John Phillips - Kokomo - a LOT better!

[bsten]

Just listened to the John Phillips version of "Kokomo" - a lot different - and a LOT better than Mike + the BB's version (IMHO)! It has Denny Doherty on lead vocals. From the album "Many Mamas, Many Papas" BTW. On there you'll also find "Fairy tale girl - Somewhere near Japan"...

http://www.discogs.com/John-Phillips-Featuring-Denny-Doherty-Spanky-McFarlane-MacKenzie-Phillips-And-Scott-McKenzie-Many-Ma/release/2463455

I also highly recommend Denny Doherty's version of "To Cludia on Thursday" from "California 99".

You can hear 'em on Spotify...

/B

[drbeachboy]

I like it, and it is quite different, but no way is it better. This version would not have been a #1 hit like The Beach Boys version.

[punkinhead]

I like it, and it is quite different, but no way is it better. This version would not have been a #1 hit like The Beach Boys version.

I actually just listened to those two a while ago and meant to post but never did. I just re listened and really enjoyed both Kokomo and Somewhere Near Japan. When did these versions come out?

[RangeRoverA1]

2 the original poster, bsten: Where's a link, sir? Or maybe some tips where I & Co. can find the subject, the name of the site? Thanks in advance. [Without listening, I'm almost certain The BBs did better on this.]

[Ron]

Yeah I gotta agree, the Beach Boys version was pretty damn good, it's hard for me to believe Papa John and Denny did a better job. 

[Lonely Summer]

I'm sure the cool, hip thing to say is Phillips did a better version, because, of course, Kokomo is the symbol of all we love to hate about latter day Beach Boys - cheesy video, John Stamos, but mostly that Mike co-wrote it  and it sold billions!

[punkinhead]

I'm sure the cool, hip thing to say is Phillips did a better version, because, of course, Kokomo is the symbol of all we love to hate about latter day Beach Boys - cheesy video, John Stamos, but mostly that Mike co-wrote it  and it sold billions!

Right on

I like them as like "original incarnations," if that's what they were, but really, if I didnt know who was singing, I'd think these were tribute tunes where the artist did their "own spin" on the songs. Also, kinda reminds me of how there's a version (on a Doris Day album) of Happy Endings but sung by Terry Melcher, I'm not sure when that album came out, but a friend of mine said that this version was sort of a demo for the BB to go by for their version. And in this case, I'm not trying to sound hip, but this version (Terry's, the original composer) is SO SUPERIOR to the BB version. I've actually never really liked the BB version, but after just one listen to the Melcher version, I fell in love with the tune. It's much more basic.