Stool Pigeon

Album: Tropical Gangsters (1982)
Charted: 7
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is a far-from-obvious tribute song. On September 14, 2011, Kid Creole appeared on the BBC Breakfast news program, where he told the presenters that growing up, his heroes had been Humphrey Bogart, Clark Gable, Edward G. Robinson and people like that. All three were of course famous American actors.

    Kid Creole is the stage name of singer-songwriter August Darnell, who was born in 1950, and grew up in The Bronx. Bogart died in 1957 and Gable in 1960, so it is fair to say that they were of an earlier generation, although many of their films have stood the test of time. Robinson played a fair number of gangster roles; he and Bogart both starred in the 1948 gangster film Key Largo.
  • Darnell told Breakfast he remained a great fan of the 1940s dress style, which typically for gangsters was double-breasted pinstriped suits and hats of a certain type. "Stool Pigeon," which Darnell wrote, is really a tribute to this whole genre, and was released in the UK as a single (picture disk) in 1982 remixed version backed by the remixed version of "In The Jungle."

    There was also a promo version (running to a full 6 minutes 21 seconds) backed by "Annie, I'm Not Your Daddy" and "I'm Corrupt." >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England, for above 2

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Randy Houser

Randy HouserSongwriter Interviews

The "How Country Feels" singer talks Skynyrd and songwriting.

Gilby Clarke

Gilby ClarkeSongwriter Interviews

The Guns N' Roses rhythm guitarist in the early '90s, Gilby talks about the band's implosion and the side projects it spawned.

Subversive Songs Used To Sell

Subversive Songs Used To SellSong Writing

Songs about drugs, revolution and greed that have been used in commercials for sneakers, jeans, fast food, cruises and cars.

Tom Bailey of Thompson Twins

Tom Bailey of Thompson TwinsSongwriter Interviews

Tom stopped performing Thompson Twins songs in 1987, in part because of their personal nature: "Hold Me Now" came after an argument with his bandmate/girlfriend Alannah Currie.

Krishna Das

Krishna DasSongwriter Interviews

The top chant artist in the Western world, Krishna Das talks about how these Hindu mantras compare to Christian worship songs.

What Musicians Are Related to Other Musicians?

What Musicians Are Related to Other Musicians?Song Writing

A big list of musical marriages and family relations ranging from the simple to the truly dysfunctional.