KOKOMO - I Can Understand It - Part 1 - with Tony O'Malley

[tenyearsman]

Aaaaw. Saw these a couple of times. Just a great band. Bought one of their albums but they were so much better live. If they ever read this - Thank you so much.

[toscana4me]

Still loving it! Great memories xxxx

[hooptyhee1]

Did you remix this, Tony? it sounds a lot clearer than when you first posted it.

[millions2nette]

Love this song!!!

[garyhope2]

I saw them at Starwood in LA back in the 70's. The whole band on stage. I still have the album. Remember that stuff called vinyl?

[stepenwolf7]

This is superb, proper music played by proper musicians, well done you lot

[departments2006]

man, this is the mutts nuts. You lot really ought to get your arses on a few more stages around London PDQ.

[brocade509]

How fabulous to again see & hear my favourite band at the Hope & Anchor c.1975 !

Kokomo was so hot & funky, used to dance dance dance !!

[brigader4heart]

i never did see them live but remember the music from arrival and then kokomo and bought the first album,regret not catching them live.

i seem to remember dyan birch singing back up for either roxy music or bryan ferry during lates 70s or early 80s.

kokomo though were a vastly under rated soul full band.

[7mercs]

Saw them at sussex Uni in the 70s souded good the sound good now.

[daubreyjaneweirdsley]

The great tragedy for Kokomo was that they came at a time that was post late 60's raw roots soul funk and pre punk. Sadly the new rock music had moved away..a disaster in my view... from its r'n' b roots with the exception of Dr Feelgood. I saw Kokomo many times at the Hope and Dingwalls and they were the best live band in the UK. Up there in my view with Little Feat, Delaney & Bonnie, Mad Dogs & Englishmen & Van Morrison's backing band & superior to AWB. I adored Dyan Birch. Love to them all.

[bobrouse]

Saw these back in the seventies at the 100 club Oxford Street and Freddie King was in the audiance and ended up on stage doing a number with them brillient

[Davidftz]

You were such an inspiration to me (and to many musician friends) in my early days in London during the 70's (when I was playing with Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band). I used to see you play all over London - most memorable gigs were at the lovely Dingwalls (in Camden). Still listen to your excellent albums. Thanks to you Tony, the excellent Dyan, Paddy & Frank - love you guys! - and to Mel especially. Thanks for so many wonderful memories & RIP dear Alan.

[edrumal]

Oh sweet memories, The Torrington, North Finchley sometime in the 70s, brings it all back. I never forget the Hammersmith odeon when they simply outperformed AWB who had exchanged raw funk for shmaltzy soul.

Hope you're still around - let me know if you ever make it to Spain

[Sendmommy0524]

"I'm H.A.P.P.Y. Yes, I am, I know I am." They rocked this out on the original release back in 1975. Boy this was killer stuff. Glad to see they are still singing this song together. Great memories of happy times come along with the sweet sax on this record. Thanks so much for posting this!!

[Artstaristic]

Just found this site! In those Halcyion days I recall seeing Kokomo at the Greyhound in Croydon! That was the gig that was !!! But what's that they say about old wine! Great!

[joelarama]

Love Alison harmonising..Is the keyboard player playing? Twas rather embarassing at one point. But not really.

[yopy58]

Arnhem at the musis sacrum must be 1975 or six.

Great performance,thousand times better than all that bullshit now a days.The music now theyre all sound the same!

[kokomoization]

in the early 70s, they were london's answer to kool & the gang, with the musicianship of stuff, the vocals of the sweet inspirations, and ladbroke grove's version of james jamerson -- the late, amazingly funky, very funny, tragically missed alan spenner, on bass. american funk 'n' soul marinated in draught guinness, scrumpy, and five varieties of westbourne grove hashish. probably the best live band i've ever experienced. oh, for a time machine to take back to the hope & anchor, or dingwalls.

[wr7918]

Great to see them still having fun! I wonder who are playing in the rear end of this room. Is that Neal and Jim over there? Alan passed away, that's a pity. I saw this happy bunch supporting The Stones in The Hague somewhere in 1976. I already knew and loved their debut LP so in fact for me they were (and are) the main act!

[OMalleyTony]

Hi wr7918.

Glad you like it.

Line up in the text.

Frank talks about his times in Kokomo et al in a playlist on the channel page.

best wishes.

[e37a]

Miami Jai Alai Fronton in '76...place held 5,000 people, but, people were sitting on the floor, in the aisles,against the walls...they opened for the legendary AWB. One of the 10 best concerts I ever saw!! Thanks for the memories and the post!!

[field231055]

saw them at hyde park and the rainbow great days

[richardwilson1234]

OMG I'd forgotten this song.. brings back good memories berkshire college of ed. in the seventies. And Dingwalls later on when we all moved to london. Brilliant. Are they still touring?

[markmarkmark54]

Brings back memories! I've still got the first album on vinyl - fantastic sound! Couldn't find a posting of 'Anytime' (my favourite); anychance?

[blueingreen84]

you have to come to BARCELONA please!! jeje! congratulations!

[Shivalan]

Awesome

[bloodwynpig7]

Thought I'd do a search for this n that and WOW! I saw this band at Edinburgh University Health Cent in 70's Brilliant. Think they were with AWB. Might have been Chilli Willi and Red Hot Peppers can't remember.

[simonbnyc]

This is amazing! Saw Kokomo open for AWB in 76 also. Seriously funky! Thanks so much for posting.

[hooptyhee]

Kokomo were absolutely great--they opened for AWB on their Scottish homecoming in Edinburgh in '76, I think, and absolutely stole the show--the "Kokomo Kids" should have recorded for Motown!

[sunhouserecords]

Great rare fooage.

[kevinandrewmoore]

This is sending shivers down my spine, just wonderful to see it!

[degsy49]

Shit hot tony! Dyan is still very lovely. I was in love with her at 15, 53 now lol

[terrysexon]

sweet memories

seen them at dury lane and also hammy odeon

they stole the entire night as support to the AWB!

i m glad i was around to see this soulful band

[PeekingThru]

Great music. The lead singer (Tony) needs to be more of the 'show piece' instead of the backup singers. They need to be placed more towards the back of the stage.