408) King Kurt - Ooh Wallah Wallah

In the 80s we had The Chart Show, The Tube, Whistle Test and Top of the Pops so although we didn’t have YouTube and seven thousand channels we were pretty well catered for hearing new bands and music.

Channel 4 put out a late night show called Max Headroom which was a computer generated host who presented music videos (it was actually an actor Matt Frewer in prosthetic make up and a rubber suit). I personally found him quite annoying, but I used to watch it as it played videos that you didn’t see anywhere else.

One such video he played was Destination Zululand by King Kurt which showed men with extreme quiffs. A punk inspired psychobilly band who was clearly not taking themselves to seriously but made a noise that could be enjoyed by many. Destination Zululand is guitar riffs and tribal drums from the off and contains one of the most meaningful lyrics ever for the chorus “Destination Zululand hum diddle de dum hoo wah hey ho,”  It was a riotous noise and on a browse around Virgin Records I remembered the song had a quick look and came home with Ooh Wallah Wallah.

We have cover versions as When the Saints Go Marching In is set to their own song of Gather Your Limbs, (the third mention of Zulu in a song) great chorus but Smeg’s affected vocal is a bit painful and they make a good stab at Mac the Knife and they have their own take on Ghosts Riders in the Sky with added cows.

The record starts and ends with two songs that emphasise what King Kurt were/are as Smeg takes us through the verses before the band all storm in for the chorus on Zulu Beat, catchy as hell and Do the Rat would not be out of place on the Grease soundtrack with a guitar solo that would have me swinging my partner around the dancefloor, if I could dance.

Wreck-a-Party Rock follows their normal formula but has a Bo Diddley guitar throughout and the band shouty style vocals build and do not let up.

If you are looking for an album to wallow in  and analyse in detail then don’t even bother with this, the band built up a fearsome live reputation where men were encouraged to arrive in a skirt and you may leave with your said skirt covered in flour and with a new haircut and as they clearly enjoyed themselves on stage they continued with this attitude on this their debut record.

Don’t overthink, just enjoy.

 6.75/10

GIVE IT A STREAM: Destination Zululand