Was (Not Was): Walk The Dinosaur

Track of the Week - 10 May 2020

The world lost a few musicians this past week. Rock and Roll legend Little Richard, Kraftwerk founder Florian Schneider, The Stranglers drummer Dave Greenfield and Was (Not Was) vocalist Hillard 'Sweet Pea' Atkinson.

Richard's energetic act inspired a whole wave of artists including The Beatles. Kraftwerk were pioneers of electronic music and inspired the likes of David Bowie, synth-pop groups of the 1980s and Joy Division. The Stranglers were the first band I saw live but I'm choosing Was (Not Was) for this week's song. Of the four artists mentioned it's their work I have most of in my collection.

I also saw Was (not Was) perform live once. It would have been late 80s/early 90s at Bristol Studio. Despite a half-filled, fairly disinterested audience Atkinson and fellow lead vocalist Harry Bowens tore it up all evening.

Walk The Dinosaur is the group's biggest hit in America, reaching number seven, and it made the top ten in the UK. It was released in 1987 and is from the following year's album What Up, Dog? (Which is very good but I'd probably point you at Born to Laugh at Tornadoes if you're going to listen to one of their long-players.) Sweet Pea is the dude in the hat.

I don't walk a dinosaur on my state-approved exercise of the day but unkind people may not say the same of Mrs Tea at Johnny's.