''Doppelganger'' is the fourth studio album by Kid Creole and the Coconuts, released in 1983. The album was a relative commercial and critical disappointment following the group's most popular album '' Tropical Gangsters/Wise Guy''. The album was released on LP and cassette in September 1983 and peaked at #21 in the UK, and to moderate success throughout Europe but did not chart in the US. The album includes the singles "There's Something Wrong in Paradise", "The Lifeboat Party", and in the US "If You Wanna Be Happy". It was reissued by Universal Island Records with bonus tracks added to album in 2002. The album includes two covers, " If You Wanna Be Happy" originally recorded by Jimmy Soul in 1963, and a remake of "The Seven Year Itch", a song by August Darnell's previous band

Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band was a big band- and swing-influenced disco band that was formed in the Bronx, New York. The band is best known for its number-one US dance hit "Cherchez La Femme/C'est si bon," from its self-titled debut album ...

. "The Seven Year Itch" was originally released on their third album ''

Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band Goes to Washington ''Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band Goes to Washington'' is the third studio album by Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band. It was the last album recorded by the original line-up. The album was a commercial failure, not making the top 100 on ei ...

'' in 1979. ''Doppelganger'' also marked the renewal of Darnell's collaboration with his older brother Stony Browder Jr. Four songs including "The Seven Year Itch" were co-written by the brothers.

Critical reception

''Doppelganger'' received mixed reviews from critics. Vince Ripol describes the album as entertaining, provided listeners have the prerequisite of an acquired taste for the bizarre, often comical travelogues set to exotic pop which represent the essence of Kid Creole & the Coconuts. The album is compared unfavourably to the group's previous hit album ''Tropical Gangsters''/''Wise Guy'' noting that nothing on ''Doppelganger'' can compare to "Annie, I'm Not Your Daddy" and "I'm a Wonderful Thing, Baby,", yet nothing will fail to satisfy devoted fans either. For the uninitiated, Doppelganger's peculiar content presents a love-it or hate-it dilemma.

Robert Christgau Robert Thomas Christgau ( ; born April 18, 1942) is an American music journalist and essayist. Among the most well-known and influential music critics, he began his career in the late 1960s as one of the earliest professional rock critics and ...

writing for The Village Voice rated the album A−. He calls the album a return to the musical comedy stage for yet another original-cast recording after his previous (and best) album some which Darnell called some kind of sellout because it's held together by a dance groove. Christgau also praises the apparently surface wit of the Kid's lyrical-musical synthesis-pastiche but wants to clarify just what these songs are about.

Track listing

Personnel

;Performer credits * Adriana Kaegi, Bongo Eddie, Carol Colman, Charles Lagond, Cheryl Poirier, Coati Mundi, Dave Span, Ken Fradley, Kid Creole, Lee Robertson, Mark Mazur, Peter Schott, Taryn Hagey – The Boys in the Band * Andy Gonzalez, Buddy Williams, Charlie Story, Dave Friedman, Dian Sorel,

Eddie Drennon Eddie Drennon (born Edward Allen Drennen, 1940) is an American musician, songwriter, record producer, and arranger. His range of musical genres has included R&B, pop, disco, Latin music, salsa, jazz, funk, and charanga. He is best known for h ...

, Eugene Grey, Francisco Centeno, Jerry Oland, Jill Jaffe & The Jaffettes, Jimmy Rippetoe, Joe Mannozzi, Jose Madera, Karen Joseph, Manny Oquendo, Mona Lagond, Phillipe Saisse, Felo Barito, Ron Barro, Steve Gerrios, Steve Kroon – extras *Cory Daye, Dutch Robinson, Gichy Dan, Conjunto Libre, Lori Eastside, Perri Lister – special appearances * Daryl Hall – special guest star ("Bongo Eddie's Lament") ;Production credits * August Darnell – producer * Sugar Coated Andy Hernandez – associate producer *Carol Colman – production coordinator *Joe Barbaria,

Michael H. Brauer Michael Brauer is a New York-based mix engineer. He received a Grammy for "Best Pop Vocal Album" for his work on John Mayer's ''Continuum (John Mayer album), Continuum'', "Best Alternative Album" for Coldplay's ''Parachutes (Coldplay album), Parachu ...

, Julian McBrowne – chief engineer * Andy Heermans, Gary Hillman, Michael Abbott, Richard McClain, Steve Rinkoff – assistant engineer *

– mixing, Pond Life horns recording * Greg Calbi – mastering * Peter Ashworth – photography *Bruno Tilley – art direction * Tommy Mottola (Champion Entertainment Organization, Inc.) – management and direction *John Rynsky – continuity *Bora Bora Leoni – cordiality

Charts

References

{{Authority control 1983 albums Kid Creole and the Coconuts albums Island Records albums ZE Records albums