KOKO TAYLOR

Even a year ago, Koko Taylor was known only by those who recalled her classic mid-’60’s rhythm and blues smash, “Wang Dang Doodle.” It’s not hard to tell why nearly everyone who heard that song had Koko’s name implanted front and center on their cerebrum. She sang it in the most distinctive voice we’d heard in years, a gravelly cross between Tina Turner and Howlin’ Wolf.

Koko’s first album (Koko Taylor, Chess LPS 532) brought her more of the attention she deserved. Almost stereotyped as a novelty artist because of “Wang Dang Doodle” and songs with a similar strain of bizarritude running through the lyrics, her album proved at last that she could handle any kind of blues or R&B material.