Mechanical Man EP
EP by
Devo
Released1978
Recorded1975–1976
Genre
Length13:48
LabelElevator Records
ProducerDevo
Devo chronology
B Stiff EP
(1978)		 Mechanical Man EP
(1978)		 Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!
(1978)

Mechanical Man is a semi-official EP by new wave musicians Devo, released in 1978. It includes four 4-track basement demos by the band, recorded before they were signed to a record contract with Warner Bros. Records.

Background

The EP was a 7-inch single housed in a plain sleeve that came in a variety of colors including pink, blue, red, yellow and green. Most EP sleeves were numbered on the back, although the exact number of EPs pressed is unknown.[1]

Opinions differ as to the legitimacy of the EP, with some sources considering it a bootleg.[2] Devo webmaster and archivist Michael Pilmer states that it was produced by Virgin Records and included with some copies of the band's debut album Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! in the United Kingdom.[1] Devo member Gerald Casale later stated that the songs were "the five tracks we were most excited about at the time".[2]

"Blackout" was later known as "Clockout" and "Auto-Modown" includes an unlisted track: "Space Girl Blues".

Recording

The tracks "Mechanical Man" and "Auto-Modown" were recorded in 1975, when the band was a quartet and Jim Mothersbaugh was their drummer.[3] "Blackout" was recorded in 1976, when Bob Casale had joined and Alan Myers had replaced Jim.[4]

Reissue

In 2023, Electronic Sound magazine repressed a limited edition of the Mechanical Man EP on yellow 7-inch vinyl and offered it as a bundle with issue 103, a 100-page celebration of Devo's 50th anniversary.[2] The bundle became their fastest-selling issue ever, quickly selling out on the website, and the magazine later made a poster of the cover available for sale.[5]

Track listing

Side one

  1. "Mechanical Man" (Mark Mothersbaugh) – 3:27
  2. "Blockhead" (Bob Mothersbaugh, M. Mothersbaugh) – 3:08

Side two

  1. "Blackout" (Gerald V. Casale) – 3:11
  2. "Auto-Modown" (G.V. Casale) – 3:51

Personnel

Instrumental credits adapted from liner notes of 2013 Superior Viaduct reissues of Hardcore Devo: Volume One (1990)[3] and Hardcore Devo: Volume Two (1991).[4] Credits for "Blockhead" cannot be confirmed.

Devo

Technical

  • Devo (as "Mechanical Man") – producers

References

  1. 1 2 Pilmer, Michael. "Mechanical Man". Devo Obsesso.
  2. 1 2 3 "Issue 103 — Electronic Sound". Electronic Sound. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  3. 1 2 Devo (2013). Hardcore Volume 1 (LP liner notes). San Francisco: Superior Viaduct. SV024.
  4. 1 2 Devo (2013). Hardcore Volume 2 (LP liner notes). San Francisco: Superior Viaduct. SV025.
  5. ↑ "ES103 Devo AS Poster — Electronic Sound". Electronic Sound. Retrieved July 18, 2023.


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