Oingo Boingo - Only a Lad (35th anniversary)

Today (June 19th) marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of Only a Lad, the first full-length studio album from Oingo Boingo. This 1981 record spent five weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 172.

For my full review, click here.

For more from Oingo Boingo, click here.

Oingo Boingo - Dead Man's Party

Today (October 28th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Dead Man's Party, the fifth studio album from Oingo Boingo. This 1985 release spent sixteen weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 98.

Danny Elfman - So-Lo

Today (November 11th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of So-Lo, the appropriately titled only solo studio album from Oingo Boingo’s Danny Elfman. Even though most of the band played on the record, it was not marketed as an Oingo Boingo album so that they could get around a dispute between the band and their label A&M Records. So-Lo was released by MCA Records.

Oingo Boingo - Good For Your Soul

July of 1983 brought out Good For Your Soul, the third studio album from Oingo Boingo. It continued the momentum from the earlier offerings, charting at number 144 on the US Billboard Hot 200. It was band’s last album on the A&M Records label and also the last album, for awhile, to feature Kerry Hatch on bass and Richard Gibbs on keyboards.

Oingo Boingo - Nothing to Fear

Coming off of their 1981 debut album Only a Lad (click here for that review), the California based alternative rockers followed it up with their second studio album Nothing to Fear. Today (June 22nd) marks the thirtieth anniversary of the release of that record.

While it faired a bit better on the US Billboard Hot 200 over the previous release (hitting 148 versus the debut’s 172), the album and band often found its audience thanks to college radio stations and club deejays who enjoyed the band’s quirky sound and thought-provoking lyrics.

Oingo Boingo - Only a Lad

Founded as a performance art troupe in 1972 (they actually appeared on the Gong Show in 1976), the Los Angeles group known as Oingo Boingo transitioned into a ska-influenced New Wave band in 1979. Lead by singer-songwriter Danny Elfman, the eight man band released a self-titled four song EP in 1980 and then their first full-length studio album Only a Lad on June 19th of 1981.

Their albums were hardly high charters or mega sellers even though their career as a band ran until 1995. This one spent five weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 172. Thanks to their quirky sound and off-beat view of the world, Oingo Boingo developed a dedicated cult following.