Oingo Boingo (EP)

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 a total of 130 copies, with each sleeve hand-painted by the band's team.

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-inflected 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.

Like the Demo EP, Oingo Boingo was also initially issued on 10-inch vinyl, but was later reissued on 12-inch vinyl and cassette. The 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 cover features an illustration of a cat by artist Louis Wain.[1]

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

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")

Technical

• Michael Boshears – producer, engineer, mixing ("Only a Lad")
• Jo Julian – producer ("Only a Lad")