Tahiti Nui is a Tahitian song that has been recorded by a multitude of artists. It is possibly one of the most popular Pacific Island songs.

Background

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The song can be heard on radio and in parties from Guam, to Port Moresby, to Rarotonga.[1] Toti's Tahitians covered the song and it was released on the Little Brown Gal album which was released on Viking VP 24.[2][3] It has been described by Bengt Danielsson, author of From Raft to Raft: An Incredible Voyage from Tahiti to Chile and Back as a melancholy Tahitian song in praise of the island.[4] Possibly the earliest recorded version of the song was by Eddie Lund and his orchestra featuring female lead singer Irma Emma Samila Spitz, professionally known then as Mila.[5] The song credited to Mila avec L'Orchestre Eddie Lund was the B side on a 78 RPM single with the A side "Ragout pommes de terre" by Teaitu. It was released on Tahiti label cat # 139.[6] It was released as a 45 RPM single on Viking in 1958, credited to Mila With Eddie Lund And His Tahitians.[7]

A song of the same name was recorded by Sol K. Bright And His Holly-Waiians. This is a completely different composition.[8]

Releases

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Singles
Artist Title Release info Year Notes
Teaitu, Mila avec L'Orchestre Eddie Lund "Ragout pommes de terre" / "Tahiti Nui" Tahiti 139 Side A = Teaitu, Side B = Mila avec L'Orchestre Eddie Lund[9]
Albums (LP)
Artist Album title Release info Year Notes
Toti's Tahitians Little Brown Gal Viking VP 24 Also released on 49th State Hawaii Record Co. LP-3426[10]
Manuia & Maeva Otuitui • Tahiti Reo Tahiti Records SRT-520 1966 [11]
Albums (CD)
Artist Album title Release info Year Notes
Amy Hanaiali'i Generation Hawaii Hanaiali'i Records 8556 2006 [12]

References

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  1. ^ Pacific Islands Monthly Volume 45, Issues 1-6 Page 63
  2. ^ Discogs Toti's Tahitians – Little Brown Gal
  3. ^ Pacific Islands Monthly Volume 33 Page 50
  4. ^ From Raft to Raft: An Incredible Voyage from Tahiti to Chile and Back (page unknown)
  5. ^ Tahiti Jukebox Mila & Loma - Biographie
  6. ^ Rate Your Music Ragout pommes de terre / Tahiti nui
  7. ^ 45Cat Catalogue: V66-7
  8. ^ 45 Worlds Artist: Sol K. Bright And His Holly-Waiians
  9. ^ Rate Your Music Ragout pommes de terre / Tahiti nui
  10. ^ Discogs Toti's Tahitians – Little Brown Gal
  11. ^ Discogs Manuia & Maeva – Otuitui • Tahiti
  12. ^ AllMusic Amy Hānaiali'i Generation Hawai'i