THE NEW YORK TIMES REVIEW
VILLAGE VOICE : ROBERT CHRISTGAU GUIDE REVIEWS
DAVID WEISS and Donald Feigenson, who record as the Was Brothers in the band Was (Not Was), recently produced an album for the band's singer, Sweet Pea Atkinson. While the Detroit-based Was (Not Was) is basically a studio outfit, it convened Saturday at the Peppermint Lounge to promote that LP, ''Don't Walk Away.''
As a showcase for Mr. Atkinson, the early set was a tease. Like the album, it mixed sincere soul oldies with the Wases' twisted originals. But the billing should have been Was (Not Was) featuring Mr. Atkinson.
Mr. Atkinson has a gritty, leathery voice and a gospel-charged attack, yet he was allotted only a bare majority of lead vocals, and too many of his best phrases were buried in echo and backing voices. Unlike his models, Wilson Pickett and Otis Redding, he never took charge of the band or engaged the audience. Carol Hall, who sang a solo and a duet with Mr. Atkinson, had more presence.
As a Was (Not Was) set, the only problem was brevity. The band lived up to its Detroit heritage by melding Motown and the Detroit Wheels - soul and heavy metal. That polarity was defined by two guitarists, the funk-based Randy Jacobs and hard-rocking Bruce Nazarian, and filled in nimbly by eight other musicians. For a band that rarely performs, Was (Not Was) couldn't have been tighter. JON PARELES, November 15, 1982
Was (Not Was) repay Atkinson for his vocal chores by producing a solo debut, and spare us D. Was's bug-eyed late-capitalist existential cynicism in the bargain. Trouper that he is, Atkinson will sing any nonsense they hand him, but he obviously finds his truth in Dionne Warwick, the Tymes, General Johnson, and Eddie Rabbitt, and I'll go along with that. Meanwhile, the Was Bros. have learned enough about Linn drums to provide the kind of bug-eyed late-capitalist existential displacement that lends realism to orders like "dig deep, don't be nice" and "dance or die." A-
ORIGINAL ALBUM
01 • Dance Or Die • 6:34
Written by David & Don Was
Published by Los Was Cosmopolitanos (ASCAP) ©1982
Administrated Worldwide by Ackee Music Inc. (ASCAP)
02 • Don't Walk Away • 3:54
Written by General Johnson
Published by Music in General / Modest Music Inc. (BMI) ©1976
03 • Someone Could Lose a Heart Tonight • 7:18
Written by Eddie Rabbitt, David Malloy & Even Stevens
Published by Briar Patch Music /Debdave Music (BMI) ©1981
04 • So Much in Love • 2:10
Written by Jackson, Stragis & Williams
Published by Abkco Music Inc (BMI) ©1963
05 • Dig Deep • 4:20
Written by David, Don Was & Randy Jacobs
Published by Los Was Cosmopolitanos (ASCAP) / Randog Music ©1982
Administrated Worldwide by Ackee Music Inc. (ASCAP)
06 • Anyone Who Had a Heart • 3:00
Featuring Carol Hall
Written by B. Bacharach & H. David
Published by Blue Seas Music Inc. / Jac Musioc Co./
U.S Songs Inc. (ASCAP) ©1963
07 • Girls Fall For Me • 6:11
Written by David & Don Was
Published by Los Was Cosmopolitanos (ASCAP) ©1982
Administrated Worldwide by Ackee Music Inc. (ASCAP)
08 • Should I Wait • 5:00
Written by David & Don Was
Published by Los Was Cosmopolitanos (ASCAP) ©1982
Administrated Worldwide by Ackee Music Inc. (ASCAP)
BONUS TRACKS
09 • Dance or Die Single Edit • 4:24
10 • Someone Could Lose a Heart Tonight Single Edit • 3:21
SOUND
Mastered by Greg Calbi
Mixed by Michael H. Brauer
Producer by David Was, Donald Was & Jack Tann
Original Sound Made by ZE Records © 1982
(p) & © 2010 ZE Records Mundo, Ltda.
