Koo De Tah

Biography

If you're not an Australian or a New Zealander, the odds are that you don't remember Koo De Tah (say it out loud, you'll soon get the pun) at all. If you are an Australian or a New Zealander, you probably only remember their sole hit, 1985's rather wonderful 'Too Young For Promises', and mentally consigned them to the 'one hit wonder' basket years ago. Was that all there was to the Koo De Tah story? Well, yes, almost, but not quite. During their career, they did manage five singles and an album,...

If you're not an Australian or a New Zealander, the odds are that you don't remember Koo De Tah (say it out loud, you'll soon get the pun) at all. If you are an Australian or a New Zealander, you probably only remember their sole hit, 1985's rather wonderful 'Too Young For Promises', and mentally consigned them to the 'one hit wonder' basket years ago. Was that all there was to the Koo De Tah story?
Well, yes, almost, but not quite. During their career, they did manage five singles and an album, and both band members have since had solid if not spectacular careers. I'll mention their pre- and post-band activities below, but the main aim is to provide an overview of the band's career during its brief heyday.

At a glance:
Tina Cross vocals
Leon Berger keyboards, songwriting, production

with
Peter Radnai drums
John Bettison guitar, violin
Capree Morris keyboards
Roger Faynes bass
Doug Henderson coproducer, manager


Singles
All releases on Mercury (through Polygram).


Too Young For Promises/Dancing (Towards The Stranger) (1985)
12" featured Extended Mix of TYFP and Dance Mix of DTTS. Still a classic number.

Body Talk/My Eyes Are Shut (1985)
12" featured Body Mix of BT. This song got its debut at the end of a 1985 Countdown (the prime slot), but failed to make much chart impression.

Think Of Me/Love 'Em Never (1986)
12" featured an unnamed extended mix of TOM. The comeback single (remixed from the album version) that didn't quite come back.

Missed You All Along/Change My Ways (1987)
The first KDT single not to have a non-album B-side. The track was remixed for single release, while the 12" features an unnamed extended version.

Too Young (To Know)/?? (1988)
Credited to 'Koo De Tah with Tina Cross', and the only single listed here not featured on the album. I know nothing else about this record (and have never seen a copy for sale), but it sounds suspiciously like a remake of the band's biggest hit. Aimed at overseas buyers, perhaps? (The original 'Too Young For Promises' certainly received a US release, though.)

Album
Koo De Tah's sole self-titled album was released in 1986. For many years I assumed this wasn't available on CD, but in fact it was issued in that format, with the catalogue number CD 830 267-2. Needless to say, it is long out of print. Nor does it feature any bonus tracks or remixes; in fact, its sleeve information is somewhat more scant than the LP (a common problem with early issue CDs).

Too Young For Promises
Think Of Me
Missed You All Along
Over To You
Body Talk
Change My Ways
Meant To Be
Fun Girl
Drift Away (Don't Let It)
Into The Future

All songs written by Leon Berger. Produced by Leon Berger and Doug Henderson. Recorded and mastered at Studio 301, Sydney. Remixed at Arco Studios, Munich.

References
I have gleaned information largely from Koo De Tah's records themselves. However, various Web searches, the third edition of Chris Spencer & Zbig Nowara's Who's Who Of Australian Rock (Five Mile Press: 1993) (especially for the musician references) and my own (sometimes dodgy) memory have also played a part.


Where are they now?
Tina Cross has, as the many links above indicate, continued to pursue a singing career, largely on stage, in her native New Zealand. Singing the theme to Shortland Street (the Neighbours of NZ) is probably her greatest claim to solo fame, along with her Rocky Horror performances and numerous cabaret appearances.

Leon Berger had recorded a number of solo albums and performed with a self-titled band prior to Koo De Tah, but since the band split he appears to have concentrated on writing and production work. His best-known achievement is still probably Melissa Tkautz's Fresh LP (1992) (to which guitarist Bettison also contributed), which produced the hits 'Read My Lips', 'Sexy Is The Word' and 'Skin To Skin' during the E-Street star's chart vogue, and on which her contribution appeared to start and end at the vocals.


(biog courtesy of Angus)
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