Oingo Boingo (EP)

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

Background
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 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 cover features an illustration of a cat by artist Louis Wain. The 12-inch 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 (1981).

The 2021 Rubellan Remasters CD of the Only a Lad album contains the 10-inch EP, as well as the re-recorded "Ain't This the Life", as bonus tracks. In 2023, Rubellan reissued the EP on vinyl, which also included all five tracks.

Track listing
All songs written by Danny Elfman, except "Violent Love", by Willie Dixon.

Side one
 * 1) Only a Lad – 4:18
 * 2) Violent Love – 2:38

Side two
 * 1) Ain't This the Life – 3:30
 * 2) I'm So Bad – 3:56

Personnel
Oingo Boingo
 * Danny Elfman – lead vocals
 * Steve Bartek – guitars
 * Kerry Hatch – bass guitar
 * Johnny "Vatos" Hernandez – drums
 * Leon Schneiderman – baritone and alto saxophones
 * Sam "Sluggo" Phipps – tenor and soprano saxophones
 * Dale Turner – trumpet, trombone

Additional musicians
 * David Eagle – drums (12-inch version of "Ain't This the Life")

Credits adapted from 2023 Rubellan Remasters reissue, except where noted:

Technical
 * Jo Julian – producer ("Only a Lad", "Violent Love", "Ain't This the Life" 10-inch version)
 * Michael Boshears – producer ("Ain't This the Life" 12-inch version, "I'm So Bad")
 * Jim Cypherd – engineer, re-mixing
 * Frank DeLuna – mastering
 * Bob Walter – re-mixing
 * Rick Bowls – re-mixing
 * Jed the Fish – "electromagnetic rejuvenation"
 * Carl Grasso – art direction
 * Louis Wain – front cover painting