So-Lo

So-Lo
Studio album by Danny Elfman/Oingo Boingo
Released November 11, 1984
Recorded July 1984
Genre New wave, ska
Length 38:34
Label MCA Records
Producer Danny Elfman
Steve Bartek
Paul Ratajczak
Oingo Boingo chronology

Good for Your Soul
(1983)		 So-Lo
(1984)		 Dead Man's Party
(1985)
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [1]

So-Lo is the fourth album by Oingo Boingo, released in 1984. It was released under lead singer Danny Elfman's name.

Background

The album was deliberately released under Elfman's name instead of Oingo Boingo's in order to circumvent a dispute with the band's record label. Elfman stated that he used the opportunity to record previously written material, moving away from the band's ska origins and more towards mainstream synthpop. He described it as "a chance to experiment with slower tempos".[2] It was the band's final album recorded with bass player Kerry Hatch and keyboardist Richard Gibbs.

Music

Initial releases of the album featured a significantly different mix of the opening song Gratitude. The initial mix included alternate backing vocals and rhythm guitar, a different use of reverberation (mixed more dry) and a faded out ending with an additional guitar solo. The single release and accompanying music video used a revised mix of the song, which was subsequently issued on all re-releases of So-Lo on CD. The "short version" is an edit of the extended version from the 12 inch single—the short version is actually four seconds longer than the original mix.) The most significant change from the original mix is the removal of a spoken verse (starting at 1:37) whose complete lyrics are: I used to eat people like you for breakfast; I used to fly, high up in the sky; I used to chew up rocks and spit out gravel; I had a heart as cold as ice. The original mix was only ever released digitally as part of the Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack compilation.[3] However, the spoken verse was included in all live performances of the song, with slightly different lyrics.[4][5]

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Danny Elfman. 

No. Title Length
1. "Gratitude" (5:07 on earliest pressings) 5:11
2. "Cool City"   3:26
3. "Go Away"   4:00
4. "Sucker for Mystery"   5:15
5. "It Only Makes Me Laugh"   4:03
6. "Last Time"   4:07
7. "Tough as Nails"   4:35
8. "Lightning"   3:44
9. "Everybody Needs"   3:50
Total length:
 38:34

Performers

Notes

  1. ↑ http://www.allmusic.com/album/r6722
  2. ↑ http://www.bluntinstrument.org.uk/elfman/archive/Denver86.htm
  3. ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJoqohttLek
  4. ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weJUZqoZdHA
  5. ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aV4bA1awsc