The Best of Oingo Boingo: Skeletons in the Closet is a compilation of songs by American new wave band Oingo Boingo, released in 1989 by A&M Records. It features songs recorded during the band's tenure with I.R.S. Records/A&M Records, culled from the albums Only a Lad (1981), Nothing to Fear (1982) and Good for Your Soul (1983).
Background Skeletons in the Closet was issued just a few months after the band had released Boingo Alive, a double album of "live in the studio" re-recordings of many songs from their back catalog. In a 1988 article for the Los Angeles Times, Oingo Boingo frontman Danny Elfman stated that Skeletons in the Closet was issued by their former label A&M to directly compete with Boingo Alive, adding, "they’re looking for a way to scrape up a few bucks on a dead account." However, A&M executive Tom Corson denied this claim, stating, "the band feels our release may harm sales of their album. We don’t see it that way at all. In fact, we're fans of the group—and we have no intention of trying to harm their career." Corson added that several songs were removed upon request of the band, and that Elfman declined an offer to write the album's liner notes.
Track listing
Personnel Credits adapted from CD liner notes.
Oingo Boingo Steve Bartek – lead guitar, "rhythm vocals" Danny Elfman – lead vocals, rhythm guitar Richard Gibbs – keyboards, synthesizer Kerry Hatch – bass guitar Johnny "Vatos" Hernandez – drums Sam "Sluggo" Phipps – tenor sax, soprano sax Leon Schneiderman – baritone sax, alto sax Dale Turner – trumpet, trombone
Technical Pete Solley – producer (1, 3, 4, 6) Oingo Boingo – producers (1–6, 8–10) Joe Chiccarelli – producer (2, 5, 8–10) Robert Margouleff – producer (7, 11, 12) John Guarnieri – project coordinator Arnie Acosta – mastering Chuck Beeson – art direction Donald Krieger – design Mark Ryden – front and back cover illustration
Home video A music video compilation was also released by A&M alongside the album.
Song Album Year Director(s) "Stay" Dead Man's Party 1985 David Hogan "Just Another Day" Dead Man's Party 1985 Stephen R. Johnson "Gratitude" So-Lo 1984 Graeme Whifler "Little Girls" Only a Lad 1981 Richard Elfman "Nothing Bad Ever Happens" Good for Your Soul 1983 Richard Elfman "Private Life" Nothing to Fear 1982 Richard Elfman
References