Good For Your Soul

Oingo Boingo: Danny Elfman (vocals, guitar); Steve Bartek (guitar); Sam "Sluggo" Phipps (clarinet, tenor saxophone); Leon Schneidermann (alto & baritone saxophone); Dale Turner (trumpet, trombone); Ribbs (keyboards); Kerry Hatch (synthesizer, bass); Johnny "Vatos" Hernandez (drums). Additional personnel: Jimmy Wood (harmonica); Miles Anderson, Mario Guarneri (horns). Personnel: Danny Elfman, Steve Bartek (vocals, guitar); Sam Phipps (vocals, clarinet, saxophone, tenor saxophone); Leon Schneiderman (vocals, saxophone, alto saxophone, baritone saxophone); Richard Gibbs (vocals, trombone, keyboards, synthesizer); Kerry Hatch (vocals, keyboards, synthesizer, bass synthesizer); Mark Babineau, Mike Gormley (vocals, background vocals); Jim Wood, Jimmie Wood (harmonica); Dale Turner (trumpet, trombone); Miles Anderson, Mario Guarneri (horns); Johnny Hernandez (drums). Illustrator: Lane Smith . Unknown Contributor Roles: Leon Schneiderman; K. Ribbs. 1983's GOOD FOR YOUR SOUL was produced by synthesizer pioneer Robert Margouleff, but don't expect it to sound much like Margouleff's legendary Tonto's Expanding Headband, or the classic early '70s albums he and partner Malcolm Cecil produced for Stevie Wonder. Oingo Boingo's sound is ingrained too deeply for that. On the other hand, the glossy electronic edge he gives this album suits the band well. Taming the rampant quirkiness of their earlier albums into a more streamlined sound actually plays up the inherent oddity of Danny Elfman's melodies and lyrics. The catchy single "Wake Up (It's 1984)" is a career highlight, as is the atmospheric instrumental "Cry of the Vatos"--named for drummer Johnny "Vatos" Hernandez--which foreshadows the often-excellent soundtrack work Elfman would pursue after the band's dissolution.

• Genre: Rock and Pop
• Format: CD
• Released: 1/1/1987