The Coolies
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1986 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States |
| Defunct | 1989 |
| Headquarters | Atlanta , United States |
| Products | Alternative rock music albums |
The Coolies were an alternative rock group originating from Atlanta, Georgia, active between 1986 and 1989. Their band name was inspired by a dictionary entry defining coolie as a derogatory label for someone performing strenuous labor for minimal compensation.
dig..?
The Coolies' first album, dig..? (1986, released by DB Records), consisted of nine playful reinterpretations of Simon & Garfunkel songs alongside a rendition of Paul Anka's 1974 chart-topping single "(You're) Having My Baby." Vocalist Clay Harper incorporated a provocative spoken-word segment that heightened the song's contentious subject matter. The track "Scarborough Fair" was issued as a 7″ vinyl single.
Doug
In 1988, The Coolies unveiled Doug, a rock opera featuring 13 original compositions primarily penned by guitarist Rob Gal. Musically, the album draws inspiration from groups such as The Who, Led Zeppelin, John Lennon, and The Replacements, merging tribute with satire.
The narrative of Doug follows a skinhead who murders a drag queen short-order cook, steals his culinary recipe book, and rises to fame with a bestselling cookbook. Overcome by remorse and paranoia, he descends into substance abuse and financial ruin, ultimately ending in destitution. In 2006, IGN ranked Doug as the thirteenth best rock opera. A comic book adaptation created by singer-songwriter Jack Logan accompanied the album's release.
Original drummer Billy Burton, who also played with The Swimming Pool Q's, was replaced on Doug by Frogg Jaguar Mellonball. Keyboardist John Cerreta contributed to both albums but was not officially listed as a band member.
Take That You Bastards!
While working on their third album, The Coolies disbanded in 1989. Three tracks from these unfinished sessions surfaced in 1995 on Take That You Bastards!, issued through Harper's Casino Records. This two-disc compilation features both prior albums (excluding "Mrs. Robinson" from dig..?), the three unreleased songs, plus their cover of "The Sounds of Silence"—originally the B-side to "Scarborough Fair."
Other musical ventures
Following the dissolution of The Coolies, Gal and Harper established Lester Square and subsequently Ottoman Empire, producing two albums under DB Records before disbanding once more. Gal later joined the band 6X, while Harper embarked on a solo path with the ten-track album East of Easter. In 1998, he collaborated with his brother Mark (also part of Ottoman Empire) to create a children's record titled Not Dogs...Too Simple (A Tale of Two Kitties), featuring guest appearances by artists such as Ian Dury, Kevn Kinney (Drivin N Cryin), Rick Richards (Georgia Satellites), Maureen Tucker (Velvet Underground), Murray Attaway (Guadalcanal Diary), and Cindy Wilson (the B-52's).
The Harper Brothers followed up with another children's album, The Slippery Ballerina, released in 1999. In 2000, Clay Harper wrote and produced the concept album Main Street: the Original Soundtrack to the Motion Picture—despite no film existing—but did not perform on it. His second solo effort, Old Airport Road, arrived in 2013 along with several singles released through Casino Records.
Outside of music, Harper has gained recognition as an entrepreneur owning Fellini's Pizza and La Fonda Latina restaurant chains across Georgia.
Rob Gal shifted toward audio engineering roles, contributing to projects including Sugarland's Gold and Green. Post-Coolies, Teddy Murray joined Donkey, which released a live album titled Slick Night Out (1993) on Steam Records and a studio album called Ten Cent Freaks (1994) via Amphion Records. Jeb Baldwin and Frogg Jaguar Mellonball formed The Mighty Fine Slabs, serving as the house band at Fat Matt's Rib Shack between 1991 and 1999.
Discography
- dig..? (1986), released by DB Records
- Doug (1988), under DB Records
- Take That You Bastards! (1995), a compilation issued by Casino Records