Devo “Freedom of Choice” released 40 years ago today, May 16th, 1980. Devo’s third album was a huge hit, going to #22 in the US and #47 in the UK, mostly propelled by their smash “Whip It.” “Whip It” was the second single released from Freedom of Choice, meant as an inspiring (and humorous) rallying cry for President Carter and his re-election bid. The track went to #14 in the US and #51 in the UK and I remember being absolutely nuts about the song in 1980. But the whole album is a fabulous post-punk/new wave synthpop effort: clever, super-nerdy in the best way, and catchy as hell. “Girl U Want,” the lead single, went to #57 in the UK (it did not chart in the US) and was supposedly inspired heavily by the success of The Knack’s “My Sharona.” The title track “Freedom of Choice” was the other single released: harder, anthemic, almost punk; it went to #103 in the US but hit #8 on the dance chart. Also great on Freedom of Choice are  “Snowball,” “Gates of Steel,” “Don’t You Know” and “Mr. B’s Ballroom.”

In a master stroke of great timing/awful circumstances, Devo revealed this past week the production of the Devo Energy Dome hats pictured on Freedom of Choice’s album cover repurposed as PPE shields in the time of the global pandemic. I really really really want one of these.