...

", which became a New Zealand number one hit for them in 1988. In 2021, the band members were inducted into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame.

Background

At the 1985

New Zealand Music Awards The Aotearoa Music Awards (previously called the New Zealand Music Awards), conferred annually by Recorded Music NZ, honour outstanding artistic and technical achievements in the recording industry. The awards are among the most significant that ...

Annie Crummer Anne Crummer (born 1966) is a New Zealand pop singer and songwriter of Cook Islands descent who has seen success in both a solo career and as part of various musical groups. Crummer represented New Zealand at the 1987 ABU Popular Song Contest ...

Debbie Harwood When the Cat's Away is a New Zealand girl group, female vocal group and cover band, covers band formed in 1985. They are best known for their cover of the Blue Mink Cultural assimilation, assimilationist song "Melting Pot (song), Melting Pot", ...

, Kim Willoughby, Dianne Swann, and

Margaret Urlich Margaret Mary Urlich (24 January 1965 – 22 August 2022) was a New Zealand singer who lived in Australia for most of her career. Urlich's 1989 debut solo studio album, ''Safety in Numbers'', won " Breakthrough Artist – Album" at the 1991 A ...

formed a female vocal group. In 2004 Dianne Swann reflected on their start: "The idea formed to get together, have some fun and sing a bunch of songs that we like, learn some harmonies. I don’t think anybody pictured it as being as popular as it became." When The Cat's Away debuted at

Auckland Auckland ( ; ) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. It has an urban population of about It is located in the greater Auckland Region, the area governed by Auckland Council, which includes outlying rural areas and ...

's Wildlife in September 1986. Soon after they were performing more frequently at bigger venues, before signing a two singles and live album deal with

CBS Records CBS Records may refer to: * CBS Records, a former name of Sony Music, a global music company * CBS/Sony, a former name of Sony Music Entertainment Japan, a Japanese music company division of Sony * CBS Records International, a label for Columbia Re ...

. In 1987, they released their debut single "

Leader of the Pack "Leader of the Pack" is a song written by George "Shadow" Morton, Jeff Barry, and Ellie Greenwich. It was a number one pop hit in 1964 for the American girl group the Shangri-Las. The single is one of the group's best known songs as well as ...

", followed by "Sanctified", with neither charting. In May 1987, the group began a 30-date national tour, recording the album at His Majesty's Theatre. In June 1987, the group released the live

self-titled An eponym is a noun after which or for which someone or something is, or is believed to be, named. Adjectives derived from the word ''eponym'' include ''eponymous'' and ''eponymic''. Eponyms are commonly used for time periods, places, innovati ...

debut album, consisting of cover versions of pop songs. The album peaked at number 39 and was certified gold in New Zealand. Debbie Harwood told RipItUp writer Chris Bourke "The Cats is a break from getting our own stuff played, recorded and on the radio. It's ‘the girls go out to play’ … we’re only there to have fun really – there are no serious messages, just singing our favourites." In November 1988, the group released a cover of "

" which peaked at number 1 and was certified gold in New Zealand. The group toured extensively throughout 1988/89, becoming one of the biggest live acts in New Zealand at that time. The group was awarded Listener Film and Television Awards for 'Entertainers of the Year' and 'Documentary of the Year' in 1988 and also took out the coveted 'Group of the Year' award at the 1989

. " Free Ride" was released in January 1990 and peaked at number 12. Soon after, Swann left the group, and the other members followed pursuing solo careers and other projects. In 2001, the band reformed (minus Dianne Swann) and released a cover version of

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 ...

's 1980 single "

Asian Paradise "Asian Paradise" is a song by New Zealand singer and songwriter Sharon O'Neill. The song was released in April 1980 as the third single from her second studio album, ''Sharon O'Neill'' (1980) Track listing New Zealand 7" (BA 461975) *Side A ...

". Shortly after that, O'Neill returned their gesture by performing with them on the nationwide Paradise Tour including over three nights at the

Aotea Centre The Aotea Centre () is a performing arts and events centre in Auckland, New Zealand. Located at the western edge of Aotea Square, off Queen Street, the centre provides a cultural, entertainment and conventions venue space in the heart of the ...

in Auckland. A live album was recorded during that tour and released as " Live in Paradise". The album peaked at number 7 and went platinum. In 2002, the group toured again, playing large outdoor shows and featured O'Neill along with

Eddie Rayner Anthony Edward Charles Rayner (born 19 November 1952) is a New Zealand musician who spent ten years as a keyboardist in the band Split Enz. He has also played in the groups Orb, Space Waltz, Crowded House, the Makers, The Angels in 1986-1987 ...

and

Noel Crombie Geoffrey Noel Crombie (born 17 April 1953) is a New Zealand percussionist and former member of the band Split Enz. He fulfilled multiple roles including costume and hair designer, singer, album cover designer, and music video director. Prior ...

from

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 ...

and choreography from Rietta Austin. In December 2021, the five members of the band were inducted into the

New Zealand Music Hall of Fame The New Zealand Music Hall of Fame , Te Whare Taonga Puoro o Aotearoa is a figurative hall of fame dedicated to noteworthy New Zealand musicians. The hall was created in 2007 by Recorded Music NZ (then known as the Recording Industry Associati ...

at the

Aotearoa Music Awards The Aotearoa Music Awards (previously called the New Zealand Music Awards), conferred annually by Recorded Music NZ, honour outstanding artistic and technical achievements in the recording industry. The awards are among the most significant that ...

in recognition of their contributions to New Zealand music. A 2023 concert in honour of deceased member

was followed by a New Zealand tour in 2024.

Discography

Albums

Singles

Awards

, - , 1988 , ''When the Cat's Away'' , Listener Television Awards – Entertainment Programme , , - , 1989 , When the Cat's Away , New Zealand Music Awards – Best Group , , - , 1989 , Ross McDermott/Annie Crummer ("Melting Pot") , New Zealand Music Awards – Best Producer , , - , 2021 , , When the Cat's Away , ,

, , , -

References

External links

AudioCulture profile

''When the Cat's Away'' documentary (1987)

"Melting Pot" music video (1988)

"Asian Paradise" music video (2001)
{{Authority control New Zealand pop music groups New Zealand girl groups Cover bands Musical groups established in 1985 Musical groups disestablished in 2002 1985 establishments in New Zealand 2002 disestablishments in New Zealand Musical groups from Auckland