Chart entered : 15 November 1980
Chart peak : 73
Number of hits : 13
This has got to be the ultimate outlier hit. I can't imagine there'll be anyone else with a ten and a half year gap between their first and second appearances in the charts.
Incognito evolved out of the pioneering Brit-funk band Light of the World. They were formed from a group of musicians who hung around a record shop in Tottenham in 1978 and wanted to be Kool and the Gang. Those who later went into Incognito were guitarist Jean-Paul Maunick , originally from Mauritius , bassist Paul Williams , keyboard player Peter Hinds and percussionist Gee Bello. After a year gigging they were signed to Ensign but Jean-Paul left the group after a tour bus accident before they'd recorded anything.
The others played on the eponymous debut album with its two minor hits in 1979 "Swingin" and "Midnight Groovin" both of which laid down the Brit-funk template for the next few years- scratchy guitars , lots of percussion and a beefy horn section. Haircut 100's Favourite Shirts owes a lot to the latter song. Their second LP "Round Trip" made number 73 in the album charts and yielded three more hits in "London Town","I Shot The Sheriff" and "I'm So Happy" but then the band split into two with one faction ( mainly the horn players ) becoming Beggar and Co and Peter Paul and Gee joining with Jean-Paul in Incognito. Drummer Jeff Dunn and saxophonist George Lee completed the line up.
" Parisienne Girl " is largely an instrumental with sax , keyboards and bass taking it in turns to be the lead instrument. It's not quite as soporific as Shakatak but getting there. I try to be as objective as possible her but when the whole jazz-funk genre leaves me cold it's difficult.
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