In the early-to-mid-1980s, August Darnell was one of the more esoteric dance music makers in the industry, touring with a comical, colorful, big band and Latin-inspired combo as Kid Creole and The Coconuts. The group was, somewhat improbably, a briefly successful outfit, earning three U.K. Top 10 hits in 1982, appearing on Saturday Night Live and collaborating with everyone from Barry Manilow to Prince.

But Creole was far from the only musical shapeshifting personality that Darnell had invented for himself - and one of the most obscure is ripe for rediscovery as part of U.K. label Hot Shot Records' new product lineup. Darnell's 1983 venture as "Elbow Bones and The Racketeers" is now available to order as a greatly expanded CD.

Elbow Bones wasn't honestly too far off from Kid Creole, with several of the members of The Coconuts contributing their talents to this set as well. This time out, though, the Latin influences were toned down somewhat in favor of a more vibrant, jiving big band beat. Lead single "New York at Dawn" was another U.K. Top 40 hit for Darnell, as well as a Top 30 hit on Billboard's Dance charts.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ry4mA2wsKRs]

Cherry Red's remastered and expanded version of the album - one of its first releases on CD outside of Japan - features a new interview with Darnell in the liner notes as well as six bonus tracks, including dance remixes and a rare, Japan-only single A-side. "Happy Times" await you after the jump!

Elbow Bones and The Racketeers, New York at Dawn: Expanded Edition (Hot Shot Records HSR-003 (U.K.), 2012)

1. A Night in New York
2.  Other Guys
3. Happy Times
4. Our Love Will Always Stand
5. Happy Birthday, Baby
6. Mama's in Love Again
7. I Got You
8. I Call It Like I See It
9. I Belong to You
10. You Got Me High
11. A Night in New York (12" Version)
12. Happy Birthday, Baby (Extended Version)
13. Happy Times (Extended Version)
14. I Wanna Remind You
15. A Night in New York (Single Version)
16. Happy Birthday, Baby (Single Version)

Tracks 1-10 released as EMI America LP ST-17103, 1983
Tracks 11 and 13 released as EMI America 12" A-side 7812, 1983
Track 12 released as EMI America 12" A-side 12EA 168 (U.K.), 1984
Track 14 released as Toshiba-EMI single A-side EYS-17448 (JP), 1984
Track 15 released as EMI America single A-side B-8184, 1983
Track 16 released as EMI America single A-side EA 168 (U.K.), 1984