This article is about the British band. For the American musician who recorded under the name Kokomo, see Jimmy Wisner.
Kokomo are a British band[1] whose members were prime exponents of British soul in the 1970s.[2] They released three albums, and the second Rise & Shine was described as "the finest British funk album of the 1970s".[3]
Formed in May 1973 by Tony O'Malley and Terry Stannard, ex-members of the pop group Arrival, Kokomo's ten-piece line-up became: Dyan Birch (vocals), Frank Collins (vocals), Paddy McHugh (vocals), Tony O'Malley (keyboards, vocals), Alan Spenner (bass, vocals), Neil Hubbard (guitar), Mel Collins (saxophone), Jody Linscott (percussion), Terry Stannard (drums) and Jim Mullen (guitar).[2] Spenner and Hubbard were from the Grease Band, Birch, McHugh, Collins and O'Malley from Arrival and Mel Collins from King Crimson. Kokomo's first performance was at The Pheasantry, King's Road, Chelsea, in 1973, where the band's roadie Franky Blackwell coined the band's name.[4] Kokomo built an early reputation in the UK pub rock scene.[5] Linscott joined when the band played at Dingwalls and she performed with them whilst working there as a waitress.[6]
Musicians who played with the band at different times included: Glenn LeFleur (drums), Tony Beard (drums), John McKenzie (bass), Chris Mercer (saxophone), Andy Hamilton (saxophone), Mark Smith (bass), Neal Wilkinson (drums) and Neil Conti (drums).
Kokomo album and Bob Dylan
The band's first album Kokomo (1975)[7] was hailed by the NME as the best debut by a British band for several years. Inspired by the tight disciplined playing of Spenner and Hubbard, Kokomo was unusual among white soul bands, for its use of four featured vocalists. In 1975, Bob Dylan recruited the band to help record his Desire album. One song featuring the band, the Latin flavoured "Romance in Durango," appeared on the album; another, "Catfish," subsequently appeared on The Bootleg Series compilation. One track left behind was a disco funk version of "Hurricane".[2] Stannard, Linscott and Mullen left after the first album.[2] Kokomo's second album, Rise & Shine (1976), was viewed as a disappointment by the NME and the band quickly lost impetus. Both albums had sold poorly in Britain, but charted in the United States at No. 159 and Number No. 194 for the follow-up, whose lead track "Use Your Imagination" reached No. 81 in the US Billboard and R&Bchart in mid-1976.
Hiatus and further releases
In January 1977 an indefinite hiatus was announced, with band musicians going separate ways. The last studio album, released in 1982 after an extended sabbatical,[2] contained a minor hit single in "A Little Bit Further Away", which peaked at Number 45 in the UK Singles Chart.[8] In the Netherlands, it reached number 4.
Second hiatus and re-emergence
Kokomo continued to perform with a fluid line up, until Spenner died in August 1991. In May 2008, Kokomo was reformed with Mel Collins, Tony O'Malley, Neil Hubbard, Mark Smith, Adam Phillips, Andy Hamilton, Paddy McHugh, Dyan Birch, Frank Collins, Bernie Holland and Glenn Le Fleur. In 2009, bass player Mark Smith died at his Battersea, London home.[9][10]
2014 reunion and present
In August 2014, Sue Martin from Rootsaroundtheworld.com promoted a Kokomo revival tour which was received well at clubs in London. The personnel for these shows included Tony O'Malley (keyboard & vocals), Frank Collins (vocals), Dyan Birch (vocals first show only), Paddie McHugh (vocals), Helena-May Harrison also known as Miss May (vocals), Neil Hubbard (guitar), Jim Mullen (guitar), Jennifer Maidman (bass), Nigel Hitchcock (saxophone), Frank Tontoh (drums), Glenn LeFleur (percussion).[11] Further shows followed in 2014.
Further shows in 2015/2016 featured seven of the original members (Tony O'Malley (keyboard & vocals), Frank Collins (vocals), Paddie McHugh (vocals), Neil Hubbard (guitar), Jim Mullen (guitar), Mel Collins (saxophone), Jody Linscott (percussion)) plus Jennifer Maidman (bass), Helena-May Harrison (vocals) and Frank Tontoh (drums). Kokomo appeared at the Royal Festival Hall, London on 21 November 2015 with the Average White Band as part of the EFG London Jazz Festival.
Kokomo (1982)[12] (produced by Leo Graham and James Mack)
The Collection (1992)
Live in Concert, 1975 (1998)
To Be Cool (2004) [recorded 1974)
Live at The Venue, 1981 (2014)
References
^"Kokomo". soulwalking.co.uk. Retrieved 14 December 2012.
^ abcdeThompson, Dave (5 October 2004). "Kokomo – Music Biography, Credits and Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 14 December 2012.
^Thompson, Dave. "Rise and Shine! – Kokomo : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 14 December 2012.
^"Tony O'Malley in Conversation – Mick Cox / Isle of Wight Festival / Arrival / Kokomo. 5 of 10". 21 January 2010. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 14 December 2012 – via YouTube.
The Illustrated New Musical Express Encyclopedia of Rock: Edited by Nick Logan and Bob Woffinden (1977).
CD liner notes for The Collection (1991): by Michael Heatley of Vox Magazine.
External links
Official Kokomo web site
Kokomo Live
Kokomo Live
Tony O'Malley
Frank Collins Collins interviewed by Keef Trouble on his life in the music business
Dailymotion.com
Press reviews of Kokomo
May 04, 2023
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This article is about the British band For the American musician who recorded under the name Kokomo see Jimmy Wisner Kokomo are a British band 1 whose members were prime exponents of British soul in the 1970s 2 They released three albums and the second Rise amp Shine was described as the finest British funk album of the 1970s 3 KokomoOriginLondon EnglandGenresSoul funkYears active1973 1991 2008 20092014 presentMembersFrank CollinsTony O MalleyNeil HubbardMel CollinsJim MullenJody LinscottJennifer Maidman Helena May Harrison Frank TontohPast membersDyan BirchAlan SpennerTerry StannardGlenn LeFleurTony BeardJohn McKenzieChris MercerAndy HamiltonMark SmithNeal WilkinsonNeil ContiAdam PhillipsBernie Holland Paddie McHughWebsitehttp www kokomo band Contents 1 Formation and personnel 2 Kokomo album and Bob Dylan 3 Hiatus and further releases 4 Second hiatus and re emergence 5 2014 reunion and present 6 Discography 7 References 8 Bibliography 9 External linksFormation and personnel EditFormed in May 1973 by Tony O Malley and Terry Stannard ex members of the pop group Arrival Kokomo s ten piece line up became Dyan Birch vocals Frank Collins vocals Paddy McHugh vocals Tony O Malley keyboards vocals Alan Spenner bass vocals Neil Hubbard guitar Mel Collins saxophone Jody Linscott percussion Terry Stannard drums and Jim Mullen guitar 2 Spenner and Hubbard were from the Grease Band Birch McHugh Collins and O Malley from Arrival and Mel Collins from King Crimson Kokomo s first performance was at The Pheasantry King s Road Chelsea in 1973 where the band s roadie Franky Blackwell coined the band s name 4 Kokomo built an early reputation in the UK pub rock scene 5 Linscott joined when the band played at Dingwalls and she performed with them whilst working there as a waitress 6 Musicians who played with the band at different times included Glenn LeFleur drums Tony Beard drums John McKenzie bass Chris Mercer saxophone Andy Hamilton saxophone Mark Smith bass Neal Wilkinson drums and Neil Conti drums Kokomo album and Bob Dylan EditThe band s first album Kokomo 1975 7 was hailed by the NME as the best debut by a British band for several years Inspired by the tight disciplined playing of Spenner and Hubbard Kokomo was unusual among white soul bands for its use of four featured vocalists In 1975 Bob Dylan recruited the band to help record his Desire album One song featuring the band the Latin flavoured Romance in Durango appeared on the album another Catfish subsequently appeared on The Bootleg Series compilation One track left behind was a disco funk version of Hurricane 2 Stannard Linscott and Mullen left after the first album 2 Kokomo s second album Rise amp Shine 1976 was viewed as a disappointment by the NME and the band quickly lost impetus Both albums had sold poorly in Britain but charted in the United States at No 159 and Number No 194 for the follow up whose lead track Use Your Imagination reached No 81 in the US Billboard and R amp B chart in mid 1976 Hiatus and further releases EditIn January 1977 an indefinite hiatus was announced with band musicians going separate ways The last studio album released in 1982 after an extended sabbatical 2 contained a minor hit single in A Little Bit Further Away which peaked at Number 45 in the UK Singles Chart 8 In the Netherlands it reached number 4 Second hiatus and re emergence EditKokomo continued to perform with a fluid line up until Spenner died in August 1991 In May 2008 Kokomo was reformed with Mel Collins Tony O Malley Neil Hubbard Mark Smith Adam Phillips Andy Hamilton Paddy McHugh Dyan Birch Frank Collins Bernie Holland and Glenn Le Fleur In 2009 bass player Mark Smith died at his Battersea London home 9 10 2014 reunion and present EditIn August 2014 Sue Martin from Rootsaroundtheworld com promoted a Kokomo revival tour which was received well at clubs in London The personnel for these shows included Tony O Malley keyboard amp vocals Frank Collins vocals Dyan Birch vocals first show only Paddie McHugh vocals Helena May Harrison also known as Miss May vocals Neil Hubbard guitar Jim Mullen guitar Jennifer Maidman bass Nigel Hitchcock saxophone Frank Tontoh drums Glenn LeFleur percussion 11 Further shows followed in 2014 Further shows in 2015 2016 featured seven of the original members Tony O Malley keyboard amp vocals Frank Collins vocals Paddie McHugh vocals Neil Hubbard guitar Jim Mullen guitar Mel Collins saxophone Jody Linscott percussion plus Jennifer Maidman bass Helena May Harrison vocals and Frank Tontoh drums Kokomo appeared at the Royal Festival Hall London on 21 November 2015 with the Average White Band as part of the EFG London Jazz Festival Discography EditKokomo 1975 produced by Chris Thomas Rise amp Shine 1977 produced by Brad Shapiro Kokomo 1982 12 produced by Leo Graham and James Mack The Collection 1992 Live in Concert 1975 1998 To Be Cool 2004 recorded 1974 Live at The Venue 1981 2014 References Edit Kokomo soulwalking co uk Retrieved 14 December 2012 a b c d e Thompson Dave 5 October 2004 Kokomo Music Biography Credits and Discography AllMusic Retrieved 14 December 2012 Thompson Dave Rise and Shine Kokomo Songs Reviews Credits Awards AllMusic Retrieved 14 December 2012 Tony O Malley in Conversation Mick Cox Isle of Wight Festival Arrival Kokomo 5 of 10 21 January 2010 Archived from the original on 21 December 2021 Retrieved 14 December 2012 via YouTube Kokomo Kokomo Retrieved 25 January 2016 Marcus Jerome Interview with Jodi Linscott Retrieved 18 January 2010 Kokomo Dinosaurdays Retrieved 14 December 2012 Roberts David 2006 British Hit Singles amp Albums 19th ed London Guinness World Records Limited p 306 ISBN 1 904994 10 5 Mark Smith dies by Robert Ashton Music Week Retrieved 4 November 2009 Doc Rock The Dead Rock Stars Club 2009 July to December Thedeadrockstarsclub com Retrieved 14 December 2012 Kokomo rootsaroundtheworld com Retrieved 11 April 2015 Kokomo 1982 Kokomo Songs Reviews Credits AllMusic AllMusic Retrieved 2 January 2017 Bibliography EditThe Illustrated New Musical Express Encyclopedia of Rock Edited by Nick Logan and Bob Woffinden 1977 CD liner notes for The Collection 1991 by Michael Heatley of Vox Magazine External links EditOfficial Kokomo web site Kokomo Live Kokomo Live Tony O Malley Frank Collins Collins interviewed by Keef Trouble on his life in the music business Dailymotion com Press reviews of Kokomo Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kokomo band amp oldid 1142390678, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
