Hands up if your vinyl collection has Sharon O'Neill's album 'Foreign Affairs' with the memorable hit track 'Maxine'!  In a 2016 interview, Sharon said; "I was living in a hotel in Kings Cross when I got the inspiration to write "Maxine".  She was always out there working at 3am when we'd get home bleary-eyed from a gig in Newcastle."  (Source: Jennifer Dann, "Twelve questions with Sharon O'Neill", NZ Herald, 23 Feb 2016.) The album, which was released in May 1983, peaked at No. 16 on the NZ Charts and the Australian Charts, and was certified a gold record by Recorded Music New Zealand.   

In celebration of NZ Music Month (May), the lyrics for 'Maxine' are illustrated with images from DigitalNZ, followed by an outline of Sharon's journey as a singer and songwriter. Sharon was the first performer to receive three Tui in consecutive years when she won Top Female Vocalist at the Aotearoa Music Awards in 1978, 1979 and 1980.  She was inducted into the NZ Music Hall of Fame and received the Legacy Award at the Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards on 16 November 2017.

1. Lyrics FOR "MAXINE"

You can read the lyrics on Sparklers website and listen to the Australian version on Youtube with Sharon singing as you view the following graphics from DigitalNZ. 

1ST VERSE: 

Chorus:

2nd Verse:

Repeat chorus

3rd verse:

Repeat chorus

4th verse:

Repeat chorus...

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2. Sharon's journey as a singer & songwriter

The following has been compiled from information shared by Sharon O'Neill and others during media interviews - audio, video and written.  

Sharon won Top Female Vocalist at the New Zealand Music Awards in  1978, 1970 and 1980 -  the first artist to win a Tui in three consecutive years. She also won Album of the Year in 1980.  Sharon's singles 'Maxine'', 'Asian Paradise', and 'Maybe' were included in APRA's list of Top New Zealand Songs.  She also wrote the music score to the 1982 movie 'Smash Palace' which won her another Tui in 1983 for Best Soundtrack. 

Early years growing up in Nelson, 1952 - 1969 

I loved the radio, and Mum belonged to a record club so we would get a few albums in the mail. Every once in a while, she accommodated me with The Monkees, in between Andy Williams and Jerry Vale. I was always intrigued by melodies, and when our neighbour let me borrow her upright piano I started to noodle around on my own and make up tunes. I couldn’t read music, but that didn’t matter to me, I guess: I could copy what I heard, and I liked what tricked my ear..

 I’ve had so many wonderful influences. When we first got a television in Nelson, I remember The Cilla Black Show, Sandie Shaw, Dusty Springfield, too … Loved those songs they sang. Then we got our own New Zealand TV shows, but nothing stirred me more than when I heard Linda Ronstadt. I think I relate to where she places her voice, and after the Stone Poneys and her transition into the basic Eagles being her band, it all fell into place around my ears.  

Source: "Sharon O'Neill on Sharon O'Neill", Audioculture, 5 June 2022 (Extract from Kiwi Rock Chicks, Pop Stars & Trailblazers, edited by Ian Chapman (Harper Collins, Auckland, 2010) 

Also see childhood and teen photos of Sharon and of her parents at: RNZ: Sharon O'Neill joins NZ Music Hall Of Fame (15 Oct 2017)

Mobil Song Quest & first single records: Feb 1970 - early Oct 1972

Joined bands as a singer-pianist: Oct 1972 - 1976

Wellington: Recording studios, TV appearances, CBS Records, & tours, 1977 - 1978

National Awards, 1978-1983

Living in Australia, 1981 -

Contractual dispute with CBS Melbourne, & co-writing tracks, 1984 - 1987

A number of contractual disputes rose between CBS and Sharon from 1984 until her contract expired in 1987. The final single of Sharon's on the CBS label was released in July 1984 - 'Power' - which was a non-album track and peaked at No. 36 in Australia and won Best Female Performance in a Video at the 1985 Australian Countdown Awards. During the legal disputes, of which the details were not publicly released, Sharon was not able to release new tracks. However, she continued to write music, including co-writing songs with others, and also became a fitness instructor. (Source: Grant Smithies,  Sharon O'Neill to be inducted into NZ Music Hall of Fame, Stuff.co.nz, 15 Oct 2017)   

In 1985, Sharon was one of the performers of Australian supergroup "Australia Too" that recorded the charity single 'The Garden' with proceeds going to Freedom from Hunger in Ethiopia. The song peaked at No. 38 in Australia. At the 1986 Country Music Awards of Australia, it won APRA Song of the Year, and at the APRA Music Awards of 1987,  the song won Most Performed Australasian Country Work.  (Source: Wikipedia: The Garden (Australia Too song)) 

Polydor Records & co-writing tracks, 1987 - 

In 1987, when her contract with CBS had expired, Sharon's signed a two-album deal deal with Polydor Records.  A friend, Roger Davies, who was managing Tina Turner, had secured the Polydor deal out of the UK for her.  'Physical favours' was released as the first single in September 1987 and reached No. 25 (NZ) & No. 39 (Aus).  Sharon then released her fifth studio album which was the first on Polydor Records - 'Danced in the Fire' (October 1987) - of which five of the 11 tracks had been co-written with others. Two more singles were released: 'Danced in the fire' (Dec 1987) which reached No.95 (Aus), & 'Shock to the Heart'/'We're Only Human' (Aug 1988) which did not chart in NZ or Australia. 

In 1988, CBS Records released a series of four-track EPs: 'Four Play: Volume 18'  featured four of Sharon's greatest hits.  The non-album single 'Water for the Flowers' by Sharon and Doug Parkinson (Australian pop and rock singer) was also released.

Source: Wikipedia: Sharon O'Neill discography

Between 1981-1989, Sharon won several awards at the Australian Countdown Awards. She won Most Popular Female Performer three times (1981, 1983 and 1984) and was a nominee in 1982. Sharon was also nominated Best Songwriter (1984); and won Best Female Performance in a Video twice (1984 and 1985).  She was also a two-time ARIA Music Awards nominee for Best Female Artist in 1988 and 1989.  

Source:  Wikipedia: Sharon O'Neill (18 April 2023) 

In August 1990, Sharon released her sixth studio album 'Edge of Winter' (Polydor Records). Six of the 11 tracks were co-written with Alan Mansfield (guitarist/keyboardist with Dragon) who'd become her partner after they separated from their spouses. Two singles were released from this album, 'Satin Sheets' which reached No. 106 on Australia's Chart, and 'Poster Girl' which did not chart in NZ or Australia.   

In 1991, J&B Records released the 18-track album 'The very best of Collette and Sharon O'Neill'. It contained eight tracks each from Collette Rogers and Sharon, including the previously non-album single 'Power' that was Sharon's last single released by CBS in 1984. The album peaked at No. 366 in Australia. 

During 1994, Sharon collaborated with Robert Palmer and his girlfriend Mary Ambrose to write 'Love Takes Time' for his 'Honey' album. Sharon also contributed vocals to the track 'Honey B' which was recorded in Milan, as well as to Robert's 'Drive' in 2003.  Later on during 1999, Sharon and Alan Mansfield worked with Robert Palmer to write 'True Love' for his 'Rhythm & Blues' album and Sharon contributed vocals to the album. 

Later career, including tours of NZ & Australia, & compilations albums: 2000 - 

In 2001, "When the cats are away" band reformed with four of the five original members - Margaret Urlich, Debbie Harwood, Annie Crummer and Kim Willoughby (Dianne Swann was living in London). The group contacted Sharon and released a cover version of her 'Asian Paradise' single which peaked at No. 16 on the NZ charts.  Sharon returned to New Zealand to join the band's Live In Paradise tour which commenced in September 2001.  A live album with 16 tracks was released on EMI Music (NZ) Ltd  in November which peaked at No. 7 on the NZ charts and went platinum on 2 December 2001.  (Source: Wikipedia: Live in Paradise)

In 2005, Sharon toured Australia as a support act for Leo Sayer in Australia. A compilation of  her greatest hits were released by Sony Music Australia in September: 'The Best of Sharon O'Neill' which did not reach NZ or Australian charts. During 2006 and early 2007, Sharon again toured Australia supporting Leo Sayer.  She also toured with Johnny Devlin, Shane, Ray Columbus, Tom Sharplin, and Larry Morris in Pacific Entertainment's  "The Best of The Best" tour held during 2006 in NZ. 

On 2 November 2008, Sharon also performed with Paul Young and Tony Hadley (former Spandau Ballet singer) at their show held at the Auckland Zoo during their NZ tour.

In 2013, a  4-CD box set containing the albums 'This Heart This Song' / 'Sharon O'Neill' / 'Maybe' / 'Foreign Affairs' was released by Sony Music Australia. On 14 April 2014, another collection of Sharon's greatest hits were released by Sony Music Australia: 'Words: The Very Best of Sharon O'Neill' which peaked at No. 6 on the NZ charts.

During 2017, two shows of "Home Again" were held at Nelson’s Boathouse which featured Sharon O'Neill talking about the history and meaning behind her songs, followed by performances with a 6-piece band. During February 2019, "Home Again II" was held with concerts at the Boathouse Nelson and in Christchurch and Wellington. Sharon has also appeared on Empire Touring Variety shows in Australia with other 80s pop and rock icons.    

At the induction of Sharon O'Neill into the NZ Music Hall of Fame in 2017, Recorded Music NZ CEO Damian Vaughan said:

“Sharon’s songs are an iconic part of an era when New Zealand music really started to come of age. From her early days as a folk singer to sweeping the charts and winning awards both here and in Australia – Sharon blazed a trail for women in rock, and it’s only right we take the time to celebrate her career and the impact she had on Kiwi music.”

Source: NZ  Music Hall of Fame: Inductees - Sharon O'Neill

In August 2018, Sharon performed a duet with Ben Ransom with 'Young Years', the song she co-wrote for the group Dragon. The track was made available via the digital streaming service Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/au/album/young-years-feat-sharon-oneill-single/1433170510. 

In January 2020, Sharon featured on the single 'Not pretty enough' with Aly Cook, which was a reimagining of the song Kasey Chambers had released in 2002. The track was made available on Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/au/album/not-pretty-enough-feat-sharon-oneill-single/1493749433.

Sharon featured on Seven Sharp TV interview, May 2025

On 20 May 2025, TVNZ 1’s Seven Sharp featured interviews with Sharon O’Neill in Sydney, and Wellington music producer Dick Le Fort and fifteen year old NZ singer Sophie Toyne who was about to release the song 'Service of Mine' written by Sharon in the 1970s. The song had been included by Sharon amongst demo tracks produced by Le Fort but was not selected by CBS amongst the final 11 tracks of her 1979 debut album 'This Heart This Song' and was never released by her in later years.  Le Fort arranged with Sharon for him to recommend the song to Toyne and he produced the record. Seven Sharp also included clips of Sharon’s musical career.

See:

• Music NZ (21 May 2025): Sophie Toyne Releases ‘Service of Mine’, written by Sharon O’Neill, URL:  https://www.muzic.nz/news/sophie-toyne-releases-service-of-mine-written-by-sharon-oneill/

•  Youtube video: Seven Sharp Story with Sophie Toyne, Sharon O'Neill & Dick Le Fort (9:16min), URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8kvTawJPxw

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Find out more:

• Murray Cammick, Sharon O'Neill, Audioculture, (28 May 2013)

• Jennifer Dann, "Twelve questions with Sharon O'Neill", NZ Herald (23 Feb 2016)  

• Grant Smithies,  Sharon O'Neill to be inducted into NZ Music Hall of Fame, Stuff.co.nz, (15 Oct 2017 )

• Music NZ: Sharon O'Neill, URL: https://www.muzic.nz/artists/sharon-oneill/

• RNZ:  Sharon O'Neill joins NZ Music Hall Of Fame (15 Oct 2017)

• Sharon O'Neill; URL: https://sharononeill.co.nz/

• Wikipedia: Sharon O'Neill (4 April 2025)

• Wikipedia: Sharon O'Neill discography (16 March 2025)

This DigitalNZ Story was updated in May 2025