Was (Not Was) (album)

Was (Not Was)
Studio album by Was (Not Was)
Released	1981 (1981)
Recorded	January-March 1981; Sound Suite, Detroit, Michigan
Label	ZE Records, Island Records
Producer	David Was, Don Was, Jack Tann, Michael Zilkha[1]
Was (Not Was) chronology
Was (Not Was) (1981) Born to Laugh at Tornadoes (1983)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	link
Robert Christgau	B−[2]

Was (Not Was) is the début album by art-funk ensemble Was (Not Was); it was released in 1981. The album was re-released with additional material in 2004 under the name Out Come the Freaks.^[3] The art direction was by Maverse Players.

Track listing

All tracks composed by David Was and Don Was; except where indicated

Side A

1. "Out Come the Freaks" – 5:41 vocals - Harry Bowens; spoken vocals - Marzanne McCants
2. "Where Did Your Heart Go?" – 4:55 vocals - Sweet Pea Atkinson
3. "Tell Me That I'm Dreaming" – 4:58 vocals - Harry Bowens
4. "Oh, Mr. Friction" – 3:31

Side B

1. "Carry Me Back to Old Morocco" (Doug Fieger) – 6:01
2. "It's an Attack!" – 3:11 vocals - Sweet Pea Atkinson
3. "The Sky's Ablaze" – 2:16
4. "Go...Now!" (Ron Banks) – 5:34 vocals - Sweet Pea Atkinson

Out Come the Freaks Track listing

1. "Wheel Me Out" (Long Version) – 7:06
2. "Out Come the Freaks" – 5:39
3. "Where Did Your Heart Go?" – 4:57
4. "Tell Me That I'm Dreaming" – 5:00
5. "Oh, Mr. Friction" – 3:33
6. "Carry Me Back to Old Morocco" – 6:01
7. "It's an Attack!" – 3:10
8. "The Sky's Ablaze" – 2:15
9. "Go...Now!" – 5:30
10. "Hello Operator" (Short Version) – 2:51
11. "Out Come the Freaks (Again)" – 4:37
12. "Tell Me That I'm Dreaming" (12" Remix)" – 7:48
13. "Out Come The Freaks" (12" Remix) – 7:10
14. "(Return to the Valley Of) Out Come the Freaks" (Semi/Historic 1983 Version) – 4:20
15. "Christmas Time in Motor City" – 2:55
16. "Out Come the Freaks" (Dub Version) – 6:30

Personnel

• David Was - vocals, alto saxophone, piano
• Don Was - vocals, bass, vibraphone, Moog synthesizer, clavinet,
• Sir Harry Bowens - vocals on "Out Come the Freaks", "Tell Me That I'm Dreaming"
• Sweet Pea Atkinson - vocals on "Where Did Your Heart Go?", "It's an Attack", "Go...Now!"
• Bruce Nazarian, Ricardo Rouse, Wayne Kramer - guitar
• Jervonny Collier, Lamont Johnson - bass (Bruce Nazarian bass on "Wheel Me Out")
• Franklin K. Funklyn McCullers, Jerry Jones - drums
• Larry Fratangelo, Kevin Tschirhart, Carl "Butch" Small - percussion
• Gary Stuck, Jim Matthews, Les Chambers - additional percussion
• Irwin Krinsky - piano
• Luis Resto, Raymond Johnson, Mark Johnson - keyboards
• David McMurray, Armand Angeloni - saxophone
• Marcus Belgrave - trumpet, flugelhorn
• Mack Pitt - mandolin
• Carol Hall, Carolyn Crawford, Kathy Kosins, Michelle Goulet, Sheila Horne - background vocals
• Anthony Was, Kim Heron, Lamont Zodiac, Mark J. Norton, Mitchell Jacobs, Mrs. Martinez's Fifth Hour Vocal Music Class/Birney Middle School, Pam Schlom, Richard Pinkston, Rick Cushingberry, Rubin Weiss, Ruth Seymore, Tom Brzezina - additional vocals
• Johnny Allen - string arrangement on "Where Did Your Heart Go?"
• Michael Zilkha - Executive Producer

References