''Mechanical Man'' is a semi-official EP by
new wave musicians
Devo
Devo (, originally ) is an American rock band from Akron, Ohio, formed in 1973. Their classic line-up consisted of two sets of brothers, the Mothersbaughs (Mark and Bob) and the Casales (Gerald and Bob), along with Alan Myers. The band had a ...
, released in 1978. It includes four 4-track basement demos by the band, recorded before they were signed to a record contract with
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Records Inc. (formerly Warner Bros. Records Inc.) is an American record label. A subsidiary of the Warner Music Group, it is headquartered in Los Angeles, California. It was founded on March 19, 1958, as the recorded music division of the ...
.
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.
Opinions differ as to the legitimacy of the EP, with some sources considering it a bootleg. Devo webmaster and archivist Michael Pilmer states that it was produced by
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a record label owned by Universal Music Group. It originally founded as a British independent record label in 1972 by entrepreneurs Richard Branson, Simon Draper, Nik Powell, and musician Tom Newman. It grew to be a worldwid ...
and included with some copies of the band's debut album ''
Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!'' in the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...
.
"Blackout" was later known as "Clockout" and "Auto-Modown" includes an unlisted track: "Space Girl Blues".
Recording
The tracks "Mechanical Man" and "Auto-Modown" were recorded in 1975, when the band was a quartet and
Jim Mothersbaugh
Jim Mothersbaugh (; born January 18, 1956) is an American electronic engineer and former musician. He was the second drummer of the new wave band Devo, replacing Rod Reisman who played for only one show. Mothersbaugh joined Devo with his older ...
was their drummer.
"Blackout" was recorded in 1976, when
Bob Casale
Robert Edward Casale Jr. (born Robert Edward Pizzute Jr.; July 14, 1952 – February 17, 2014), or "Bob 2", was an American musician, composer and record producer. He came to prominence in the late 1970s as the keyboardist and rhythm guitari ...
had joined and
Alan Myers had replaced Jim.
The recording date for "Blockhead" is unknown, but the earliest known live performance of the song is from December of 1976.
Track listing
Side one
#"Mechanical Man" (
Mark Mothersbaugh
Mark Allen Mothersbaugh (; born May 18, 1950) is an American composer, singer, and multi-instrumentalist. He came to prominence in the late 1970s as co-founder, lead singer and keyboardist of the new wave band Devo, whose " Whip It" was a top 2 ...
) – 3:27
#"Blockhead" (
Bob Mothersbaugh
Robert Leroy Mothersbaugh, Jr. (; born August 11, 1952), or by his stage name "Bob 1", is an American songwriter, composer, musician and singer.
Mothersbaugh's music career spans more than 40 years. He came to prominence in the late 1970s as lead ...
, M. Mothersbaugh) – 3:08
Side two
#"Blackout" (
Gerald V. Casale
Gerald Vincent "Jerry" Casale ( ) (Birth name, ''né'' Pizzute; born July 28, 1948) is an American musician. He came to prominence in the late 1970s as co-founder, co-lead vocalist, and bass player of the New wave music, new wave band Devo, whic ...
) – 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)
and ''
Hardcore Devo: Volume Two'' (1991).
Credits for "Blockhead" cannot be confirmed.
Devo
*
Mark Mothersbaugh
Mark Allen Mothersbaugh (; born May 18, 1950) is an American composer, singer, and multi-instrumentalist. He came to prominence in the late 1970s as co-founder, lead singer and keyboardist of the new wave band Devo, whose " Whip It" was a top 2 ...
– synthesizers; vocals (A1)
*
Gerald V. Casale
Gerald Vincent "Jerry" Casale ( ) (Birth name, ''né'' Pizzute; born July 28, 1948) is an American musician. He came to prominence in the late 1970s as co-founder, co-lead vocalist, and bass player of the New wave music, new wave band Devo, whic ...
– bass guitar (A1, B1, B2), vocals (B1, B2)
*
Bob Mothersbaugh
Robert Leroy Mothersbaugh, Jr. (; born August 11, 1952), or by his stage name "Bob 1", is an American songwriter, composer, musician and singer.
Mothersbaugh's music career spans more than 40 years. He came to prominence in the late 1970s as lead ...
– guitar (A1, B1, B2)
*
Jim Mothersbaugh
Jim Mothersbaugh (; born January 18, 1956) is an American electronic engineer and former musician. He was the second drummer of the new wave band Devo, replacing Rod Reisman who played for only one show. Mothersbaugh joined Devo with his older ...
– drums (A1, B2)
*
Bob Casale
Robert Edward Casale Jr. (born Robert Edward Pizzute Jr.; July 14, 1952 – February 17, 2014), or "Bob 2", was an American musician, composer and record producer. He came to prominence in the late 1970s as the keyboardist and rhythm guitari ...
– 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
Devo EPs
1978 EPs
{{1970s-album-stub