Song Name: Race of Doom
Artist: DEVO
Appears On:
- New Traditionalists, Social Fools: The Virgin Singles 1978-1982 (Album/UK Single Version)
- New Traditionalists: Live 1981 Seattle (Live Version)
Run Time: 3:43 (Album Version)
Year Written: 197x
Year Recorded: 1981 (Album Version)
Year Released: 1981 (Album Version)
Years Performed: 1981 - 1982
Writing Credits: Gerald V. Casale/Mark Mothersbaugh
Sung By: Gerald V. Casale (Lead), some group members (Backing) - "Race of Doom" chorus
- Mark sings the lead vocal in concert.
Alternate Versions: "Race Of Doom" (early version)(on D002) (2:21), demo possibly recorded November, 1974, unofficially released on "D002 - Rare Demos & Unreleased Tracks (Disc 2)."
Demo Versions: Race of Doom (demo) (3:43), recorded 1981, released on Recombo DNA (2000)
Song Connections: A synthesized nuclear explosion ends this song. Morning Dew, about nuclear holocaust, builds musically to an implied nuclear launch. (A nuclear explosion is seen at the end of the Beautiful World video.)
Trivia / Info:
- An early demo version of ROD, with alternate lyrics, was recorded in the early 1970's (while the album demo version was recorded in the early 80's).
- Performed on the tour supporting the NT album before "The Super Thing". ROD was preceded in the setlist by "Whip It" on the North American leg of the tour and by "Planet Earth overseas.
- ROD was an international (not domestic) B-side, paired with "Through Being Cool" by Virgin and "Working In The Coal Mine" by WB.
- The album version of ROD is listed on the broadcast-only LP "B.B.C. Rock Hour" #245 - Discogs
Onstage Behavior: Unknown.
Lyrics: Race Of Doom - LyricWikia
Video: None. Live Video None.
References:
External Links:
- "Through Being Cool b/w Race of Doom" (Virgin Single) UKb Portugal- Discogs
- "Working In The Coal Mine b/w Race Of Doom" (WB Canada Single) - Discogs
- "Through Being Cool b/w Race of Doom" (Virgin UK Single) - 45cat
- "Working In The Coal Mine b/w Race Of Doom" (WB Single) Japan Mexico - 45cat
- Race of Doom (Releases) Album Version (IZ), Demo Version (b), Live Versions: 1981-11-28(Seattle, official), 1981-10-31(NYC, unofficial) - MusicBrainz
- Race of Doom (Overview) - AllMusic