Only A Lad

Performer: Oingo Boingo
Engineer: Joe Chiccarelli; Steve Brown
Producer: Joe Chiccarelli; Oingo Boingo; Pete Solley
Distributor: Universal Distribution

Notes: Personnel: Danny Elfman, Steve Bartek (vocals, guitar); Sam Phipps (vocals, saxophone, tenor saxophone); Leon Schneiderman (vocals, saxophone, baritone saxophone); Richard Gibbs (vocals, trombone, keyboards, synthesizer); Kerry Hatch (vocals, keyboards); Dale Turner (trumpet, trombone); Johnny Vatos, Johnny Hernandez (drums). Audio Mixers: Oingo Boingo; Rick Ruggieri. Recording information: Cherokee studios; Record Plant; United Western Studios; Westlake Audio. Illustrator: Chris Hopkins. Photographers: David Willardson; Charlie White. Unknown Contributor Role: Steve Bartek. The full-length debut of this eight-piece new-wave-with-horns ensemble--after a 1980 10-inch EP--is one of their best albums. Mingling theatrical vocals, Zappa-esque concepts, ska rhythms and proudly over-the-top quirkiness in an inimitable brew, ONLY A LAD is basically the template that all later Oingo Boingo records would follow. Less genially humorous than their later albums, the songs on ONLY A LAD have a satirical bite; the title track dismisses the concept of social conditioning so thoroughly that it sounds oddly close to a right-wing talk radio rant, which is not what a listener expects from a Devo-style pop record. The opening "Little Girls," and the straightforwardly poppy "On the Outside," are also gems. Singer/songwriter Danny Elfman dominates the proceedings slightly less than he would on later releases; as a result this is the most integrated-sounding Oingo Boingo album.

Oingo Boingo began in 1972 as the Mystic Knights of Oingo Boingo, a cabaret-influenced musical theater troupe. In 1980 they pared down to an octet and changed their sound to reflect new wave, ska, post-punk, and world music elements. Their eponymous EP spawned the hit single "Only a Lad," and a full-length by that name appeared in 1981. The hit "Nothing Bad Ever Happens to Me," from 1983's GOOD FOR YOUR SOUL, continued the band's winning streak, as did 1985's DEAD MAN'S PARTY. Songs from the album appeared in several films, including WEIRD SCIENCE and BACK TO SCHOOL. Four less successful album followed, including BOINGO, which featured a more guitar-driven sound. Around this time, original member Danny Elfman left to pursue a successful career in film composing. Oingo Boingo disbanded in 1996.

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