Friday February 25, 2022 “Kokomo” Beach Boys

Aruba, Jamaica, Bermuda, Bahama, Key Largo, Montego, Jamaica, Port au Prince covers a variety of lush places to head to.  Written by Terry Melcher, John Philips of the Mamas and Papas and Scott Mackenzie, “San Francisco (Wear Some Flowers)”

Although Brian Wilson was the creative force of the Beach Boys, he had nothing to do with this song which came together when music producer Terry Melcher, Doris Day’s son, was hired to work on a song with The Beach Boys for the Tom Cruise movie Cocktail.

Terry Melcher was a successful producer who produced the first two Byrds albums and also worked with Paul Revere and The Raiders. He knew The Beach Boys and contributed to some of their work, including backup vocals on their album Pet Sounds.  At the suggestion of Beach Boy Dennis Wilson Melcher had recorded some songs with Charles Manson but ultimately rejected them as not worthwhile.

Manson vowed revenge for that slight and sent his cohorts to kill Melcher but the house Melcher owned had been rented to director Roman Polanski and his then pregnant wife actress Sharon Tate. The rest of that horrifying story is legend.

Although this song went nowhere when it was initially released it would be a number one single for the Beach Boys once the movie Cocktail premiered.  It would be the first Beach Boys number one hit in more than twenty years.

Stay safe and well…and with the mention of all these wonderful islands along with the lovely Elizabeth Shue in the video…or John Stamos (on congas) if you prefer…how could we go wrong.

Aruba, Jamaica, oh I want to take ya

Bermuda, Bahama, come on pretty mama

Key Largo, Montego, baby why don't we go, Jamaica

Off the Florida Keys, there's a place called Kokomo

That's where you want to go to get away from it all

Bodies in the sand, tropical drink melting in your hand

We'll be falling in love to the rhythm of a steel drum band

Down in Kokomo

Aruba, Jamaica, oh I want to take you to

Bermuda, Bahama, come on pretty mama

Key Largo, Montego, baby why don't we go

oh I want to take you down to

Kokomo, we'll get there fast and then we'll take it slow

That's where we want to go, way down in Kokomo

Martinique, that Montserrat mystique

We'll put out to sea and we'll perfect our chemistry

And by and by we'll defy a little bit of gravity

Afternoon delight, cocktails and moonlit nights

That dreamy look in your eye, give me a tropical contact high

Way down in Kokomo

Aruba, Jamaica, oh I want to take you to

Bermuda, Bahama, come on pretty mama

Key Largo, Montego, baby why don't we go

oh I want to take you down to

Kokomo, we'll get there fast and then we'll take it slow

That's where we want to go, way down in Kokomo

Port au Prince, I want to catch a glimpse

Everybody knows a little place like Kokomo

Now if you want to go and get away from it all

Go down to Kokomo

Aruba, Jamaica, oh I want to take you to

Bermuda, Bahama, come on pretty mama

Key Largo, Montego, baby why don't we go

oh I want to take you down to

Kokomo, we'll get there fast and then we'll take it slow

That's where we want to go, way down in Kokomo

Aruba, Jamaica, oh I want to take you to

Bermuda, Bahama, come on pretty mama

Key Largo, Montego, baby why don't we go