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Albums by Kokomo : 1999 - 2019
earlier albums (under the name "Kokomo Blues") can be found on the KOKOMO BLUES  album page

Kokomo Spotify Page

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SUNSET CLAWS (2019)
Official release date: June 17th 2019

Go to the dedicated SUNSET CLAWS page

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BATTEN DOWN THE HATCHES (2016)
A KOKOMO COLLECTION
2 CD-Boxed retrospective
 
 33 songs spanning 25 years
10 songs new to CD
20-page booklet


 


CD1   1991 – 2016  A newly-remastered chronological trip through Kokomo's original songs
1. Crawling to the Border (D Jacombs)   2. Working Class Shuffle (video mix) (D Jacombs / J Michaelz)   3. Rainy Night in Taupo (D Jacombs)   4. Superheroes (D Jacombs / J Michaelz)   5. Wasteland (D Jacombs)   6. Dry Land (D Jacombs)   7. Don't Tempt Me (D Jacombs)   8. Too Many Words (D Jacombs / J Michaelz)   9. Not the Only One (D Jacombs)  
10. Song For Brook (Angels) (D Jacombs)   11. Batten Down the Hatches (D Jacombs / Alan Norman)   12. Freight Train (live) (J Terry)   13. It All Comes Round in the End (D Jacombs)  14. Vinegar Hill (D Jacombs)   15. (No One Was) Bigger Than Brando (D Jacombs)   16. Joe the Bartender (D Jacombs)  17. World's Most Jealous Girl (D Jacombs / J Michaelz)    18. We're All Strangers Here (D Jacombs / J Michaelz)


NOTES: 1. When In Rome Do Rome (1994)  2, 3. To Be Or What (1996)  4, 5, 6, 7. Little Heroes (1999)  8, 9, 10, 11. Songs of Love and Not (2003) 12. Kokomo à Gogo (2007)  13. It All Comes Round (2011)  14, 15, 16. Bigger Than Brando (2014)  17. single (2015)  18. single (2016)

CD2   2016 - 1991   Rare songs, alternative versions, unreleased tracks and old blues.
1. Plastic Jesus (2015 take) (
E Rush / G Cromarty)   2. Home of the Blues (2015 take) (D Jacombs)   3. Better Left Unspoken (accordion mix) (D Jacombs / J Michaelz)   4. Smoky Blues Town (Sonia Bullot recording) (D Jacombs)   5. Malted Milk (Sonia Bullot recording) (R Johnson)   6. Cat's in the Well (cocktail mix) (B Dylan)   7. Burden Down (live) (D Jacombs / J Michaelz)   8. Saturday Blues (live) (I Bracey)   9. Any Road Up (live) (D Jacombs)   10. Hesitation Blues (Trad)   11. GB Boogie (alt mix) (D Jacombs / G Bullot)   12. Don't Worry 'Bout Me (D Jacombs)   13. Bonfires (D Jacombs)   14. Diddie Wah Diddie (A Blake)   15. Mississippi Blues (W Brown)

NOTES:  1. single (2015)  2.single (2015)  3. Previously unreleased (2012)  4, 5. Tonight on Trumpet. (2010)  6. Previously unreleased (2008)   7, 8. Kokomo à Gogo DVD (2006)  9. Previously unreleased (2006)  10. Blues and Beyond. (2001)  11. Previously unreleased (1996)  12, 13. Stromboling (1996)   14, 15. When In Rome Do Rome (1994)



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BIGGER THAN BRANDO (2014)
Ten new original songs showcasing the ever-evolving “Kokomo sound”.

1. Vinegar Hill   2. (No One Was) Bigger Than Brando   3. I'll Do Anything   4. Ruby   5. Travel All Over The World   6. Waiting For A Sunny Day   7. Lightnin's Gold Tooth   8. Joe The Bartender   9. Homesick Blues   10. South Sea Song
  All songs written by D Jacombs, except:  5. D Jacombs / G Bullot   9. D Jacombs / J Michaelz


Derek Jacombs – vocals, acoustic guitar, 6-string banjo
Grant
Bullôt – harmonica, backing vocals
Sonia
Bullôt – trumpet, flugelhorn, trombone, backing vocals
Nigel Masters – upright & electric bass, accordion, backing vocals
Mike Kirk – electric guitars, resonator guitar, mandolin
Ian “Beano” Gilpin – drums, percussion, backing vocals


After the stripped-back acoustic nature of It All Comes Round this is a return to the full electric band. No guest musicians, just the “Kokomo sound”. Mike Kirk takes sole electric guitar duties - and proves himself to be a veritable chameleon of tone - while Sonia stretches out on three different horns (all of which feature on “Ruby”).

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 IT ALL COMES ROUND (2011)
A twentieth anniversary return to Kokomo's roots with a playful all-acoustic mixture of traditional American and contemporary Kiwi blues. Sydney's Queen of Boogie-Woogie Piano, Jan Preston, guests on a song.


 1. Mine’s All Troubled Blues (G Davis)    2. If You Haven’t Any Hay Get On Down The Road  (N James)    3. Bonfires (D Jacombs)   4. It All Comes Round In The End (D Jacombs)   5. Buckets of Rain (B Dylan)    6. Tintin’s In Love (B Lake / A Baysting)   7. Sporting Life Blues (B McGhee)    8. Plastic Jesus (E Rush / G Cromarty)   9. How Long Blues  (L Carr)   10. Bye Bye Blues (T Johnson)   11. Cocaine Blues (L Jordan)   12. My Baby (Knows What I Like) (M Garner)

Derek Jacombs – voice, guitar, banjo
Grant Bullôt – harmonica, percussion, backing voice
Nigel Masters – upright bass, percussion, backing voice
Sonia Bullôt – backing voice (4)
Ian “Beano” Gilpin – snare, hi-hat, kick drum (3,6,8,9,10,11)
Mike Kirk – resonator guitar (3,5,6,8,11)
Jan Preston – piano (7)

 
With Sonia Bullôt unable to play due to illness and to mark the twentieth anniversary of the band, It All Comes Round was a deliberate return to the very early days of Kokomo Blues, collecting new recordings of old blues along with some contemporary Kiwi blues and a couple of songs of Derek's. Musically, it's all acoustic. The title track is a new song while "Bonfires" appeared in a previous version on the band's 1996 collaboration with Tracie de Jong, Stromboling.  



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 IN THE WELL (2008)
A long-standing labour of love - the songs of Bob Dylan presented Kokomo-style. Featuring the musical brilliance of multi-instrumentalist Nigel Gavin.

1. On A Night Like This   2. It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry   3. Things Have Changed   4. You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go    5. Dignity   6. Absolutely Sweet Marie   7. Highway 61 Revisited   8. Tryin' to Get to Heaven    9. Down In The Flood   10. Tangled Up In Blue    11. Queen Jane Approximately    12. Cat's in the Well
                                                                         All songs written by Bob Dylan / arranged by Kokomo


Derek Jacombs - vocals, acoustic guitar
Grant
Bullôt - harmonica
Sonia Bullôt - trumpet, flugelhorn
Nigel Masters - bass

Nigel Gavin - electric guitar, mandolin, banjo
Mike Kirk - electric guitar (5, 11)
Matt Hennessey - drums, percussion
Ian "Beano" Gilpin – drums (5, 9, 11)
Liam Ryan - keyboards


Released on May 24th 2008 (Bob's birthday) this project was a long-standing labour of love, with the initial sessions started even before the Kokomo À Gogo CD and DVD were recorded/filmed. It contained the band's most ambitious and colourful arrangements to date, with two particular American special guests adding their unique skills: drummer Matt Hennessey and guitarist/multi-instrumentalist Nigel Gavin.


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KOKOMO À GOGO (2007) DVD
A filmed companion piece to the live CD, this adds an extra 40 minutes of music for a full-length concert film.

1. Too Many Words (D Jacombs)   2. Good Grief (B Lake / A Baysting)   3. Get A Grip on Yourself (D Jacombs / J Michaelz)   4. Don't Tempt Me (D Jacombs)    5. Song For Brook (Angels) (D Jacombs)   6. Saturday Blues* (I Bracey)   7. To Be Or What aka Don't Ask Me Now aka (It's All So) Joy Joy Happy Happy (D Jacombs / J Michaelz)   8. Burden Down* (D Jacombs / J Michaelz)    9. Strange Angels (D Jacombs)    10. Dry Land* (D Jacombs)
  11. Rainy Night In Taupo (D Jacombs)    12. Freight Train (J Terry)    13. Baby's Getting Bigger (D Jacombs / J Michaelz)   14. 30 Days (D Jacombs)   15. Raided The Joint* (D Burley)  
16. Home of the Blues  (D Jacombs)  
17. Superheroes  (D Jacombs / J Michaelz)

* bonus tracks not included on the Kokomo à Gogo CD
Concert running time: 101 mins approx.


Derek Jacombs - vocals, acoustic guitar
Grant Bullôt - harmonica, washboard
Sonia Bullôt - trumpet, backing vocals
Nigel Masters - bass, backing vocals
Mike Kirk - electric guitar
Ian "Beano" Gilpin - drums
John Michaelz – vocals


SPECIAL BONUS DVD FEATURES
The Old Original Kokomo Blues (1992), the first Kokomo Blues album in its entirety (audio only)
“Love In Vain” music video
“The Working Class Shuffle” music video
Concert length audio commentary track with the band
Boatshed Studio Featurette
Bullôt Brothers Artwork Featurette
After-show interviews
...and more, including a hidden Easter Egg...


A companion piece to the CD of the same name, this DVD was filmed during two concerts at Baycourt Theatre, Tauranga, New Zealand, November 10th 2005 by Hugh Robb and a specially-assembled team of camera operators. The full-length concert film includes an extra 40 minutes of music not on the CD. The film had two big-screen airings, both at the Rialto Cinema in Tauranga. We welcome enquiries from anyone who would like to arrange a public screening of Kokomo à Gogo.




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KOKOMO À GOGO   (2006)
A live showcase of what had become the regular 6-piece touring unit. Featuring one new song and a collection of re-arranged favourites.

1. Too Many Words (D Jacombs)   2. Good Grief (B Lake / A Baysting)    3. Get A Grip on Yourself (D Jacombs / J Michaelz)   4. Don't Tempt Me (D Jacombs)    5. Song For Brook (Angels) (D Jacombs)   6. To Be Or What aka Don't Ask Me Now aka (It's All So) Joy Joy Happy Happy (D Jacombs / J Michaelz)   7. Strange Angels (D Jacombs)   8. Baby's Getting Bigger (D Jacombs / J Michaelz)    9. 30 Days (D Jacombs)    10. Rainy Night In Taupo  (D Jacombs)   11. Freight Train (J Terry)   12. Superheroes (D Jacombs / J Michaelz)   13. Home Of The Blues (D Jacombs)  

Derek Jacombs - vocals, acoustic guitar
Grant Bullôt - harmonica, washboard
Sonia Bullôt - trumpet, backing vocals
Nigel Masters - bass, backing vocals

Mike Kirk - electric guitar
Ian "Beano" Gilpin - drums
 


Recorded live during two concerts at Baycourt Theatre, Tauranga, New Zealand, November 10th 2005. With one new song - "Home of the Blues" – and some radically rearranged takes on others, Kokomo À Gogo is a fine indication of how the regular six-piece line-up had settled in and, at the time, was the best representation of the “Kokomo sound” to be captured on a recording.


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SONGS OF LOVE AND NOT                                                                                                                           (2003)
A collection of new songs recorded live in the studio to capture the band's natural sound.

1. Too Many Words (D Jacombs)   2. Deserter's Song (D Jacombs)   3. Any Road Up (D Jacombs)   4. Show Me Your Colours (J Michaelz / D Jacombs / B Rolands)   5. Calm Before (G Bullôt)   6. Batten Down The Hatches (D Jacombs / A Norman)   7. Song For Brook (Angels) (D Jacombs)   8. You're Not The Only One (D Jacombs)   9. I Wonder Why (I Can't Get No Sleep) (G Clark / D Jacombs)   10. Too Stoned (D Jacombs)   11. Get A Grip On Yourself (D Jacombs / J Michaelz)   12. Blame It On Me (D Jacombs / J Michaelz)   13. Everybody's Having Fun (D Jacombs)

Derek Jacombs - vocals, guitars, mandolin
Grant
Bullôt - harmonica
Sonia
Bullôt - trumpet
Nigel Masters - bass, keyboards (11)
Liam Ryan - keyboards (4,8)
Bruce Morley - drums (2,3,4,8,9,10)
Paul Higgins - drums (1,6,11,12), extra snare (4,9)
Tracie de Jong - backing vocals (2,4,7)
Tim Mellalieu - backing vocals (10,11,12)


With Sonia Bullôt now a permanent member of the band this was a return to basics, recorded largely live in the studio with only minimal input from outside players. In a last gasp of analogue pride, no computers were used in the recording and mixing of the album. It took bloody forever.


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BLUES & BEYOND (2001)
A 500-CD signed and numbered limited edition 10th anniversary collection of alternative versions, rarities and a handful of new recordings. Long sold out, contact the band to arrange a CD-R on demand.

1. Crawling To The Border (2001 take) (D Jacombs)   2. Working Class Shuffle (Video mix) (D Jacombs / J. Michaelz)   3. Bonfires (D Jacombs)   4. Any Road Up (D Jacombs)   5. Good Grief (B Lake / A Baysting)   6. Room With A View (D Jacombs)   7. Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me (D Jacombs)   8. Ruby (D Jacombs)   9. Hesitation Blues (Trad)   10. Don’t Tempt Me (Derek’s version) (D Jacombs)   11. Rainy Night In Taupo (Horny mix) (D Jacombs)   12.Baby’s Getting Bigger (Bigger mix) (D Jacombs / J. Michaelz)  13. Riding Underground (K Martin / D Jacombs / T & B de Jong)   14. Nowhere To Go (D Jacombs)   15. Crossroad Blues (R Johnson)

Derek Jacombs – Acoustic, electric & slide guitars, vocals
Grant Bullot – Harmonica, washboard
Nigel Masters – Bass, keyboards, drums, backing vocals
Sonia Trappitt – Trumpet, flugel horn
Paul Higgins - Drums (2,4,5,11)
Jim Laurie - Drums (7,13)
Bruce Morley - Drums (12)
Roger Bullot - Bass (2,3,7,11,13)
Pat Hura - Bass (6,10), Backing vocals (10)
Terry Crayford - Keyboards (3,7)
Grant Winterburn - Keyboards (11)
Tracie de Jong – backing vocals (3,7,13)
Tim Mellalieu – Backing vocals (4,12)
John Michaelz – Backing vocals (12)
Martin Winch – Lead guitar (13)
John Nicholson - Clarinet (6,10)
Paul Sanders - Trombone (11)
Rod Laurenson - Saxophone (11)


Released at the end of 2001 in a signed and numbered limited edition of 500 copies, this was not intended as any particular sort of “Best of Kokomo”, but rather a way to mark our 10th anniversary by cleaning out the vaults.
Blues And Beyond is a mixture of some new recordings, some alternative versions, and a few bits ‘n’ bobs that got lost along the way. Three songs are from the now-unavailable Stromboling collaboration with Tracie de Jong, two are from an obscure Bay Of Plenty compilation, Picture This, and one (“Nowhere To Go”) was commissioned for a short film that never got made. Others are either different versions from the official releases or new recordings.


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LITTLE HEROES (1999)
A collection of original songs, advancing from the original "Kokomo Blues" acoustic trio with additional instruments ranging from electric guitar, trumpet, and saxophone to massed crystal glasses.
 

1. Tide To Turn (intro)   2. Wasteland  3. Baby's Getting Bigger   4. Better Left Unspoken   5. Dry Land   6. Superheroes   7. 21st Century Blues   8. Smoky Blues Town   9. Don't Tempt Me   10. Strange Angels   11. Burden Down   12. Tide To Turn (outro)
                                                                                              All songs written by D Jacombs, except:  3, 4, 6, 11. D Jacombs / J Michaelz

Derek Jacombs - Vocals, Guitars, Reidel Crystal Glasses (4)
Grant
Bullôt - Harmonica, Washboard
Nigel Masters - Bass, Keyboards, Wammy Bar Guitar (11), Drums (12)

Sonia Trappitt - Trumpet (4, 8, 10)
John Michaelz - Vocals (11)

Alan Norman - Drums (2, 6, 7, 8, 9), Accordion (2, 8, 10), Piano (5)
Bruce Morley - Drums (2, 3, 11)
Tim Mellalieu - Backing Vocals (3, 5, 6, 7, 12)
Robbie Laven - Saxophone (8), Mandolin (12)
Trevor Braunias - Jazz guitar (9)
Mahara Tocker - Backing Vocals (5)
Larry Johnson - Gospel Vocals (5)


Nigel Masters became Kokomo's bass player in 1998 and a year later Kokomo returned to The Boatshed Studio for the band's most ambitious album yet, for the first time broadening the sound palette with a range of other instruments. This was the first time Sonia Trappitt (later to become Sonia
Bullôt) recorded with the band. To mark the departure of founding bass player Roger Bullôt from the band, the name was shortened from Kokomo Blues to simply Kokomo.



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Much of the photography by Colin Lunt www.clc-photographic.com