| Nothing to Fear | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | June 22, 1982 | |||
| Recorded | November 1981–January 1982 | |||
| Studio | Cherokee (Hollywood) | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 41:34 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Producer |
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| Oingo Boingo chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Nothing to Fear | ||||
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Nothing to Fear is the second studio album by American new wave band Oingo Boingo, released in 1982 on A&M Records.
Nothing to Fear possesses a more hard-edged sound than the band's previous releases, featuring louder electric guitar and percussion, an increased and more varied use of synthesizers and the introduction of sequencers on some tracks. The songs also feature an unorthodox range of instruments, some of which were designed and built by the band.
The original 3:47 mix of the song "Private Life" was replaced on later vinyl pressings and CD issues by the 3:18 single mix. The original mix features more prominent bass guitar and xylophone, with a repeat of some verses and longer intro. [1] [ better source needed ] The song's release was accompanied by a music video, directed by Danny Elfman's brother Richard Elfman, founder of the Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo.
In April 2020, Danny Elfman recorded a new solo version of "Running on a Treadmill", uploaded to his official website and Instagram page. It was recorded in self-quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic and featured an accompanying video filmed by his daughter, Mali Elfman. At the time, it was only one of two Oingo Boingo songs Elfman had publicly performed since the band broke up in 1995. [2] [3] Elfman later recorded a new version of "Insects" for his 2021 album, Big Mess . [4]
Despite continuous condemnation from critics, Nothing to Fear received high regional sales and radio airplay at the time of its release, selling 125,000 copies in its original run.[ citation needed ]
Trouser Press writer Ira A. Robbins opined that Nothing to Fear was "more likable" than its predecessor, Only a Lad , but still sounded "phony", calling it a "derivative disappointment." [5]
Elfman often used the negativity of critics to the band's advantage through publicity, stating: "The music [the critics] like is inspirationless and contrived. If we start getting praise from this clique of six or eight reviewers, we'd probably have to evaluate where we went astray." [6]
Following the album's release, the band went on a successful tour opening for bands such as the Police and Fear. [6] The song "Wild Sex (in the Working Class)" was later featured in the John Hughes film Sixteen Candles (1984).
In 2021, Rubellan Remasters issued a remastered version of Nothing to Fear on both colored vinyl and CD, the latter as an expanded edition with two bonus tracks. [7] Both versions reinstated the original full-length version of "Private Life" into the album's running order. [8]
All tracks are written by Danny Elfman
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Grey Matter" | 5:50 |
| 2. | "Insects" | 3:02 |
| 3. | "Private Life" (3:18 on later issues) | 3:45 |
| 4. | "Wild Sex (in the Working Class)" | 4:06 |
| 5. | "Running on a Treadmill" | 3:20 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 6. | "Whole Day Off" | 3:54 |
| 7. | "Nothing to Fear (But Fear Itself)" | 3:52 |
| 8. | "Why'd We Come" | 3:57 |
| 9. | "Islands" | 4:40 |
| 10. | "Reptiles and Samurai" | 5:23 |
| Total length: | 41:34 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 11. | "Better Luck Next Time" | 3:30 |
| 12. | "Private Life (Single Version)" | 3:17 |
Oingo Boingo
Technical
Daniel Robert Elfman is an American film composer, singer, songwriter, and musician. He came to prominence as the lead singer and primary songwriter for the new wave band Oingo Boingo in the early 1980s. Since scoring his first studio film in 1985, Elfman has garnered international recognition for composing over 100 feature film scores, as well as compositions for television, stage productions, and the concert hall.
Oingo Boingo was an American new wave band formed by songwriter Danny Elfman in 1979. The band emerged from a surrealist musical theatre troupe, The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo, that Elfman had led and written material for in the years previous. Their highest-charting song, "Weird Science", reached No. 45 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo was an American surrealist street theatre troupe, formed by performer and director Richard Elfman in 1972. The group was led by Richard until 1976, when his brother Danny Elfman took over. The group evolved into an experimental musical theatre group, performing songs from the 1930s-40s and original material.
Only a Lad is the debut studio album by American new wave band Oingo Boingo, released in 1981, following their self-titled EP.
Dead Man's Party is the fifth album by American new wave band Oingo Boingo, released in 1985. The album contains the only two singles by the band to chart on the Billboard Hot 100: "Weird Science" at number 45, and "Just Another Day" at number 85.
Oingo Boingo is the debut EP by American new wave band Oingo Boingo, released in 1980.
Boi-Ngo is the sixth studio album by American new wave band Oingo Boingo, released in 1987.
So-Lo is the debut studio album by American musician Danny Elfman, released in 1984 by MCA Records. Recorded primarily by Elfman, but also featuring the members of his band, Oingo Boingo, it was recorded when Elfman was offered a solo contract with MCA after the band had been dropped from I.R.S. Records. The album marked the band's last release to feature bassist Kerry Hatch and keyboardist Richard Gibbs.
Good for Your Soul is the third studio album by American new wave band Oingo Boingo, released in 1983. It was produced by Robert Margouleff and was the band's last album to be released on A&M Records.
Dark at the End of the Tunnel is the seventh studio album by American new wave band Oingo Boingo, released in 1990.
Boingo Alive is a double album by American new wave band Oingo Boingo, released in 1988. It was performed and recorded live in a rehearsal studio with no audience, with the band performing songs from previous albums and two previously unreleased songs to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the band's beginning.
Boingo is the eighth and final studio album by American new wave band Oingo Boingo. It was the band's only album recorded for their new label, Giant Records, as well as the only album to be released by the band's 1994–95 line-up.
The Best of Oingo Boingo: Skeletons in the Closet is a compilation of songs by American new wave band Oingo Boingo. It features songs recorded during the band's tenure with I.R.S. Records/A&M Records, culled from the albums Only a Lad (1981), Nothing to Fear (1982) and Good for Your Soul (1983).
Best O' Boingo is the second greatest hits album from American new wave band Oingo Boingo, released in 1991 by MCA Records. It features songs recorded during the band's years on MCA Records, from 1984's So-Lo through 1990's Dark at the End of the Tunnel. As such, the songs from the period when the band was on I.R.S. Records—as well as several others—are represented here by their re-recorded versions from the 1988 "live in the studio" album Boingo Alive.
Forbidden Zone (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack album to Forbidden Zone, the 1982 cult film directed by Richard Elfman, with music by his brother Danny Elfman and performed by The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo.
Steve Bartek is an American guitarist, film composer, conductor, and orchestrator. He is best known as the lead guitarist in the band Oingo Boingo and for his orchestration work with composer Danny Elfman.
"Dead Man's Party" is a song by American band Oingo Boingo, released as the third single from their album of the same name.
Select commercially released recordings of Danny Elfman's music for film, television, stage and the concert hall. For a full list of Elfman's compositions, see List of compositions by Danny Elfman. For Elfman's recordings as lead singer/songwriter for Oingo Boingo, see the Oingo Boingo discography page.
Sam "Sluggo" Phipps is an American saxophone player, best known for being a member of the new wave band Oingo Boingo.
Big Mess is the second solo studio album by American singer, musician, and composer Danny Elfman. It was released by Anti- and Epitaph Records on June 11, 2021.
