The Belle Stars – Iko Iko (US 12″)
Posted by DjPaulT on October 17th, 2012
BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1989
R E Q U E S T
The Belle Stars were an all female British rock band, founded in London in 1980 by former members of the 2 Tone ska revival band, The Bodysnatchers.
Iko Iko” is a much-covered New Orleans song that tells of a parade collision between two “tribes” of Mardi Gras Indians. The lyrics are derived from Indian chants and popular catchphrases. The song, under the original title “Jock-A-Mo”, was written in 1953 by James “Sugar Boy” Crawford in New Orleans, but has spread so widely that to popular belief, it is commonly assumed to be a much older folk song.
The story tells of a “spy boy” or “spy dog” i.e. a lookout for one band of Indians encountering the “flag boy” or guidon carrier for another band. He threatens to set the flag on fire.
The Belle Stars version of “Iko Iko” appeared in the opening scene of the 1988 film “Rain Man” starring Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman. Frequently, this version is incorrectly attributed to the Indigo Girls. The song was originally released in 1982 reaching #35 in the UK and then remixed and re-released in 1987 for the Rain Man” soundtrack reaching #7 in Australia and #14 on the US Billboard singles chart in 1989.
SIDE A:
Iko Iko (12″ Mix) 4:50
Iko Iko (7″ Mix) 3:14
SIDE B:
Iko Iko (Bonus Beats) 3:18
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
CHARTS:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Iko Iko | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | #14 |
| 1989 | Iko Iko | U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play | #7 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Capitol Records – V-15475
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 RPM
Country: US
Released: 1989
Genre: Electronic, Reggae
Style: Synth-pop
Credits: Engineer – Paul Brown
Executive-producer – Barry Levinson, Mark Johnson (22)
Producer – Brian Tench
Remix, Producer [Additional Production], Edited By – Boris Granich, Christer Modig
Written By – Hawkins-Jones-Hawkins-Jones-Johnson-Jones-Thomas
NOTES:
(Original version appears on the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack LP “Rain Man” C1-91866)
Additional Production and Edit for Powermix Productions.
“Iko Iko” originally released in 1982, and remixed in 1989 for this release.
Find The 12″ On DISCOGS
EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut III
Cartridge: Ortofon Super
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 30
Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Soundcard: ESI Juli@
VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Brother MFC-6490CW Professional Series Scanner
SOFTWARE USED:
Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Adobe Photoshop CS5
ClickRepair
dBpoweramp
Playlist Creator
RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
Downsampled to 24bit/96kHz and16bit /44kHz using iZotope RX Advanced 2
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi
PW: burningtheground
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October 17th, 2012 at 2:36 pm
Thank you DjPaulT,i got this one, but in radio version,i was wondering if have Saphir – Shot In The Night Vinyl, 12″ 1985, go on like this!
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DjPaulT Reply:
October 17th, 2012 at 3:12 pm
You’re welcome Nelson. Sorry I don’t have that single.
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October 17th, 2012 at 2:58 pm
Thanks Paul!
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DjPaulT Reply:
October 17th, 2012 at 3:11 pm
You’re welcome Steve
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October 17th, 2012 at 11:37 pm
I love this song. But my favorite version has to be Cyndi Lauper’s from her 1986 True Colors album.
BTW – I love your blog. It’s one of the best around, IMHO.
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Goodguy Reply:
October 18th, 2012 at 12:08 am
Thanks Paul!
Speaking of Cyndi, did her “I Drove All Night” 12″ contain the Jungle Mix? If so, that’s worth a rip. (Not so much if it was just the 7″ or album version)
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Goodguy Reply:
October 18th, 2012 at 12:15 am
Thanks Paul!
Speaking of Cyndi, did her “I Drove All Night” 12″ contain the Jungle Mix? If so, that’s worth a rip. (Not so much if it was just the 7″ or album version)
Paul, do you also happen to any Anything Box? The original US Epic 12″s of “Living In Oblivion” and “Jubilation (This Thing Called Life)” – arguably, their biggest hits – have some mixes that were never released on CD. I think they’d go over well to the synthpop fans here…including me!
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DjPaulT Reply:
October 18th, 2012 at 10:48 am
Hi Goodguy you’re very welcome. Yes I do have Anything Box “Living In Oblivion” 12″ I will try to get it posted as soon as I can. Don’t have the Cyndi 12″ but I will try to track down a copy
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DjPaulT Reply:
October 18th, 2012 at 10:46 am
Thank you Princerave777 I am happy that you like my site
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October 18th, 2012 at 12:12 am
THANKS PAUL!!! I’m happy you took my request! Another great job you have done! I missed this song back when it was on the radio!
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DjPaulT Reply:
October 18th, 2012 at 10:48 am
You’re welcome Chris i enjoyed doing it
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October 19th, 2012 at 2:04 am
Awesome New Wave post, Paul!
Thank you for this ’89 remix!
You mentioned that Belle Stars first released this in 1982 and peaked at #35 in the UK.
It was their first UK chart entry, but tough luck for them because another version of Iko Iko debuted higher in the UK Top 75 that same week. It was by Natasha. And Natasha went on to have the bigger hit version, peaking at #10.
Still, I was glad for The Belle Stars when they got their second wind in the US Hot 100, even though it came seven years later!
And since we’re on New Wave and 1982, I hope you’ll be able to some Musical Youth singles in the future (Never Gonna Give You Up, Youth Of Today and Pass The Dutchie)
It was thirty years ago this week that Pass The Dutchie spent its third and final week atop the UK Top 75!
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DjPaulT Reply:
October 19th, 2012 at 8:00 am
Hello ric
I still haven’t forgotten the Musical Youth singles I have had them now for a while but just have not got round to posting but I will my friend 
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October 29th, 2012 at 9:11 am
Cheers Paul,
Just checkin through the most recent posts, and as ever, im pleasantly surprised to see another doozy from my days of taping the TOP40 in the UK.
Great record, and very much looking forward to the BONUS BEATS…
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