Vintage Essentials [Collection]

Ultimate Unreleased Demos & Outtakes Collection (1973-2009)

• A deep dive into the Basement collection and beyond, this collection aims to present a comprehensive set of circulating demos and other studio-based material the band has recorded, arranged in approximate chronological order, 1973-2009. Many tracks contained here have never been collected before.

Oh No! It’s Demos (1982)

• A very interesting look into the working process of the band. Maybe the most surprising thing is how close to the final arrangements some of these recordings are. Big Mess has the same instrumental track as the demo that appears on Recombo DNA, but has a Jerry vocal track instead of Mark. Speed Racer includes the original lyric “I’m a Barbie doll and I like to fuck”. The remastered version by 3ronk7 is included with this collection.

Ultimate Live Rarities Collection (1973-2018)

• A deep dive into the Basement collection and beyond, this collection aims to present a comprehensive set of uncommon (or not well documented) live performances by the band. Many tracks are only available through the Basement on this collection.

1974-04-23 – Kent, OH – Governance Chambers, Kent State University (Creative Arts Festival)

• An absolutely astounding artifact from the vaults! DEVO’s second-ever live performance! The band is obviously tighter than their 1973 debut, but still has a long way to go. Jim Mothersbaugh plays acoustic drums, and Bob Lewis plays lead guitar. (this show was added to this collection 2021-04-15)

1977-02-xx – Akron, OH – The Crypt

• The first recording we have in the collection of Alan playing with the band. Many songs being played at this time never made it past the live set and into the studio. Something interesting to listen to here especially is the tempo of the songs; everything is played much slower here (Uncontrollable Urge clocks at about 155bpm). Though many recordings from 1977 sound surprisingly excellent, this one has the edge of being a soundboard recording.

1977-05-19 – Cleveland, OH – Pirate’s Cove

• You can hear here how much tighter the band has become in the past few months. The tempos are beginning to speed up (Uncontrollable Urge is now up to 171bpm) and they’re gearing up for their first trip to New York City. A ripping set of classics.

1977-05-25 – New York City, NY – Max’s Kansas City

• The band had played CBGB’s for the two preceding days, but the crowd and regular bands at Max’s Kansas City would prove the most influential in DEVO’s career. The set includes a handful of songs that are typical for the time, but rarely heard after.

1977-05-28 – Cleveland, OH – Eagle Street Saloon

• Freshly returned from New York City, the band trades an appreciative club crowd for a mostly apathetic one. Fortunately, that gives us a great recording of a very long set featuring many live-only songs by a band brimming with energy. This show was later partially remastered and released as Miracle Witness Hour by Futurismo Inc. The release is now out of print, but Booji Boy’s Basement asks all spuds to fully support DEVO by purchasing their official output. Buying the products puts money in their pockets and stimulates further releases. Futurismo does incredible work with all of their packaging and every single one of their releases is worth buying. Seek out the Miracle Witness Hour release, if it’s not already part of your collection.

1977-07-08 – New York City, NY – Max’s Kansas City

1977-07-09 – New York City, NY – Max’s Kansas City

• The boys head back to New York City wound up even tighter (Uncontrollable Urge now edging close to 184bpm). The band vamps on Jocko Homo for almost 9 minutes during one of these sets. All the classics are represented with a new and fierce energy.

1977-07-25 – West Hollywood, CA – Starwood

• A newly surfaced recording of DEVO’s very first performance in the city the band would soon make their home, Los Angeles! Unbelievably, the band plays an excerpt from “Chango”! (this show was added to this collection 2021-04-15)

1977-08-03 – San Francisco, CA – Mabuhay Gardens [source 1]

• For their first trip to California, speed was kicked up to its highest yet (Urge tearing by at a blistering 190bpm, which would climb to 204bpm in 1979). The band rips through two fantastic sets on this excellent soundboard recording.

1977-08-24 – West Hollywood, CA – Starwood

• Continuing to fall in love with the west coast, the band delivers on one of their first big showcase nights with this classic set, including some rarely-performed gems that are only recorded here.

1977-11-15 – New York City, NY – Max’s Kansas City [source 1]

• A key night in DEVO’s career. It was at this show that David Bowie introduced DEVO as “the band of the future”, and announced he would be producing their first album. Bowie would eventually pass the task to Brian Eno, but this night solidified the band’s place in the scene.

1977-12-17 – New York City, NY – Max’s Kansas City [early set]

1977-12-17 – New York City, NY – Max’s Kansas City [late set]

• An early performance of Wiggly World with alternate lyrics is featured here. The band is gearing up to record their first album in Germany with Brian Eno.

1978-10-09 – West Hollywood, CA – Starwood

• While not the greatest recording, the opening bands included with this recording make for a truly unique document of a moment in time. The first opener, Genral Jackett, is a longtime associate of DEVO that wrote the original versions of “Those Darn Girls” and “Sloppy”, which he performs in his set here. The second opener, The Visitors, is led by dancer Spazz Attack, known for his moves in DEVO’s “Satisfaction” film, amongst others.

1978-10-17 – New York City, NY – The Bottom Line [Early Set]

• Though this set was part of the first album tour, it’s a bit of a different setlist than they were typically playing at the time, and included the rarely performed Shrivel Up.

1978-10-29 – Cincinnati, OH – Bogart’s

• This incomplete recording is notable because during Smart Patrol, the power to the lights (and possibly PA) of the venue go out. Bob 1 wails on his guitar solo for four and a half minutes before Jerry calls it quits until the power gets restored.

1978-11-15 – Berlin, Germany – Kant Kino

• Another recording from the first album tour, this one sounds a bit grittier than most shows on the tour. It’s also notable in that the band traded Booji Boy’s typical show-ending performance of kind-hearted “The Words Get Stuck in My Throat” for a performance of the hedonistic “I Need A Chick”.