| Mechanical Man EP | |
| Type: | ep |
| Artist: | Devo |
| Cover: | Mechanical Man EP.jpg |
| Released: | 1978 |
| Recorded: | 1975–1976 |
| Length: | 13:48 |
| Label: | Elevator Records |
| Producer: | Devo |
| Prev Title: | B Stiff EP |
| Prev Year: | 1978 |
| Next Title: | Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! |
| Next Year: | 1978 |
Mechanical Man is an EP by the American new wave band Devo, released in 1978 by Elevator Records. It includes four 4-track basement demos by the band, recorded before they were signed to a record contract with Warner Bros. Records.
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] In a Trouser Press article on the band dating from January 1979, Cole Springer refers to it as a bootleg of British origin.[3] However, Devo webmaster and archivist Michael Pilmer later stated that it was produced by Virgin Records and included with some copies of the band's 1978 debut album Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! in the United Kingdom.[1] In 2023, Devo member Gerald Casale said 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 the unlisted track "Space Girl Blues".
The tracks "Mechanical Man" and "Auto-Modown" were recorded in 1975, when the band was a quartet and Jim Mothersbaugh was their drummer.[4] "Blackout" was recorded in 1976, when Bob Casale had joined and Alan Myers had replaced Jim.[5]
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.[6]
Side one
Side two
Instrumental credits adapted from liner notes of 2013 Superior Viaduct reissues of (1990)[4] and (1991).[5] Credits for "Blockhead" cannot be confirmed.
Devo
Technical