KooKoo [ORIGINAL RECORDING REISSUED]

Debbie Harry

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 12, 1999)
• Original Release Date: 1981
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued
• Label: Razor & Tie
• ASIN: B00000GUZP
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #259,240 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Way Ahead of Her Time, December 2, 1999

By	Steven Oliver (Seattle, Washington) - See all my reviews

An avid Blondie fan I remember not knowing what to think about this record when I first heard it. Listening to it now I realize that Deborah was way ahead of her time. The stand out song for me in "Now I Know You Know" which is the most beautiful jazz ballad I've ever heard. I wish someone would do a remix of it. Other great songs include Chrome and Inner City Spill Over. I think if Deborah had kept her Blondie Persona this album would have been a huge hit. She should of made sure that she had everyone one that she started with before jumping off and doing something as bold and daring as this. However Deborah's willingness to venture into new and untried territory is one of the things I love and admire about her. Buy this CD and give it a good listen. It will grow on you. I notice that people always put this record down but how funny it is that it is still in print and selling almost 20 years later.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Debbie Does Her Own Thing, March 19, 2005

By	Andre S. Grindle "Andre' Grindle" (Brewer Maine) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

After four highly sucessful albums with the group Blondie the multi-talented Debbie Harry decided to make a go of a solo career.She very wisely chose the production team of Chic's Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers for the studio work-their groups influnce was heard strongly on Blondie's "Rapture" a year earlier and on songs such as "Jump Jump","Surrender" and "Backfired" Harry does a superb job of bettering that earlier tune's funky rock approch.But characteristically she is too much of a musical eclectic to remain confined to a single style-"Jam Was Moving" and "Chrome" both have a spikey new-wave approch whilst maintaining a strong groove while on "Inner City Spillover" she flirts with a poppish reggae rhythm.The ballad "Now I Know You Know" has a much more melodramatic reading then anything Blondie ever did and she continues to maintain her own experimental elan throughout the rest of the album.So to end this review to I prefer 'Koo Koo' to Blondie last three records?I wouldn't say that but while Blondie was (as Harry has admitted) more from the new wave rock scene this album stands out with a much more groove centered funk style.They're all matched to terrific songs but this album was a success for her and,such as it was something of a final nail in Blondie's coffin as a group.But still,what a way to begin a career!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars PEDIGREE LARGER THAN THE SPIKES THROUGH HER FACE, October 11, 2004

By	ryan (high above all else) - See all my reviews

KooKoo is the END ALL PROOF of how ahead of their time, and simply brilliant, Debbie Harry and Chris Stein are. Three short years later the same collaborators, Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards of CHIC ('70's disco), produced Like A Virgin for Madonna. It is interesting to wonder if she ever would have acchieved the stratisphere she occupies today without THEM (Rodgers & Edwards) on THAT release.
At the height of Blondie's international domination Debbie Harry meant to create something different. Unfortunately it came with built-in expectations - and under ridiculous scrutiny. My own included. At 15 years old I wasn't ready to give up my favorite ROCK star to the R&B world. - even after AutoAmerican. I remain doubtlessly convinced if KooKoo was the beginning of Debbie Harry's career it would have occupied more shelf space than the Material Girl ever has. KooKoo's relative failure in 1981 is the public's loss and NOT Debbie Harry's.
After 23 years of adulation it is impossible for me to list stand out tracks. Each one is so perfectly executed. But I can PROMISE if you give this selection a few listens it will reward you with a rich and indescribably satisfying experience. I would ALMOST guarantee your $$ back from my own pocket. ENJOY!