Koo Koo
Encyclopedia
KooKoo is the debut solo album by the American
singer Debbie Harry
, released in 1981.
were taking a year long break from the band Blondie
. The album was produced by Nile Rodgers
and Bernard Edwards
of the 70s disco group Chic
, who had just had major success working with Diana Ross
on her 1980 album Diana
. Harry and Stein first met the pair at the Power Station recording studio in New York while Blondie were recording their 1979 album Eat To The Beat
, and they remained good friends in the intervening years. KooKoo was one of three albums to be (co)written and produced by Rodgers and Edwards in 1981, the other two being Chic
's fifth album Take It Off
and Johnny Mathis
' I Love My Lady which remains unreleased.
KooKoo showcased the early fusion of funk, rock and dance music that would become the trademark of Rodgers and Edwards, and this style would later be evident on albums such as David Bowie
's Let's Dance, Duran Duran
's Notorious, The Power Station
's self-titled debut album, and Robert Palmer's Riptide
. Backing vocals were provided by Mark Mothersbaugh
and Gerald Casale
of Devo
, credited as Spud and Pud Devo.
KooKoo reached #6 in the UK
and stayed in the charts for seven weeks, being certified "Silver" by the BPI
for sales in excess of 60,000 copies. The album reached #25 in the US and was certified "Gold" by the RIAA for sales in excess of 500,000 copies.
Originally only available on vinyl album and cassette, KooKoo was digitally remastered and re-issued on compact disc with two bonus tracks by EMI
in the UK in 1994, and again by Razor & Tie
in the US in 1999, this time with just one bonus track. The extended mix of the album track "Inner City Spillover" and the rest of the KooKoo album and 12" mixes were included in a 2011 release by Gold Legion.
. Based on a photograph of Harry taken by the renowned photographer Brian Aris, Giger created several variations of the cover (another of which is seen on the album's inner sleeve) in what Harry described as a combination of punk
, acupuncture
and sci-fi. Harry stated that the album title came to her after she saw Giger's completed work, and although she had misgivings about the conceptual ideas behind the artwork (as she did not identify either the album or herself as "punk"), she was suitably impressed to use it anyway.
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For the promotion of KooKoo, Chrysalis Records
planned to display large posters of the album cover in various stations of the London Underground
. However, officials deemed the image of Harry with metal skewers going through her face and neck to be too disturbing. A TV ad campaign went ahead, however.
Promo videos were made for the tracks "Backfired" and "Now I Know You Know", both directed by Giger and filmed at his studio in Switzerland
. "Backfired" featured a dark-haired Harry dancing superimposed over a backdrop of Giger's distinctive artwork, with Giger himself appearing in a semi-translucent face mask. "Now I Know You Know" featured Harry in a long black wig and a form-fitting bodysuit painted with Giger's unusual artwork, dancing around in a small set furnished with Giger's "bio-mechanical" design work.
", which peaked at #32 in the UK and #43 in the US in August 1981, and "The Jam Was Moving
" which reached #82 in the US but failed to chart in the UK.
A third single, "Chrome", was only released in some parts of Europe and also failed to chart. Another track, "Jump Jump", was only released as a single in Peru
.
Side B:
Bonus Tracks CD Re-issue UK 1994
Bonus Track CD Re-issue US 1999
Bonus Tracks CD Re-Issue 2011
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer Debbie Harry
Debbie Harry
Deborah Ann "Debbie" Harry is an American singer-songwriter and actress, best known for being the lead singer of the punk rock and new wave band Blondie. She has also had success as a solo artist, and in the mid-1990s she performed and recorded as part of The Jazz Passengers...
, released in 1981.
Album information
KooKoo was made while Harry and boyfriend Chris SteinChris Stein
Christopher "Chris" Stein is co-founder and guitarist in the New Wave band, Blondie. He is also a producer and performer for the classic soundtrack of the hip hop film Wild Style....
were taking a year long break from the band Blondie
Blondie (band)
Blondie is an American rock band, founded by singer Deborah Harry and guitarist Chris Stein. The band was a pioneer in the early American New Wave and punk scenes of the mid-1970s...
. The album was produced by Nile Rodgers
Nile Rodgers
Nile Gregory Rodgers is an American musician, producer, composer, arranger, and guitarist.-Biography:...
and Bernard Edwards
Bernard Edwards
Bernard Edwards born in Greenville, North Carolina, was a bass player and record producer, both as a member of the Funk/Disco band Chic and on his own. He died of pneumonia while touring in Japan.-History:...
of the 70s disco group Chic
Chic (band)
Chic was an African American disco and R&B band that was organized during 1976 by guitarist Nile Rodgers and bassist Bernard Edwards. It is known best for its commercially successful disco songs, including "Dance, Dance, Dance " , "Everybody Dance" , "Le Freak" , "I Want Your Love" , "Good Times"...
, who had just had major success working with Diana Ross
Diana Ross
Diana Ernestine Earle Ross is an American singer, record producer, and actress. Ross was lead singer of the Motown group The Supremes during the 1960s. After leaving the group in 1970, Ross began a solo career that included successful ventures into film and Broadway...
on her 1980 album Diana
Diana (album)
diana is a 1980 album by American R&B and soul singer Diana Ross, released by Motown. Her 11th studio album, it was, and still is, the biggest-selling studio collection of Ross' career.-Conception:...
. Harry and Stein first met the pair at the Power Station recording studio in New York while Blondie were recording their 1979 album Eat To The Beat
Eat to the Beat
Eat to the Beat is the fourth studio album by the American rock band Blondie. It reached no.1 on the UK album charts in October 1979, no.9 in Australia and no.17 in the US.-History:...
, and they remained good friends in the intervening years. KooKoo was one of three albums to be (co)written and produced by Rodgers and Edwards in 1981, the other two being Chic
Chic (band)
Chic was an African American disco and R&B band that was organized during 1976 by guitarist Nile Rodgers and bassist Bernard Edwards. It is known best for its commercially successful disco songs, including "Dance, Dance, Dance " , "Everybody Dance" , "Le Freak" , "I Want Your Love" , "Good Times"...
's fifth album Take It Off
Take It Off (album)
Take It Off is the fifth studio album by American R&B band Chic, released on Atlantic Records in late 1981. The album includes the single "Stage Fright" which did reach #35 on the US R&B chart, it was however the first Chic single failing to enter the US Pop charts, and the Take It Off album only...
and Johnny Mathis
Johnny Mathis
John Royce "Johnny" Mathis is an American singer of popular music. Starting his career with singles of standards, he became highly popular as an album artist, with several dozen of his albums achieving gold or platinum status, and 73 making the Billboard charts...
' I Love My Lady which remains unreleased.
KooKoo showcased the early fusion of funk, rock and dance music that would become the trademark of Rodgers and Edwards, and this style would later be evident on albums such as David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
's Let's Dance, Duran Duran
Duran Duran
Duran Duran are an English band, formed in Birmingham in 1978. They were one of the most successful bands of the 1980s and a leading band in the MTV-driven "Second British Invasion" of the United States...
's Notorious, The Power Station
Power Station (band)
Power Station was a 1980s supergroup made up of singer Robert Palmer, former Chic drummer Tony Thompson, and Duran Duran members John Taylor and Andy Taylor . Bernard Edwards, also of Chic, was involved on the studio side as recording producer. For a short time he also functioned as Power...
's self-titled debut album, and Robert Palmer's Riptide
Riptide (album)
Riptide is the ninth solo album by the British singer Robert Palmer, released in November 1985. It featured his hit single "Addicted to Love" which reached #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1986, helped by a memorable music video...
. Backing vocals were provided by Mark Mothersbaugh
Mark Mothersbaugh
Mark Allen Mothersbaugh is an American musician, composer, singer and painter. He is the co-founder of the new wave band Devo and has been its lead singer since 1972. His other musical projects include work for television series, films, and video games....
and Gerald Casale
Gerald Casale
Gerald Vincent Casale , often known as Jerry Casale, is a vocalist, bass guitar/synthesizer player, and a founding member of the new wave band Devo...
of Devo
Devo
Devo is an American band formed in 1973 consisting of members from Kent and Akron, Ohio. The classic line-up of the band includes two sets of brothers, the Mothersbaughs and the Casales . The band had a #14 Billboard chart hit in 1980 with the single "Whip It", and has maintained a cult...
, credited as Spud and Pud Devo.
KooKoo reached #6 in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and stayed in the charts for seven weeks, being certified "Silver" by the BPI
British Phonographic Industry
The British Phonographic Industry is the British record industry's trade association.-Structure:Its membership comprises hundreds of music companies including all four "major" record companies , associate members such as manufacturers and distributors, and hundreds of independent music companies...
for sales in excess of 60,000 copies. The album reached #25 in the US and was certified "Gold" by the RIAA for sales in excess of 500,000 copies.
Originally only available on vinyl album and cassette, KooKoo was digitally remastered and re-issued on compact disc with two bonus tracks by EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
in the UK in 1994, and again by Razor & Tie
Razor & Tie
Razor & Tie is a New York-based corporation founded in 1990 by Cliff Chenfeld and Craig Balsam. The company encompasses a record label with major label distribution , a home video company, a media buying company, a music publishing business, a marketing, promotion and sales team, and a direct...
in the US in 1999, this time with just one bonus track. The extended mix of the album track "Inner City Spillover" and the rest of the KooKoo album and 12" mixes were included in a 2011 release by Gold Legion.
Promotion
The cover art for the album was created by Swiss artist H.R. Giger, best known for his design work on the 1979 sci-fi/horror film AlienAlien (film)
Alien is a 1979 science fiction horror film directed by Ridley Scott and starring Tom Skerritt, Sigourney Weaver, Veronica Cartwright, Harry Dean Stanton, John Hurt, Ian Holm and Yaphet Kotto. The film's title refers to its primary antagonist: a highly aggressive extraterrestrial creature which...
. Based on a photograph of Harry taken by the renowned photographer Brian Aris, Giger created several variations of the cover (another of which is seen on the album's inner sleeve) in what Harry described as a combination of punk
Punk visual art
Punk visual art is artwork which often graces punk rock album covers, flyers for punk shows, and punk zines. It is characterised by deliberate violation, such as the use of letters cut out from newspapers and magazines, a device previously associated with kidnap and ransom notes, so the sender's...
, acupuncture
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a type of alternative medicine that treats patients by insertion and manipulation of solid, generally thin needles in the body....
and sci-fi. Harry stated that the album title came to her after she saw Giger's completed work, and although she had misgivings about the conceptual ideas behind the artwork (as she did not identify either the album or herself as "punk"), she was suitably impressed to use it anyway.
Chrysalis Records
Chrysalis Records was a British record label that was created in 1969. The name was both a reference to the pupal stage of a butterfly and a combination of its founders names, Chris Wright and Terry Ellis...
planned to display large posters of the album cover in various stations of the London Underground
London Underground
The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
. However, officials deemed the image of Harry with metal skewers going through her face and neck to be too disturbing. A TV ad campaign went ahead, however.
Promo videos were made for the tracks "Backfired" and "Now I Know You Know", both directed by Giger and filmed at his studio in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. "Backfired" featured a dark-haired Harry dancing superimposed over a backdrop of Giger's distinctive artwork, with Giger himself appearing in a semi-translucent face mask. "Now I Know You Know" featured Harry in a long black wig and a form-fitting bodysuit painted with Giger's unusual artwork, dancing around in a small set furnished with Giger's "bio-mechanical" design work.
Singles
Two singles were released from the album: "BackfiredBackfired
Backfired is the debut solo single from the American singer-songwriter and Blondie vocalist Debbie Harry. Released in 1981, it was taken from her debut solo album KooKoo.-Song information:...
", which peaked at #32 in the UK and #43 in the US in August 1981, and "The Jam Was Moving
The Jam Was Moving
-12" vinyl:-Chart positions:-External links:*...
" which reached #82 in the US but failed to chart in the UK.
A third single, "Chrome", was only released in some parts of Europe and also failed to chart. Another track, "Jump Jump", was only released as a single in Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
.
Track listing
Side A:- "Jump Jump" (Deborah HarryDebbie HarryDeborah Ann "Debbie" Harry is an American singer-songwriter and actress, best known for being the lead singer of the punk rock and new wave band Blondie. She has also had success as a solo artist, and in the mid-1990s she performed and recorded as part of The Jazz Passengers...
, Chris SteinChris SteinChristopher "Chris" Stein is co-founder and guitarist in the New Wave band, Blondie. He is also a producer and performer for the classic soundtrack of the hip hop film Wild Style....
) - 4:04 - "The Jam Was MovingThe Jam Was Moving-12" vinyl:-Chart positions:-External links:*...
" (Bernard EdwardsBernard EdwardsBernard Edwards born in Greenville, North Carolina, was a bass player and record producer, both as a member of the Funk/Disco band Chic and on his own. He died of pneumonia while touring in Japan.-History:...
, Nile RodgersNile RodgersNile Gregory Rodgers is an American musician, producer, composer, arranger, and guitarist.-Biography:...
) - 2:59 - "ChromeChrome (song)Chrome is a song by the American vocalist Debbie Harry, featured on her debut album KooKoo in 1981. The song was issued as an advance 12" promo in the United States with the album track "Under Arrest" as the B-side but it never had a commercial release...
" (Deborah Harry, Chris Stein) - 4:17 - "Surrender" (Bernard Edwards, Nile Rodgers) - 3:37
- "Inner City Spillover" (Deborah Harry, Chris Stein) - 5:04
Side B:
- "BackfiredBackfiredBackfired is the debut solo single from the American singer-songwriter and Blondie vocalist Debbie Harry. Released in 1981, it was taken from her debut solo album KooKoo.-Song information:...
" (Bernard Edwards, Nile Rodgers) - 4:54 - "Now I Know You Know" (Bernard Edwards, Nile Rodgers) - 5:39
- "Under Arrest" (Bernard Edwards, Deborah Harry, Nile Rodgers, Chris Stein) - 4:54
- "Military Rap" (Deborah Harry, Chris Stein) - 3:51
- "Oasis" (Bernard Edwards, Deborah Harry, Nile Rodgers, Chris Stein) - 4:59
Bonus Tracks CD Re-issue UK 1994
- "Backfired" 12" Mix - 6:23
- "The Jam Was Moving" 12" Mix - 5:03
Bonus Track CD Re-issue US 1999
- "Backfired" 12" Mix - 6:23
Bonus Tracks CD Re-Issue 2011
- "Backfired" 12" Mix
- "The Jam Was Moving" 12" Mix
- "Inner City Spillover" 12" Mix
Personnel
- Debbie Harry - vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
- Nile RodgersNile RodgersNile Gregory Rodgers is an American musician, producer, composer, arranger, and guitarist.-Biography:...
- guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, vocals on "Backfired" - Bernard EdwardsBernard EdwardsBernard Edwards born in Greenville, North Carolina, was a bass player and record producer, both as a member of the Funk/Disco band Chic and on his own. He died of pneumonia while touring in Japan.-History:...
- bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Tony ThompsonTony ThompsonAnthony T. "Tony" Thompson was a session drummer best known as a member of Chic. He was raised in the middle-class community of Springfield Gardens, in Queens, NY.-Chic:...
- drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person .... - Robert SabinoRobert SabinoRobert Sabino is an American rock keyboardist.. , The New York Times He was born and raised in the Bronx...
- keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments... - Raymond Jones - keyboards
- Nathaniel S. Hardy, Jr.Nathaniel S. Hardy, Jr.Nathaniel Sidney Hardy, Jr. is an American musician, composer, and keyboardist.- Biography :Nathaniel began his career as a band member in Baltimore's, Cherry Hill Junior High School marching band while growing up in the "Projects" of Cherry Hill...
- keyboards - Chris SteinChris SteinChristopher "Chris" Stein is co-founder and guitarist in the New Wave band, Blondie. He is also a producer and performer for the classic soundtrack of the hip hop film Wild Style....
- guitar - Vinnie Della Rocca - hornsHorn sectionIn music, a horn section can refer to several groups of musicians. It can refer to the musicians in a symphony orchestra who play the horn . In a British-style brass band it refers to the tenor horn players. In popular music, it can also refer to a small group of wind instrumentalists who augment a...
- Ray Maldonado - horns
- Sammy FigueroaSammy FigueroaSammy Figueroa is an American percussionist born in The Bronx, New York. At 18 he joined the band of bassist Bobby Valentín and also co-led the Brazilian/Latin fusion group Raices....
- percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration... - Manuel Badrena - percussion
- Roger Squitero - percussion
- Spud DevoDevoDevo is an American band formed in 1973 consisting of members from Kent and Akron, Ohio. The classic line-up of the band includes two sets of brothers, the Mothersbaughs and the Casales . The band had a #14 Billboard chart hit in 1980 with the single "Whip It", and has maintained a cult...
- backing vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists... - Pud DevoDevoDevo is an American band formed in 1973 consisting of members from Kent and Akron, Ohio. The classic line-up of the band includes two sets of brothers, the Mothersbaughs and the Casales . The band had a #14 Billboard chart hit in 1980 with the single "Whip It", and has maintained a cult...
- backing vocals - Fonzi ThorntonFonzi ThorntonFonzi Thornton, is an American singer, song writer/producer, stage performer and radio personality.Thornton has provided background vocals on albums by artists which include Aretha Franklin, Luther Vandross, Diana Ross, Ray Charles, Chic, Sheena Easton, Mariah Carey, David Bowie, Michael Jackson,...
- backing vocals - Chuck Martin - dog bark
Production
- Nile Rodgers - producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
for Chic Organization Ltd. - Bernard Edwards - producer for Chic Organization Ltd.
- Bill Scheniman - sound engineer
- Jason Corsaro - second engineer
- H. R. GigerH. R. GigerHans Rudolf "Ruedi" Giger is a Swiss surrealist painter, sculptor, and set designer. He won an Academy Award for Best Achievement for Visual Effects for his design work on the film Alien.-Early life:...
- cover concept and painting - Brian Aris - photographyPhotographyPhotography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
- Peter Wagg - art direction
- Dennis King - mastering at Atlantic Studios
- Recorded and mixed at The Power Station, NYC
Sources
- Cathay Che: "Deborah Harry: Platinum Blonde" André Deutsch Publications 1999, ISBN 0 223 99957 4.
- Debbie Harry, Victor Bockris & Chris Stein: "Making Tracks: The Rise Of Blondie" Horizon Book Promotions 1982, ISBN 0 440 55150 1.