DEV-O Re-Issue |
Greetings Earthling! This Monday, 25 October 1999, at Noon Pacific Daylight Time [1900 UTC], Rhino Handmade will begin taking orders for our spudliest release yet: A 22-track reissue of the 1981 DEVO 'DEV-O Live' mini-album. The final piece of the recorded DEVO puzzle, at least for those of us who reside in These Wacky United States, is -at long last- in place. Eighteen years after its first vinyl appearance on these shores, DEVO's 'DEV-O Live' is finally available on a fully-packed homegrown compact disc. And, if we say so ourselves, the wait has been worth it. For this is no ordinary garden variety homegrown compact disc at that. The Archivists at The Rhino Handmade Institute Of Petromusicology, all slightly devolved themselves, have crafted a wildly expanded version of 'DEV-O Live' which adds, depending on how you choose to count these things, either ten or sixteen additional tracks. And to top it off, they have carefully put it in a clear plastic sleeve which replicates the packaging of the original Warner Bros mini album release. Several months after the release of DEVO's 'Freedom Of Choice' album, Warner Bros pressed up a promotional radio- station-only disc which had been recorded live at The Fox Warfield Theatre for initial use as a King Biscuit Flower Hour broadcast. This superbly-performed, wonderfully-recorded, almost- complete concert was promotionally released under the 'Warner Bros Music Show' banner as WBMS-115. And it is, by any measure, a simply marvelous performance. Basked in the warm glow of the success of the 'Freedom Of Choice' album and baked by the fire of a hit single in "Whip It", DEVO's 1980 tour was, in a word, outstanding. There was that then-previously-unreleased "Freedom Of Choice Theme Song" attached to "Whip It" to start things off. It ended with their furiously stunning version of "Come Back Jonee". And inbetween were fourteen vital, often re-interpreted versions (such as the quirkily re-worked "Be Stiff"), of DEVO favourites from their first three albums. The reaction to this promotional album was so enthusiastic that it was decided to fashion a second promotional disc and, later, a commercial release from these tapes. So, for the commercial release, six tracks were selected from this Fox Warfield performance, re-sequenced to best fit on a mini-album, were all spiffed up with new artwork and were encased in a clear plastic sleeve and re-named 'DEV-O Live'. Our Rhino Handmade 'DEV-O Live' expanded compact disc contains the complete 6-track MINI 3548 commercial mini-album and the complete 16-track WBMS-115 promotional album. Each is in their original running order. "Why both?" you may ask. Because, as the 6-track commercial mini-album was substantially re-sequenced from the original promotional version, we wanted to give Every Hungry Spud their freedom to choose whatever version -either commercial or promotional- which tickled their mutated fancy. And, besides, as we all know, the Fifth Commandment of The Devolutionary Oath is, of course, "We Must Repeat". So that this compact disc will play each version from beginning to end without interruption, we have edited the ends of the original Side Ones to the beginnings of the original Side Twos. For those of you who are as fussy as we are about such things, you should also know that we have re- named the first track of the 'Warner Bros Music Show' to match the way it was componently listed on the subsequent commercial mini-album. And, for the sake of completists who like to stay fully informed, we have also removed 15 seconds of the announcer's voice from the beginning of the Fox Warfield show. And, lastly, it's been made loud to be played loud with the fervent hope that you will finally begin the process of indoctrinating your neighbors. The 6-track commercial 'DEV-O Live' mini-album has never before been on compact disc in the US and the complete promotional 'Warner Bros Music Show' disc has never before been on compact disc anywhere on Planet Earth. Both have been gathered together with loving care, re- mastered from the original vault masters, wrapped up in transparent petroleum byproducts and presently to you for your complete molecular enjoyment at your next clambake, shindig or hoedown. DEVO'DEV-O Live' will be available in an individually- numbered limited edition of 5,000 (five thousand) copies. It is NOT AVAILABLE in any store on the planet. It is available ONLY from Rhino Handmade. It is available ONLY on The Internet at: For our next Rhino Handmade release, The Archivists have selected a rather amazing boxed set. We're not quite ready to discuss it just yet but I'll tell you all about it in two weeks. Rhino Handmade Institute Of Petromusicology e-mail: mr.hand@rhino.com ---------- DEVO 'DEV-O Live' Catalogue Number: RHM2 7708 ALL TIMES APPROXIMATE [Approximately 74:00 Total Time] 1. FREEDOM OF CHOICE THEME SONG 2:46 2. WHIP IT 2:41 3. GIRL U WANT 2:56 4. GATES OF STEEL 3:17 5. BE STIFF 2:50 6. PLANET EARTH 2:32 Tracks 1 to 6 taken from Warner Bros mini-album MINI 3548 'DEV-O LIVE' 7. FREEDOM OF CHOICE THEME SONG 2:46 8. WHIP IT 2:41 9. SNOWBALL 2:42 10. IT'S NOT RIGHT 2:20 11. GIRL U WANT 2:56 12. PLANET EARTH 2:32 13. S.I.B. (SWELLING ITCHING BRAIN) 4:06 14. SECRET AGENT MAN 3:17 15. BLOCKHEAD 3:25 16. UNCONTROLLABLE URGE 3:08 17. MONGOLOID 2:50 18. BE STIFF 2:50 19. GATES OF STEEL 3:17 20. SMART PATROL/MR. DNA 4:08 21. GUT FEELING/(SLAP YOUR MAMMY) 4:12 22. COME BACK JONEE 3:19 Tracks 7 to 22 taken from Warner Bros promotional album WBMS- 115 'DEVO LIVE: WARNER BROS MUSIC SHOW' |