Was (Not Was) – Walk The Dinosaur (US 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1988

a-front

“Walk the Dinosaur” is a song by Was (Not Was), released in 1987, from their 1988 album, What Up, Dog?.

The song features a tight, funky sound, punctuated by horns and a cowbell, along with what sounds like cavepeople chanting in the background.

When released in the UK in 1987, the song reached no. 10 on the singles chart, becoming the group’s first UK top 10 hit. The music video featured four scantily clad ‘cavewomen’ dancing to the song while a Flintstones style TV played clips from Daffy Duck and the Dinosaur. Modern people danced to the song in the “Everybody kill the dinosaur” part. The video received heavy rotation on MTV. The song reached no. 7 on the US chart in 1989, two years after its UK success. The song became the band’s biggest hit single in their home country.

According to an interview with co-writer Randy Jacobs, it “was an infectious sing-along with a Flintstonesque video that probably got played on MTV way too much. But even that seemingly good-time anthem had a dark side. The song’s about nuclear Armageddon. It became a dance (anthem) because of the video. They connected it with the girls in the little Pebbles and Bam-Bam outfits. All the sudden it became, like, ‘do the mashed potato’ or ‘the twist.'”

“Walk the Dinosaur” was also featured in the soundtrack of 1989 film The Dream Team.

SIDE A:
Walk The Dinosaur (The New York Dangerous Version) 6:58
Mixed By [Final Mix], Producer [Additional] – Bruce Forest

Walk The Dinosaur (Bruce’s Prehistoric Dub) 6:43
Mixed By [Final Mix], Producer [Additional] – Bruce Forest

SIDE B:
Walk The Dinosaur (The Debunking Of Uri Geller Mix) 5:06
Mixed By – Don Was, Jamie Muhoberac

Walk The Dinosaur (7″ Version) 3:38

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year Single Chart Position
1989 Walk The Dinosaur U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #7
1989 Walk The Dinosaur U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/ Maxi-Singles Sales #36
1989 Walk The Dinosaur U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play #11
1989 Walk The Dinosaur U.S. Billboard Modern Rock Tracks #30

 

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Chrysalis ‎– 4V9 43332
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1988
Genre: Electronic, Funk / Soul, Pop
Style: Electro, Synth-pop, Pop Rock

CREDITS:
Management –Kushnick Passick Management
Producer – The Was Bros*
Written-By – David Was, Don Was, Randy Jacobs

NOTES:
Original version appears on the LP “What Up, Dog?”

Find the 12″ on DISCOGS

b-back

EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge: Ortofon 2M
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 30
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck 
Phono Pre-amp:
Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Tube:
Tung-Sol 12AX7ECC803-S Gold Electron Tube
Soundcard:
ESI Juli@
Record Cleaning:
VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans:
Brother MFC-6490CW Professional Series Scanner

SOFTWARE USED:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

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Nacho
Nacho
September 12, 2021 9:31 pm

Please could you re-upload this album.
Regards

Vince
Vince
February 7, 2019 12:09 pm

Should anyone want to hear the JBY mix, I’ve ripped it to WAV and mp3….not to the btg quality (just turntable to USB on PC)… but better than nothing….hope this link works OK!

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1–HlZfHqBH5paPRIeNT0cqmm9qmQ3rSm

RIchard the Big Bunny
Reply to  Vince
February 7, 2019 3:13 pm

THANK YOU!

Groovy. Fun. Wiggle.

Here’s my contribution:

https://www.discogs.com/Was-Not-Was-Walk-The-Dinosaur/release/4366456

https://www.discogs.com/Was-Not-Was-Walk-The-Dinosaur/release/1390693

Two options for artwork.

Enjoy! 🙂

ncnc
ncnc
January 6, 2019 10:34 am

Would love the Jeffrey B Young mix if you have it

Vince
Vince
Reply to  ncnc
February 7, 2019 12:45 pm

See my comment below, I’ve ripped it, quality is OK given the kit i’ve access to!

Mike
Mike
October 17, 2018 9:46 am

Thanx for this great ‘remaster’. The quality is awesome.

Always puts a smile on face when I hear this song.

Do you by chance have the Jeffrey B. Young Remix of this track?

(https://www.discogs.com/walk-the-dinosaur-jeffrey-b-young-hearts-run-free-remix/release/755377)

Vince
Vince
Reply to  Mike
February 7, 2019 12:49 pm

See my comment below, link to wav and mp3 version i copied to pc

Jasons2
Jasons2
October 14, 2016 2:18 am

Thank you very much Paul.

Jermajesty
Jermajesty
October 11, 2016 3:07 am

This won’t mean much to anyone outside the UK, but darts quizmaster Jim Bowen released a cover version of this song in 2008.

Richard
Richard
October 11, 2016 3:01 am

Thanks Paul for uploading the song they stole for the opening of Uptown Funk. This track is 1000% better!

Josefina
Josefina
October 10, 2016 7:28 pm

Yessssss! I love this is song – I was in HS when this came out. Do you have Spy in the House of Love?

Richard the Big Bunny
October 10, 2016 5:32 pm

I can’t believe I didn’t know that this song came out two years earlier in the UK! I grew up in the UK & the US — but I missed that factoid somehow. I was watching a lot of MTV in the US in 1989 when the video was played again & again though. Still like it though!

Jeff
Jeff
October 10, 2016 4:53 pm

You are a revelation Paul!!! Thank you again for this post. I never heard the dub nor “The Debunking of Uri Geller Mix” and am flipping-out!! They are so fun. Like Pete Burns says: “I Want Surprises” and this “Geller” mix did not disappoint. Loved the samples and sound effects all through the piece. Man, I am forever grateful once again to your mastery and mad skills DjPaulT.

Huge Smile!!

Jeff

musicdivaSF
musicdivaSF
October 10, 2016 4:27 pm

What a treat! This was and still is a favorite single from Was (Not Was). Thank you for this amazing post. 🙂

Dirk
Dirk
October 10, 2016 3:56 pm

Just played the b-side. Crisp. A little dated use of repetition in the remix, but with a young housemate stomping around on cafeine, rather amusing. So thanks for that one Paul!
Somebody else was expecting James Randi quotes that really Debunked Uri Geller, too ?

Junior
Junior
October 10, 2016 2:15 pm

I remember this fondly and will be cool to re-visit these Bruce Forest mixes.

Thanks Paul 🙂

Mark
Mark
October 10, 2016 1:11 pm

Wow!! Thanks so much for this Paul, not heard these remixes in many many years. Made my day!
Any chance you might have the ‘Spy In The House Of Love’ 12″- would love to hear those mixes again, some great James Bond samples as I recall…

Richard the Big Bunny
Reply to  DjPaulT
October 10, 2016 5:36 pm

I second that request. 😉 Thx!

Richard the Big Bunny
October 10, 2016 12:51 pm

LOVE THIS. Cheers! 🙂

BE.D12''
BE.D12''
October 10, 2016 12:37 pm

Many thanks DJPaul!
Great song and even greater remix by Bruce Forest.

I have a puzzle of missing 12″ of the 80s
that you are helping me to complete.
(Please also some Breakfast Club post if you can).

Great Respect for all your work.

Andy
Andy
October 10, 2016 12:11 pm

Great tune and good fun. Do you happen to have the 12in of Was not Was’s version of Papa was a rolling stone? I used to have it somewhere but have not seen it for ages. Be great to have a listen again in pristine flac.

Omar
Omar
October 10, 2016 12:04 pm

I vaguely remember this one Paul. Thanks for the remix though.

Jeff
Jeff
October 10, 2016 11:50 am

Time to get my caveman on Paul!! Wow, such a great track this is and right now, the refrain is going through my head!! So excited to now have the 12-inch mixes courtesy of you. And through the details of the track, now have a greater understanding of the song itself. This is an awesome track to launch the week Paul. I have motivation now. Too cool. I’ve been a huge Flintstones fan since I was a little kid and songs like this make me feel nostalgic for Saturday Morning Cartoons and all. I love what you do for our… Read more »

Goodguy
Goodguy
October 10, 2016 11:39 am

Love it! A great track; novelty or otherwise.

Hey Paul, I hope you saw my post asking if you could upload the Erasure US Promo 12″ of A Little Respect in recognition of the band’s anniversary (and anniversary box set!).

Thanks for all you do. 🙂