| "Out Come the Freaks" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Was (Not Was) | ||||
| from the album Was (Not Was) | ||||
| Released | 1981 | |||
| Genre | Funk, Pop | |||
| Length | 5:41 | |||
| Label | ZE Records, Island Records | |||
| Writer(s) | David Was, Don Was | |||
| Producer | David Was, Don Was, Jack Tann, Michael Zilkha | |||
| Was (Not Was) singles chronology | ||||
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| "(Return to the Valley of) Out Come the Freaks" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Was (Not Was) | ||||
| from the album Born to Laugh at Tornadoes | ||||
| Released | 1984 | |||
| Genre | Funk, Pop | |||
| Length | 4:22 | |||
| Label | Geffen, ZE Records | |||
| Writer(s) | David Was, Don Was | |||
| Producer | Jack Tann, David Was, Don Was | |||
| Was (Not Was) singles chronology | ||||
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| "Out Come the Freaks (Again)" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Was (Not Was) | ||||
| from the album What Up, Dog? | ||||
| Released | 1988 | |||
| Genre | Funk, Pop | |||
| Length | 4:35 | |||
| Label | Fontana/Phonogram (UK), Chrysalis (US) | |||
| Writer(s) | David Was, Don Was | |||
| Producer | David Was, Don Was, Steve Salas | |||
| Was (Not Was) singles chronology | ||||
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"Out Come the Freaks" is the name of a trilogy of songs by art-funk ensemble Was (Not Was). The trilogy consists of three songs that feature the same basic title, tune and chorus lyric: "Out Come the Freaks" (1981), "(Return to the Valley of) Out Come the Freaks" (1983), and "Out Come The Freaks" (1987) (later issued as "Out Come the Freaks (Again)".)
Despite the three songs' abundant similarities, each song is distinctive, as differing lyrics in the verses of each song tell stories about different societal outcasts. As well, each recording had a different contemporary sound, a thoroughly different arrangement, and reworked the melody while still keeping the chorus vocal: Woodwork squeaks, and out comes the freaks.
A fourth Was (Not Was) song called "Look What's Back" (1990) consists of 43 seconds of the group chanting the chorus 'Woodwork squeaks, and out comes the freaks'. However, this song does not use the phrase "Out Come The Freaks" in the song's title, and is generally not considered part of the "Out Come The Freaks" sequence.
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The original recording was the opening song on the groups début album Was (Not Was). This version began with the chorus chanted several times simultaneously by a number of vocalists before the rhythm section is introduced. The song's parent album was later renamed Out Come The Freaks when it was remastered and expanded in 2004.
The second recording is slower and sparser as oppose to the post-disco sound of the original. This version is sung by Harry Bowens, who sings the Woodwork Squeaks chorus as more of a refrain than a chant. "(Return to the Valley of) Out Come the Freaks" was the only single from Born to Laugh at Tornadoes to chart in the UK, and was also their first hit in that country, hitting the UK top 50.
The third "Out Come The Freaks" recording was released in 1987 and included on the groups most successful album What Up, Dog?. It was eventually also released as one of the final singles from the album in the UK, and again peaked just inside the UK top 50. The song was listed as "Out Come the Freaks" on the album but reference to the songs reworked status was acknowledged in the inclusion of of the subtitle "Again" on the single's release.
This recording was once again dominated by the vocal of Harry Bowens, but a female vocalist sang the chorus refrain. The arrangement was more upbeat than the second recording but had a tighter Funk and Synth-Pop sound.
(Return to the Valley of) Out Come the Freaks
| Chart (1984) | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| U.K. Singles Chart [1] | 41 |
Out Come the Freaks (Again)
| Chart (1988) | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart [2] | 44 |