Genre: rock
Rating: *** (3 stars)
Title: The Koala
Company: Capitol
Catalog: ST-176
Year: 1969
Country/State: Brooklyn, New York
Grade (cover/record): VG / VG
Comments: gatefold sleeve; minor edge wear
Available: 2
GEMM catalog ID: 4300
Price: $120.00
Cost: $51.84
This one's always been kind of a mystery to me. There's quite a bit of hype surrounding the album and it's become quite sought after in rock and psych collectors' circles. Luckily a gentleman by the name of Tony Sclafani stumbled across my site and filled in some of the missing pieces. Not only does Mr. Sclafani write for the Washington Post, but it turns out his uncle was the original guitar player for the band. Tony actually use to listen to his uncle practice with the band.
First, the rumor that The Koala was from Australia was nothing more than record company crapola. The band all hailed from Brooklyn, New York – specifically the East New York section of Brooklyn that borders Queens. The Australia rumor likely came about because a few years earlier another Big Apple band, The Strangeloves (“I Want Candy”), were able to hype themselves into success on that very rumor (hey Mr. record executive, it worked once so what do we have to lose ...).
The Koala was comprised of the songwriting duo of lead singer Jose Mala and guitarist Joey Guido. The line up was rounded out by drummer Joe Alexander, lead guitarist Louis Caine and bassist Anthony Wesley. In New York they somehow attracted the attention of Blues Magoos managers Art Polliemus and Bob Wyld, who helped them land a contract with Capitol.
With Poliemus and Wyld producing, the band debuted with the single 'Don't You Know What I Mean' b/w 'Scattered Children's Toys' (Capitol catalog number 2365). The single did nothing commercially, but Capitol agreed to fund an album. With Poliemus and Wyld again producing, the band returned with 1969's cleverly titled "The Koala". Mala handles all the lead vocals. On tracks such as 'Don't You Know What I Mean', 'Look At the Way She Comes' (the sneering lyrical delivery makes me think this isn't merely about the coming and goings of a young and innocent woman) and 'She's a Lady' the band sounded like a cross between AC/DC, Graham Parker and the Shadows of the Knight. Perhaps because they were such atypical efforts, the dreamy, pseudo-psychy 'Nothing's Changed and 'Elizabeth' stand as two of my favorite tracks. Regardless, if you're looking for snotty, in-your-face vocals, backed by tons of loud, feedback laced guitar (check out 'Poppa Duke Tyler'), then this is a set that will appeal to you.
"Koala" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Don't You Know What I Mean (Jose Mala - Joseph Guido) -
2.) Look At the Way She Comes (Jose Mala - Joseph Guido) -
3.) Poor Discarded Baby (Jose Mala - Joseph Guido) -
4.) Nothing's Changed (Jose Mala - Joseph Guido) -
5.) She's a Lady (Jose Mala - Joseph Guido) -
6.) Colours of Our Rainbow (Jose Mala - Joseph Guido) -
(side 2)
1.) Poppa Duke Tyler (Jose Mala - Joseph Guido) -
2.) Stranger Feelings (Jose Mala - Joseph Guido) -
3.) Elizabeth (Jose Mala - Joseph Guido) -
4.) You Say (Jose Mala - Joseph Guido) -
5.) Yesterday's Rain (Jose Mala - Joseph Guido) -
6.) Lady Dressed In White (Jose Mala - Joseph Guido) -
7.) Scattered Children's Toys (Jose Mala - Joseph Guido) -
The band fell apart after the first LP, with Mala going on to do a short stint with the Joe Perry Project (which he left before the band ever recorded). Guido became a member of the New York glam rock quintet The Brats, which performed alongside Kiss in its early days and featured lead guitarist Scott St. Clair Sheets, later a member of Pat Benatar’s band. Guitarist Caine (aka Louis Dambra) and brother Joey went on to record with Sir Lord Baltimore.