Kid Creole

Going Places

The August Darnell Years, 1974-1983

(Strut)

Record Review by Sean P. Lambert

Ah, we’re taking another musical trip back in time to recall the writing, performing and production skills of the “Tropical Gangster” known as Kid Creole, the imaginative persona of one August Darnell. What makes this compilation notable is how Darnell cleverly incorporated Latin rhythms with pop rock production values, peppering his whole pot with horn-filled Cab Calloway showmanship and George Clinton way-out beats. Cristina’s reworking of Peggy Lee’s delightfully maudlin “Is That All There Is?” is ambitious as it is complex, exploring the musical template further than Ms. Lee would have ever wanted to. “There But For The Grace of God,” by Machine and “Double On Back,” where Darnell takes over the lead man duties fronting Kid Creole & The Coconuts display a definite disco flare that is infectiously fun. The same could be said of the war whoop laden “I’m An Indian Too,” by Don Armando’s Second Avenue Rhumba Band. Everything here is boldly unapologetic, packed with creative clowning that makes for some awesome sounds.