Wayne riffs on the rock opera studio album from the Coolies, “Doug” for June of 1988 (Ice Cold Soul / Pussy Cook / 40 Foot Stretch / Crack Pipe Burning). ENTERTAINMENT TRACK: "Do You Love Me" by the Contours (from the motion picture “Dirty Dancing”) STAFF PICKS: “Rough Night in Jericho” by Dreams So Real — Bruce. “Waiting for a Star to Fall” by Boy Meets Girl — Rob. “Beds Are Burning” by Midnight Oil — Lynch. “This Note's For You” by Neil Young & the Bluenotes — Wayne. INSTRUMENTAL TRACK: “End Title” (from "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?") by Alan Silvestri. **(NOTE: What the Riff?!? does not own the rights to any of these songs and we neither sell, nor profit from them. We share them so you can learn about them and purchase them for your own collections.)
We're going extra-deep this week with alternative rock group The Coolies. The name comes from a derogatory term for 19th century Chinese immigrants who had to work hard for little pay. The Atlanta based group was only around for about three years and produced two albums. The first called "dig..?" was largely a collection of Simon and Garfunkel covers. Their second album, Doug, is a rock opera with an odd premise.
Doug follows the rise and fall of a skinhead named Doug. He kills a transvestite who happens to be a cook, and becomes rich by using the stolen recipe book. The money is spent in riotous living, and in the end Doug ends up right where he began.
The Coolies vocalist and front man was Clay Harper. Other band members included Jeb Baldwin, Rob Gal, Teddy Murray, and for this album had Frogg Jaguar Mellonball (most interesting artist name) on percussion. He replaced Billy Burton, who was percussionist for the first album but was unavailable for “Doug” due to his commitments to The Swimming Pool Q's, another locally well known alternative band.
Harper would go on to be the owner of Fellini's Pizza and La Fonda Latina restaurants in Atlanta. It is not believed that the events from the Rock Opera are in any way connected to Harper's future culinary success.
Wayne takes us on this deep cut journey to explore one of his favorite albums.
Ice Cold Soul
The lead track introduces Doug, the main character of the rock opera. He is a skin head with the Pledge of Allegiance tattooed on the side of his head. He hangs out with his fellow skin heads stealing from people, beating them up, and generally being intimidating. “Schlitz Malt Liquor is my favorite food and pissed off is my favorite mood.”
Pussy Cook
The transvestite cook is warned not to walk where the “skin heads chill,” but failed to heed the warning. After beating up and killing the cook, Doug and his gang “open up the purse to get a good look. Got the money and the dope and the recipe book.” There are a lot of similarities between this song and “Cooky Puss” by the Beastie Boys, which this song spoofs.
40 Foot Stretch
This track continues the tale with Doug living large in the back of a stretch limousine. We're beginning to question whether that recipe book was referencing food...or something else! This song has a sound reminiscent of Miami Vice.
Crack Pipe Burning
It is becoming obvious that things are not going to end happily ever after with Doug. The reference at the end of the song to “I got blisters on my fingers” hearkens back to a statement Ringo Starr makes at the end of the Beatles song “Helter Skelter.”
ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:
Do You Love Me by the Contours (from the motion picture “Dirty Dancing”)
This 1962 single made a resurgence after appearing in 1987's “Dirty Dancing” film, and was on the charts in the summer of 1988.
STAFF PICKS:
Rough Night in Jericho by Dreams So Real
Bruce stays with the local flavor with his staff pick featuring a trio from Athens, Georgia. The lead-off and title track from the band's second album hit number 28 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock charts. The band produced three albums in total, with this song being their most successful single.
Waiting for a Star to Fall by Boy Meets Girl
Rob brings us a more pop song than he normally features. Keyboardist and vocalist George Merrill met singer Shannon Rubicam at a wedding where they were hired to perform, and later got married themselves, making it a “boy meets girl” story. In addition to this song which made it to number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100, the duo also wrote songs for other performers including “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” and “How Will I Know” by Whitney Houston.
Beds Are Burning by Midnight Oil
Lynch's staff pick is a protest song from Australia's Midnight Oil. It criticizes the Australian government for its treatment of Aboriginal communities in forcing them off their lands. Midnight Oil performed this song at the Sydney Olympics, and wore jackets that said, “sorry” after the Australian government would not apologize for the treatment of Aboriginal people.
This Note's for You by Neil Young & The Bluenotes
Wayne features another protest song, this time from Neil Young. At the time many rock bands and artists were being recruited to appear in commercials for Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Budweiser, and other consumer goods and drinks. MTV controversially banned the video for a period of time due to concerns from advertisers, proving Young's point.
INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:
End Title (from "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?") by Alan Silvestri
This live action/animation combination was a hit on the big screens in June of 1988.