Wha-Koo - Fragile Line

Name: Wha-Koo
Album: Fragile Line
Year:1979
Style: Powerpop
Similar Bands: Journey, Rod Stewart, Queen, Roger Daltrey, Air Supply
"One-Word" Review: Smooth Cruiseship Who
Based Out Of: LA, CA
Label: CBS Epic

 Cover, Lyrics, Record

Back, Sleeve, Record

Fragile Line (1979)

1. Silken Chains of Memory 4:02
2. Camarillo 2:55
3. Tonight on Old King's Cross 3:54
4. The Velvet Screw 3:57
5. Love Draws 3:45 /
6. Don't Say You Love Me 3:59 (single)
7. After the Rapture 3:31
8. She Sees the Night 4:20
9. The Chinese Kiss 3:19
10. Everything My Daddy Used to Use 5:54

Album Rating (1-10): 6.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Alan V Abrahams - Producer
• David Palmer - Vox (Steely Dan, Myddle Class, Laura Branigan, Jamie Walters, The Quinaimes Band, Wayne Berry, Thomas Jefferson Kaye, Tom Jones )
• Ron "Wizard" Fransen - Keys (Monda Harris, Tommy Bolin, Dirk Hamilton, Rare Earth)
• Eddie Tuduri - Drums (Boxer, Genya Ravan, Richard Torrance, Baron Stewart, Pink Lady, Joey D Vieira, Bob Carter, Alan Merrill, Paul Lear, Kenny Neal, Jim Messina, Steve Fisher, Anastasia & John, Addie Pray)
• Eric Gotthelf - Bass (Bonedaddys, DFXw, Tonio K, Tin Star, Underthings)
• Chuck Cochran - Guitar, Vox (David Lasley, Jimmy Messina, Tim Weisberg)
• Don Francisco - Percussion, Vox (Atlee, Crowfoot, Highway Robbery, Pan, Linda Ronstadt, Andrew Gold, Rusty Wier, Bob Welch, Randy Meisner, Kim Carnes)
• Ken Perry - Mastering

Unknown-ness: Never heard of Wha-Koo...but their name sounds like it has a lot of energy, even if it is a little silly-sounding. The band looks like a bunch of cool 70's session musicians. I can only imagine it treads a fine line between light AOR rock and powerpop

Album Review: Apparently this is a sort of concept album exploring the fragile line (thus the title) between love & gate, good & bad, etc. The band used to be called Big Wha-Koo, and shortened to just Wha-Koo on the album right before this. This record came with a big line up change, including ex Steely Dan singer (2 songs) David Palmer taking over as frontman. The record (at least the promo copy) omits two names that left the band shortly after its recording, Chuck Cochran and Don Francisco. The album itself is a mix of smooth powerpop tracks, like a light version of The Who, mixed with some softer, overproduced ballads, songs that would fit back where Palmer left his mark with Steely Dan. The most catchy and powerful song, After the Rapture features a repetitive harmonized chorus singing the title, and has Palmer letting out quite a high-pitched scream.

Stand Out Track: After the Rapture

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