WHA-KOO – Berkshire
![[Image: R-1675172-1236153823.jpeg.jpg]](https://img.discogs.com/H_sXQpg9DLgdwPX7vdgxif_3eug=/fit-in/300x300/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-1675172-1236153823.jpeg.jpg)
Another one of those vinyl freebies. I think “(You’re Such a) Fabulous Dancer” might have been hovering around in the deep dark recesses of my mind, but certainly nothing else Wha-Koo did and I wouldn’t have been able to put a name to the band.
A soft rock (mostly) outfit, hailing from LA, they were short-lived – three years to be precise (’77, ’78 and ’79) during which time they made three albums, one for each year they were in business. Berkshire seems to be their most critically acclaimed record, and a bit like Rodriguez, they appear to have been more popular in Australia, Kiwiland and SA than in their native USA which may account for the locally (not very well) pressed record I now own. Confusingly, there is absolutely no correlation whatsoever between the track listing on the album cover (and on the inner sleeve) and the actual order of play on the disc! It’s never been released on CD, and I can’t figure out where the title came from, or why the bug-eyed plaid on the album cover. If anyone has any clue – please do tell!
There are a couple of tracks that stand out, but I’m sorry to say that on the whole – this sounds tired and dated and I will probably not listen to it again.
This was the line-up:
Bass – Peter Freiberger
Drums – Claude Pepper
Engineer – Herman Rojas
Guitar, Lead Vocals – Nick Van Maarth
Keyboards – Richard Kosinski
Lead Vocals, Guitar – Danny Douma
Lead Vocals, Tambourine – David Palmer
Percussion, Vocals – Don Francisco
Producer – Wha-Koo
Producer, Engineer – Ken Caillat
“Mother of Pearl” … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amo4_HCNw4g
“(You’re Such a) Fabulous Dancer” …
On the other hand …. David Palmer, who sang lead above, also sang lead on two Steely Dan tracks from Can’t Buy a Thrill, so now I’m listening to that!
Another one of those vinyl freebies. I think “(You’re Such a) Fabulous Dancer” might have been hovering around in the deep dark recesses of my mind, but certainly nothing else Wha-Koo did and I wouldn’t have been able to put a name to the band.
A soft rock (mostly) outfit, hailing from LA, they were short-lived – three years to be precise (’77, ’78 and ’79) during which time they made three albums, one for each year they were in business. Berkshire seems to be their most critically acclaimed record, and a bit like Rodriguez, they appear to have been more popular in Australia, Kiwiland and SA than in their native USA which may account for the locally (not very well) pressed record I now own. Confusingly, there is absolutely no correlation whatsoever between the track listing on the album cover (and on the inner sleeve) and the actual order of play on the disc! It’s never been released on CD, and I can’t figure out where the title came from, or why the bug-eyed plaid on the album cover. If anyone has any clue – please do tell!
There are a couple of tracks that stand out, but I’m sorry to say that on the whole – this sounds tired and dated and I will probably not listen to it again.
This was the line-up:
Bass – Peter Freiberger
Drums – Claude Pepper
Engineer – Herman Rojas
Guitar, Lead Vocals – Nick Van Maarth
Keyboards – Richard Kosinski
Lead Vocals, Guitar – Danny Douma
Lead Vocals, Tambourine – David Palmer
Percussion, Vocals – Don Francisco
Producer – Wha-Koo
Producer, Engineer – Ken Caillat
“Mother of Pearl” … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amo4_HCNw4g
“(You’re Such a) Fabulous Dancer” …
On the other hand …. David Palmer, who sang lead above, also sang lead on two Steely Dan tracks from Can’t Buy a Thrill, so now I’m listening to that!
"The surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that it has never tried to contact us." ~ Bill Watterson