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This came together when producer Terry Melcher was hired to work on a song with The Beach Boys for the Tom Cruise movie Cocktail. The Beach Boys' best days were behind them, and they had been playing fairs and nostalgia shows. They were one of the most popular bands of the '60s, and had a bunch of songs dealing with recreation and fun, which is why they were asked to record for the movie.

Melcher was the son of actress Doris Day. In 1964, he worked as a staff producer at Columbia Records, where he teamed up with future Beach Boy Bruce Johnston on the hit "Hey Little Cobra," which was credited to The Rip Chords. He was a producer on the first 2 Byrds albums and went on to work with Paul Revere And The Raiders. He knew The Beach Boys and contributed to some of their work, including backup vocals on Pet Sounds. Through Beach Boys drummer Dennis Wilson, he met Charles Manson and worked on some projects with him before thinking better of it. In 1969, Manson and his "family" murdered 5 people at a house Melcher rented to director Roman Polanski and his wife, actress Sharon Tate. Polanski was away filming, but Tate, who was pregnant, was one of the victims. After the murders, Melcher went into seclusion. This was a big comeback for him as well as The Beach Boys.

Brian Wilson was the creative force behind The Beach Boys, but he had nothing to do with this. He released his first solo album that year and came out with the first single, "Love And Mercy," 3 weeks before this was released. Wilson's album didn't do very well.

Melcher wrote this with the help of John Phillips, a former member of The Mamas And The Papas, Beach Boy Mike Love, and Scott McKenzie, who had a hit in 1967 with "San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Some Flowers In Your Hair)." Phillips' daughter Chynna was in the group Wilson Phillips with Brian Wilson's daughters, Carnie and Wendy.

Kokomo is a city in the middle of Indiana and is also a small resort owned by Sandals Royal Caribbean in Montego Bay, the title was made up. It was supposed to represent all the tropical places and images that people think of when wishing to get away to some paradise island to escape the dreary work life. John Phillips thought the name sounded good and wanted to use it for the title. Mike Love added the "Aruba, Jamaica" part and changed the line "That's where we used to go" to "That's where we want to go."

The Beach Boys are known for their vocal harmonies, but session musicians often played the instruments on their albums. The same thing happened here - Jim Keltner was brought in to play drums and Ry Cooder was hired on guitar. Keltner has played on albums by George Harrison, Bob Dylan and Elvis Costello. Cooder has worked on many film soundtracks and has played with John Hiatt, Captain Beefheart and Taj Mahal. The session musicians were not credited.

Van Dyke Parks was called in to help record the song. He worked closely with Brian Wilson and was a big part of the "Smile" project - an album Wilson worked on when he was going through drug addiction and severe mental problems. Parks was one of the few people in Wilson's world at the time, and helped with lyrics on the project, which was never finished. Having Parks at the sessions made it more of a legitimate Beach Boys song. He arranged the steel drum band and played accordion on the track.

This was released in July 1988, but it went nowhere until the movie came out a few months later and made it a huge hit. When The Beach Boys played it live during concerts that summer, it got no response.

The single was released with the original version of Little Richard's "Tutti Frutti" as the B-side.

Before this, the last US #1 for The Beach Boys was "Good Vibrations" in 1966. At 22 years, it was the longest ever between #1 hits until Cher topped the charts with "Believe" in 1999. Her previous #1 hit was "Dark Lady" in 1974, setting the new record at 25 years.

When this became a hit, many companies capitalized on the "Kokomo" name, which as a result of the song, implied relaxing fun in the sun. A resort named "Kokomo" popped up on the southern tip of Florida on an island called Grassy Key - like the song says, "Off the Florida Keys." There have also been restaurants and bars with that name.

The Cocktail soundtrack was very successful. Bobby McFerrin's #1 hit "Don't Worry Be Happy" was also on the album.

The Muppets did a version of this. The plot was that Miss Piggy wanted to know if there could be anywhere more perfect than where they were, and Kermit starts in about how he'd love to go to Kokomo, with Miss Piggy sighing periodically as backup. It was supposed to be a Muppet Summer love song. Animal, of course, played the drums in the video. (thanks, Kristy - La Porte City, IA)

Actor John Stamos played drums in the video. He is famous for his work on the TV show Full House and for his wife, actress Rebecca Romijn Stamos.

The Beach Boys performed this song on an episode of Full House entitled "Beach Boy Bingo." Everyone tries to coax D.J., who won 2 tickets to the next Beach Boys concert, to take them with her. John Stamos played "Jesse" on the show. (thanks, Carlos - Los Angeles, CA)

The Beach Boys were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame the year this was released.

In 1999, DJ Bob Rivers parodied the song as "Kosovo." (thanks, Bertrand - Paris, France)

Comments:

Why all the fussing? This song is plain and simple enough to listen to, and enjoy the smaller things. I think the song puts me in a good mood. My standards for music aren't as high as most of you guy's.
- Landon, Winchester, OH

How is it that some bands' worst songs become their most popular? This is the perfect example. Not only are the lyrics dumb; their lame rhymes accentuate the annoying beat of this song.
- MusicMama, new york, NY

This song is about all the simplicities of life, getting out there on the beach in the summertime and soaking up the sun. Where did all our music go?
- Landon, Winchester, OH

John Stamos PROTRAYED a drum player in the video - he did not actually play the drums. The actual steel drum player was the talented Vince Charles who played percussion with Neil Diamond for over 20 years before his untimely death.
- TMac, Indianapolis, IN

The Muppets version is a hoot - it's on the 25th anniversary video.
- Jim, NYC, NY

great song to get smashed to
- Caitlin, Upper Township, NJ

Terry once told me that he received $250,000 per year in royalties from KOKOMO
- Roger, sumnwe, WA

Harken unto the voice of the Ancient One: There was a song with the identical title recorded by Perry Como. In that one, Kokomo was the name, presumably the nickname, of a young lady. I think. The song was the first nominally rock-n-roll recording from that well-known avant-garde label, RCA. It was certainly the first, and I think last, r n r song for Mr Como. I would submit, however, that Perry Como's Kokomo was a good deal cheerier than that of the Beach Boys.
- Mark, Lancaster, OH

Residents of the city of Kokomo were highly amused by the "exotic tropical escape" motif of the song. State and local television news ran features showing the least romantic aspects of the city (especially dreary winter scenes) and interviewing residents and city officials.
- Ekristheh, Halath, United States

This sounds like 80's porn backing music ... Nothing again the Beach Boys, they rock!
- Jo-C, Lima, Peru

go kermit the frog!
- Matt, west springfield, MA

They performed this song when they guest appeared on an episode of FULL HOUSE. Brian Wilson was there too.
- Dean, Pune, India

It definitely has the Beach Boys trademark sound. A return to the earlier uncomplicated summer fun songs. 20 years on and Beach Boys can still do it!
- Paul, Worcs, England

they can say the names to me of the models that leave in the video of Kokomo? mainly those that leave modeling the Band along with?
- FRANCISCO, LIMA, Peru

This is the best selling song the Beach Boy's ever released!
- Mike, Boston, MA

The only Beach Boys song to hit #1 without Brian Wilson. He was estranged from the band at the time.
- DC, Hilo, HI