Oingo Boingo (EP)

Oingo Boingo is the debut EP by American new wave band Oingo Boingo, released in 1980.

The EP was originally recorded as a promotional record—known as the Demo EP—distributed by the band on 10 inch vinyl prior to being signed by a record label. It was largely produced by Michael Boshears, with the exception of "Only a Lad," produced by Jo Julian. It was limited to 130 copies, each sleeve hand painted by the band's team. The Demo EP and EP logos were designed by Charlie Unkeless. Sean Riley brought his artistic talents, and they collectively painted the covers using airbrushes, stencils, water sprayers, and mesh bags. They were able to create 130 separate signed and numbered covers. The EP was then picked up by I. R. S. Records and released publicly as the Oingo Boingo EP, with the track "Forbidden Zone" (recorded for the then unreleased movie of the same name) replaced by a ska inflected cover of Willie Dixon's "Violent Love". An edited version of "Forbidden Zone" was later released on the film's soundtrack album, but the complete original recording, as included on the Demo EP, has never been re released. Oingo Boingo was initially issued on 10 inch vinyl, but later reissued on 12 inch vinyl and cassette. The reissue replaced "Ain't This the Life" with a new recording. The song "Only A Lad" was subsequently re recorded for the band's first album,"Only A Lad". The 2021 Rubellan Remaster of the "Only A Lad" album contains the 10" EP, as well as the re recorded "Ain't This the Life", as bonus tracks. As of 2024, this issue is out of print. The cover features an illustration of a cat by artist Louis Wain.