Kool In The Kaftan

Album: Initial Success (1980)
Charted: 17
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Although Brian Alexander Robertson was only 11 years old during the Summer Of Love, he has captured the essence of the hippy era magically with this tongue-in-cheek song. It opens to the strains of a sitar - shades of a transcendental George Harrison? - and then descends into satire. In its own way, "Kool In The Kaftan" - which was co-written with Terry Britten - is every bit as alluring as Al Stewart's "Gina In The Kings Road" and the John Lees composition "Psychedelic Child."

    Running 3:52, it appeared on his 1980 Initial Success album, the first he recorded as B.A. Robertson. It was also released as a single, on the Asylum label - regular and gatefold sleeve - backed by "Baby I'm A Bat." >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England

Comments: 1

  • Ade from Coventry UkB.A Robertson claimed to be a Coventry City football fan and was at several games at the clubs old Highfield Road ground. He also once wrote a club song that never took off. He had no connection to the city of Coventry.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: '80s Edition

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: '80s EditionMusic Quiz

You know the scenes - Tom Cruise in his own pants-off dance off, Molly Ringwald celebrating her birthday - but do you remember what song is playing?

Colin Hay

Colin HaySongwriter Interviews

Established as a redoubtable singer-songwriter, the Men At Work frontman explains how religion, sobriety and Jack Nicholson play into his songwriting.

Cy Curnin of The Fixx

Cy Curnin of The FixxSongwriter Interviews

The man who brought us "Red Skies" and "Saved By Zero" is now an organic farmer in France.

Matthew Wilder - "Break My Stride"

Matthew Wilder - "Break My Stride"They're Playing My Song

Wilder's hit "Break My Stride" had an unlikely inspiration: a famous record mogul who rejected it.

Tom Johnston from The Doobie Brothers

Tom Johnston from The Doobie BrothersSongwriter Interviews

The Doobies guitarist and lead singer, Tom wrote the classics "Listen To The Music," "Long Train Runnin'" and "China Grove."

Justin Timberlake

Justin TimberlakeFact or Fiction

Was Justin the first to be Punk'd by Ashton Kutcher? Did Britney really blame him for her meltdown? Did his bandmates think he was gay?