What Up, Dog?

"Robot Girl" b/w "Earth to Doris"
What Up, Dog?
Studio album by Was (Not Was)
Released	1988
Recorded	1984-88; The Institute of Social Disorder
Genre	Pop rock, pop, funk, R&B, dance, rock, soul
Length	57:07; 52:17 (UK)
Label	Chrysalis (US) ; Fontana/Phonogram (UK)
Producer	David Was, Don Was, Paul Staveley O'Duffy
Was (Not Was) chronology
Singles from What Up, Dog?
	"Robot Girl" b/w "Earth to Doris"; Released: 1986; "Spy in the House of Love" b/w "Dad I'm in Jail"; Released: 1987; "Walk the Dinosaur" b/w "11 Miles An Hour (Abe Zapp Ruder Version)"; Released: 1987; "Boy's Gone Crazy" b/w "What Up, Dog?"; Released: 1987; "Out Come the Freaks (Again)" b/w "Earth To Doris"; Released: 1988; "Anything Can Happen" b/w "The Death Of Mr. Ping Pong"; Released: 1988;

What Up, Dog? is a 1988 album by Was (Not Was). It became the US group's breakthrough album worldwide and was ranked #99 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 100 Best Albums of the 1980s. The cover illustration was credited to Christoph Simon and Karen Kelly.

Background

Success of What Up, Dog? was propelled by the group's two biggest hits: "Walk the Dinosaur" and "Spy in the House of Love" and four other singles. The former was promoted by a popular music video in which the band performed while a group of girls in campy cave girl costumes danced. The video received heavy rotation on MTV and MuchMusic and led the single into the top ten of the US singles chart in 1989. Artist/animator Christoph Simon[1] created videos to accompany the tracks "What Up, Dog?", "Dad I'm in Jail" and the Tom Waits-style "Earth to Doris". These appeared on MTV's Liquid Television and in various film festivals, including the Spike & Mike festival.

The album had fewer guest vocalists than their previous album and instead was focused around the group's two lead singers, Sweet Pea Atkinson and Sir Harry Bowens. However, a typically long list of collaborators and guest musicians worked on the album including Elvis Costello (co-writer of "Shadow & Jimmy"), Marshall Crenshaw (co-writer of "Love Can Be Bad Luck"), and Frank Sinatra, Jr. on "Wedding Vows in Vegas". It also included the second re-recording of the group's signature song: "Out Come the Freaks".

Release

What Up, Dog? became the group's breakthrough album in the US and worldwide. It reached #43 on the Billboard 200 album chart, #41 in New Zealand, and #47[2] in the UK. The album also spawned six singles (seven if the re-release of "Spy in the House of Love" is counted). The biggest hit was "Walk the Dinosaur" which charted worldwide and hit the top 10 in the US and UK.[2] "Spy in the House of Love" was very popular too, hitting the top 20 in the US, #21 in the UK[2] and peaking at #1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. "Anything Can Happen" was the third and final single to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 chart reaching #75. In the UK, "Robot Girl", "Boy's Gone Crazy" and "Out Come the Freaks" (alternately re-titled "Out Come the Freaks (Again)" and "(Stuck Inside Of Detroit With The) Out Come The Freaks (Again)") reached modest positions on the charts.[2] In 1992, "Somewhere in America There's a Street Named After My Dad" was released as a single to promote the group's compilation Hello Dad...I'm in Jail.

US and International versions of the album featured different running orders and varying versions of the songs. Notably, "11 MPH" on the US edition was remixed and "Robot Girl" was a slightly different and shorter mix. The International CDs and LPs did not include David Was's jazzy monologue "Earth to Doris". LP versions in both countries do not include "Robot Girl", "Wedding Vows in Vegas" and "I Can't Turn You Loose", but have differing running orders.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[3]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[4]
Los Angeles Times	[5]
Rolling Stone	[6]
The Village Voice	A−[7]

In 1989, it was ranked #99 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 100 Greatest Albums of the '80s.[8]

Track listings

US and Japan CD and Cassette (Chrysalis)

The Chrysalis edition of the album features the largest number of tracks, but includes a shorter mix of "Robot Girl" by Dave Dachinger and the Abe Zapp Ruder Version of "11 MPH" instead of the original recording.

All tracks are written by David Was and Don Was; except where indicated.

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Somewhere in America There's a Street Named After My Dad"		3:42
2.	"Spy in the House of Love"		4:18
3.	"Out Come the Freaks"		4:36
4.	"Earth to Doris"		2:03
5.	"Love Can Be Bad Luck"	David Was, Marshall Crenshaw, Don Was	3:52
6.	"Boy's Gone Crazy"		3:44
7.	"11 MPH (Abe Zapp Ruder Version)"		4:05
8.	"What Up, Dog?"	David Was, Don Was, Harry Bowens, Sweet Pea Atkinson	1:48
9.	"Anything Can Happen"	David Was, Don Was, Aaron Zigman	3:57
10.	"Robot Girl" (Final mix: Dave Dachinger)		3:48
11.	"Wedding Vows in Vegas"		3:38
12.	"Anytime Lisa"		4:15
13.	"Walk the Dinosaur"	David Was, Don Was, Randy Jacobs	4:22
14.	"I Can't Turn You Loose"	Otis Redding	3:37
15.	"Shadow and Jimmy"	David Was, Elvis Costello	4:18
16.	"Dad I'm in Jail"		1:25

International CD and Cassette (Fontana)

Fontana Records' international editions do not feature "Earth to Doris", which was previously released as the b-side of "Robot Girl". The original John Potoker mix of "11 Miles An Hour" appears.

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Spy in the House of Love"		4:18
2.	"Boy's Gone Crazy"		3:44
3.	"Anything Can Happen"	David Was, Don Was, Aaron Zigman	3:57
4.	"Out Come the Freaks"		4:36
5.	"Somewhere in America There's a Street Named After My Dad"		3:42
6.	"Love Can Be Bad Luck"	David Was, Marshall Crenshaw, Don Was	3:52
7.	"Shadow and Jimmy"	David Was, Elvis Costello	4:18
8.	"11 Miles An Hour" (Final mix: John Potoker)		4:05
9.	"Robot Girl" (Final mix: John Potoker, aka 'London Mix')		4:11
10.	"What Up, Dog?"	David Was, Don Was, Harry Bowens, Sweet Pea Atkinson	1:48
11.	"Anytime Lisa"		4:15
12.	"Wedding Vows in Vegas"		3:38
13.	"Walk the Dinosaur"	David Was, Don Was, Randy Jacobs	4:22
14.	"I Can't Turn You Loose"	Otis Redding	3:37
15.	"Dad I'm in Jail"		1:25

US LP (Chrysalis)

The US LP is a condensed version of the CD.

Side one
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Somewhere in America There's a Street Named After My Dad"		3:42
2.	"Spy in the House of Love"		4:18
3.	"Out Come the Freaks"		4:36
4.	"Earth to Doris"		2:03
5.	"Anything Can Happen"	David Was, Don Was, Aaron Zigman	3:57
6.	"Boy's Gone Crazy"		3:44
7.	"What Up, Dog?"	David Was, Don Was, Harry Bowens, Sweet Pea Atkinson	1:48

Side two
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
8.	"Love Can Be Bad Luck"	David Was, Marshall Crenshaw, Don Was	3:52
9.	"Walk the Dinosaur"	David Was, Don Was, Randy Jacobs	4:22
10.	"Shadow and Jimmy"	David Was, Elvis Costello	4:18
11.	"11 MPH (Abe Zapp Ruder Version)"		4:05
12.	"Anytime Lisa"		4:15
13.	"Dad I'm in Jail"		1:25

International LP (Fontana)

The International LP features the same tracks as the US LP, with the exception of the original John Potoker mix of "11 Miles An Hour" appearing instead and "Earth to Doris" not appearing at all.

Side one
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Spy in the House of Love"		4:18
2.	"Boy's Gone Crazy"		3:44
3.	"Anything Can Happen"	David Was, Don Was, Aaron Zigman	3:57
4.	"Somewhere in America There's a Street Named After My Dad"		3:42
5.	"Out Come the Freaks"		4:36
6.	"What Up, Dog?"	David Was, Don Was, Harry Bowens, Sweet Pea Atkinson	1:48

Side two
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
7.	"Love Can Be Bad Luck"	David Was, Marshall Crenshaw, Don Was	3:52
8.	"11 Miles An Hour" (Final mix: John Potoker)		4:05
9.	"Anytime Lisa"		4:15
10.	"Shadow and Jimmy"	David Was, Elvis Costello	4:18
11.	"Walk the Dinosaur"	David Was, Don Was, Randy Jacobs	4:22
12.	"Dad I'm in Jail"		1:25

Personnel

David "Michigan-Boy Snake" Was — flute, keyboards, harmonica, vocals
Don "Rope Drink" Was — bass, keyboards, guitar, mandolin
Sweet Pea Atkinson — vocals
Sir Harry Bowens — vocals
Bruce Nazarian, Dann Huff, Paul Jackson, Jr., Randy Jacobs, Steve "No Wonder" Salas — guitar
John Patitucci, Marcus Miller, Neil Stubenhaus — bass
Ron Pangborn, Russ Kunkel, Winston Watson, Yogi Horton — drums
Aaron Zigman, Al Kooper, Amp Fiddler, Daniel Schroeger, John Van Tongeren, Luis "Louie Restaurant" Resto, Paul Wickens, Robin Smith, Vic Emerson, Martyn Phillips[9] — keyboards
Alex Acuña, Carl "Butch" Small, David Friendly, Debra Dobkin, Frank Ricotti, Kevin "Guido" Tschirhart, Larry Fratangel, Michael Fisher — percussion
Bill Reichenbach Jr., Dan Higgins, Kim Hutchcroft, Jerry Hey, Gary Grant, John Thirkell, John Barclay, Guy Barker, Pete Beachill, Phil Todd, Chris "Snake" Davies, Stuart Brooks — brass
David McMurray, John "Birch" Weiss, Larry Williams — saxophone
Buddy Childers, Marcus Belgrave, Mark Isham, Oscar Brashear, Rayse Biggs — trumpet
Arnold McCuller, Arthur "Buster" Marbury, Carol Hall, Coral Gordon, Dee Lewis, Desi Campbell, Donald Ray Mitchell, Geoff Fieger, Sir Harry Bowens, Helen Terry, Juliet Roberts, Kathy Kosins, Pete Steinfeld, Richard Feldstein, Rick Shoemaker, Ruby Turner, Sweet Pea Atkinson — background vocals
Paul Riser, Richard Niles - string and horn arrangements
David Bates, Michael Zilkha — Executive Producers
Calli Bucci, Garzelle McDonald, Margaret Mittleman - production co-ordination
Allen Sides, Chris Irwin, Croyden, Dave Dachinger, Don Was, John Potoker, Keven Smith, Lincoln Clapp, Micajah Ryan, Michael H. Brauer, Mike Bosley, Mike Pela, Paul Staveley O'Duffy, Paul Wright, Peter Barker, Phil Da Costa, Roland Herrington, Steve "Barney" Chase, Steve "Dr. Ching" King, Tom O'Leary, Troy Krueger, Martyn Phillips - engineering
David Passick and Ken Kushnick - management

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References

Christoph Simon animation professor, http://www.scad.edu/academics/faculty/christoph-simon
"The Official Charts Company - Was (Not Was)". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2008-11-09.
Ruhlmann, William. "What Up, Dog? – Was (Not Was)". AllMusic. Retrieved March 23, 2010.
Larkin, Colin (2009). "Was (Not Was)". The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (4th ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-199-72636-1.
Waller, Don (December 18, 1988). "Was (not Was) 'What Up, Dog?' Chrysalis". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 31, 2016.
Goodman, Fred (October 6, 1988). "What Up, Dog? : Was (Not Was)". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on June 6, 2008. Retrieved August 31, 2016.
Christgau, Robert (January 24, 1989). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Retrieved March 23, 2010.
The Editors (1989-11-16). "The 100 Best Albums of the 1980s". Rolling Stone (565).
"Martyn Phillips". Martyn Phillips. Retrieved 1 February 2019.

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[1] Christoph Simon animation professor, http://www.scad.edu/academics/faculty/christoph-simon

[chartstats-2] "The Official Charts Company - Was (Not Was)". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2008-11-09.

[Ruhlmann-3] Ruhlmann, William. "What Up, Dog? – Was (Not Was)". AllMusic. Retrieved March 23, 2010.

[4] Larkin, Colin (2009). "Was (Not Was)". The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (4th ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-199-72636-1.

[5] Waller, Don (December 18, 1988). "Was (not Was) 'What Up, Dog?' Chrysalis". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 31, 2016.

[Goodman-6] Goodman, Fred (October 6, 1988). "What Up, Dog? : Was (Not Was)". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on June 6, 2008. Retrieved August 31, 2016.

[Christgau-7] Christgau, Robert (January 24, 1989). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Retrieved March 23, 2010.

[8] The Editors (1989-11-16). "The 100 Best Albums of the 1980s". Rolling Stone (565).

[sf-9] "Martyn Phillips". Martyn Phillips. Retrieved 1 February 2019.

Was (Not Was)
David Was Don Was "Sweet Pea" Atkinson Harry Bowens
Studio albums	Was (Not Was) Born to Laugh at Tornadoes What Up, Dog? Are You Okay? Boo!
Singles	"Out Come the Freaks" "Where Did Your Heart Go?" "(Return to the Valley of) Out Come the Freaks" "Spy in the House of Love" "Walk the Dinosaur" "Out Come the Freaks (Again)" "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" "Listen Like Thieves" "Shake Your Head"