Song Of the Day: November 19, 2005
The Cosmopolitans -
(How to Keep Your) Husband Happy
Shake Records 45 EP , 1981
(How to Keep Your) Husband Happy
Shake Records 45 EP , 1981
I'm getting married in a few weeks and some time ago, I ripped this classic preparatory text from The Cosmpolitans for my bride-to-be. She wasn't terribly impressed, but it's a hoot, especially the Siouxsie-like choral chant of the title. If audio books are such a big thing, lord knows why this early take on /The Rules/ didn't make the Cosmopolitans into star advice columnists.
Jamie Sims and Nel Moore started off as the Cosmopolitan Dance Troop, following the dB's to New York from North Carolina and accompanying them on stage as go-go dancers (the dB's with go-go dancers must have been a sight to behold, but the only aid to the imagination is the sleeve below). dB's drummer Will Rigby then accompanied the Cosmos as they evolved into a musical act in their own right, though still wielding batons, marracas and tambourines, before heading into the studio with Mitch Easter, who added guitar and drums. The beloved /Shake to Date/ compilation LP, which includes two of the three tracks from the EP, says "Wild Moose Party" was a local radio hit in NYC and claimed an LP was "in the works."
Two and half decades later, we're still waiting. Moore stuck around NYC a long time, becoming an acclaimed classical harmonica instructor, session performer and studio manager before eventually returning to North Carolina where she still teaches and records as well performs with blues act Tommy B & The Stingers. Not sure where Sims has gone.
Zach Coleman
6 Comments:
This is truly an amazing record.
I used to play "Husband Happy" and "Wild Moose Party" constantly on my radio show. Total B-52s action (well, B-52s up to _Whammy!_)
Hey, I feel like I might have seen their stuff on your site once a long time ago but in case my memory deceives me (or even if it doesn't) could you post some dukes of stratosphere?
Holy crap! I haven't thought about this song in 20 years. My first ever roommate used to play it incessantly. Thanks, Little Hits--this site rules
Just stumbled across you while looking for information about the Cosmopolitans retrospective CD due out in March (true!). Jamie and I are old friends, and she e-mailed me the news but didn't tell me anything more than that--so I went Googling. Anyway, I thought you'd be glad to know. Keep your eye out.
Michelle Herman
(p.s. Here's an oddity: the spring 2005 issue of American Scholar has an essay in it (it's called "Performance")--by me--in which I talk about Jamie, and quote from her immortal "Wild Moose Party." Scholar doesn't put their content on line, alas, but I'll send it to anyone who wants a copy.)
The Cosmopolitans have just released a CD that has all three songs from the original record plus several more. There's also a video. You can go hear (How to Keep Your) Husband Happy on The Cosmopolitans MySpace player at http://www.myspace.com/thecosmopolitans.
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