Kinky Afro

"Kinky Afro" is a single by English alternative rock band Happy Mondays, produced by Paul Oakenfold and Steve Osborne. It was the second single from the band's third album Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches on 8 October 1990. The song's chorus paraphrases the Labelle song "Lady Marmalade". The song was originally going to be called "Groovy Afro", but was changed to "Kinky Afro" after British band the Farm released a similarly named song titled "Groovy Train" earlier in 1990.[1]

"Kinky Afro"
Single by Happy Mondays
from the album Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches
B-side"Kinky Afro" (live)
Released8 October 1990
Length3:55
LabelFactory
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Happy Mondays singles chronology
"Step On"
(1990)		 "Kinky Afro"
(1990)		 "Loose Fit"
(1991)
Music video
"Kinky Afro" on YouTube

Release

The song was the band's biggest hit in the United States, reaching number one on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.[2] It reached number five in the United Kingdom, tied with "Step On" as the band's highest-charting single there.[3] "Kinky Afro" was also the band's highest-charting single in Australasia, peaking at number 63 on Australia's ARIA Singles Chart and number 34 on New Zealand's Recorded Music NZ (then RIANZ) chart.[4][5]

Music video

The music video was produced and directed by Keith Jobling of the Bailey Brothers.[6]

Track listings

7-inch

  1. "Kinky Afro" (3:55)
  2. "Kinky Afro" (live) (4:36)

12-inch

  1. "Kinky Afro" (12" mix) (5:07)
  2. "Kinky Afro" (live) (6:38)

CD

  1. "Kinky Afro" (Radio Edit) (3:58)
  2. "Kinky Afro" (12" Mix) (5:08)
  3. "Kinky Afro" (live) (6:38)

Australian 12-inch

  1. "Kinky Afro" (Euromix) (7:26)
  2. "Kinky Afro" (Euromix edit) (4:15)
  3. "Step On" (US Dub mix) (5:55)

"Kinky Groovy Afro" 12-inch

  1. "Kinky Groovy Afro" (Peter Lorimer mix) (7:32)
  2. "Kinky Groovy Afro" (live) (6:38)

Source:[7]

Charts
Chart (1990–1991) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[4] 63
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[8] 22
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[5] 34
UK Singles (OCC)[3] 5
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[2] 1

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[9] Silver 200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

See also

References
  1. "Happy Mondays: How we made Kinky Afro". TheGuardian.com. 23 June 2014.
  2. "Happy Mondays Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
  3. "Happy Mondays: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  4. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  5. "Happy Mondays – Kinky Afro". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
  6. "Happy Mondays - Kinky Afro". 20 March 2013.
  7. "Kinky Afro". happymondays.de. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  8. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 7, no. 44. 3 November 1990. p. V. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  9. "British single certifications – Happy Mondays – Kinky Afro". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
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