DEVO Live: The Mongoloid Years
Encyclopedia
DEVO Live: The Mongoloid Years is a live album consisting of recordings from three early Devo
performances.
in November 1977 (mislabeled as May 1977), The Crypt in Akron
in December 1976, and the WHK Auditorium in Cleveland
on Halloween
1975. The concerts were recorded on four-track tape by the band, and the selections are described by Gerald Casale
as "the best of the only audio tapes that escaped total disintegration over the last 15 years" in the liner notes.
The album includes an essay and description of the shows presented penned by Gerald Casale
, titled "The rest, as they say, is De-evolution." It describes both the environment of the shows, and the development of the early band.
, who called Devo "The band of the future," and offered to produce their first album. It shows an early Devo at the top of their performance. According to Casale's essay, the day after the show, in Akron, the band began to receive phone calls from record labels.
The band performed two sets at this show. The performance on the CD is the early set.
. At the time, there was a feud between fans of Devo and The Dead Boys and a fist fight, allegedly started by Cheetah Chrome
, occurred during the show.
This was one of the first shows with drummer Alan Myers.
on electronic drums. The band had been hired as a joke to open for Sun Ra
at a private party, and had been billed as a cover band. They are introduced by local radio celebrity Murray Saul.
Devo performs in the guise of theatrical characters
, and infuriates much of the audience into leaving before Sun Ra's set. This show was the first performance of Jocko Homo
, and allegedly went on for 30 minutes. During the performance on the song, an audience member takes a stage microphone and insults the band. The set finally ends when the promoters unplug the band's equipment, though the recorder picks up an argument and near fist-fight between Gerald Casale and a promoter.
According to other sources, the crowd became angry because Devo refused to stop playing and the headliner, Sun Ra, never got to perform.
Devo
Devo is an American band formed in 1973 consisting of members from Kent and Akron, Ohio. The classic line-up of the band includes two sets of brothers, the Mothersbaughs and the Casales . The band had a #14 Billboard chart hit in 1980 with the single "Whip It", and has maintained a cult...
performances.
Overview
The album presents parts of three Devo concerts from their early days, presented in reverse chronological order: Max's Kansas CityMax's Kansas City
Max's Kansas City was a nightclub and restaurant at 213 Park Avenue South, in New York City, which was a gathering spot for musicians, poets, artists and politicians in the 1960s and 1970s.-Origin of name:...
in November 1977 (mislabeled as May 1977), The Crypt in Akron
Akron, Ohio
Akron , is the fifth largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County. It is located in the Great Lakes region approximately south of Lake Erie along the Little Cuyahoga River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 199,110. The Akron Metropolitan...
in December 1976, and the WHK Auditorium in Cleveland
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
on Halloween
Halloween
Hallowe'en , also known as Halloween or All Hallows' Eve, is a yearly holiday observed around the world on October 31, the night before All Saints' Day...
1975. The concerts were recorded on four-track tape by the band, and the selections are described by Gerald Casale
Gerald Casale
Gerald Vincent Casale , often known as Jerry Casale, is a vocalist, bass guitar/synthesizer player, and a founding member of the new wave band Devo...
as "the best of the only audio tapes that escaped total disintegration over the last 15 years" in the liner notes.
The album includes an essay and description of the shows presented penned by Gerald Casale
Gerald Casale
Gerald Vincent Casale , often known as Jerry Casale, is a vocalist, bass guitar/synthesizer player, and a founding member of the new wave band Devo...
, titled "The rest, as they say, is De-evolution." It describes both the environment of the shows, and the development of the early band.
Max's Kansas City NYC November 1977
Covering tracks 1 through 9, this concert is noted as being introduced by David BowieDavid Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
, who called Devo "The band of the future," and offered to produce their first album. It shows an early Devo at the top of their performance. According to Casale's essay, the day after the show, in Akron, the band began to receive phone calls from record labels.
The band performed two sets at this show. The performance on the CD is the early set.
The Crypt Akron December 1976
This concert covers tracks 10 through 13 and is a performance of Devo opening for The Dead BoysThe Dead Boys
The Dead Boys were an American punk rock band from Cleveland, Ohio. Among the first wave of early punk bands, the Dead Boys were initially active from 1976 to 1979, briefly reuniting in 1987, 2004 and 2005.-Formation and 1970s punk rock era:...
. At the time, there was a feud between fans of Devo and The Dead Boys and a fist fight, allegedly started by Cheetah Chrome
Cheetah Chrome
Cheetah Chrome is an American musician who achieved fame as a guitarist for Rocket From the Tombs and the punk rock band, The Dead Boys....
, occurred during the show.
This was one of the first shows with drummer Alan Myers.
WHK Auditorium Cleveland Halloween 1975
The remainder of the disc is a very early Devo concert, featuring the quartet lineup of the band which included Jim MothersbaughJim Mothersbaugh
Jim Mothersbaugh was the second drummer for Devo, replacing Rod Reisman who only played for a single show. Jim joined Devo with his older brothers, Bob and Mark.Jim appears on several early Devo demos...
on electronic drums. The band had been hired as a joke to open for Sun Ra
Sun Ra
Sun Ra was a prolific jazz composer, bandleader, piano and synthesizer player, poet and philosopher known for his "cosmic philosophy," musical compositions and performances. He was born in Birmingham, Alabama...
at a private party, and had been billed as a cover band. They are introduced by local radio celebrity Murray Saul.
Devo performs in the guise of theatrical characters
Characters in Devo music videos
In Devo's music videos, early concerts, and short films, the band created a pastiche and parody of the real world via the idea of "Spudland". Many characters and concepts reappeared between videos.-Booji Boy:...
, and infuriates much of the audience into leaving before Sun Ra's set. This show was the first performance of Jocko Homo
Jocko Homo
"Jocko Homo" is the B-side to Devo's first single, "Mongoloid," released as a single in 1977 on Devo's own label, Booji Boy Records and later released in the UK on Stiff Records. The song was re-recorded as the feature song for Devo's first album, Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! on Warner Bros....
, and allegedly went on for 30 minutes. During the performance on the song, an audience member takes a stage microphone and insults the band. The set finally ends when the promoters unplug the band's equipment, though the recorder picks up an argument and near fist-fight between Gerald Casale and a promoter.
According to other sources, the crowd became angry because Devo refused to stop playing and the headliner, Sun Ra, never got to perform.
Track listing
- "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" Satisfaction" is a song by the English rock band The Rolling Stones, released in 1965. It was written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards and produced by Andrew Loog Oldham. Richards's throwaway three-note guitar riff — intended to be replaced by horns — opens and drives the song...
" [Listed as "Satisfaction (I Can't Get No"] (Mick JaggerMick JaggerSir Michael Philip "Mick" Jagger is an English musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and a founding member of The Rolling Stones....
, Keith RichardsKeith RichardsKeith Richards is an English musician, songwriter, and founding member of the Rolling Stones. Rolling Stone magazine said Richards had created "rock's greatest single body of riffs", and placed him as the "10th greatest guitarist of all time." Fourteen songs written by Richards and songwriting...
) – 3:18 - "Too Much Paranoias" (Mark Mothersbaugh) – 2:21
- "Praying Hands" (Gerald V. Casale, Mothersbaugh) – 4:11
- "Uncontrollable Urge" (Mothersbaugh) – 3:22
- "Mongoloid" (Casale, Mothersbaugh) – 3:27
- "Smart Patrol / Mr. DNA" (Casale, Mothersbaugh) – 8:02
- "Gut Feeling (Slap Your Mammy)" (Casale, Bob Mothersbaugh, Mothersbaugh) – 4:43
- "Sloppy (I Saw My Baby Gettin')" [Listed as "Sloppy"] (Casale, Gary Jackett, Mothersbaugh, Mothersbaugh) – 2:59
- "Come Back Jonee" (Casale, Mothersbaugh) – 4:01
- "Clockout" (Casale) – 2:41
- "Soo Bawls" (Mothersbaugh) – 3:50
- "Space Junk" (Casale, Mothersbaugh) – 2:32
- "Blockhead" (Mothersbaugh, Mothersbaugh) – 6:21
- "Subhuman Woman" (Casale, Bob Lewis) – 4:43
- "Bamboo Bimbo" (Casale, Mothersbaugh) – 3:44
- "Beulah" (Casale) – 13:14
- "Jocko Homo / I Need a Chick" (Casale, Gregg, Mothersbaugh) – 2:32
- The tracklisting is somewhat inaccurate: an uncredited performance of "Timing X" is on track 11; an introduction of the third show on the disc is mis-cued and added to the end of "Blockhead"; portions of "Baby Talkin' Bitches" and "Chango" are played and appear at the end of track 14; the last two tracks on the album are also mis-cued and combine the performances of "Beulah", "Jocko Homo" and most of "I Need A Chick" onto one track; finally, the track labeled "I Need A Chick" features the band attempting to play further and being kicked off the stage.
Personnel
- Mark MothersbaughMark MothersbaughMark Allen Mothersbaugh is an American musician, composer, singer and painter. He is the co-founder of the new wave band Devo and has been its lead singer since 1972. His other musical projects include work for television series, films, and video games....
– guitar, keyboards, vocals - Gerald V. Casale – bass guitar, keyboards, vocals
- Bob MothersbaughBob MothersbaughRobert Leroy "Bob" Mothersbaugh, Jr.,, or "Bob 1", is the lead guitar player and occasional vocalist for Devo and younger brother of lead vocalist Mark Mothersbaugh...
– guitar, vocals - Jim MothersbaughJim MothersbaughJim Mothersbaugh was the second drummer for Devo, replacing Rod Reisman who only played for a single show. Jim joined Devo with his older brothers, Bob and Mark.Jim appears on several early Devo demos...
, Alan Myers – drums, electronic percussion