Was (Not Was)
Was (Not Was) is an eccentric pop group founded by David Weiss (a.k.a. Davi… Read Full Bio ↴Was (Not Was) is an eccentric pop group founded by David Weiss (a.k.a. David Was) and Don Fagenson (a.k.a. Don Was). (Don Was is also a famous producer, who has worked with The B-52's, The Rolling Stones and many other artists.)

Weiss and Fagenson were childhood friends who grew up together in suburban Detroit, US. Due largely to Fagenson's poverty, they decided to form Was (Not Was) in 1979. The name of the band was derived from Fagenson's son, who enjoyed contradicting words such as 'Blue' with 'Not Blue'. Their first recording was "Wheel Me Out", a 12-inch dance record for the avant-garde Ze Records.

Their first album "Was (Not Was)" (1981) was an amalgam of rock, disco, Weiss's beat poetry, Reagan-era commentary and jazz. On vocals they recruited Harry Bowens and "Sweet Pea" Atkinson, who proved to be distinctive, very soulful front-men, who frequently found themselves singing absurd, surreal songs alongside tender ballads. The MC5's Wayne Kramer (guitar) and The Knack's Doug Feiger (vocal) were guest players.

"Born to Laugh at Tornadoes" (1983) introduced even more guest musicians, including Ozzy Osbourne rapping over electro, Mel Torme crooning an oddly beautiful ballad and an abstract funk piece "Man Vs the Empire Brain Building". The band were shortly dropped from their record label.

In 1987, they found their biggest hit with the album "What Up, Dog?", along with the singles "Walk The Dinosaur" and "Spy in the House of Love". Special guests include Stevie Salas, John Patitucci, Frank Sinatra Jr. and a writing credit for Elvis Costello. About this time, the Was Brothers developed separate careers as producers, film scorers and music supervisors. Around this time, artist/animator Christoph Simon created videos to accompany some of their songs, such as "What Up Dog", "Dad I'm In Jail" and the Tom Waits-style "Earth to Doris". These have appeared on MTV's Liquid Television.

They followed up with "Are You Okay?" in 1990, a critically lauded album, spearheaded by a cover of Papa Was a Rolling Stone. Guest musicians were Iggy Pop, Leonard Cohen, The Roches and Syd Straw. After a tour with Dire Straits in 1992 and a Dance Hit Single "Shake Your Head", Weiss and Fagenson drifted apart and nothing was heard from Was (Not Was) but a compilation album "Hello Dad... I'm In Jail". The group effectively split following the 1992 tour.

In 1997, Steve Winwood released a tune which borrowed not just the title of Was (Not Was)'s single "Spy In the House of Love" but also the bass line and other elements. However, no lawsuits ensued (or were settled out of court.)

In late 2004, Was (Not Was) re-formed and were back on stage for a two-month club tour through the Northeast and East Coast of the US, as well as California, Missouri, Ohio, Illinois (including stops at the House of Blues in Cleveland and Chicago), Maryland, New York, and Pennsylvania (in the Trocadero in Philadelphia).

In October 2005, they played four gigs at the Jazz Café in London.

Detroit's Metro Times has described the band as "an endearing mess... ...a sausage factory of funk, rock, jazz and electronic dance music, all providing a boogie-down backdrop for a radical (and witty) political message of unbridled personal freedom and skepticism of authority."

In 2008, after hiatus of 20 years, Was (Not Was) finally released another studio album: "Boo!". Some tracks were originally recorded in the 80's. Tracklists differ between the UK and US pressings, but for those who "get" this monster motown mongrel's killer musicianship, pop edge and inane lyrics, it is all eagerly welcomed.
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Was (Not Was) Lyrics


(Return to the Valley of) Out Come the Freaks Was (Not Was) Born To Laugh At Tornadoes (Return To The Vall…
11 MPH Harvey O. didn't have no daddy He never caught a…
Anything Can Happen She took me in the bedroom To show me her computer She…
Anytime Lisa Anytime Lisa was what the guys named her You could have…
are you okay She's tripping and flipping, flying and crying Trying to re…
Are You Okay? She's tripping and flipping, flying and crying Trying to rem…
Baby I Need Your Loving Baby, I need your lovin' Baby, I need your lovin' Although y…
Betrayal You can't think of what to say when people talk…
Bow Wow Wow Wow Gotta comb my hair, find something to wear Where the hell…
Boy's Gone Crazy Boy's gone crazy...Ooo, ooo, ooo Boy's gone crazy...Ooo, oo…
Boys Gone Crazy Boy's gone crazy...Ooo, ooo, ooo Boy's gone crazy...Ooo, ooo…
Carry Me Back to Old Morocco Carry me back to Old Morocco Where the tea is strong…
Christmas Time In Motor City Christmastime in Motor City But things ain't really pretty …


Crazy Water In a deserted town at the corner of Main and…
Dad I'm In Jail Hello, dad, I'm in jail Hi, dad, I'm calling you from…
Dressed To Be Killed His garbage can beret Was tilted at an angle What looked…
Earth To Doris At the loveless motel and restaurant out on Highway 33 The…
Elvis' Rolls Royce Well I saw a crowd a-gathered Must've been somebody shot Rep…
Everybody Walk the Dinosaur Boom boom acka-lacka lacka boom Boom boom acka-lacka boom b…
From The Head To The Heart There’s a story in the paper About a young boy laying…
Go.... Now Everybody say go...now! We are small but we're all there is…
Go… Now! Everybody say go...now! We are small but we're all there …
Hello Dad ... I'm In Jail Hello, dad, I'm in jail Hi, dad, I'm calling you from…
Hello Operator Every time we had a pay card I don?t know how…
How The Heart Behaves She ran him over like a bus But he seemed to…
I Blew Up The United States I set charges in Maine and Florida In Washington and Califor…
I Can't Turn You Loose I can't turn you loose If I do I'm gonna…
I Feel Better Than James Brown When we were in love I pretended you didn't exist That…
I'm In Jail Hello, dad, I'm in jail Hi, dad, I'm calling you from…
In K-Mart Wardrobe In K Mart wardrobe We waltzed across the water Reading chine…
It's A Miracle …
It's An Attack They're coming out the hills, ah! They're coming out the wat…
It's an Attack! They're coming out the hills, ah! They're coming out the wa…
Just Another Couple Broken Hearts It's just another chapter In the never ending story Of lov…
Knocked Down, Made Small (Treated Like a Rubber Ball) (Treated Like A Rubber Ball) My daddy took a look On the…
Love Can Be Bad Luck Aw yeah, oh yeah, yeah When two cars crash you just…
Man Vs the Empire Brain Building In my life there's just three things: Man versus nature, Man…
Man vs. the Empire Brain Building Man versus nature, Man versus woman And man versus The Empir…
Maria Novarro Maria called the police department On a Sunday afternoon "…
Mr. Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore Well they came and they corrupted And they took what was…
Oh Mr. Friction Drink from bottle when I home alone Spank the kids with…
Out Come The Freaks Little Rita and her sister Betty Met some mook who drove…
Out Come the Freaks (Predominantly Funk Version) Little Rita and her sister Bette Met some mook who drove…
Out Comes the Freak Little Rita and her sister Betty Met some mook who drove…
Papa Was a Roling Stone (Listen, we don't have anything other than that) (The Ameri…
Papa Was a Rollin' Stone It was the third of September That day I'll always remember,…
Papa Was A Rolling Stone (Listen, we don't have anything other than that) (The Americ…
Professor Night Professor Night haunts a bar Where he says that there are…
Robot Girl Robot girl, robot girl Robot girl, robot girl Robot girl, ro…
Shadow & Jimmy Shadow and Jimmy Were always yesterday's news Jimmy's a bo…
Shadow and Jimmy Shadow and Jimmy Were always yesterday's news Jimmy's a bowl…
Shake Your Head Head [Repeat x8] You can't argue with death Can't break a b…
Shake Your Head (Let's Go to Bed) You can't argue with death Can't break a burly sailor's neck…
Smile Keep your distance I haven't got a thing to say Where's…
Somewhere In America At night only crickets No prowlers, no sirens No pinky rin…
Somewhere In America Theres A Street At night only crickets No prowlers, no sirens No pinky ring …
Spy In The House Of Love The air was filled with suspicion She poured us two martinis…
Stuck Inside of Detroit Out Come the Freaks Eddie Harold used a tape recorder When he had one of…
Tell Me That I'm Dreaming â??Members of the Congress, I have the high privilege, and…
Tell Me That I'm Dreaming (Traditional 12" Remix) Members of the Congress, I have the high privilege, and…
The Party Broke Up [reversable words]...Needless to say that the party broke up…
The Sky's Ablaze My father used to take a drink or two when…
Walk The Dinosaur Boom boom acka-lacka lacka boom Boom boom acka-lacka boom bo…
Wedding Vows In Vegas (One, two, three, four) Ooh ooh, ooh ooh, ooh ooh, ooh…
What Up Dog (What up, dog?)...[3x] Monkey in the middle of a metal detec…
Wheel Me Out Wheel me out Wheel me out Wheel me out Wheel me out I'm lon…
Wheel Me Out (Classic 12" Version) Wheel me out Wheel me out Wheel me out Wheel me out I'm lone…
Where Did Your Heart Go Where did your heart go? Did you put it on a…
You You You 747 and an F-14 dogfight At that line between heaven…
Your Luck Won't Last Baba lu mow mow baba lu mow Baba lu mow mow Baba…
Zaz Turned Blue Zaz had red hair, he didn't care He always laughed loud,…


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