#1 Kokomo is a post rock band from Duisburg, Germany founded in mid-2008. Their first album, Matterhorn Bob and the Black Fair was released in November 2009 to a generally-positive reception. A 12" split with Kasan was also released that year. In April 2011, the band released their second album, If Wolves. Their sound is a combination of the atmosphere of post-rock, the soundscapes of ambient music and the turbulence of post-metal.
The band is comprised of Oliver L. (guitar), Rene S. (guitar), Benjamin H. (bass) and Tobias S. (drums).
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#2 Kokomo was a soul band that played the pub circuit in the 1970s in the United Kingdom.
"Kokomo has been described as the most authentic, and certainly the most traditional, funk band Britain produced during the 1970s"
The line-up was at first fairly stable, featuring a core of Dyan Birch (vocals), Frank Collins (vocals), Paddy McHugh (vocals), Tony O'Malley (keys, vocals), (all formerly in Arrival), Alan Spenner (bass), Neil Hubbard (guitar), Mel Collins (saxes), Jody Linscott (percussion), Terry Stannard (drums) and Jim Mullen (guitar).
After the first album in 1975, Jody Linscott and Jim Mullen left, and Terry Stannard was replaced by John Susswell.
Other musicians who played with the band at different times include : Glen LeFleur (drums), Tony Beard (drums), John McKenzie, musician (bass), Chris Mercer (saxophone), Andy Hamilton (saxes), Mark Smith (bass), Neal Wilkinson (drums), Neil Conti (drums). Mel Collins was an ex-King Crimson player, guitarist Neil Hubbard and bassist Alan Spenner previously worked with Joe Cocker's Grease Band, vocalist Frank Collins once led '60s pop sensations Arrival, whose lineup also included Kokomo's Dyan Birch and Paddie McHugh.
The band launched onto the U.K. pub rock scene where, until the advent of Roogalator and Supercharge during 1975, their loose-limbed funk workouts were in an absolute class of their own.
In 1975 Kokomo toured with Dr. Feelgood and Chilli Willi & The Red Hot Peppers, the so called Naughty Rhythms tour.
The original lineup split in 1977. Various version of the band continued to perform, but broke up again when Alan Spenner died in August 1991.
External links:
Wikipedia
Fan page (includes a discography, brief bio and pictures)
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#3 James J. Wisner (December 8, 1931 – March 13, 2018) was an American pianist, arranger, songwriter, and producer. He is best known for his hit single "Asia Minor", released under the name Kokomo.
Jimmy Wisner received classical training as a youngster, and attended Temple University as a psychology student in the late 1950s. He formed the Jimmy Wisner Trio in 1959 with Chick Kinney on drums and Ace Tesone on bass. This ensemble backed musicians who toured through Philadelphia, including Mel Torme, Carmen McRae, Dakota Staton, and the Hi-Lo's.
He released several full-length albums as a jazz musician, but in 1961 recorded a rock & roll adaptation of Edvard Grieg's Piano Concerto in A Minor, using shellac on the hammers of a cheap piano so as to effect a honky tonk sound. So as not to alienate his jazz fans, he released the tune, titled "Asia Minor", under the name Kokomo; he was turned down by 10 labels and had to release the track on his own label Future Records. The song became a hit, reaching #8 on the Billboard Hot 100, and #35 on the UK Singles Chart despite having been banned by the BBC. Wisner released further singles as Kokomo on his prior label, Felsted, but did not have another hit.
Following the success of "Asia Minor", Wisner launched a successful career as a songwriter, producer, and composer for film and television. He wrote "Don't Throw Your Love Away", a #1 UK hit for the Searchers in 1964, as well as the Tymes' "Somewhere", which went Top 20 in the UK. As a producer and arranger Wisner worked with Bobby Rydell (The Joker Newley-Bricusse from Roar of the Greasepaint) as well as numerous others including Freddy Cannon, Neil Sedaka, Bobby Vinton, Herbie Mann, Len Barry ("1 - 2 - 3"), Miriam Makeba, Judy Collins, Paul Evans, Spanky & Our Gang, Tony Bennett, the Cowsills, Carly Simon, Al Kooper, Iggy Pop, Barbra Streisand, Tommy James, Brigitte Bardot, and Roberto Carlos as well as Randy & the Rainbows. He also headed Columbia Records' A&R department from 1968 to 1969, where he recorded Donna Marie, who went on to perform with the Archies.
Wisner died on March 13, 2018, at age 86.
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#4 Kokomo is a surf/punk band from Glastonbury, Connecticut.
Asia Minor
Kokomo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They say I'm bad
They say I'm evil
And that makes me glad
A dirty no-good
Down to the bone
Your worst nightmare
So I've got some mischief
In my blood
Can you blame me?
I never got no love
They think I'm callous
A low-life hood
I feel so useless
Misunderstood
Mirror, mirror on the wall
Who's the baddest of them all?
Welcome to my wicked world, wicked world
I'm rotten to the core, core
Rotten to the core
I'm rotten to the core, core
Who could ask for more?
I'm nothing like the kid next—like the kid next door
I'm rotten to the (core), I'm rotten to the (core)
I'm rotten to the core.
Call me a schemer
Call me a freak
How can you say that?
I'm just... unique!
What, me? A traitor?
Ain't got your back?
Are we not friends?
What's up with that?
So I'm a misfit
So I'm a flirt
I broke your heart?
I made you hurt?
The past is past
Forgive, forget
The truth is...
You ain't seen nothing yet!
Mirror, mirror on the wall
Who's the baddest of them all?
Welcome to my wicked world, wicked world
I'm rotten to the core, core
Rotten to the core
I'm rotten to the core, core
Who could ask for more?
I'm nothing like the kid next—like the kid next door
I'm rotten to the (core), I'm rotten to the (core),
I'm rotten to the core
The lyrics to Kokomo's song "Asia Minor" express themes of rebellion, nonconformity, and being misjudged by society. The singer revels in being viewed as trouble, bad, and even evil. They take pride in being a misfit and not conforming to society's expectations. The singer also expresses some self-doubt and feelings of worthlessness but ultimately owns their rebellious nature.
The repeated phrase "Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the baddest of them all?" echoes the famous line from the Snow White fairytale, where the evil queen asks the magic mirror who is the fairest in the land. Here, the singer is embracing their supposed wickedness and reveling in their nonconformity.
The lyrics also touch on themes of friendship and forgiveness. While the singer acknowledges that they may have hurt others in the past, they ask for forgiveness and express hope that they can move forward.
Overall, "Asia Minor" is a song about embracing one's rebellious nature and not conforming to society's expectations, all while seeking forgiveness and understanding from those around them.
Line by Line Meaning
They say I'm trouble
People say that I am problematic
They say I'm bad
People say that I am not good
They say I'm evil
People say that I am wicked
And that makes me glad
I feel pleased that people think this way about me
A dirty no-good
I am filthy and have no positive qualities
Down to the bone
My lack of goodness is inherent in my character
Your worst nightmare
I am the person who will scare or harm you the most
Can't take me home
You cannot bring me to meet your family or take me seriously
So I've got some mischief
I have a tendency to cause trouble
In my blood
My inclination towards causing trouble is inherent and hereditary
Can you blame me?
Can you really fault me for this?
I never got no love
I have not received any love, affection or positive attention
They think I'm callous
People think I am cruel and insensitive
A low-life hood
I am an untrustworthy person with illegal connections
I feel so useless
I feel unimportant and worthless
Misunderstood
People do not fully understand me or my intentions
Mirror, mirror on the wall
An allusion to the fairy tale in the story of Snow White and the Evil Queen
Who's the baddest of them all?
Who is the most wicked and evil person out there?
Welcome to my wicked world, wicked world
I am inviting you to my evil and corrupted world
I'm rotten to the core, core
I am completely and utterly corrupt
Who could ask for more?
What else could you want from someone like me?
I'm nothing like the kid next—like the kid next door
I am nothing like the person who lives next door to me
Call me a schemer
You can call me someone who makes plans to harm others
Call me a freak
You can call me someone who is socially strange or abnormal
How can you say that?
How can you claim that I am this way?
I'm just... unique!
I am simply different from everyone else
What, me? A traitor?
Are you suggesting that I am disloyal?
Ain't got your back?
Do you think that I would not support you?
Are we not friends?
Don't you consider us to be friends?
What's up with that?
What's the reason for this accusation?
So I'm a misfit
I don't fit in with others in society
So I'm a flirt
I like to playfully show interest in others
I broke your heart?
Did I hurt your feelings?
I made you hurt?
Did I cause you emotional pain?
The past is past
What happened in the past cannot be changed
Forgive, forget
Let's move on from the past and make amends
The truth is...
The honest answer is...
You ain't seen nothing yet!
You haven't seen anything yet, there is much more to me that you don't know
Contributed by Lucas H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Alan Buxbaum
This is one of the all time great records!
TheJonaco
The first, and best, "rockin' the classics" record. Philly's Jimmy Wisner played a "tack piano" to get this sound. "The Wiz" became a producer/arranger and was part of countless hits in the '60s and beyond.
Wayne Currie
This was the first 45 I ever bought. I was 13. Great song.
MultiRedskins21
This tune is based on the introduction and first subject of the first movement of the Concerto in A Minor for Pianoforte & Orchestra, Op 16 composed in 1868 by Norwegian composer Edward Grieg (1843-1907). The title Asia Minor is a play on the key of the concerto.
Condy Love
This makes me wish I could play piano
Very good record
Franklin Chmara
I remember this song very well, I was 10 years old at the time, it was released in July 1961
Jim Hilliker
Love it. Thanks.
t40onbass
This dude went on to arrange Tommy James' records!
johnnynoirman
Greig would have love it.
Robert Orick
One wonders what any of the "classical masters", other than Aaron Copland, who lived long enough to hear it would have thought about Rock & Roll arrangements of their classical masterpieces.