I Love Kokomo

[HeyJude]

 the fact that the song was also played at *every* show pretty much that they ever did starting in 1988 when it became a hit, might have contributed to the burnout factor a bit for some fans.

However, which of their Number Ones have not been played at *every* show since 1988 (and long before, since they're all 20+ years older)?  I don't think there's much burnout factor concerning "I Get Around", "Rhonda", and "Good Vibrations", is there?

Which is precisely why I mentioned, in the beginning portion of the sentence quoted above, but left out of the quote:

"So, while I again wouldn't begrudge including a #1 in their setlist"

I was simply positing some possible reasons why some who, while not disliking the song, might have been a bit more inclined to be burned out on it. It was all over radio and TV in 1988/89 in a way those old #1 hits were not. Solely from a live show point of view, "Kokomo" was of course not any more ubiquitous than any of their other hits. But in terms of pop culture back when the song was released, "Kokomo" was the only BB song regularly being played on MTV, VH1, etc.

[HeyJude]

If Brian had written it and released it on his debut album, everyone would still be raving about what a fantastic return to form it was and how genius it was etc.

Untrue.

HeyJude is right; the reaction that a good number of fans have to the song (tending to dislike it, or at least be put off by too much praise for the song) has everything to do with Mike excessively praising the song, and excessively bringing it up as an example of why he is such a great songwriter sans Brian.

If Brian had written Kokomo, and kept going on and on and on about what a kick-ass songwriter he is for writing Kokomo, people would similarly tire of hearing about that at a certain point.

I "get" why Mike does it, I "get" how someone's psychological craving for praise and recognition could lead them to repeatedly boast about a song like this... but in the context of the band's catalog, it does become more than a bit "much" for many people to handle. If one is to cut Mike some slack for repeatedly boasting about Kokomo, one should also understand why many people are put off *specifically* by that boasting.

It's a very good song. No doubt. But Good Vibrations it ain't. Yet if one hadn't yet heard a note of either song, but just heard interviews of Mike talking about both songs, they'd probably come away with the impression that GV + Kokomo are both relative equals in terms of kick-ass-ness. Just because they both hit #1, they are not equals in the slightest.

And I say all this as a fan of Kokomo. I dig it a lot.

In your opinion.

When we're talking about which songs we think are good, or which songs are better or worse than others, what *isn't* an opinion?

I mean, I guess we can try to look at various critics "Top 100" or "Top 500" lists, which is still all opinion but perhaps is more indicative of a some sort of consensus among critics. I'm pretty sure when Mojo or Record Collector does their "100 Greatest Albums" or "500 Greatest Songs" polls, you don't tend to see "Kokomo" or the "Still Cruisin'" album on those lists, while numerous other BB albums and songs do appear.

There are plenty of weird, often derided songs that I love. As long as I like it, that's all that matters.

In the case of the BBs and "Kokomo", it sometimes becomes a big "band politics" debate both from people that love and loathe the song. But I think most "hardcore" Beach Boys fans don't tend to hate the song, and admit the song is a solid, catchy song. That they don't think it belongs in the band's top tier of songs isn't a result of hating Mike Love, but just of having some relative objectivity about the quality of the song.

There are some days when I'd rather listen to "Santa Ana Winds" or "Make It Big" than "Cabinessence" or whatever. I may even, on the most basic "simple enjoyment" level, enjoy those songs more than "Cabinessence" sometimes. But I can also step back and say "Cabinessence" is a more significant, noteworthy song, recording, production, and performance.

[Jim V.]

Hey Iain! Let us know why you won't be putting out a Mike Love solo album? Why is it too costly? Was Mike asking for too much money? We're all super interested to know why that fell through.

[MarcellaHasDirtyFeet]

I adore Kokomo. When I started as a BB fan, I hated it and thought it was cheesy, etc. I finally bought Still Cruisin-- one of my last back catalogue purchases-- and started to enjoy it for its nostalgia factor and the cheese factor. Now, I just plain enjoy it. Carl friggin' Wilson singing like he actually believes it, a fantastic Mike Love hook, group harmonies, and the most 1980s New York sax solo this side of Saturday Night Live. It's a perfect pop song, and I'm glad the Boys got one more #1, no matter who it came from.

[Jukka]

Great song. I've always liked it. Catchy as hell and twice as hot.

[IainLee]

Hey Iain! Let us know why you won't be putting out a Mike Love solo album? Why is it too costly? Was Mike asking for too much money? We're all super interested to know why that fell through.

There's no real reason. It was an idea that my business partner and I were kicking around. We got really excited about it but then some exciting Monkees releases became available to us and we decided to focus on those. Never got round to approaching Mike. I'd still like to do it one day but it's not a priority.

[The LEGENDARY OSD]

Not too difficult to figure out why it's not a priority. The world, believe it or not, is not holding it's breath for it to happen nor will it ever be.

[IainLee]

Not too difficult to figure out why it's not a priority. The world, believe it or not, is not holding it's breath for it to happen nor will it ever be.

No. But it would be nice for it to have an official release. You may not want it, but some people would

 It's not a priority because my label specialises in Monkees related releases and we've got some good ones coming up. That's the only reason.

[Lonely Summer]

Not too difficult to figure out why it's not a priority. The world, believe it or not, is not holding it's breath for it to happen nor will it ever be.

No. But it would be nice for it to have an official release. You may not want it, but some people would

 It's not a priority because my label specialises in Monkees related releases and we've got some good ones coming up. That's the only reason.

More Monkees?  I can't imagine what. Their catalog has been issued and reissued more times than I can count. Would be nice to see the 1997 tv special finally get a dvd release - with a bonus disc of Billboard Live, 1996.

[Robbie Mac]

Not too difficult to figure out why it's not a priority. The world, believe it or not, is not holding it's breath for it to happen nor will it ever be.

No. But it would be nice for it to have an official release. You may not want it, but some people would

 It's not a priority because my label specialises in Monkees related releases and we've got some good ones coming up. That's the only reason.

More Monkees?  I can't imagine what. Their catalog has been issued and reissued more times than I can count. Would be nice to see the 1997 tv special finally get a dvd release - with a bonus disc of Billboard Live, 1996.

Monkees related, as in rare solo stuff like the obscure 70's singles Micky cut.

[bossaroo]

a catchy tune, but one I don't particularly care for.

Mike Love's contribution to the composition is rather small, just the "Aruba, Jamaica..." bit I believe, which was added to an otherwise finished song by John Phillips. but that doesn't stop Mike from basically claiming the song as his own and putting it on a pedestal with Good Vibrations and other Beach Boy classics that were actually written by Beach Boys.

 
to each their own. in my opinion, it's kind of an anti-Beach Boys song since Brian had no participation in its creation and it wouldn't have been nearly as successful without being attached to a Tom Cruise blockbuster. I don't think it holds up to repeated listens either, unlike the band's best work.

[kermit27]

it's kind of an anti-Beach Boys song since Brian had no participation in its creation

Come now, there have been many great BB songs that Brian didn't have a hand in. That doesn't make them anti-Beach Boys. Are you really going to discount 77% of Holland as "anti-Beach boys?"

[The LEGENDARY OSD]

a catchy tune, but one I don't particularly care for.

Mike Love's contribution to the composition is rather small, just the "Aruba, Jamaica..." bit I believe, which was added to an otherwise finished song by John Phillips. but that doesn't stop Mike from basically claiming the song as his own and putting it on a pedestal with Good Vibrations and other Beach Boy classics that were actually written by Beach Boys.

 
to each their own. in my opinion, it's kind of an anti-Beach Boys song since Brian had no participation in its creation and it wouldn't have been nearly as successful without being attached to a Tom Cruise blockbuster. I don't think it holds up to repeated listens either, unlike the band's best work.

Yes! And with kohkohmoh, we get the added benefit of myKe luHv forever pontificating about it forever and ever. I can easily hear the last word he'll ever utter being kohkohmoe.

[HeyJude]

it's kind of an anti-Beach Boys song since Brian had no participation in its creation

Come now, there have been many great BB songs that Brian didn't have a hand in. That doesn't make them anti-Beach Boys. Are you really going to discount 77% of Holland as "anti-Beach boys?"

I think the thing with "Kokomo" is that there is a weird irony in that while Brian isn't on it, it's pretty firmly rooted in the "Beach Boys" style that Brian created.

Stuff like "Here She Comes" or "Steamboat" or "Leaving This Town" weren't trying to ape anything to do with Brian's sound.

I've always found it funny that Mike things highly enough of "Kokomo" that, in "Endless Harmony" he talks about the song as if it was a cultural milestone or turning point in popular music; a *project* rather than a song; the way he says "Brian was called and asked to be a part of 'Kokomo'" I just find amusing for some reason. He doesn't say "asked to sing on Kokomo" or "asked to attend the Kokomo sessions", he says "asked to be a part of Kokomo" the same way you'd say "asked to be a part of a greater good" or something.

[Gerry]

Actually we're not all "super interested" to know why a Mike Love solo project fell through. Unless of course you were being sarcastic, which is sometimes hard to read. An entire album of Mike Love  material with Mike Love  singing lead is not what the doctor ordered. Now or ever. He's a mediocre talent with a genius cousin. Now that's a recipe for success.

[KDS]

it's kind of an anti-Beach Boys song since Brian had no participation in its creation

Come now, there have been many great BB songs that Brian didn't have a hand in. That doesn't make them anti-Beach Boys. Are you really going to discount 77% of Holland as "anti-Beach boys?"

Plus, even though Brian isn't on it, and had no hand it writing it, I have a hard time calling a track with great harmonies from Mike, Al, Carl and Bruce, plus a great Carl lead in the chorus an "anti-Beach Boys" song. 

[IainLee]

Actually we're not all "super interested" to know why a Mike Love solo project fell through. Unless of course you were being sarcastic, which is sometimes hard to read. An entire album of Mike Love  material with Mike Love  singing lead is not what the doctor ordered. Now or ever. He's a mediocre talent with a genius cousin. Now that's a recipe for success.

In your opinion. 

[Gerry]

Yep, that of course is my opinion. Then again I don't stand to make any money by pumping up the legacy of Mike Love. By the way, i have always liked Mike. Some of this revisionist history is a little hard to stomach though.

[IainLee]

Yep, that of course is my opinion. Then again I don't stand to make any money by pumping up the legacy of Mike Love. By the way, i have always liked Mike. Some of this revisionist history is a little hard to stomach though.

Nor do I.

It must be hard for some to stomach, I'm sure.

[Lonely Summer]

a catchy tune, but one I don't particularly care for.

Mike Love's contribution to the composition is rather small, just the "Aruba, Jamaica..." bit I believe, which was added to an otherwise finished song by John Phillips. but that doesn't stop Mike from basically claiming the song as his own and putting it on a pedestal with Good Vibrations and other Beach Boy classics that were actually written by Beach Boys.

 
to each their own. in my opinion, it's kind of an anti-Beach Boys song since Brian had no participation in its creation and it wouldn't have been nearly as successful without being attached to a Tom Cruise blockbuster. I don't think it holds up to repeated listens either, unlike the band's best work.

Yes! And with kohkohmoh, we get the added benefit of myKe luHv forever pontificating about it forever and ever. I can easily hear the last word he'll ever utter being kohkohmoe.

I'm sure he'll devote an entire chapter to it in his upcoming autobio. "My cousin Brian and his shrink put out a big turkey of an album while I was riding high in the charts with Kokomo, the biggest selling single the Beach Boys ever had."