Out Come the Freaks

First reissue of this 1981 debut album. "Don Was (Donald Fagenson) & David Was (David Weiss) grew up in the musical and cultural thrall of Detroit, raised on the timeless soul of Motown artists as well as on such anarchic rockers as the MC5 and the Stooges. Their debut album was released in June 1981 in the UK, "Was (Not Was)," was immediately recognized as a wildly unique confabulation of R & B, funk, rock, and theater of the absurd, and brought a whacked-out-yet-danceable sensibility to pop music.

Following release of their first self-titled album in the summer of 1981, the daft 'Out Come the Freaks' reached the disco top 20. The Was (Not Was) sound could often be mistaken for classic R & B with a dance beat if not for topical and sometimes overtly nutty lyrics. Shattering the imaginary divisions between 'black music' and 'white music,' Detroiters David (Weiss; sax, flute, keyboards, vocals) and Don (Fagenson; bass, keyboards, guitar) Was use undated soul and funk as a flexible backdrop for their alternately serious and sarcastic commentary. The historical problem with a lot of dance music has been its rabid dissociation from intellect; more than almost any other group, Was (Not Was) obliterates that gap. The first album's material blends in enough humor and cleverness to make virtually every song an original gem, including the disco hits 'Out Come the Freaks' and 'Tell Me That I'm Dreaming.' The album was stocked with a wickedly confusing assortment of guest stars. It featured Mitch Ryder, Ozzy Osbourne, Doug Fieger of The Knack, Sweet Pea, Sir Harry -- and most remarkably -- rock hating jazz singer Mel Torme."