Kid Creole & The Coconuts, St. Jakobshalle, Basel Sun, 30-October-1983.
Kid Creole & The Coconuts is fascinating me in 1983. I have two albums of the band. I didn’t know that Winston Grennan is playing on one and who he is (at that time). Plus I never heard of the movie “There’s Something Wrong In Paradise” with Pauline Black.
I have seen a documentary on Swiss TV about Adriana Kägi (lead Coconut and wife of August Darnell better known as Kid Creole). She is tough and I’m fascinating. I love their album Tropical Gangster with two hit singles: “Annie I’m Not Your Daddy” and “Stool Pigeon”.
Stool Pigeon is a great soul/funk stomper with a great blend of tropical. To illustrate the power and dynamic on stage, I’ve also put a Rockpalast sample from 1982 of Annie, I’m Not Your Daddy. And for the real deal, there is the old video clip of Annie at third position.
Listen to that trombone in the tune. Isn’t it kind of Jamaican style? And then I just read, that Winston Grennan is featured on then album. And now, I know, why I love this music so much.
At that time I didn’t understand the whole story, but it was new and very entertaining. A mix of theater and musical with a great big band orchestra and live show. Yes, american, but with cultural aspects. Coati Mundi is the fun maker, while Kid Creole is the gangster and womanizer. Personally I was in love with Cheryl Poirier.
The tour was the Lifeboat Party, like this exemple.
My favourite tune from that album is “There’s Something Wrong In Paradise” here in a very strange version with the trombonist as the whole band (laugh).
And another very strange version of the tune…
And there is a whole movie called “There’s Something Wrong In Paradise” feat. Pauline Black as Mimi.