Pitchforkmedia
April 2008


Even zoot suit-wearing "Tropical Gangsters" have childhoods, as evidenced by the appearance of a Kid Creole called "Going Places: The August Darnell Years 1974-1983".

Over the course of 15 tracks, 'Going Places" chronicles Creole's progress as a musician, producer, and writer, from his beginnings under the given name August Darnell-- as a member of Dr. Buzzard's Savannah Band-- through his development into the Coconut-fronting genre-masher known as Kid Creole.

DJ Guido of Paris DJs compiled the selections on Going Places, which include rare and extended versions of tracks finally making their first CD appearances. To top it all off, journalist Vivien Goldman wrote the liner notes included in the package.



Track List:

01 Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band: "Sunshower"
02 Don Armando's Second Avenue Rumba Band: "Goin' to a Showdown"
03 Kid Creole & the Coconuts: "Going Places (Zemix Version)"
04 Cristina: "Is That All There Is?"
05 Gichy Dan's Beachwood No. 9: "On a Day Like Today"
06 Machine: "There but for the Grace of God Go I (LP Version)"
07 Don Armando's Second Avenue Rumba Band: "I'm an Indian Too (12" Version)"
08 Aural Exciters: "Marathon Runner"
09 Coati Mundi: "Pharaoh (Can't Take It to the Grave)"
10 Aural Exciters: "Emile (Night Rate)"
11 Kid Creole: "He's Not Such a Bad Guy After All (12" Version)"
12 Ron Rogers: "Don't Play With My Emotions"
13 Kid Creole & the Coconuts: "Double on Back"
14 Aural Exciters: "Paradise"
15 Kid Creole & the Coconuts: "Off the Coast of Me"
[Edited 4/13/08 16:12pm]

I'm gonna get this.I already have a Kid Creole and the Coconuts greatest hits compilation,but it'll be interesting to hear songs from these other artists that Kid produced.

SoulAlive said:

Do you have any of the Savannah Band stuff? I STILL keep their songs on HEAVY rotation on my ipod !

Ottensen said:

I have their 1976 album.I see that "Sunshower" is included on this compilation

Wasn't the song "take me for a night in New York" by Elbow Bones produced by Kid Creole?

Ottensen,this is the album I have...

jn2 said:

never heard that one

SoulAlive said:

I have the 12" version - came out in 1983 I think.

this compilation is missing my favorite Kid Creole song:

"I'm A Wonderful Thing,Baby" (1982)

SoulAlive said:

You KNOW I have that

How about the tracks "Hard Times" and "We Got It Made"? Those are so LUSH.

I don't have the vinyl albums that came afterwards anymore (I lost them in a move), but I do have a lot of singles from their subsequent releases: they're straight up 30's swing, with disco bass and wah-wah pedals, smacked in the butt with rhumba percusion...GREAT STUFF

BlaqueKnight said:

Prince's Parade album was inspired by Kid Creole.

BlaqueKnight said:

Indeed.The entire Morris Day persona was inspired by Kid Creole.I can easily imagine Morris singing "I'm A Wonderful Thing,Baby".

I don't know much about him except for "Male Curiosity". I remember the videos, didn't the backup chicks have hair in their armpits?? Damn, I guess he did predate the Time huh, I never made that connection. Y'all good

...
I loved Dr Buzzard's Original Savannah Band and the music of August Darnell, aka Kid Creole! My favorite tracks:

With Dr Buzzard:

We Got It Made
Sunshower
Cherchez La Femme
An Organ Grinder's Tale
Mr. Love
Transistor Madness



with Machine:

There But For The Grace Of God Go I



With Kid Creole and the Coconuts:

Lifeboat Party
Dr. Paradise
I'm A Wonderful Thing, Baby
Endicott
You Can't Keep A Good Man Down
But I Got You
Annie, I'm Not Your Daddy
To Travel Sideways
People Will Talk






...
[Edited 4/15/08 8:32am]

...

Some soundz:


Dr Buzzard: Cherchez La Femme (Kid Creole is to the right, playing the Bass....)



Dr. Buzzard: We Got It Made/Night and Day




Machine: There But For The Grace Of God Go I




Kid Creole: I'm a Wonderful Thing




Kid Creole: Endicott




Kid Creole: Lifeboat Party( short excerpt)




Dr Buzzard: Sunshower








...

Endicott!! I remember that one too...

CalhounSq said:

that one's alot of fun very catchy and danceable

I might get this.

SoulAlive said:

I remember thinking it was catchy, but being slightly annoyed by it. I actually like in on this latest listen.

Lammastide said:

Annoying yes, but that shit used to stay in my head all the time

I just got this CD Gonna listen to it right now.

I also picked up 'The Very Best of Dr.Buzzard's Original Savannah Band' CD.

thanks guys.

CalhounSq said:

I always thought endicott was a swinger!

I listened to the CD and I love it Many of these songs I had never heard before,but they're very good.Interesting stuff! And the CD is packaged really nicely,with extensive liner notes and photos.

I recommend it

CalhounSq said:

I love that song.

minneapolisgenius said:

me too.

BlaqueKnight said:

Those were my joints along withIt's A Beautiful Thing & Endicott.
"Why Can't You Be Like Endicott?"
[Edited 5/12/08 10:10am]

magnificentsynthesizer said: