Mechanical Man (EP)
Mechanical Man EP | ||||
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EP by Devo | ||||
Released | 1978 | |||
Recorded | 1975–1976 | |||
Genre |
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Length | 13:48 | |||
Label | Elevator Records | |||
Producer | Devo | |||
Devo chronology | ||||
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Mechanical Man is an EP by the American new wave band Devo, released in 1978 by Elevator Records. It includes four 4-track basement demos by the band, recorded before they were signed to a record contract with Warner Bros. Records.
Background
The EP was a 7-inch single housed in a plain sleeve that came in a variety of colors including pink, blue, red, yellow and green. Most EP sleeves were numbered on the back, although the exact number of EPs pressed is unknown.[1]
Opinions differ as to the legitimacy of the EP, with some sources considering it a bootleg.[2] In a Trouser Press article on the band dating from January 1979, Cole Springer refers to it as a bootleg of British origin.[3] However, Devo webmaster and archivist Michael Pilmer later stated that it was produced by Virgin Records and included with some copies of the band's 1978 debut album Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! in the United Kingdom.[1] In 2023, Devo member Gerald Casale said that the songs were "the five tracks we were most excited about at the time".[2]
"Blackout" was later known as "Clockout" and "Auto-Modown" includes the unlisted track "Space Girl Blues".[citation needed]
Recording
The tracks "Mechanical Man" and "Auto-Modown" were recorded in 1975, when the band was a quartet and Jim Mothersbaugh was their drummer.[4] "Blackout" was recorded in 1976, when Bob Casale had joined and Alan Myers had replaced Jim.[5]
Reissue
In 2023, Electronic Sound magazine repressed a limited edition of the Mechanical Man EP on yellow 7-inch vinyl and offered it as a bundle with issue 103, a 100-page celebration of Devo's 50th anniversary.[2] The bundle became their fastest-selling issue ever, quickly selling out on the website, and the magazine later made a poster of the cover available for sale.[6]
Track listing
Side one
- "Mechanical Man" (Mark Mothersbaugh) – 3:27
- "Blockhead" (Bob Mothersbaugh, M. Mothersbaugh) – 3:08
Side two
- "Blackout" (Gerald V. Casale) – 3:11
- "Auto-Modown" (G.V. Casale) – 3:51
Personnel
Instrumental credits adapted from liner notes of 2013 Superior Viaduct reissues of Hardcore Devo: Volume One (1990)[4] and Hardcore Devo: Volume Two (1991).[5] Credits for "Blockhead" cannot be confirmed.
Devo
- Mark Mothersbaugh – synthesizers; vocals (A1)
- Gerald V. Casale – bass guitar (A1, B1, B2), vocals (B1, B2)
- Bob Mothersbaugh – guitar (A1, B1, B2)
- Jim Mothersbaugh – drums (A1, B2)
- Bob Casale – additional guitar (B1)
- Alan Myers – drums (B1)
Technical
- Devo (as "Mechanical Man") – producers
External links
- http://www.discogs.com/Devo-Mechanical-Man/master/97414
References
- ^ a b Pilmer, Michael. "Mechanical Man". Devo Obsesso.
- ^ a b c "Issue 103 — Electronic Sound". Electronic Sound. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
- ^ Springer, Cole (January 1979). "YES!". Trouser Press. No. 35. p. 15.
- ^ a b Devo (2013). Hardcore Volume 1 (LP liner notes). San Francisco: Superior Viaduct. SV024.
- ^ a b Devo (2013). Hardcore Volume 2 (LP liner notes). San Francisco: Superior Viaduct. SV025.
- ^ "ES103 Devo AS Poster — Electronic Sound". Electronic Sound. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
- v
- t
- e
- Mark Mothersbaugh
- Gerald Casale
- Bob Mothersbaugh
- Josh Hager
- Jeff Friedl
- Bob Casale
- Alan Myers
- Jim Mothersbaugh
- Bob Lewis
- Fred Weber
- Rod Reisman
- David Kendrick
- Josh Freese
albums
- Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! (1978)
- Duty Now for the Future (1979)
- Freedom of Choice (1980)
- New Traditionalists (1981)
- Oh, No! It's Devo (1982)
- Shout (1984)
- Total Devo (1988)
- Smooth Noodle Maps (1990)
- Something for Everybody (2010)
- Now It Can Be Told: Devo at the Palace (1989)
- Devo Live: The Mongoloid Years (1992)
- DEV-O Live (1999)
- Devo Live 1980 (2005)
- Hardcore Devo Live! (2015)
albums
- E-Z Listening Disc (1987)
- Devo's Greatest Hits (1990)
- Devo's Greatest Misses (1990)
- Hardcore Devo: Volume One (1990)
- Hardcore Devo: Volume Two (1991)
- Hot Potatoes: The Best of Devo (1993)
- Adventures of the Smart Patrol (1996)
- Pioneers Who Got Scalped: The Anthology (2000)
- Recombo DNA (2000)
- This Is the Devo Box (2008)
- Something Else for Everybody (2013)
- 50 Years of De-Evolution 1973–2023 (2023)
- B Stiff (1977)
- Mechanical Man (1978)
- DEV-O Live (1981)
- Theme from Doctor Detroit (1983)
- Watch Us Work It (2008)
- Song Study (2010)
- "Mongoloid"
- "Jocko Homo"
- "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction"
- "Be Stiff"
- "Secret Agent Man"
- "Girl U Want"
- "Whip It"
- "Freedom of Choice"
- "Through Being Cool"
- "Beautiful World"
- "Working in the Coal Mine"
- "Peek-a-Boo!"
- "That's Good"
- "Are You Experienced?"
- "Here to Go"
- "Disco Dancer"
- "Watch Us Work It"
releases
articles
- Discography
- Characters (Booji Boy
- General Boy)
- Church of the SubGenius
- Devo 2.0
- Devo Presents Adventures of the Smart Patrol
- Energy dome
- Jihad Jerry & the Evildoers
- Mutato Muzika
- The Beginning Was the End
- "Dare to Be Stupid"
- "The Mutants Are Revolting"