Cherry Poppin: Zoot Suit Riot

The horn parts, meaty and athletic, are mixed to the fore and are a significant part of each song. They are guaranteed to thrill and delight any horn player or Big-Band enthusiast. The drummer keeps things consistently danceable and energetic. The main thing about the group that places it firmly in the nineties, rather than being a totally retro outfit, is the lyrics. As the group's name might imply, there's a wicked, street-wise seediness to almost every song. Sex, booze, and wild women are the subject matter of almost every song, usually communicated with clever innuendo and only occasionally with four-letter words. For example, here's the opening stanza from "Brown Derby Jump:"

She was a woman of mystery
And what she wanted I could not see
A three-year trip on the dragon
Until the clinic had to get me clean
We were a party and always drunk
Before I knew it the wreckage sunk
Shake, trip, shimmy and we'd do the bump
Everybody swingin' to the Brown Derby Jump

No subject is taboo – they do a rollicking swing number to lyrics about a drunk father who beats his children.

To a great extent, these lyrics contribute to the wild, care-free escapism inherent in a night out dancing on the town. They frequently evoke the oddly inticing imagery of smoky bars and shady characters. As long as you're not too put out by the content, you'll find a lot to love about the Cherry Poppin' Daddies.

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