Showing posts with label MTV. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MTV. Show all posts

August 28, 2025

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

 ~   
Devo - 1978 
photo by Ebet Roberts 


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.      


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.         
 
                  
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.      
         
vinyl LP back cover detail 
 cover design by John Cabalka & Erik Munsön 
detail photo by Styrous®






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)         
        
        
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        
       
 
 

















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September 5, 2022

45 RPMs 71: Dire Straits ~ Money For Nothing

  ~    
front cover 
photo of front cover by Styrous®

    
On September 4, 1986, the Dire Straits song, Money for Nothing, won the music television MTV award for Best Video. The 1985 Brothers In Arms album, which features this song, is one of my "Desert Island" (link below) picks.    


Dire Straits ~ Love Over Gold
front cover 
photo of front cover by Styrous®


The song was produced by Mark Knopfler and features a guest appearance by Sting singing background vocals, providing both the signature falsetto introduction and backing chorus of "I want my MTV."         
 
"Weird Al" Yankovic did a pretty good cover of the song that featured Buddy Ebsen and Irene Ryan from the television show The Beverly Hillbillies.             


Side 1
 
The "B" side has a live version of Love Over Gold, also produced by Mark Knopfler, which was originally on the fourth studio album by the same name released in 1982.         
 
 
 
 Side 2
 
 
             
        
Tracklist:

Side 1:

A - Money For Nothing (Long Edit)
Producer – Mark Knopfler, Neil Dorfsman, written by Mark Knopfler, Sting - 4:38

Side 2:

B - Love Over Gold (Live)
Engineer – Nigel Walker
Producer – Mark Knopfler, written by Mark Knopfler - 3:41

Companies, etc.

    Published By – Chariscourt Ltd.
    Published By – Almo Music Corp.
    Published By – Virgin Music, Inc.
    Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Phonogram Ltd. (London)
    Mastered At – Masterdisk
    Pressed By – Specialty Records Corporation

    Mastered By – RL* 
 
Notes:

Specialty pressing packaged in picture sleeve. Company sleeve is Dire Straits - Money For Nothing

A: Full length version available on Warner Bros. album "Brothers In Arms" (1-25264)

A: Chariscourt Ltd. Adm. by Almo Music Corp./Virgin Music, Inc. ASCAP
B: Chariscourt Ltd. Adm. by Almo Music Corp. ASCAP
A: ℗ 1985 Phonogram Ltd. (London)
B: ℗ 1984 Phonogram Ltd. (London)
© 1985 Phonogram Ltd. (London)
By arrangement with Phonogram Ltd.
Made in U.S.A.

Barcode and Other Identifiers        
        
 Rights Society: ASCAP
    Pressing Plant ID (Stamped in runouts): SRC logo
    Matrix / Runout (Label Side A): DAA 2983VIIS
    Matrix / Runout (Label Side B): BAA 3044
    Matrix / Runout (A-Side Runout Etching): SRC 7-28950-D-AA-2983-V2-S-SR1 MASTERDISK RL 1-1
    Matrix / Runout (B-Side Runout Etching): SRC 7-28950-B-AA-3044-S-SR1 1-2
 
Dire Straits – Money For Nothing
Label:    Warner Bros. Records – 7-28950, Warner Bros. Records – 9 28950-7
Format:    Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Single, Specialty Pressing
Country: US
Released: 1985
Genre: Rock
Style: Pop Rock, Classic Rock

        
        
        
        
Viewfinder links:       
         
'desert island' vinyl LP list              
Dire Straits          
Trevor Horn         
Mark Knopfler         
     
Net links:       
         
Dire Straits        
         
        
     
YouTube links:      
        
Dire Straits ~  
      Love Over Gold           
      Money For Nothing          
      Money For Nothing (video)         

        
        
        
         
        
        

Styrous® ~ Monday, September 7, 2020






      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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August 5, 2021

Dire Straits articles/mentions

 ~         
     
     
The Buggles & the birth of MTV       
Rock 'N' Roll High School soundtrack    
"Weird Al" Yankovic ~ UHF       
     
      
     
     
      
     
     
      
     
      
Dire Straits    
date & photographer unknown     
     
    
     
      
     
      
     
      
     
      
     
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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August 1, 2021

20,000 vinyl LPs 301: The Buggles & the birth of MTV

 ~          
The Buggles ~ The Age of Plastic
vinyl LP back cover detail 
detail photo by Styrous®


At midnight, forty years ago today, on Saturday, August 1, 1981, the MTV cable channel was launched and they broadcasted the very first music video from One Astor Plaza, 1515 Broadway, Times Square, Manhattan, New York where it is still based.     
 
The song they blasted out to the world was Video Killed the Radio Star by The Buggles from their second album, The Age of Plastic: the prophetic song would forever change the way we listened to and, indeed, watched pop music or any music for that matter.  
 
 

The Buggles ~ The Age of Plastic
vinyl LP front cover detail 
detail photo by Styrous®
 

Video Killed the Radio Star was written by Trevor Horn, Geoff Downes and Bruce Woolley in 1978. It was first recorded in 1979 by Bruce Woolley and the Camera Club (with Thomas Dolby on keyboards) for their first album and used again on their second album, English Garden. The later recording by British new wave/synth-pop group the Buggles, with just Horn and Downes, became the big hit version.     




In those early days of broadcasting, MTV was desperate for video to show so they showed just about anything they could get their hands on (link below); I saw some truly fantastic stuff. I still remember the network's "VJ's" I liked the best, Alan Hunter, Nina Blackwood and my very favorite, Martha Quinn: I thought she was the cutest EVER!     
 
 
MTV VJs top to bottom: 
Mark Goodman, Nina Blackwood, 
Alan Hunter, Martha Quinn, & J.J. Jackson 
photo by Mark Weiss/WireImage)
 
 
I loved the song by Dire Straits, Money for Nothing, which references MTV with an iconic, echoey refrain (below).       




There is a terrific video of the first two hours of the broadcast on YouTube with some of the greats of rock at the time, commercials included (link below). This is a valuable documentary of a major music event and a whole lot of fun to watch. The one downer is, April Wine and Cliff Richard were short-sighted and objected to the use of their videos so they were cut from the documentary; too bad, their loss!   


promotion stamp
vinyl LP front cover detail 
photo by Styrous®










   
Tracklist:

Side 1:

A1 - Living In The Plastic Age, written by Geoffrey Downs*, Trevor Horn - 5:12
A2 - Video Killed The Radio Star, written by Bruce Woolley, Geoffrey Downs*, Trevor Horn - 4:08
A3 - Kid Dynamo, written by Geoffrey Downs*, Trevor Horn - 3:27
A4 - I Love You (Miss Robot), written by Geoffrey Downs*, Trevor Horn - 4:55

Side 2:

B1 - Clean, Clean, written by Bruce Woolley, Geoffrey Downs*, Trevor Horn - 3:53
B2 - Elstree, written by Geoffrey Downs*, Trevor Horn - 4:27
B3 - Astroboy (And The Proles On Parade), written by Geoffrey Downs*, Trevor Horn - 4:48
B4 - Johnny On The Monorail, written by Geoffrey Downs*, Trevor Horn - 5:26

Companies, etc.

    Manufactured By – EMI Records Ltd.
    Distributed By – EMI Records Ltd.
    Published By – Island Music Ltd.
    Published By – Carlin Music Corp.
    Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Island Records Ltd.
    Copyright © – Island Records Ltd.
    Mastered At – Strawberry Mastering

Credits:

    Liner Notes [Essay] – Geoffrey Downes*
    Mastered By – Sean*
    Producer – The Buggles
    Written-By – Woolley* (tracks: A2, B1), Downes*, Horn*

Notes:

 Has inner lyric sleeve.

The label incorrectly states that track A2 "Video Killed The Radio-Star" as being 2:40 in length. (Actual length of the track is 4:13).
 
Barcode and Other Identifiers

    Matrix / Runout (Side 1 Stamped / Etched): ILPS 9585 A-2U 3(sideways) STRAWBERRY Sean
    Matrix / Runout (Side 2 Stamped / Etched): ILPS 9585 B-2U 42(sideways) D7H7
    Matrix / Runout (Side 1 Stamped / Etched - VARIANT 1): ILPS 9585 A-2U 7(sideways) STRAWBERRY Sean
    Matrix / Runout (Side 2 Stamped / Etched - VARIANT 1): ILPS 9585 B-2U 8(sideways) D7H7
    Barcode: NO BARCODE
 
Buggles* – The Age Of Plastic
Label: Island Records – ILPS 9585
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1980
Genre: Electronic, Rock, Pop
Style: Pop Rock, Synth-pop   
         
Viewfinder links:        
         
Thomas Dolby         
Geoff Downes        
Trevor Horn        
Bruce Woolley        
        
Net links:        
        
CBS News ~ MTV turns 40           
Forbes ~ MTV At 40        
NBC News ~ MTV turns 40         
MTV website         
USA Today ~ MTV turns 40      
Variety ~ MTV Turns 40        
        
YouTube links:        
         
The Buggles ~ Video Killed The Radio Star         
CBS News ~ MTV turns 40 years old     
MTV turns 40 years old         
MTV's YouTube channel                 
USA ~ The Very First Two Hours Of MTV (2 hrs, 19 mins., 28 secs.) 
        
        
        
 

"I want my MTV!" 
  ~ Dire Straits
         
        
        
        
Styrous® ~ Sunday, August 1, 2021       
       
















 

 
 
 
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Bruce Woolley articles/mentions

 ~        
      
      
      
     
     
      
     
      
     
     
     
      
date & photographer unknown
     
      
     
      
     
      
     
      
     
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Geoff Downes articles/mentions

 ~        
     
      
     
      
     
      
     
      
     
     
     
      
date & photographer unknown
     
      
     
      
     
      
     
      
     
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Thomas Dolby articles/mentions

 ~        

      
     
      
     
     
      
     
      

      
     
      
     
     
     
      
date & photographer unknown
     
      
     
      
     
      
     
      
     
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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May 24, 2021

"Weird Al" Yankovic ~ UHF - Part two

    ~      
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
      
"Weird Al" Yankovic ~ 1989
UHF vinyl LP front cover detail   
detail photo by Styrous®     
     
    
 

Thirty-two years ago, on May 24,1989, "Weird Al" Yankovic recorded Generic Blues, Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota, Hot Rocks Polka, Attack of the Radioactive Hamsters and Spam. The five tracks all appeared on the soundtrack to his film UHF.     

I have enjoyed the songs, and the videos for them, that Yankovic has made over the years. I discovered them on MTV when I first started watching the TV station in the early eighties. At that time there was not a plethora of videos and since it televised 24 hours a day, the station was desperate for material to broadcast and they showed ANYTHING! Some of the best films/videos I have first seen were shown on MTV (good topic for a future blog).    
 
The songs in the film, and on the vinyl LP as well (link below), were parodies of current (at the time) pop hits by major artists or styles of music. Hot Rocks Polka was a medley of songs by the Rolling Stones, Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota a spoof of Harry Chapin and Gordon Lightfoot, as was Spam aka Stand by R.E.M. The blues are represented by Generic Blues.          
 
My favorite cut is the Hot Rocks Polka with the Stones medley send-up which is TERRIFIC! Extremely fast, VERY frenetic and TOTALLY brilliant! There is an interesting video interpretation for the song, however, be warned, the intro is violent and pretty gross! The rest of it is cool! (link below)     

Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota is a great c/w song but, not well versed with Chapin and Lightfoot, I'm not sure what songs are referenced.                
 
Spam (Stand) is really well done, however, having hated Spam since the Forties (read WW II), even as a spoof I found it hard to take.        

Attack of the Radioactive Hamsters from a Planet Near Mars was the only piece actually written by Yankovic. With a great spacey intro it is a jivey, syncopated rock song with great sax work by Donny Sierer.          
      
UHF is the story of a dreamer who bounces between jobs and wins a nearly bankrupt UHF television station, in a poker game; needless to say, the laughs goes on from there.             
 
All in all the movie is a bunch of fun to watch and the vinyl LP is a delight to listen to, at MAXIMUM volume.    
     
      
      
      
  
Viewfinder links:       
        
"Weird Al" Yankovic         
R. E. M.          
The Rolling Stones         
UHF                 
     
Net links:       
        
Cast        
Plot                
     
YouTube links:       
        
"Weird Al" Yankovic - UHF (music video)       
Attack Of The Radioactive Hamsters From A Planet Near Mars        
Hot Rocks Polka        
Hot Rocks Polka (video)                
Spam        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
Styrous® ~ Monday, May 24, 2021        
        















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