Leilani (song)

{{short description|Single by Hoodoo Gurus}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Leilani

| cover = LeilaniFrontHG.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Hoodoo Gurus

| A-side = Leilani

| B-side = Leilani Pt. 2 (My Love is a Red Red Rock)

| released = October 1982

| recorded = EMI 301 Studio, Sydney

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = Garage punk{{cite book |title=Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop |last=McFarlane |first=Ian |author-link= Ian McFarlane |publisher=Allen & Unwin |year=1999 |chapter=Encyclopedia entry for 'Hoodoo Gurus' |chapter-url=http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=916 |isbn=1-86448-768-2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040606094845/http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=916 |archive-date=6 June 2004 }}

| length = {{unbulleted list|5:36 {{small|(Album version)}}|4:52 {{small|(Single version)}}}}

| label = Phantom

| writer = James Baker, Dave Faulkner, Roddy Radalj, Kimble Rendall

| producer = Le Hoodoo Gurus, Martin Fabinyi

| prev_title =

| prev_year =

| next_title = Tojo

| next_year = 1983

}}

"Leilani" is the debut single by Australian rock group Hoodoo Gurus when they were called Le Hoodoo Gurus,{{cite web|url=http://www.ariaawards.com.au/about-hall-of-fame.php |title=ARIA Awards 2007: About Hall of Fame |publisher=ARIA Awards |accessdate=2007-11-20 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080202132814/http://www.ariaawards.com.au/about-hall-of-fame.php |archivedate=2008-02-02 }}{{cite web|title=ARIA presents the 2007 ARIA Hall of Fame |last=Pope |first=Mark |url=http://www.amcos.com.au/news/industry/news/070507_ARIA-HallofFame.pdf |format=PDF |date=2007-05-07 |accessdate=2008-01-22 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081030023033/http://www.amcos.com.au/news/industry/news/070507_ARIA-HallofFame.pdf |archivedate=October 30, 2008 }} released on Phantom Records in October 1982.{{cite web |url=https://ma.as/132878 |title=93/272/5 Audio record, 'Leilani/Leilani II', Hoodoo Gurus, vinyl, Phantom, Australia,1982. 45rpm. Also paper cover with colour illustration of Polynesian beach scene with 2 people. |author=Powerhouse Museum |accessdate=10 March 2016 |publisher=Powerhouse Museum, Australia}} It had been written by all four Gurus: James Baker, Dave Faulkner, Roddy Radalj and Kimble Rendall.{{cite web|url=http://www.apra.com.au/cms/worksearch/worksearch.srvlt?action=workSearch&switchDet=Y |title=Australasian Performing Right Association |publisher=APRA |accessdate=2007-12-09 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080505235657/http://www.apra.com.au/cms/worksearch/worksearch.srvlt?action=workSearch&switchDet=Y |archivedate=2008-05-05 }} Rendall left shortly before its release and, not long after, the band dropped the 'Le' to become Hoodoo Gurus.{{cite web | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20131022063218/http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/h/hoodoogurus.html | title = Hoodoo Gurus | work = Passagen.se | publisher = Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren) | url = http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/h/hoodoogurus.html | last1 = Holmgren | first1 = Magnus | first2 = Didier | last2 = Georgieff | first3 = Stephan | last3 = Hartung | archivedate = 22 October 2013 | url-status = usurped | accessdate = 28 March 2014 }} Le Hoodoo Gurus were noted for having three guitars and no bass player, creating a distinctive, layered sound. This was captured on "Leilani", which told the story of a maiden sacrificed to the gods and an erupting volcano while her true love looked on helplessly. A re-recorded version of the song was later released on Hoodoo Gurus' first album Stoneage Romeos (1984).

"Astute listeners will note the absence of bass guitar in the band... "Leilani" was based on an old 50s movie, Bird of Paradise starring Jeff Chandler..." - Dave Faulkner.{{cite web|date=June 2000 |last=Faulkner |first=Dave |url=http://www-personal.umich.edu/~juliat/hg/popandpunishment.html |publisher=juliat |title=Pop and punishment |accessdate=2007-12-09 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070808085453/http://www-personal.umich.edu/~juliat/hg/popandpunishment.html |archivedate=2007-08-08 |url-status=dead }}

Bird of Paradise (1951) is described at [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0043343 Internet Movie Database].

Backing vocals are ascribed to Orphan Rock and to The Three Sisters. Both The Three Sisters and Orphan Rock are geological features of The Blue Mountains near Katoomba, New South Wales.

The single was re-released by Big Time Records in 1985, as part of a limited edition collection of the band's first six singles, together with "Tojo", "My Girl", "I Want You Back, "Bittersweet", and "Like Wow - Wipeout"

"Leilani" was performed by The Living End on the 2005 tribute album Stoneage Cameos (see Stoneage Romeos); while "Leilani Part 2" was performed by The Sailors.{{cite web | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20120910053311/http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/comp/stoneagecameos.html | title = Stoneage Cameos | work = Passagen.se | publisher = Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren) | url = http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/comp/stoneagecameos.html | last1 = Holmgren | first1 = Magnus | archivedate = 10 September 2012 | url-status = usurped | accessdate = 28 March 2014 }}