Debbie Harry* – KooKoo

I absolutely love this album, it really feels like 1981 wasn't ready for KooKoo. I have never understood the harsh criticism thrown it's way. This reissued edition is superb, I feel lucky to have the original Gold Legion edition and not the horrible CDR copy that appeared after the original run finished. My particular favourite tracks are Chrome, Surrender and the deliriously majestic Oasis. The lyrics are bizarre for sure, a bit kooky, tongue in cheek to down right strange and surreal. For me that only adds to the album's appeal. The artwork has been considered by some as too jarring, personally I think it only adds to the whole package of the project. I love Debbie Harry, for me this is her best solo album as it has a cohesion her other eclectic solo projects lacked. If you come across a copy of the original Gold Legion run of KooKoo snap it up, the booklet is beautifully done.

The mastering on most GOLD LEGION cd's is excellent. But for some reason, this issue of "KooKoo" sounds over-compressed & thin on bass--plus, as is the case with the razor & tie issue, there is a nasty tape dropout on "Surrender".
The best cd master of this album is the 1994 Chrysalis/EMI issue. Grab it.

I can concur with hotrodjunkie that a few more of these somehow got made, but the front insert is just a digitally-printed insert folded in half (a.k.a. 4 pages, to be generous). The 16-page version is now obviously too extravagant for the 'Gold Legion' people. There's still an EMI logo on the spine though, and EMI is not a separate entity any longer. The disc is also a CD-R.

Everyone here is correct on their posts. Bad customer service. Got the runaround from them for months and finally gave up, which they wanted me to do. However, on a good note, TO ME, this is the BEST version of KooKoo you can get and it DOES have the 16 page book, as described. I think the sound quality is immense and has the extra bonus track not normally available. Seek this out. It's gonna be a keeper for remastering technique.

This is currently available on amazon again (paid $11 in June, $15 currently) but does NOT have a 16 page booklet, just a folded insert but is exactly the same as shown in the pics on this entry (same quality print etc). My copy of Razor & Tie's 1999 remaster was ok for the album, but the extended Backfired was sourced from a poor quality tape that phases in & out. This is from a better (or fixed) source, with more bonus tracks that don't phase- but to my 50 yr old [abused] ears there's a bit of harshness to the vocals on this slightly louder mastering. Disappointed whomever repressed this didn't do the full booklet.

I'm with hbotis-kudos to anyone who actually managed to get the cd from this company. All my emails were ignored and only moved when paypal got involved. And when I say moved-I still didn't get my cd but I did get a refund.

Collectors looking to buy directly from this label be very very cautious. I ordered 2 discs and for 4 months saw absolutely nothing. I am not the only customer experiencing this. At the end I made a complaint to my credit card and obtained a refund. At first they answered my email and kept saying they will check on the dispatch but after several times they stopped answering altogether. It wasn't as if they sent the cds and I did not get them. I think the truth is they do not have the cds there they claim they have in stock. There is a facebook page suggesting the label is a scam, and I absolutely do not think otherwise. This is not a malicious review and anyone has questions can look up.