Big Wha Koo / Wha Koo
Band members Related acts
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line-up 1: (1977) (as Big Wha-Koo) - Danny Douma (RIP 2010) -- lead guitar, vocals - Don Francisco -- lead vocals, percussion - Richard Kosinski -- keyboards - David Palmer -- lead vocals, tambourine - Nick van Maarth -- lead guitar, backing vocals - John Mack (aka Claude Pepper) (RIP 2003) -- drums, percussion - Andrew Silvester -- bass, harmonica
supporting musicians (1977) - Reinie Press -- bass, sax
line-up 2: (1978) (as Wha-Koo) - Danny Douma (RIP 2010) -- lead guitar, vocals - Don Francisco -- lead vocals, percussion NEW - Peter Frieberger -- bass (replaced Andrew Silvester) - Richard Kosinski -- keyboards - David Palmer -- lead vocals, tambourine - Nick van Maarth -- lead guitar, backing vocals - John Mack (aka Claude Pepper) (RIP 2003) -- drums, percussion
line up 3 (1979) NEW- Ron Frasen -- keyboards NEW- Eric Gotthelf -- bass NEW- Fragile Line -- - David Palmer -- lead vocals, tambourine NEW- Eddie Tuduri -- drums, percussion
supporting musicians (1979) - Chuck Cochran -- lead guitar - David Woodford -- sax, flute
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- Atlee (Don Francisco) - Batteaux (Peter Frieberger) - Big Town Playboys (Andy Sylvester) - The Bonedaddys (Eric Gotthelf) - Boxer (Eddie Tuduri) - Chicago (Danny Douma) - Chicken Shack (Andy Sylvester) - The Crickets (Nick van Maarth) - Crowfoot (Don Francisco) - Danny Douma (solo efforts) - Dr. Strut (Peter Frieberger and Claude Pepper) - Fra Lippo Lippi (Claude Pepper) - Highway Robbery (Don Francisco) - The Honeydrippers (Andy Silvester) - Jack Mack and the Heart Attacks - The Myddle Class (David Palmer) - Nasty Lovin' (Ron Fransen) - Pan (Don Francisco) - The Quinaimes Band (David Palmer) - The Raik's Progress (Nick van Maarth) - The Mike Sanchez Band (Andy Silvester) - Savoy Brown (Andrew Silvester) - Silver Condor (Claude Pepper) - Steely Dan (David Palmer) - The Sunday Funnies (Richard Kosinski)
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Genre: rock Rating: 3 stars *** Title: Big Wha-Koo Company: ABC Catalog: AB-971 Year: 1977 Country/State: Los Angeles, California Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: original custom inner sleeve; demo stamp on front cover; minor ring wear Available: 1 Catalog ID: 5388 Price: $15.00
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Based on the Steely Dan connection (vocalist David Palmer sang with the original 1972-73 line up), I bought a copy of this album when it first came out. I can remember playing it in my dorm room, though my roommate was less than thrilled. Rob sorry for the aural abuse I subjected you to, though I still think Thin Lizzy was for your benefit. For a long time it was a big favorite and I still have the original filed away (with the rest of their catalog), but I hadn’t played it in years. Anyhow, a couple of months I was at a flea market and stumbled across a copy of the band’s “Berkshire” album. For a buck I couldn’t resist and after spinning it I was about to go pull the rest of their albums in order to get reacquainted. About a week later I was in Chincoteague, Virginia and stumbled across a copy of “Big Wha-Koo” at a used record store for a buck. Couldn’t turn it down at that price (along with about 40 other items) …
Guitarist Danny Douma was the man behind Big Wha-Koo. Living in Los Angeles, he started pulling the band together in 1975. By the time they signed with ABC 1977, the line-up reflected Douma on lead guitar, former Atlee/Crowfoot and Highway robbery singer/percussionist Don Francisco, keyboard player Richard Kosinski, ex-Steely Dan singer David Palmer, former Crickets guitarist Nick van Maarth, drummer John Mack (aka Claude Pepper) and ex-Chicken Shack and Savoy Brown bassistAndrew Silvester.
Though most critics disagree, produced by Roy Halee, 1977’s “Big Wha-Koo” always struck me as being the band’s best release (critics seem to give the nod to “Berkshire”). In my book the album’s one of those lost mid-1970s pseudo-classics. With a little bit of publicity and a better album cover who knows what might have happened … With singer Palmer and guitarist Douma credited with penning most of the material, the album represented a nice niche between commercial pop and AOR. Today we'd label it a prime example of "yacht rock." Nice melodies, great vocals from Palmer and Don Francisco and modestly entertaining lyrics (I know, who listens to the words), made for a strong collection with five of the eight songs being worthwhile. Perhaps a result of his association with Steely Dan, the late Palmer was always a personal favorite. Though his voice was light and somewhat fragile, it proved well suited to material like the opener 'Whiskey Voices' and ‘Love’s Been Known’. The band was blessed with an equally good vocalist in Francisco, whose spotlight moment came in the form of the ballad 'Save Your Tears'. That said, these guys could also rock out. Douma and van Maarth were both gifted guitarists who shined on the jangle-rocker ‘Oh Philistine’ and the title track. The set wasn't perfect. Featuring sight songs, the set was far too short. The throwaway reggae number ‘Waiting On a Woman’, Douma’s bland ballad ‘Amnesty' and the needless Gospel-flavored 'Don't Knock' were all pretty worthless Still, after hearing the album, with a little bit of imagination you could picture what Steely Dan might have sounded like had Becker and Fagan elected to keep the “Can’t Buy a Thrill”-era band together and pursue a more commercial stance.
"Big Wha-Koo" track listing: (side 1) 1.)
Whiskey Voices (David
Palmer - Carbone) - 5:13 Having grown up with Steely Dan, I'll readily admit that David Palmer's voice was the original draw to Big What-Koo. That was certainly the case on this glistening country-tinged rocker. Besides Palmer, Richard Kosinski turned in some nice cheesy synthesizer washes at the end of the song. I've always wondered why ABC only released it as a promotional 45:
- 1977's 'Whiskey Voices' b/w 'Whiskey Voices' (ABC catalog number ABC-12271).
2.) Save Your Tears (David Palmer - Carbone) - 6:01 rating: **** stars Featuring Don Francisco on lead vocals, 'Save Your Tears' was the album's contractually mandated "big ballad." I have to admit the song was quite pretty; particularly on the chorus where Francisco and Palmer shared the spotlight. The track was well suited for Francisco's fragile voice. Nick Van Maarth turned in a beautiful guitar solo. 3.)
Oh Philistine (Danny
Douma - David Palmer) - 4.) Love’s Been Known (Danny Douma - David Palmer) - 5:18
ABC again released the song as a promotional 45:
- 1977's 'Love's Been Known' b/w 'Love's been Known' (ABC Catalog number AB-12290)
(side 2) 1.) Waiting On a Woman (Danny Douma) - 6:14 2.) Amnesty (Danny Douma) - 4:56 3.)
Don’t Knock I guess it sounded better on paper than in execution ... Hearing a bunch of Southern California guys trying to do an earnest Southern Gospel track just wasn't going to cut it. 4.) The Big Wah-Koo (Danny Douma - David Palmer) - 6:44
© Scott R. Blackerby October 2024
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Genre: rock Rating: 3 stars *** Title: Berkshire Company: ABC Catalog: AA-1043 Year: 1977 Country/State: California, US Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: cut top right corner; original lyric inner sleeve Available: 1 Catalog ID: 5231 Price: $10.00
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Abbreviating
their name from Big Wha-Koo to Wha-Koo (what was the point?), the group's
second album "Berkshire"
was co-produced by the band and Ken Caillat. Musically the set wasn't
anything earth shattering. David Palmer and lead guitarist Donnie Douma
again shared song writin
Certainly not aided by the atrocious Vigon-Nahas-Vigon designed cover, the album went nowhere commercially. Douma subsequently released an interesting solo album ("Night Eyes").
"Berkshire" track listing: 1.) Rig-a-Marole (Donny Douma - David Palmer) - 3:10 rating: **** stars Douma's best known as a guitarist, but I've always liked his voice (be sure to check out his solo work). WHile it may have lacked originality, the lead-off rocker 'Rig-a-Marole' was a great slice of FM-ready rock that should have captured more than it's share of airplay. Who knows why, but for some reason ABC didn't bother tapping it as an American single, though it was released as a 45 in Portugal:.
- 1977's 'Rig-a-Marole' b/w 'Mother of Pearl' (ABC catalog number SP-27-017 )
2.) Fat Love (Donnie Douma - David Palmer) - 3:37 rating: **** stars Okay, I'll admit that powered by cheesy '70s synthesizers, tight group harmonies and smirking lyrics like “You got the volume mama, I got the mass ...” 'Fat Love' always make me smile. The song was tapped as a quickly forgotten US single: - 1978's 'Fat Love' b/w I'm Here' (ABC catalog number AS-12401) 3.) Mother of Pearl (David Palmer - Richard Kosinski) - 3:22 rating: *** stars Palmer finally got a shot at the spotlight with a pretty ballad that had considerable commercial potential. Once again ABC elected to ignore the song, though it was released as a single in New Zealand: - 1978's 'Mother of Pearl' b/w 'I'm Here' (ABC catalog number (103213) 4.) Midnight Kitchen (Donny Douma) - 3:20 rating: ** stars One of the album's taunter rockers, 'Midnight Kitchen' suffered from a forgettable melody and even lamer lyrics. 5.) (You're Such a) Fabulous Dancer (Donnie Douma - David Palmer) - 3:52 rating: **** stars The sweet ballad '(You're Such a) Fabulous Dancer' was one of the best things they ever wrote and one of those tracks that instantly takes me back to the mid-'70s. ABC released it as a single, complete with promotional video, though it only hit # 101 in the States. Thanks in part to a nationally televised appearance opening for Thin Lizzy for a free concert on the steps of the Sydney Opera House, the single did much better sales wise in Australia. Always thought that success was funny given the song had a little bit of Little River Band flavor in it.
- 1978's '(You're Such a) Fabulous Dancer' b/w 'Fat Love' (ABC catalog number 12354) Thanks to YouTube you can see a performance apparently recorded for Australian television: WHA-KOO - Fabulous Dancer 1978 (youtube.com)
(side
2) Another song featuring Palmer's instantly recognizable voice, the title track was a pretty ballad that stripped off some of their yacht rock moves. The song was unlike most of their material, but still enjoyable. 2.) I'm Here (Donnie Douma - David Palmer) - 3:44 rating: *** stars Back to prime yacht rock territory with the bouncy and radio-friendly 'I'm Here.' 3.) Expire On Me (Donnie Douma) - 4:05 rating: *** stars I won't tell you this was a Steely Dan clone, but before it hit the bland refrain 'Expire On Me' had a mild jazzy vibe going for it. Sadly the refrain took over, plunging the song into also-ran territory. 4.) Dreaming as One (W. Smith - David Palmer) - 4:50 rating: ** stars The closing, piano powered ballad 'Dreaming as One' could have been mistaken for something Elton John wrote after attending a Sunday morning Baptist church service. Alternatively it sounded like a rewrite of a Kenny Loggins tune.
© Scott R. Blackerby October 2024
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Genre: rock Rating: 3 stars *** Title: Fragile Line Company: Epic / City Lights Catalog: BL 36173 Year: 1979 Country/State: -- Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: promo stamp on back cover; white inner label Available: 1 Catalog ID: 5389 Price: $15.00
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In 1979 vocalist David Palmer decided to reactivate the Wha-Koo nameplate. For the project Palmer recruited guitarist Chuck Cochran (who quit before the album was released), bassist Eric Gotthelf, keyboardist Ron Fransen and former Boxer drummer Eddie Tuduri. Signing with Epic's City Lights subsidiary, the band went into the studio with producer Alan Abrahams. Taking square aim at prevailing AOR trends, 1979’s “Fragile Line” had its momentst. Largely penned by Palmer, material like ‘Silken Chains of Memory,' ‘Camarillo’ and ‘Love Draws a Fragile Line’ wasn’t bad in a late-1970s corporate-rock fashion, but the over abundance of ballads and mid-tempo rockers had the effect of blurring everything together. Palmer was a more than capable vocalist, but to be honest, tracks like ‘The Velvet Screw’ and the group-penned ‘After the Rapture’ could easily have been mistaken for dozens of other California-based yacht rock outfits. The pretty ballad ‘Don’t Say You Love Me’ echoed Ambrosia and bits of Pablo Cruise, Journey, etc. scattered throughout the ten songs. Best of the lot simply for the fact it strayed the furthest from their formula was the dark and atmospheric closer ‘Everything My Daddy Used To Be.' The results were pleasant and predictable; music reduced to a commercial formula. Probably the least enjoyable of their three studio albums.
The album did little commercially and Wha-Koo subsequently came to an end.
"Wha-Koo" track listing: (side 1) 1.) Silken Chains of Memory (David Palmer) - Showcasing Ron Fransen psuedo-classical keyboards, 'Silken Chains of Memory' could have served as a poster child for late-'70s radio airplay. With Palmer over-emoting, every part of the song seemed structured for radio airplay. Yeah, I'm a sucker for this stuff. 2.) Camarillo (David
Palmer - Chuck Cochran) - 3.) Tonight On Old King’s Cross (David Aplmer) - 4.) The Velvet Screw
(David Palmer - Ron Fransen) - 5.) Love Draws a Fragile Line (David Palmer) -
(side 2) 1.) Don’t Say You Love Me (David Palmer - Chuck Cochran) - 3:59 Epic tapped the album for a single in the form of 'Don’t Say You Love Me' b/w '' (Epic catalog number 9-50772) 2.) After the Rapture (David Palmer - Eddie Tuduri - Eric Gotthelf - Ron Fransen) - :;31 The line group composition, 'After the Rapture' 3.) She Sees the Night (David Palmer) - 4:20 4.) The Chinese Kiss (David Palmer - Chuck Cochran) - 3:19 5.) Everything My Daddy Used To Be (David Palmer - Chuck Cochran) - 5:54
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g credits on most of the nine tracks. For his part
Douma retained his knack for writing top-40ish rock material. Tracks
like 'Midnight Kitchen' and the single 'Rig-a-Marole' would have sounded fine on FM
radio next to The Eagles and Fleetwood Mac. Catchy and forgettable, it made
for first-tier, if slightly anonymous California rock product. It's a
great example of a mid-'70s "yacht rock" collection. The
band was also blessed in having a pair of
strong lead singers in Douma and Palmer. Elsewhere, it may have been little more than
wishful thinking on my part, but propelled by his pleading voice, Palmer
contributions like pretty ballad 'Mother of Pearl', the title track and '(You're Such a)
Fabulous Dancer' recalled "Can't Buy a Thrill" era Steely
Dan. The music may have been a little more conventional and the lyrics
were not nearly as obtuse, but the haunting sound bore at least a passing
resemblance to the former band. Perhaps the collection will be of passing interest to Steely Dan fanatics
and folks who like mid-1970s Southern California rock ...
