Total Devo

Total Devo is the seventh studio album by American new wave band Devo, released on May 24, 1988 by Enigma Records, just under four years after their previous album, Shout (1984). "Disco Dancer" hit No. 45 on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play chart for the week of September 3, 1988.^[1]

Total Devo
Studio album by Devo
Released	May 24, 1988 (1988-05-24)
Recorded	1987–1988
Studio	Devo, Marina del Rey Master Control, Burbank
Genre	Dance-pop electronic
Length	41:30
Label	Enigma
Producer	Devo
Devo chronology
Shout (1984) Total Devo (1988) Now It Can Be Told: Devo at the Palace (1989)
Singles from Total Devo
"Disco Dancer" Released: 1988 "Baby Doll" Released: 1988

Production

Total Devo was recorded between 1987 and 1988, with the basic tracks recorded at Devo studios, in Marina del Rey, and the additional tracks at Master Control, in Burbank, California.^{[citation needed]}

The album was the first Devo studio album released after the departure of drummer Alan Myers, who was replaced by former Sparks and Gleaming Spires drummer David Kendrick. This was the last Devo album to include the use of the Fairlight CMI digital sampling synthesizer, which was mostly used for pre-sequencing the album and sampling in the choruses of "Some Things Never Change" and "Agitated".^{[citation needed]}

Composition

"Some Things Never Change" contains a portion of lyrics from an earlier composition entitled "Some Things Don't Change", which was rejected from their previous album, Shout, and later appeared on the compilation album Recombo DNA in 2000. The song also paraphrases a lyric from the Beatles' "A Day in the Life" and appeared in Interplay's computer adventure game, Neuromancer, itself an adaptation of the 1984 novel of the same name by William Gibson.

"The Shadow" has lyrics that contain numerous references to literary works such as The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. The chorus is partially lifted from T. S. Eliot's poem "The Hollow Men" and it incorporates and paraphrases the catchphrase from the serials following the character the Shadow ("Who knows what lurks in the hearts of men?/The shadow knows!").

Artwork and packaging

The cover photograph is based on an early promotional photo by Devo from 1977. For the silhouette photo on the back cover, the band members posed naked, in a spoof of Prince's Lovesexy album art. It is a common misconception that David Kendrick's chin on the front cover was taken from another photo and pasted on, having supposedly fallen behind Bob Casale's uniform; however, according to Kendrick, and based on alternate shots from the cover photo shoot, the "pasted-on" effect is simply due to the odd lighting from Kendrick's arm casting a shadow on his face.^{[citation needed]}

The caption on the front cover has changed depending on the number of tracks contained in each release. The cover of the original vinyl release included the caption "11 digital cartoons from the de-evolution band," while the original CD release, which included two additional tracks, was captioned "13 digital cartoons from the de-evolution band." A cassette release was captioned "12 digital cartoons..." and the Restless Records re-release is captioned with "16 digital cartoons...". The 2018 Futurismo release simply says "Digital cartoons...".

Promotion

Two music videos were made for the album's second single, "Disco Dancer", both using remixed versions of the track by producer Ivan Ivan. Both videos are similar, but the 12-inch mix video has additional footage, including a topless woman, and was only on promotional VHS tapes distributed to nightclubs. According to Devo co-songwriter and bass guitarist Gerald Casale, the video for the 7-inch Mix failed to receive airplay after first being aired on MTV's "Smash or Trash?", in which a video was aired and viewers would call in and vote on it. The video was "trashed" and MTV refused to air it after that.^[2]

"Baby Doll" was used that same year in the comedy film Tapeheads, with newly recorded Swedish lyrics, and was credited to (and shown in a music video by) a fictitious Swedish band called Cube-Squared.

Total Devo was the only Devo album to be released on DAT in addition to the standard releases on vinyl, cassette and CD.

Reissue

In 2018, Futurismo Inc. issued a two-disc deluxe edition of Total Devo, on both CD and vinyl formats.^[3] The double CD set comes housed in a digipak^[4] while the double LP comes in three vinyl color variations.^[5][6][7] Both formats include gatefold sleeves with spot gloss logos and shapes, a fold-out poster and liner notes from band member Gerald Casale.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[8]
Robert Christgau	C+^[10]
Rolling Stone	^[9]

Village Voice critic Robert Christgau awarded the album a C+ grade, noting its "retro-electro sheen".^[11] Michael Azerrad of Rolling Stone magazine awarded the album one star out of five, dismissing it as "a desperate SOS from main writer Mark Mothersbaugh."^[12] Of "Baby Doll", Cash Box said, "this terribly unimaginative (by their standards) single is trying to be commercial."^[13]

In a retrospective review, Steve Huey of AllMusic said Total Devo found the band to be "no longer innovative and not incredibly compelling."^[14]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Mark Mothersbaugh and Gerald Casale, except where noted.

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Baby Doll"		3:56
2.	"Disco Dancer"		4:14
3.	"Some Things Never Change"		4:12
4.	"Plain Truth"		3:13
5.	"Happy Guy"		3:26
6.	"Don't Be Cruel"	Otis Blackwell	2:10
7.	"The Shadow"		3:25
8.	"I'd Cry If You Died"		4:05
9.	"Agitated"		3:53
10.	"Man Turned Inside Out"	M. Mothersbaugh	4:18
11.	"Sexi Luv"		3:14
12.	"Blow Up"	M. Mothersbaugh, Bob Casale, Bob Mothersbaugh	4:38
13.	"Some Things Never Change (Cassette Version)"		5:19
Total length:			41:30

• Track 11 not included on vinyl release of the album.
• Track 13 included on first CD version, DAT version, and subsequent CD releases.

1994 Restless Records CD reissue bonus tracks

No.	Title	Length
14.	"Baby Doll" (Extended Mix)	5:42
15.	"Disco Dancer" (12 Inch Version)	6:30
16.	"Agitated" (Hyperextended Mix)	5:42

2018 Futurismo Inc. "Deluxe Edition" CD bonus disc^[15]

Tracks 9–14 previously unreleased.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Baby Doll" (Single Mix)	3:14
2.	"Baby Doll" (Extended Mix)	5:48
3.	"Baby Doll" (Dub Mix)	6:10
4.	"Disco Dancer" (12 Inch Version)	6:29
5.	"Disco Dancer" (Bonus Beats)	4:22
6.	"Disco Dancer" (Karaoke Version)	4:14
7.	"Some Things Never Change" (Cassette Version)	5:18
8.	"Agitated" (Hyperextended Mix)	5:42
9.	"Agitated" (Demo)	3:46
10.	"Money Pit" (Pre-Baby Doll)	3:37
11.	"Sexi Luv" (Demo)	3:15
12.	"Untitled Instrumental Sketch"	3:22
13.	"Misfits of Science"	3:19
14.	"Wedding March"	2:32

Personnel

Credits adapted from Pioneers Who Got Scalped: The Anthology CD liner notes:^[16]

Devo

• Mark Mothersbaugh – vocals, keyboards, guitar
• Gerald Casale – vocals, bass guitar, keyboards
• Bob Mothersbaugh – lead guitar, vocals
• Bob Casale – rhythm guitar, keyboards, vocals
• David Kendrick – drums

Credits adapted from the original album's liner notes:^[17]

Additional musicians

• Greta Greta – backing vocals on "Plain Truth"
• Nan Vernon – backing vocals on "Plain Truth"
• Steve Lindsay – bass sample on "Disco Dancer"

Technical

• Devo – producer
• Bob Casale – engineer
• Ted Pattison – assistant engineer
• Gerald Casale – graphic concepts, art direction, World Service uniforms
• Mark Mothersbaugh – graphic concepts, art direction, World Service uniforms
• Rocky Schenck – photography
• Robert Mothersbaugh – Amiga computer graphics
• Muto-little – uniform fabrication
• Patrick Pending – layout, design
• Jim Mothersbaugh – Roland equipment, technical collaboration

Tour

After a four-year hiatus, the Total Devo tour saw the band scaling things back considerably. The sets were very basic with no complex visuals and the band wore plain red shirts and pants, with the computer generated image of a smiling and frowning face (as featured on the artwork of the album) on the back of the shirts. These outfits were augmented by Energy domes as well as the "World Service" uniforms introduced at the time of release during certain parts of the show.^[18] The tour was commemorated on the 1989 album Now It Can Be Told.

On later dates in the tour, two songs from their next album Smooth Noodle Maps were added to the setlist: "Post Post-Modern Man" and "A Change Is Gonna Cum".

Date	Venue	Notes
First Leg (1988–1989) ^[19]
October 20, 1988	86 St. Music Hall, Vancouver, BC, Canada
October 22, 1988	The 99 Club, Seattle, WA
October 23, 1988	Starry Night, Portland, OR
October 25, 1988	The Oasis, San Jose, CA
October 26, 1988	Fillmore West, San Francisco, CA
October 27, 1988	Lower Sproul Plaza, University of California, Berkeley, CA	"Going Under" and "Pity U" removed from Setlist.
	The Cabaret, Cotati, CA
October 29, 1988	Olpin Union Ballroom, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
October 30, 1988	Glenn Miller Ballroom, Boulder, CO	"Going Under" and "Pity U" Added back to Setlist.
November 1, 1988	First Avenue, Minneapolis, MN	"Earth Is Constipated" Opened.
November 2, 1988	The Electric Banana Pittsburgh, PA
November 3, 1988	Cabaret Metro, Chicago, IL	"Shout", "Somewhere and "Disco Dancer" performed as the second encore. "Monica's Interval" opened.
November 4, 1988	Club Eastbrook, Grand Rapids, MI	"Bimini" Opened.
November 5, 1988	Harpo's, Detroit, MI	"Elvis Hitler" Opened.
November 6, 1988	Bogart's, Cincinnati, OH
November 8, 1988	Peabody's Down Under, Cleveland, OH
November 9, 1988	Newport Music Hall, Columbus, OH
November 11, 1988	City Gardens, Trenton, NJ
November 12, 1988	Hammerjacks, Baltimore, MD
November 13, 1988	9:30 Club, Washington, DC
November 14, 1988
November 15, 1988
November 16, 1988	The Channel, Boston, MA
November 17, 1988	Chestnut Cabaret, Philadelphia, PA
November 19, 1988	Club Bené, South Amboy, NJ	"Gates Of Steel" not performed.
November 20, 1988	The Ritz, New York, NY	"Girl U Want", "Whip It", "Baby Doll", "Satisfaction" and "Uncontrollable Urge" not performed, "Gates Of Steel" returned to the setlist. Red Flag opened.
	The Michael Todd Room, The Palladium, New York, NY	Short after show party, performing "Fraulein" "I've Been Refused" and "I Need A Chick" from Hardcore Devo.
November 22, 1988	Rialto Theatre, Raleigh, NC	"Girl U Want", "Whip It", "Baby Doll", "Satisfaction" and "Uncontrollable Urge" returned to setlist.
November 23, 1988	Center Stage Theatre, Atlanta, GA
November 25, 1988	Visage, Orlando, FL
November 26, 1988	Jannus Landing, St. Petersburg, FL	"Domino Theory" Opened
November 27, 1988	Button South, Hallandale Beach, FL
November 29, 1988	McAlister Auditorium, New Orleans, LA
November 30, 1988	Club Xcess, Houston, TX
December 1, 1988	Tommy's, Dallas, TX
December 2, 1988	The Backroom, Austin, TX
December 6, 1988	The Coach House, San Juan Capistrano, CA
December 7, 1988
December 8, 1988	The Palace, Hollywood, CA
December 9, 1988		"Pity U" Not performed. This show was recorded for Devo's Now It Can Be Told Album.
December 10, 1988	Ventura Theater, Ventura, CA
December 11, 1988	The Oasis, San Francisco, CA
December 12, 1988	Phoenix Theatre, Petaluma, CA
December 13, 1988
December 17, 1988	Iguana's, Tijuana, Mexico
December 19, 1988	The Coach House, San Juan Capistrano, CA
December 20, 1988	Bogart's, Long Beach, CA
December 21, 1988	Bacchanal, San Diego, CA
December 22, 1988	The Strand, Redondo Beach, CA
December 31, 1988	Hard Rock Cafe, Honolulu, HI
January 8, 1989	The Coach House, San Juan Capistrano, CA
January 9, 1989
January 10, 1989
January 31, 1989	The Strand, Redondo Beach, CA	First 9 songs from regular setlist not performed.
Second Leg (1989)
September 25, 1989	The Coach House, San Juan Capistrano, CA	The second leg features an entirely different setlist, containing several then-unreleased songs.
September 26, 1989
September 28, 1989	Iguana's, Tijuana, Mexico	"Hair Theatre" Opened.
September 29, 1989		"Infantry" Opened
September 30, 1989	Ventura Theatre, Ventura, CA
October 2, 1989	The Coach House, San Juan Capistrano, CA
October 3, 1989	Bogart's, Long Beach, CA
October 4, 1989	The Strand, Redondo Beach, CA
October 5, 1989
October 7, 1989	Calamity Jayne's Nashville Nevada, Las Vegas, NV
Third Leg (1989)
November 15, 1989	Peppers Nightclub, City Of Industry, CA
November 16, 1989	UCLA Pep Rally, Los Angeles, CA
December 4, 1989	Projeto SP, São Paulo, Brazil
December 9, 1989
December 10, 1989
December 11, 1989	Hotel Nacional, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
December 24, 1989	Club 1970, Hollywood, CA
December 31, 1989	Tommy's, Dallas, TX
Fourth Leg (1990) ^[20]
April 13, 1990	Omni, Oakland, CA	This show was cut short due to the venue being over capacity. Opened by Sly Buddha
April 14, 1990	The Stone, San Francisco, CA	Opened By "Mr Id."
April 15, 1990	Club Oasis, San Jose, CA
April 17, 1990	Peppers Nightclub, City Of Industry, CA	"Come Back Jonee" removed from setlist.
April 19, 1990	Ventura Theatre, Ventura, CA
April 22, 1990	Earth Day By The Bay, San Francisco, CA	Show was cut short due to rain.

Tour setlist

First Leg (1988–1989)

1. "Jocko Homo (Sad Version)"
2. "It Doesn't Matter to Me"
3. "Going Under"
4. "Working in the Coal Mine"
5. "Happy Guy"
6. "That's Good"
7. "Jerkin' Back 'N' Forth"
8. "Pity You"
9. "Girl U Want"
10. "Whip It"
11. "Baby Doll"
12. "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction"
13. "Uncontrollable Urge"
14. "Gut Feeling/Gates of Steel"
15. "Beautiful World"
16. "Shout/Somewhere/Disco Dancer"

Second Leg Onward (1989–1990)

1. "Going Under"
2. "Happy Guy"
3. "That's Good"
4. "Jerkin' Back 'N' Forth"
5. "Planet Earth"
6. "Girl U Want"
7. "Whip It"
8. "Post-Post Modern Man"
9. "A Change Is Gonna Cum"
10. "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction"
11. "Uncontrollable Urge"
12. "Mongoloid"
13. "Gates Of Steel"
14. "Jocko Homo"
15. "Smart Patrol/Mr. DNA"
16. "Gut Feeling"
17. "Come Back Jonee"
18. "Beautiful World"
19. "Shout"
20. "Somewhere"
21. "Disco Dancer"

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Chart	Peak position
US Billboard 200^[21]	189

References

1. "Devo". Billboard.
2. Devo (2003). The Complete Truth About De-evolution (DVD). Rhino Home Video.
3. "Devo on Facebook". Facebook. Archived from the original on 2022-04-30.^{[user-generated source]}
4. "Maintenance".
5. "Maintenance".
6. "Maintenance".
7. "Maintenance".
8. Huey, Steve. Total Devo at AllMusic. Retrieved 2011-06-27.
9. Azerrad, Michael (1988-08-11). "Total Devo | Album Reviews". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2012-03-12.
10. "CG: devo". Robert Christgau. 1978-04-17. Retrieved 2012-03-12.
11. "Robert Christgau: CG: Devo".
12. "Total Devo". Rolling Stone. 1988-08-11.
13. "Single Releases" (PDF). Cash Box. 1988-11-19. p. 13. Retrieved 2022-12-21.
14. "Total Devo - Devo | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
15. "Maintenance".
16. Devo (2000). Pioneers Who Got Scalped: The Anthology (CD liner notes). Rhino. R2 75967.
17. Devo (1988). Total Devo (CD liner notes). Enigma Records. D2-73303.
18. DEVO – Satisfaction – live 1988
19. "DEVO Live Guide – 1988". huboon.com. Retrieved 2020-02-09.
20. "DEVO Live Guide – 1989 to 1991". huboon.com. Retrieved 2020-02-09.
21. "Total Devo – Devo | Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-03-14.

External links

• Total Devo at Discogs (list of releases)