Rebooted...
Originally posted February 6, 2016 & January 28, 2021
BBC 1 in Concert Series....
Was (Not Was) play contemporary R&B dance music, with lyrics that range from the satiric to the bizarre. The group is led by Detroit natives David Weiss (David Was), who plays flute and writes those lyrics, and Don Fagenson (Don Was), who plays bass and writes music, but the group is fronted by singers Harry Bowens and Sweet Pea Atkinson. Was (Not Was) first gained notice for a dance single called "Wheel Me Out" in 1980. Their first album, Was (Not Was) (1981), did not reach the charts, but its follow-up, Born to Laugh at Tornados (1983), did. Then little was heard from the group for five years. They returned in 1988 with What Up, Dog?, which featured the number 16 hit "Spy in the House of Love" and the number seven hit "Walk the Dinosaur." (During this period, Don Was had become a prominent record producer, handling the board for Bonnie Raitt's Grammy-winning Nick of Time, among many other mainstream pop records.) The fourth Was (Not Was) album, Are You Okay?, appeared in 1990. Are You Okay? wasn't as commercially successful as the previous What Up, Dog? After the album's release, Don Was continued to pursue his production career, which began to increase tensions between Don and David. In 1993, they parted ways but returned 15 years later with Boo!, an album featuring several Was (Not Was) vets, including Bowens, Atkinson, Wayne Kramer, David McMurray, and Luis Resto.
~ William Ruhlmann - Allmusic.com
One of my all time favorite bands. They combined soul, jazz and funk with some really creative and inventive song and lyrical writing.
Originally posted February 6, 2016 & January 28, 2021
Was (Not Was) - Town & Country Club
December 12, 1988
London, UK
FM Source @256
BBC 1 in Concert Series....
Was (Not Was) play contemporary R&B dance music, with lyrics that range from the satiric to the bizarre. The group is led by Detroit natives David Weiss (David Was), who plays flute and writes those lyrics, and Don Fagenson (Don Was), who plays bass and writes music, but the group is fronted by singers Harry Bowens and Sweet Pea Atkinson. Was (Not Was) first gained notice for a dance single called "Wheel Me Out" in 1980. Their first album, Was (Not Was) (1981), did not reach the charts, but its follow-up, Born to Laugh at Tornados (1983), did. Then little was heard from the group for five years. They returned in 1988 with What Up, Dog?, which featured the number 16 hit "Spy in the House of Love" and the number seven hit "Walk the Dinosaur." (During this period, Don Was had become a prominent record producer, handling the board for Bonnie Raitt's Grammy-winning Nick of Time, among many other mainstream pop records.) The fourth Was (Not Was) album, Are You Okay?, appeared in 1990. Are You Okay? wasn't as commercially successful as the previous What Up, Dog? After the album's release, Don Was continued to pursue his production career, which began to increase tensions between Don and David. In 1993, they parted ways but returned 15 years later with Boo!, an album featuring several Was (Not Was) vets, including Bowens, Atkinson, Wayne Kramer, David McMurray, and Luis Resto.
~ William Ruhlmann - Allmusic.com
One of my all time favorite bands. They combined soul, jazz and funk with some really creative and inventive song and lyrical writing.
Set List:
1. Out Come The Freaks
2. Bow Wow Wow Wow
3. Anytime Lisa
4. Wheel Me Out
5. Spy In The House Of Love
6. Walk The Dinosaur
7. (Return To The Valley Of) Out Come The Freaks
8. 11 Miles An Hour
9. Back In Love Again
10. Can’t Turn You Loose
1. Out Come The Freaks
2. Bow Wow Wow Wow
3. Anytime Lisa
4. Wheel Me Out
5. Spy In The House Of Love
6. Walk The Dinosaur
7. (Return To The Valley Of) Out Come The Freaks
8. 11 Miles An Hour
9. Back In Love Again
10. Can’t Turn You Loose
Great band, being from the Detroit area as am I. Saw them put on a great show at St. Andrews in the D back in the late 80s. Can't wait to hear this. Woodwork squeaks and out come the freaks!
ReplyDeleteTheir debut is one of my all-time favorites. Such a great band--and such a great site to post this!
ReplyDeleteI'm the requestor. Thank you very much.
ReplyDeleteThey were one of the bands I really wanted to see and never got the chance. =(
ReplyDeleteThank you very much.
ReplyDeleteNow here's something you don't see too many of! Thanks, looking forward to this one. They made some great stuff. Cheers gents and keep up the great work. DD
ReplyDeleteThe correct location is The Town & Country Club , London . 12th. December 1988 .
ReplyDeleteUpdated! Thanks!
DeleteHappy Birthday to me!! I was 35 on that day.
DeleteSorry, just want to give n update on this. This is REALLY good. What a great band, and love the bass player! Whoohoo. Love it, and can't stop playing it. Cheers DD
ReplyDeleteI just found this concert, but unfortunately the link is gone, any chance of a re-up?
ReplyDelete@Art58Koen - Look for a reboot soon!
ReplyDeleteMost excellent! The album "Born to Laugh at Tornadoes" was partially recorded at the studio where I had just started as a staff assistant engineer in '83. I hung out as much as I could with Don and the Engineer during production ( I did not work on this but you better believe I was a huge pest and fly on the wall). Don was a fixture at the Studio over the next few years, before his move out to LA (1983-1987). I saw Was not Was at the Palladium in NY during this time and got to hang out backstage with the band.... when I say this was just "Another Sunday night"... it was!. I wish I could go back in time and tell my younger self to bring a camera, write a journal!! Soak it in.. this is never going to happen again! Thank you for this show! can't wait to listen and reminisce! cheers!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the new link and @ex_mixer for the insight story! I'm preparing a post about Don Was for JOKONKY blog...
ReplyDeleteHELP!! I DONT SEE THE NEW LINK!!!
Delete@Anon...It's underneath the video }##{
Delete