Customer Reviews

Doppelganger

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
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If you don't know this record and the rest of the 'mimosa' trilogy, you are missing out on some of the most inventive music of the 80s. A combination of big band horn arrangements, R & B and dance with witty, knowing lyrics, this album is quite simply a classic.

The first time out, this album played well individually as singles (though no radio stations gave it the time of day)and as a very cohesive "story album". If you like hip street latin sounds (circa 1950-1982)meshed with wit, pop culture references, and sarcastic ironic hedonism, then this disc is for you, true believers!

Almost 20 years of waiting have paid off: Doppelganger is now available on CD. Scathing social commentary lurks behind fresh, exciting melodies. The unique fusion of styles and sounds render Doppelganger practically timeless.

Somewhere along the line it was thought that the musical landscape of the early 1980's was becomming sterile and mechanical,especially when it came to what was happening in the R&B world. Well into it stepped a band with a style and a sound that in any era would shatter conventional notions of what dancable pop should be. Stepping into the fray with a sound that blended cuban style big band music with funk and new wave Kid Creole & The Coconuts had a sound that truly defied musical catagory but all the same was so catchy and infectious no one could possibly care one way or the other. In the same way as Cab Calloway and more recent groups such as Culture Club and Oingo Boingo (with whom they also share strong musical similarities) "The Kid" (one August Darnell) managed to break himself from the big band disco stylings of his first band Dr.Buzzard's Original Savannah Band during the early 80's to this group,who began their career with a trio of albums that explored a loose theme similar to late 70's P-Funk and this album completes that trilogy. Since I haven't heard the rest of the albums in the series I will elect to judge this album purely on musical merits.

Weather or not anyone may be aware of it this album,musically anyway plays out as just about the most idea kind of party album you could have for the early 80's. Much as with the way Nile Rodgers always stuck witty sociological observations into the work of Chic so goes for Kid Creole but what really made the biggest impact to me was the music on here. The production,for one is absolutely first rate for the era and with updated R&B big band style fanfares such as "The Lifeboat Party" and the closing "The Seven Year Itch" as well as heavy duty modern day Cuban dance-pop sends ups such as a version if "If You Wanna Be Happy" and original tunes such as "Survivors" and "Bongo Eddie's Lament" and right there you already have a winning recipe for an all inclusive dance marathon. But it doesn't stop there. "There's Something Wrong In Paradise",with it's South African pop flavor as well as hardcore funk jams such as "Call Me The Entertainer" and "It's A Wonderful Life" never sacrifice any musical ambition over melodic construction and there's lots of both.

Also you have mixtures of all these styles,again similar to Culture Club's variety of Carribean pop/R&B (only more eccentric) such as "Broadway Rhythm" and the doo wopppy flavored "Back In The Field Again" that were actually very hit worthy for the day. The album also has a rocking new wave/disco style piece called "Underachiever" sung by the Coconuts themselves;yet another in a series of many songs by this band that celebrates intellectual nonconformity over a slacker mentality. One of the best things about this album is that,even though it concludes a long winded concept that actually took two other albums before it to complete how well it holds up as a piece of music on it's own. The two other parts of the trilogy I fully intend to get into at a later time but just about anything Darnell and Andy "Coati Mundi" Hernandez" do will draw me to it like a magnet. And I'm sure once you get captivated by the Kid Creole sound it will have that same addictive musical magnestism it had on me and everyone else who winds up caught up in the rhythmic and melodic spell this band seems to engender.

Kid Creole holds up well. Still a standout on an ipod--these songs SING! There's more PLEASING musical inventiveness here than in half of 2010's entire musical output. Just a quick comparison to the tinny twee tripe that's churned out daily makes one cry for an earlier, more talent-filled time. I miss you Kid, and the Coconuts too. A wonderful album.

this is a must have lp for any music collector...tight arrangements and beats that come alive to make you wanna dance. humorous and catchy lyrics, great back up singing, and infectious grooves to brighten your day.

for those of you unfamiliar with kid creole this is a must buy.by far,this is some of the kid's best material.it is an album that has no flaws start to finish!

fast service! cd plays great! (had this on tape years ago) check out kid creole you wont be sorry!

KID AND THE COCONUTS was once described as 'CALIPSO FUNK' and that pretty much does the job. lots of 'ilsand' type rythms and with a 40s sorta feel. its hard to describe. but i love it! if your not sure, listen to the samples and get a 'used disc' cheap to see for yourself. from what i see available here, i recomend 'doppleganger' (wish i could find 'you shoulda told me you were...' but such is life.)

theres 'something wrong in paradise' but not one thing wrong with this disc!

thanx for the great disc guys!