Kinky Afro
1990 single by Happy Mondays
title: "Kinky Afro" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1990-singles", "1990-songs", "factory-records-singles", "london-records-singles", "happy-mondays-songs", "song-recordings-produced-by-paul-oakenfold", "uk-independent-singles-chart-number-one-singles"] description: "1990 single by Happy Mondays" topic_path: "arts/music" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinky_Afro" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary 1990 single by Happy Mondays ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox song"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Kinky Afro |
| cover | Kinky Afro.jpg |
| type | single |
| artist | Happy Mondays |
| album | Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches |
| B-side | "Kinky Afro" (live) |
| released | |
| length | 3:55 |
| label | Factory |
| prev_title | Step On |
| prev_year | 1990 |
| next_title | Loose Fit |
| next_year | 1991 |
| misc | |
| :: |
| name = Kinky Afro | cover = Kinky Afro.jpg | alt = | type = single | artist = Happy Mondays | album = Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches | B-side = "Kinky Afro" (live) | released = | recorded = | studio = | venue = | length = 3:55 | label = Factory | writer =
- Shaun Ryder
- Paul Ryder
- Mark Day
- Paul Davis
- Gary Whelan | producer =
- Paul Oakenfold
- Steve Osborne | prev_title = Step On | prev_year = 1990 | next_title = Loose Fit | next_year = 1991 | misc = "Kinky Afro" is a song by the English alternative rock band Happy Mondays, produced by Paul Oakenfold and Steve Osborne. It was released as the second single from the band's third studio 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.
Release
The song was the band's biggest hit in the United States, reaching number one on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. It reached number five in the United Kingdom, tied with "Step On" as the band's highest-charting single there. "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.
Music video
The music video was produced and directed by Keith Jobling of the Bailey Brothers.
Track listings
7-inch
- "Kinky Afro" – 3:55
- "Kinky Afro" (live) – 4:36
12-inch
- "Kinky Afro" (12" mix) – 5:07
- "Kinky Afro" (live) – 6:38
CD
- "Kinky Afro" (Radio Edit) – 3:58
- "Kinky Afro" (12" Mix) – 5:08
- "Kinky Afro" (live) – 6:38
Australian 12-inch
- "Kinky Afro" (Euromix) – 7:26
- "Kinky Afro" (Euromix edit) – 4:15
- "Step On" (US Dub mix) – 5:55
"Kinky Groovy Afro" 12-inch
- "Kinky Groovy Afro" (Peter Lorimer mix) – 7:32
- "Kinky Groovy Afro" (live) – 6:38
Source:
Charts
Weekly charts
::data[format=table] | Chart (1990–1991) | Peak position | Australia (ARIA) | Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) | UK Indie (Music Week) | |---|---|---|---|---| | 63 | | | | | | 22 | | | | | | 1 | | | | | ::
Year-end charts
::data[format=table]
| Chart (1991) | Position | US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard) |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | ||
| :: |
Certifications
Release history
::data[format=table]
| Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. | United Kingdom | Australia | Japan | Australia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 October 1990 | Factory | |||||||
| 26 November 1990 | ||||||||
| 3 December 1990 | 12-inch vinyl ("Kinky Groovy Afro") | |||||||
| 21 December 1990 | CD | |||||||
| 4 March 1991 | 12-inch vinyl (Euromix) | |||||||
| :: |
References
References
- (23 June 2014). "Happy Mondays: How we made Kinky Afro".
- (20 March 2013). "Happy Mondays - Kinky Afro".
- "Kinky Afro".
- Ryan, Gavin. (2011). "Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010". Moonlight Publishing.
- (3 November 1990). "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles".
- (17 November 1990). "Indie Singles".
- (21 December 1991). "The Year in Music 1991: Top Modern Rock Tracks".
- (25 November 1990). "New Release Summary: Singles".
- (2 December 1990). "New Release Summary: Singles".
- "ハッピー・マンデーズ {{!}} キンキィ・アフロ". [[Oricon]].
- (3 March 1991). "New Release Summary – Product Available from: 04/03/91 : Singles".
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