I now have a lot more up to date info on Sharon, after receiving many E-mails from other Sharon fans.
The info below is now updated using the much more accurate details I have got from the other web sites on Sharon.
Those other sites have a mass of pictures from album covers, plus the latest info on Sharon's recent visit
(Sep - Oct 2001) back to New Zealand with the female group "When The Cats Away".
You can visit the other sites using these links:
One - The best site ( I think )
Two - Another very good site.
Three - Also good.
Sharon was born in Nelson, New Zealand, on the 23rd November 1952. I got married in Nov 1985, and my wife and I had our honeymoon in New Zealand. When we visited Queenstown, we discovered that it is 'the' tourist spot to visit in New Zealand. Perfect weather, and lots of things to do. I used to think Sharon was born in Queenstown, but now I know better :) Even so, visiting New Zealand and knowing Sharon was born there was an extra treat - Not that my (now Ex) wife ever thought much of my addiction to Sharon's music.
All the songs on Sharon's albums are written by her. On her albums, she always acknowledges 'The poet and the painter' - I'd love to know who/what that refers to. Maybe someone can let me know....
If you have more information, corrections, or anything you would like to comment on, please send me an e-mail at: john (at) webpathways.com
For now, I'm just getting some information written, to make it available on the 'net.
Some extra information from Eric Wolff in New Zealand:
Just to let you know that Sharon lived for many years in the suburb
of Brooklyn here in Wellington before moving to Oz. From memory she
actually comes from the sun capital of New Zealand - Nelson. Also
from memory, she was about 26 when the first album was released and 30'ish
when she left to go over the ditch.
Words (1980 - CBS Australia)
Maybe (1981 - CBS Australia)
Smash Palace (1982 ??? - Sound Track to the New Zealand movie 'Smash Palace')
Foreign Affairs (1983 - CBS Australia)
Danced in the Fire (1987 - Polygram Australia)
Edge of Winter (1990 - Polygram Australia)
Sharon O'Neil - How Do You Do ( 2 CD pack - Rainbow)
Words (CD - Rainbow)
The Very Best Of - Collette and Sharon O'Neill (J&B Records)
From the cassette tape: Sound recording made by CBS Records New Zealand - first published (p) in New Zealand 1978/1979. PC7792
2. Luck's On Your Table
3. Another Man Fools You
4. Falling To The Ground
5. Don't Send Your Love Away
2. In The Light Of Day
3. Sun Song
4. Lately I'm Your Lady
5. You Take The Sailor From The Sea
6. Sweet Thing
From the cassette tape: Sound recording made by CBS Records Australia - first published (p) in New Zealand 1979, 1980. PC7350
2. Awkward City
3. Words
4. Baby Don't Fight
5. Love Can Be Cruel
6. Bitter The Heart
2. I'll Be Home Again
3. Some Of This Heart
4. Someone Just Like You
5.. Southern Blues
6. How Do You Talk To Boys
From the cassette: CBS Records Australia 1991 - PC7604
2. She's Gonna Hurt You
3. Maybe
4.. Betcha
5. Long Distance From Singapore
2. Anytime You Want
3. Hold Me Again
4. For All The Tea In China
5. I Don't Wanna Touch You (I Just Wanna Ride In Your Car)
Around the start of 1983, Sharon visited a shopping centre at Marion, a suburb in Adelaide, South Australia. I heard that she was there about a 1/2 hour before she was due to make her appearance, and I was living on the other side of the city. After a mad dash across town I arrived just as she had finished singing. *sigh*. I lined up with the crowd that was waiting to get cassettes and CD's (or was it vinyl albums?) autographed. I didn't have an album of hers to get signed, but I did have a small address book I carried. After some dissaproving looks from her 'minders', and a hesitant 'should I' look from Sharon, she signed her autograph in the address book! Happy Happy me!! I then asked for her phone number, with a cheeky grin - but, I didn't get it. Oh well. Sadly, I've managed to lose that address book now. *double sigh*
2. Jacqui's Theme / Hold On Love
2. White Lines
3. If It Was Love
Another CBS Australia recording, 1983, PC7889
2. Maxine
3. One Of A Crowd
4. Radio Lover
5. .Kids In Our Town
2. I've Got You To Thank
3. Take The Fall
4. Hearts On The Run
5. All The Way Down
After a lot of heart ache and contract problems, and not releasing anything for a few years, Sharon moved to Polygram, and then released 'Danced In The Fire'. I've always assumed it was a sort of comment on the way she felt coming through the problems with CBS.
Around the time this album was released, I moved to Melbourne for two years. About one day after my family got to Melbourne, and were staying in an appartment off St. Kilda Rd south of Melbourne, I saw that Sharon was doing a gig at a small club near where we were staying. After a bit of sweet talking to my wife I headed off to see Sharon again, and this time see her performing the whole gig, without getting there late! It was FANTASTIC !!!! I still remember it well, and would love the chance to see her perform again. Maybe... one day.....
From the cover: 1987 Polygram International Music, Marketted in Australasia by Polygram Records. 833 557-4
2. we're only human
3. trojan horse
4. far away
5. take me to paris
2. shock to the heart
3. thirst for love
4. under suspicion
5. in control
The track 'in control' was written for the Australian television series called "Sweet and Sour". The series never had much success, and only lasted one season - but that was due to the script writers, Not the intro song by Sharon. The track on this album is slightly different to the one heard on the TV series, and from memory, I believe Sharon wasn't happy with the track they mixed for the TV series, so the one on this album is the mix she wanted.
This cassette also has a fold out insert with the words to each track. It also includes a Post Office address for a fan club, although I don't think it will be current anymore. It's listed as:
Heather Armstrong(Fan Club)
PO BOX 1428
Darlinghurst NSW 2010
AUSTRALIA
From the cassette cover: 1990 Polygram Pty Ltd, 843 883-4
2. Satin Sheets
3. In Our Dreams
4. Stramger Come
5. Sunday Driving
6. Little One
2. Losing You (remix from 'Foreign Affairs')
3. I Know You Love Me
4. Missing Person
5. Poster Girl
That's it for the original albums I have info on. The combination 'Best of' CD with 'Collette' has Sharon's tracks on the second half of the CD, starting at track 9.
9. Danger
10. Maxine
11. Losing You
12. Waiting For You
13. Asian Paradise
14. For All The Tea In China
15. Words
16. Power
The Rainbow release of 'Sharon O'Neill - How Do You Do' contains the Words and Maybe albums, as per the info listed above for the originals. The Rainbow release of 'Words' that I have on CD is also the same as the original album.
I'll spare you any further thoughts and comments on my memories of Sharon and her music career. I'm hoping that one day I'll manage to get most of her albums on CD, which may involve me trying to contact CBS and Polygram, or even try and track Sharon down, somewhere in Sydney I assume.
I hope someone manages to find some useful info in this page.
Happy listening......
--
John,
06Sep2002