Kid Creole and the Coconuts were hugely fashionable in the UK in the early 1980s, with plenty of help, as you rightly point out, from the marketing department at Island Records. Can I just put a word in for the Coconuts. They were superbly choreographed by the joint creator of K C and the C, Adriana Kaegi, and even recorded their own album Don't Take My Coconuts in 1983 with Cheryl Poirer as lead vocalist. There's a clip on Youtube of Annie I'm Not Your Daddy from the main British pop show of the time, Top of the Pops, which largely thanks to the Coconuts is one of my favourite performances from the programme, on a par with Wham's debut Wham Rap! in 1983 (it also features plenty of Coati Mundi hamming it up).
I held back a little on this one, Paul 😃—so I decided to leave out the part about the creation of the band in this episode. I’d love to cover some Kid Creole tracks and also dive into the Coconuts’ solo album at some point. That album had all the ingredients to be a huge hit, and I really want to explore why it didn’t take off. I just watched Annie’s video—you’re absolutely right, it’s fantastic. I actually saw them live back then, and they were phenomenal. Truly one of the best live bands at the start of the eighties, pure professionals. Thanks for taking the time to read and respond, Paul. Have a great weekend!
This was so good. I loved reading about your raving days. I was also a raver in my younger years. Now in my 30s, I keep my raving nights to a few times a year only... for old times' sake (and a planned detox the next day 🤣).
I knew Cherchez la Femme because they mention Mottola who, as you know, was Mariah's mentor and husband in the early 90s.
I didn't know "Que Pasa", though. I liked it. It's quite infectious. I'm of Latin origins myself so there's that connection for me as well. However, in my humble opinion, it's a song that could work universally. Interesting that it didn't take off in the US, but the reasons you outline make a lot of sense (especially if it was a little bit of everything combined, as is often the case).
On a separate but related note, someday I'd love to read your perspective on the disco backlash, if you're ever interested in covering the topic. You might think it's too basic, with your knowledge, but for the non-experts like me, there are a lot of things we don't know other than there was a backlash at some point but not a lot more than that. I, for one, would love to read about it from your perspective.
Ah, the raving days… such great memories! This episode brought me closer to them than the previous ones 😃. The weekly episodes were always intended as just the beginning. The goal is to write a complete history of dance music from 1975 to 1995. I’m currently working on the first two topics: the introduction and the disco backlash/end of disco. It’s a complex subject, especially with the differing timelines across the Atlantic and in some places, like Italy, where disco simply evolved. But they’re on the way 😃. Thanks for the kind words, Andy, and for reading and reacting! Have a fantastic Sunday—hope you didn’t have any storm damage?
Dupree!!! Me know Coati's music well but not this track. Getting the weekend started right! Saw him many times with Kid Creole & the Coconuts dancing all night at the Ritz!. My #1 band. I will keep this article handy but don't tell Randy! I have ZE Records connects with Snuky Tate's ZE "He's the Groove." He recorded for 109 Records in 89 and I posted his unreleased track "I'm a Rate-ist (Nancy Stole the Borrowed Jewels)" track soundclud.com/stevegabe w the /Maxi-EP "Check This Out!" My Island article leaves out the Champion Ent incident, Mottola's company of Cherchez la fame. An incident I had talked about on my substack pod The Night I Met Junior Wells. I had a run-in with their henchman "Randy" in 83 working at Island. He threatened me over the phone that if I didn't give him the ZE Records Kid Creole Masters before he got on the plane to London, he'd ______ me up. I told him I'm just a publicity assoc., not authorized to release master tapes without approval. I'm here alone making dupes, and no one else is in the office. I'll call Ron. He's on his way home. Randy said, not good enough. I'm coming to get the tapes now, and you better not stop me. I said, you do that. I'll be here, and maybe by that time, he'll be home and give me approval. I hung up, called Ron Shapiro, and kept making dupes and the big shot never showed. I eventually got my boss on the phone, and he said I did the right thing. That's the music biz, more gangster than people know. Tropical Gangster! Now who's the Stool Pidgeon?
😂 Great story Steve and researching these posts is always a discovery for me also. I did not know that Me No Pop I wasn't even a hit on the US dance floors. As I wrote in the piece, I can understand why, but at the same time it is odd. Snuky Tate is one of the best ZE releases. Great song ! Gonna dive in to your substack post. Thanks for reading & reacting. Have a great weekend !
Kid Creole and the Coconuts were hugely fashionable in the UK in the early 1980s, with plenty of help, as you rightly point out, from the marketing department at Island Records. Can I just put a word in for the Coconuts. They were superbly choreographed by the joint creator of K C and the C, Adriana Kaegi, and even recorded their own album Don't Take My Coconuts in 1983 with Cheryl Poirer as lead vocalist. There's a clip on Youtube of Annie I'm Not Your Daddy from the main British pop show of the time, Top of the Pops, which largely thanks to the Coconuts is one of my favourite performances from the programme, on a par with Wham's debut Wham Rap! in 1983 (it also features plenty of Coati Mundi hamming it up).
I held back a little on this one, Paul 😃—so I decided to leave out the part about the creation of the band in this episode. I’d love to cover some Kid Creole tracks and also dive into the Coconuts’ solo album at some point. That album had all the ingredients to be a huge hit, and I really want to explore why it didn’t take off. I just watched Annie’s video—you’re absolutely right, it’s fantastic. I actually saw them live back then, and they were phenomenal. Truly one of the best live bands at the start of the eighties, pure professionals. Thanks for taking the time to read and respond, Paul. Have a great weekend!
This was so good. I loved reading about your raving days. I was also a raver in my younger years. Now in my 30s, I keep my raving nights to a few times a year only... for old times' sake (and a planned detox the next day 🤣).
I knew Cherchez la Femme because they mention Mottola who, as you know, was Mariah's mentor and husband in the early 90s.
I didn't know "Que Pasa", though. I liked it. It's quite infectious. I'm of Latin origins myself so there's that connection for me as well. However, in my humble opinion, it's a song that could work universally. Interesting that it didn't take off in the US, but the reasons you outline make a lot of sense (especially if it was a little bit of everything combined, as is often the case).
On a separate but related note, someday I'd love to read your perspective on the disco backlash, if you're ever interested in covering the topic. You might think it's too basic, with your knowledge, but for the non-experts like me, there are a lot of things we don't know other than there was a backlash at some point but not a lot more than that. I, for one, would love to read about it from your perspective.
Happy weekend!
Ah, the raving days… such great memories! This episode brought me closer to them than the previous ones 😃. The weekly episodes were always intended as just the beginning. The goal is to write a complete history of dance music from 1975 to 1995. I’m currently working on the first two topics: the introduction and the disco backlash/end of disco. It’s a complex subject, especially with the differing timelines across the Atlantic and in some places, like Italy, where disco simply evolved. But they’re on the way 😃. Thanks for the kind words, Andy, and for reading and reacting! Have a fantastic Sunday—hope you didn’t have any storm damage?
Thank you, Pe! We should actually go raving together someday! I’m sure you would be a lot of fun!
That makes a lot of sense, i.e. the chronology you mention. I’m just eager and impatient sometimes! 😅 but I am enjoying the ride!
No storm damage here fortunately — it was mainly Scotland and Ireland but thanks a lot for your kind wishes!
👍
Dupree!!! Me know Coati's music well but not this track. Getting the weekend started right! Saw him many times with Kid Creole & the Coconuts dancing all night at the Ritz!. My #1 band. I will keep this article handy but don't tell Randy! I have ZE Records connects with Snuky Tate's ZE "He's the Groove." He recorded for 109 Records in 89 and I posted his unreleased track "I'm a Rate-ist (Nancy Stole the Borrowed Jewels)" track soundclud.com/stevegabe w the /Maxi-EP "Check This Out!" My Island article leaves out the Champion Ent incident, Mottola's company of Cherchez la fame. An incident I had talked about on my substack pod The Night I Met Junior Wells. I had a run-in with their henchman "Randy" in 83 working at Island. He threatened me over the phone that if I didn't give him the ZE Records Kid Creole Masters before he got on the plane to London, he'd ______ me up. I told him I'm just a publicity assoc., not authorized to release master tapes without approval. I'm here alone making dupes, and no one else is in the office. I'll call Ron. He's on his way home. Randy said, not good enough. I'm coming to get the tapes now, and you better not stop me. I said, you do that. I'll be here, and maybe by that time, he'll be home and give me approval. I hung up, called Ron Shapiro, and kept making dupes and the big shot never showed. I eventually got my boss on the phone, and he said I did the right thing. That's the music biz, more gangster than people know. Tropical Gangster! Now who's the Stool Pidgeon?
😂 Great story Steve and researching these posts is always a discovery for me also. I did not know that Me No Pop I wasn't even a hit on the US dance floors. As I wrote in the piece, I can understand why, but at the same time it is odd. Snuky Tate is one of the best ZE releases. Great song ! Gonna dive in to your substack post. Thanks for reading & reacting. Have a great weekend !
TY TY love it great weekend my friend one 💕...cool Puerto Rican cat...
Thanks for reading & reacting Carlos. He's one of the greatest. I was always a fan, even more after writing this week's episode. Enjoy your weekend !