Popdose - Latest Comments in The Cassingle Vault: Was (Not Was), “Walk the Dinosaur”

Re: The Cassingle Vault: Was (Not Was), “Walk the Dinosaur”

Music Fan — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 00:12:18 -0000

The one-stick percussionist is Debra Dobkin.

Re: The Cassingle Vault: Was (Not Was), “Walk the Dinosaur”

Paul Murff — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 14:13:20 -0000

One of the most brilliant, and certainly one of the most under-rated American bands of the last forty years? Hell yes. I was fortunate enough to be in the room (the BBC TV Later With Jools Holland studio, in fact...) when Don, David and the band were singled out for praise by Eartha Kitt, when they appeared on the show in late 2008. Ms Kitt had very much enjoyed the live versions they'd played of two tracks from the current album, and went out of her way to say so.

The kind of people they are, I'd be willing to bet a week's wages that that moment meant more to them than a whole closet full of Grammies would have...

Thanks, Jeff. Your profile of the band is insightful and comprehensive. I would just add that if you haven't seen 'em playing live and in full effect, having the time of their lives, then your musical education is incomplete. Love 'em, love 'em, love 'em.

P.S. What do you think 'Walk The Dinosaur' is really all about? Think Zappa and you're half-way there. It is by no means the empty-headed novelty hit that people think it is... not at all.

Re: The Cassingle Vault: Was (Not Was), “Walk the Dinosaur”

ldp — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 16:14:56 -0000

Indeed! Pocket Guide, Jefito! POCKET GUIDE!

*Zaz Turned Blue* ... classic!

Re: The Cassingle Vault: Was (Not Was), “Walk the Dinosaur”

GG — Sun, 11 May 2008 22:29:56 -0000

Back in the late 90's I was involved in setting up some music for the Tupelo T-Rex, a hockey team in the WPHL (look it up on Wikipedia). Everything was dinosaur-themed, so "Walk The Dinosaur" was the obvious choice for a goal song. Every time the team scored, a tyrannosaurus roar went out over the speakers, followed by "Boom Boom Chaka Laka Laka Boom..."

Re: The Cassingle Vault: Was (Not Was), “Walk the Dinosaur”

rwcass — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 12:53:43 -0000

David Was's ramblings in "Earth to Doris" and "Dad I'm in Jail," plus the "Elvis landed in a rock-rock-rocket ship ..." part in "Walk the Dinosaur," made me wish he'd been locked out of the studio. I got "What Up, Dog?" for Christmas in seventh grade, and I still like "Somewhere in America There's a Street Named After My Dad," the "I Can't Turn You Loose" cover, and "Walk the Dinosaur," but it's not an album I wish I still had in my collection.

Re: The Cassingle Vault: Was (Not Was), “Walk the Dinosaur”

Johnny Bacardi — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 14:07:20 -0000

You are correct, sir.

Re: The Cassingle Vault: Was (Not Was), “Walk the Dinosaur”

Bob — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 21:56:25 -0000

Inexplicably, and perhaps indefensibly, me too.

Re: The Cassingle Vault: Was (Not Was), “Walk the Dinosaur”

JohnHughes — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 18:39:48 -0000

To give Chrysalis a little credit, wasn't the less obvious choice "Spy In The House of Love" actually the first single off the album?

Re: The Cassingle Vault: Was (Not Was), “Walk the Dinosaur”

Bastard_Number_1 — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 18:30:01 -0000

I actually love "Walk The Dinosaur" as well, though I won't be the one to defend it very much as I can see why a lot of people don't.

I think you've hit it right on, Jeff. Was (Not Was) had really good bursts of creativity but were plenty scattered at points.

I like Don's son (I think) in Eve 6 quite a bit though.

Re: The Cassingle Vault: Was (Not Was), “Walk the Dinosaur”

MichaelWSP — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 16:25:17 -0000

I inexplicably, and perhaps indefensibly, love this song.

Re: The Cassingle Vault: Was (Not Was), “Walk the Dinosaur”

jefito — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 14:28:31 -0000

Good Lord, so you did -- and you linked to me and Jason in the post!

Re: The Cassingle Vault: Was (Not Was), “Walk the Dinosaur”

Beau — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 14:07:39 -0000

Hey -- I already sniped at Stereogum for making fun of my buddy the one-stick percussionist:
http://mostlymodernmusic.bl...

But in general, I can defend this song as a great experience on so many levels. My dinosaur-crazed kid loves it, though I usually cough over the smoking reference in the first verse that keeps this from being a They Might Be Giants-style children's classic. And the Atkinson-Bowen duo rocks. Let's see anyone else wring so much out of "and a mighty lion's roooooar."

Re: The Cassingle Vault: Was (Not Was), “Walk the Dinosaur”

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 13:18:09 -0000

I loved What Up, Dog. Great album. Loved "Wedding Vows in Vegas", "Somewhere in America There's a Street Named after My Dad", "Spy in the House of Love"...heck, even "Earth to Doris" was good. I mean, I didn't like the ending, and it's not a dance number, but we still quote it around here, in Paul Lynde voices, "I laughed anyway"....

But while I thought "Dad, I'm in Jail" was a funny song, the scene in "Pump Up the Volume" where they're driving along 'singing' to it? Dumb.

Re: The Cassingle Vault: Was (Not Was), “Walk the Dinosaur”

Jim — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 13:06:42 -0000

It may have killed their career, but a guiltier pleasure is not to be found in my collection.

Re: The Cassingle Vault: Was (Not Was), “Walk the Dinosaur”

1Py_Korry1 — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 12:48:30 -0000

"What Up Dog" was in high rotation on my CD player back in the day. And, to be honest, "Walk the Dinosaur" was a monster hit on the dance floor when I was doing the mobile DJ thing back in the day. It was one of those songs I could count on to get the dance floor packed after playing some lame request.

And "Wedding Vows in Vegas" is just sublime. "Buffet dinners/nothing but the best/and check in to some Strip love nest."

Re: The Cassingle Vault: Was (Not Was), “Walk the Dinosaur”

nm8tion — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 11:51:36 -0000

YES!!! I was working at a record shop when "Born to Laugh" came out. Loved that album. Still do.

Whenever I put the disc on the turntable, my manager commented, "Man, it sounds like you're flipping the channels on the radio."

That's how inventive these guys are. BRING ON THE POCKET GUIDE!!!

Re: The Cassingle Vault: Was (Not Was), “Walk the Dinosaur”

MatthewBolin — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 11:32:09 -0000

Don't forget, on the Pocket Guide, to include (or at least make mention of) "Where Did Your Heart Go?" from the debut album, which ended up being covered as the final offical British single by Wham!(!) A great track.

Re: The Cassingle Vault: Was (Not Was), “Walk the Dinosaur”

dday — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 11:07:08 -0000

I'm sorry, but I still think this is a great song... It even got covered by Mr Funk himself: George Clinton! Okay, on second thought, that was for the dreadful Super Mario Bros soundtrack...
Anyway, one of the best examples of Was (not was) backing vocals are on Bonnie Raitt's version of Baby Mine, from the Disney tribute album Stay Awake. Really beautiful...

Re: The Cassingle Vault: Was (Not Was), “Walk the Dinosaur”

sweet pea — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 10:20:42 -0000

You may recall they were on the Club MTV tour with with Milli Vanilli, Paula Abdul, Lisa Lisa, Information Society and Tone-Loc ... somewhere shortly thereafter, the Wases were explaining how aghast they were at how much lip synching was involved, and not just by Rob & Fab.

The remake of "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" inspired by The People's Court theme song was pretty sublime. Funny how they were reduced to a cover act in an effort to sell them to radio: a cover of "Listen Like Thieves" was the last attempt to try that. Bring on the pocket guide...

Re: The Cassingle Vault: Was (Not Was), “Walk the Dinosaur”

Johnny Bacardi — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 08:50:01 -0000

And in that Pocket Guide, I hope to see a lot of love for Born to Laugh at Tornadoes, one of my favorite albums of the '80s...