The Styrous® Viewfinder: David Bowie

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August 28, 2025

20,000 vinyl LPs 390: Devo ~ Are We Not Men?

Devo - 1978

In 1977 five misfits from Ohio with a love of performance art, took the Mick Jagger classic (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction and mutated it beyond recognition.

Devo - 1977, NY City
photo by Ebet Roberts

On August 28, 1978, Devo released their first album, Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!, a venture that fused the electronic music of the time with punk.

Devo ~ Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!

vinyl LP front cover

cover design by John Cabalka & Erik Munsön

photo of album cover by Styrous®

I remember seeing the video for Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! on MTV in the early 80's. At that time the channel broadcast 24 hours a day and they were desperate for videos to play and they played ANYthing! I saw the most amazing things before they eventually played only music videos.

Recommendations from David Bowie and Iggy Pop enabled the group to secure a recording contract with Warner Bros. The album was produced by Brian Eno and featured re-recordings of their previous singles Mongoloid and (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction.

Devo ~ Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!

vinyl LP back cover

cover design by John Cabalka & Erik Munsön

photo of album cover by Styrous®

The album was produced by Brian Eno at the Conny Plank studio in Cologne, Germany and the Different Fur Studios located in the Mission District area of San Francisco, California, with Patrick Gleeson.

Devo ~ Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!

vinyl LP back cover detail

cover design by John Cabalka & Erik Munsön

detail photo by Styrous®

Devo ~ Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!

vinyl LP back cover detail

cover design by John Cabalka & Erik Munsön

detail photo by Styrous®

Tracklist:

Side 1:

A1 - Uncontrollable Urge - 3:08
A2 - (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction, written by Mick Jagger, Keith Richards* - 2:38
A3 - Praying Hands - 2:47
A4 - Space Junk - 2:13
A5 - Mongoloid - 3:42
A6 - Jocko Homo - 3:38

Side 2:

B1 - Too Much Paranoias - 1:56
B2 - Gut Feeling / (Slap Your Mammy) - 4:54
B3 - Come Back Jonee - 3:46
B4 - Sloppy (I Saw My Baby Gettin') - 2:37
B5 - Shrivel-Up - 3:05

Companies, etc.

Copyright © – Warner Bros. Records Inc.
Recorded At – Conny's Studio
Mixed At – Conny's Studio
Recorded At – Different Fur Studios
Published By – Devo Music
Published By – Virgin Music Ltd.
Published By – Immediate Music Inc.
Pressed By – KM Records Inc.

Credits:

Design [Graphic Supervision] – John Cabalka
Design [Package Production Design] – Erik Munsön
Engineer – Patrick Gleeson (tracks: B3, B5)
Engineer [Mix] – Conrad Planck*
Graphics [Concept And Execution] – Devo Inc.*
Performer – Alan*, Bob1*, Jerry*, Mark*, Bob2*
Photography By – Bobbi Watson*
Producer – Brian Eno
Written-By – Bob Mothersbaugh (tracks: B2 [Gut Feeling], B4, B5), Gary Jackett (tracks: B4), Gerald V. Casale (tracks: A3 to A5, B2 [Slap Your Mammy], B3 to B5), Mark Mothersbaugh (tracks: A1, A3, A4, A6 to B2 [Gut Feeling], B3 to B5)

Notes:

This version was pressed at KM Records Inc.. Grey WB labels, slight variation from other releases listed here (see photos).

Issued with printed inner sleeve containing lyrics, credits, info and photos.

Runouts are etched.

Barcode and Other Identifiers

Matrix / Runout (Run-out Side A): BSK-1-3239 KM1 Q: ARE WE NOT MEN?
Matrix / Runout (Run-out Side B): BSK-2-3239 KM1 A: WE ARE DEVO!
Rights Society: BMI

Devo – Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!
Label: Warner Bros. Records – BSK 3239
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, KM Pressing
Country: US
Released: 1978
Genre: Rock
Style: New Wave

Viewfinder links:

David Bowie

Devo

Brian Eno

Patrick Gleeson

Mick Jagger

Mark Mothersbaugh

Conny Plank

Iggy Pop

Net links:

altrockchick.com ~ A: We Are Devo! – Classic Music Review

Club Devo ~ Are We Not Men? We Are Devo! (re-mixes)

NPR ~ Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo

Proxy Music ~ Not Men: The story behind the devolved cover of Devo’s debut album

YouTube links:

Devo ~

(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction

Mongoloid

David Bowie introduces Devo, (Max's Kansas City, NY City, 14 November '77)

Styrous® ~ Thursday, August 28, 2025

20,000 Vinyl LPs Archive
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August 27, 2025

John Kongos ~ Try to Touch Just One

Ths month is the birthday of South African musician, John Kongos, born on August 6, 1945, in Johannesburg.

John Kongos

date & photographer unknown

I have written an article about Kongos before (link below), this is an extension of it. One of my favorite songs by him is Try to Touch Just One. The lyrics are simple but say a lot. The music is a brilliant example of progressive rock that goes through many chord and tempo changes with a marvelous three minute instrumental break at the end.

Try to Touch Just One

Look at me, look at me
I am looking to you
Can you see, can you see
I'm not looking through you?

There's a man at your side
Do you know his name?
When you see so many
Do they look the same to you?

Open up your heart
Open up your door
If you ain't got no chair
You can live on the floor

Millions and millions
Trying to get by
Come on, look at one
Right in the eye

Try to touch just one
Try and try to touch just one
Try to touch just one
Try and try to touch just one

Look at me, look at me
I am looking to you
Can you see, can you see
I'm not looking through you?

There's a man at your side
Do you know his name?
When you see so many
Do they look the same to you?

Kongos began working in the music world in his teens, joining a band called The Dukes. He then formed The G-Men, a beat group that proved very popular, producing hits such as Johnny & The Mermaid and Tulips For Toinette in the days before the charts started. In 1966 he moved to England where he released a single called Flim Flam Pharisee before joining the band Floribunda Rose whose members included future Bats member Pete Clifford and Chris Demetriou who would work with John E. Sharpe & The Squires. From there he moved onto the band Scrugg. In 1970 Israeli born actress Daliah Lavi scored a number 9 hit in Germany with a German language cover of a song Kongos had written called Won’t You Join Me (the German version as called Willst Du Mit Mir Geh’n). This helped Kongos finance a recording studio in his basement and it was here that he recorded the demo of He's Gonna Step on You Again which came to the attention of Gus Dudgeon. Dudgeon had produced Space Oddity by David Bowie and was just starting on what would be a successful working relationship with Elton John. He's Gonna Step on You Again would reach number 4 in the UK and 70 in the US. His follow up, Tokoloshe Man would again hit number 4 in the UK. Both songs would later be covered by the Happy Mondays (He's Gonna Step on You Again going under the title Step On). His 4 sons would form the band Kongos and would have a number 31 hit in the US with Come With Me Now.

Viewfinder links:

David Bowie

Chris Demetriou

Elton John

Kongos

Daliah Lavi

Net links:

Chris Demetriou

Fandom ~ Scrugg

Floribunda Rose

Jazz Rock Soul ~ Artists and Albums of the '70s and '80s

Rockasteria ~ John Kongos

SA Singles Charts ~ John Kongos (SA)

YouTube links:

Johnny Kongos & The G-Men ~.

Johnny and the Mermaid

Tulips For Toinette

John Kongos ~

Flim, Flam Pharisee

He's Gonna Step on You Again

Try to Touch Just One

This is the way we did it!

The original drum tracks

Daliah Lavi ~ Willst Du Mit Mir Geh’n

Styrous® ~ Wednesday, August 27, 2025

~
Music Notes

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September 3, 2024

David Bowie & the Architectural Digest

On Thursday, September 3, 1992, David Bowie made history when he appeared on the cover of Architectural Digest.

Someone has said: "He was the first "human" on the cover in 4 years."

Viewfinder links:

David Bowie

Net links:

Architectural Digest ~ Bowie’s Homes Over the Years

Open Cultue ~ Inside Bowie & Iman’s Mountain Home

YouTube links:

Domus ~ The relevance of design for David Bowie

Inside The 3.2 Million Dollar David Bowie estate!

Vogue ~ Inside Bowie & Iman’s Mountain Home

Styrous® ~ Tuesday, September 3, 2024

History

MAIN MENU - Blog Articles

August 27, 2024

Gary Numan articles/mentions

Cars

mentions:

David Bowie ~ The Man Who Sold the World

Depeche Mode ~ Master & Servant

Gary Numan - Feb. 18, 1980

Music Hall, Dallas TX

Photo by Jean-Luc Ourlin

Music People

MAIN MENU - Blog Articles
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June 28, 2024

Music Note: David Bowie ~ Fame 90, 12" 33 RPM on Rykodisc

On June 28, 1975, the song Fame written by by David Bowie, Carlos Alomar and John Lennon, was released on his ninth studio album, Young Americans.

RCA Records released Fame as a single in June 1975.

On Mar 5, 1990, Rykodisc records issued this single, an extended version of the song, which featured the amazing talent of rapper Queen Latifah and DJ, Arthur Baker, and the result was that the song was revived and became a huge hit in Discothèques all over the world.

David Bowie ~ Fame 90

12" 33 1/3 RPM vinyl front cover

cover photo by Herb Ritts

photo of album cover by Styrous®

David Bowie ~ Fame 90

12" 33 1/3 RPM single back cover

back cover photo by Herb Ritts

photo of album back cover by Styrous®

Rykodisc records was originally founded to feature only CDs and it claimed "Ryko," was a Japanese word meaning "sound from a flash of light." In the 1980's it began to include vinyl LPs and singles as well.

Fame (Fame), makes a man take things over
Fame (Fame), lets him loose, hard to swallow
Fame (Fame), puts you there where things are hollow
Fame (Fame)

[Chorus 1]
Fame, it's not your brain, it's just the flame
That burns your change to keep you insane ('Sane)
Fame (Fame)

[Verse 2]
Fame (Fame), what you like is in the limo
Fame (Fame), what you get is no tomorrow
Fame (Fame), what you need, you have to borrow
Fame (Fame)

[Chorus 2]
Fame, "Nein! It's mine!" is just his line
To bind your time, it drives you to crime
Fame (Fame)

[Bridge]
Could it be the best, could it be?
Really be, really, babe?
Could it be, my babe, could it, babe?
Could it, babe? Could it, babe?
See rock shows near San Francisco
Get tickets as low as $36
You might also like
The girl, so confusing version with lorde
Charli xcx & Lorde
Houdini
Eminem
us.
Gracie Abrams

[Verse 3]
Is it any wonder I reject you first?
Fame (Fame), fame, fame, fame
Is it any wonder you are too cool to fool
Fame (Fame)

[Chorus 3]
Fame, bully for you, chilly for me
Got to get a rain check on pain (Pain)
(Fame)

[Outro]
Fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame
Fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame
Fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame
Fame
What's your name?
(Feeling so gay, feeling gay)

David Bowie ~ Fame 90

12" 33 1/3 RPM vinyl side 1

photo by Styrous®

David Bowie ~ Fame 90

12" 33 1/3 RPM vinyl side 2

photo by Styrous®

Tracklist:

Side 1:

A1 - David Bowie With Queen Latifah – Fame 90 Featuring – Queen Latifah
Remix, Producer [Additional Production] – D.J. Mark "The 45 King"* - 4:05

A2 - David Bowie – Fame 90 (House Mix) Remix, Producer [Additional Production] – Arthur Baker - 5:57

A3 - David Bowie – Fame 90 (Gass Mix) Remix, Producer [Additional Production] – Jon Gass - 3:36

Side 2:

B1 - David Bowie – Fame 90 (Hip Hop Mix) Remix, Producer [Additional Production] – Arthur Baker - 5:57

B2 - David Bowi– Fame 90 (Absolutely Nothing Premeditated / Epic Mix)Remix – David Barratt - 14:24

Companies, etc.

    Phonographic Copyright ℗ – EMI USA
    Copyright © – EMI USA
    Manufactured By – Capitol Records, Inc.
    Mastered At – Sterling Sound

Credits:

    Design – Reiner Design Consultants*
    Executive-Producer – Ron Fair
    Photography By – Herb Ritts
    Producer – David Bowie, Harry Maslin
    Written-By – Carlos Alomar, David Bowie, John Lennon

Notes:

From the original motion picture soundtrack "Pretty Woman"

Direct Metal Mastered.

Some copies came with stickers. One on the back saying EMI Ryko Analogue and one purple on the left bottom corner saying Y-56163 EMI USA.

Barcode and Other Identifiers

    Barcode (Scanned): 077775616316
    Barcode (Text): 0 7777-56163-1 6
    Matrix / Runout (Etched, Runout Groove, Side A): V-1-56163-Z1-DMM SP1-1
    Matrix / Runout (Etched, Runout Groove, Side B): V-2-56163-Z1-DMM SP1-1
    Matrix / Runout (Stamped, Runout Groove, Both Sides): STERLING
    Other (Embossed Around Center Hole): E A S T

David Bowie – Fame 90
Label: EMI USA – V-56163, Ryko Analogue – V-56163
Format: Vinyl, 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single
Country: US
Released: Mar 5, 1990
Genre: Electronic, Rock, Pop, Stage & Screen
Style: Downtempo, House, Hip Hop, Pop Rock, Synth-pop, Soundtrack, Glam

Viewfinder links:

Arthur Baker

David Bowie

John Lennon

Queen Latifah

Herb Ritts

Net links:

YouTube links:

David Bowie ~ Fame 12" 33-1/3 RPM

Fame 90 (Official Video)

Styrous® ~ Friday, June 28, 2024

Record Labels