Put that Thing Away - "Kool Thing"

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Just one more thing, as Frank Columbo used to say. When Sonic Youth recorded their 1990 album, Goo, it was their sixth album, but their first for a major record label (it was released on DGC, a subsidiary of Geffen,) the challenge was making a record that sounded like Sonic Youth, but that would satisfy a big record company. The record’s first single, “Kool Thing,” was more than up to that task. Bassist/vocalist Kim Gordon was compelled to write “Kool Thing” after she had interviewed hip hop star LL Cool J for Spin Magazine. A big fan of the rapper, Gordon came away disillusioned by his viewpoints towards women. Never meet your heroes, as the saying goes. The song includes several references to LL Cool J (without ever mentioning his name,) using his songs “I Can’t Live Without My Radio” and “Going Back to Cali,” and his album Walking with a Panther as reference points in the tune. Public Enemy was using the same studio to record their album Fear of a Black Planet, so Sonic Youth tabbed Chuck D to appear on the song as the “Kool Thing.” “Kool Thing” wasn’t a big hit, but the video did receive a lot of airplay on MTV, and helped Goo become certified Silver in the U.K. Link is to the promotional video: