The B‐52s | ||
| Allmusic Biography : Among the first American new wave acts to break through to mainstream visibility, the B-52s became one of the biggest success stories to emerge from the American underground in the late 70s. Making music that was full of quirks but also sounded friendly and fun to dance to, the B-52s filtered surf music, 60s pop, vintage soul, and low-budget sci-fi soundtracks through a pop culture kaleidoscope, with vocals laid over the top that suggested someone had been listening to a lot of Yoko Ono and Yma Sumac records. With their eager embrace of kitschy fashion and oddball humor, the B-52s made party music for the skinny tie crowd, and also brought a queer sensibility to their music when punk rock was turning increasingly macho and misogynistic. (Four of the five founding members were on the LGBTQ+ spectrum, and they were outspoken in their support of AIDS research and marriage equality.) At the same time, the tuneful energy of songs like "Rock Lobster," "Private Idaho," and "Legal Tender" helped them cross over to the mainstream audience. While the tragic death of guitarist Ricky Wilson nearly ended the band in 1985, they bounded back with the 1989 album Cosmic Thing, a more polished but still engaging effort that went multi-platinum and produced their biggest hit, "Love Shack." The B-52s have matured into respected elders of alternative pop, touring regularly and releasing music that embraced electronic influences on 2008s Funplex. The B-52s were formed in Athens, Georgia in 1976. While Georgia, like much of the deep south, is generally conservative, as the home of the University of Georgia, Athens was long considered an oasis of progressive thinking, with a significant bohemian and creative community. In this environment, longtime friends and Athens natives Ricky Wilson and Keith Strickland became familiar with Cindy Wilson (Rickys sister), Fred Schneider (originally from New Jersey), and Kate Pierson (also born in the Garden State) through mutual friends. One evening in October, the friends were enjoying an evening at a Chinese restaurant where a number of flaming Volcano drinks were consumed, and they decided they wanted to form a band, embracing their diverse influences including surf music, 60s pop, sci-fi soundtracks, vintage soul music, Captain Beefheart, and Yoko Ono. Initially, Ricky and Keith were the only members of the group who knew how to play instruments, and the two began writing music for the band through extended jam sessions. For their initial show on Valentines Day 1977, Ricky and Keith played along with pre-recorded rhythm and keyboard tracks, while Cindy, Kate, and Fred traded off on vocals. In time, the members became a capable live act, with Ricky playing guitar (he usually removed the two middle strings to give his instrument a rougher sound), Kate on vocals and keyboards (usually playing a keyboard bass with her left hand and a Farfisa organ with her right), Cindy on vocals and percussion, Fred on vocals, and Keith on drums. The band adopted the name the B-52s from local slang for high-rise beehive hairdos, and they developed a devoted fan following in Athens. As the B-52s popularity spread, Danny Beard, who helped run a record store in Atlanta, offered to help them make a record for his fledgling label DB Records. The bands debut single, "Rock Lobster" b/w "52 Girls," was released in February 1978, and became one of the first independent hits on the American new wave scene, selling over 20,000 copies without major-label distribution. As the B-52s became aware of the burgeoning punk and new wave scene in New York City, they began booking shows in the Big Apple with the single as their calling card, and their unique sound and kitschy style soon made them favorites at CBGB and Maxs Kansas City. With their off-kilter but dance-friendly approach, the B-52s sounded friendly and accessible in a way many new wave acts didnt, and they were soon being scouted by major labels. Chris Blackwell of Island Records signed the B-52s to a U.K. record deal, while Warner Bros. struck a deal with the group for North America. Blackwell soon flew the B-52s to Compass Point Studios in the Bahamas, where he produced the sessions for their self-titled debut album. Released in July 1979, The B-52s received strong reviews and the re-recorded version of "Rock Lobster" became a minor hit, rising to 56 on the Top Singles charts. The album also enjoyed a sales boost after the group made an appearance on Saturday Night Live. The B-52s would eventually go platinum, and John Lennon cited the album as a personal favorite in interviews. The B-52s returned to Compass Point to cut their second album, Wild Planet, with producer Rhett Davies. Tighter and more polished but no less idiosyncratic than the debut, the album came out in September 1980 and proved to be as successful as the debut, spawning another minor hit, "Private Idaho," and peaking at 18 on the album charts. An EP of remixes, Party Mix, appeared in July 1981 as a stopgap while the B-52s worked on album number three. David Byrne of Talking Heads, long a supporter of the band, was brought in to produce the sessions, but creative differences between Byrne and the group, as well as a lack of enthusiasm from their record labels, led them to scrap the project, and some of the completed tracks were issued in early 1982 as an EP, Mesopotamia. The B-52s changed up their recording approach for their next album, 1983s Whammy! With a greater reliance on synthesizers and drum machines, Ricky and Keith performed all the instruments on the backing tracks, while Fred, Kate, and Cindy only provided vocals. The album fared better on the charts than Mesopotamia, and the band launched a major concert tour in support, but the band took a break while Fred recorded a solo project, 1984s Fred Schneider & the Shake Society. When the band reconvened to work on their next album, Ricky Wilsons health began to fail him, and on October 12, 1985, he died of AIDS-related illnesses, though initially the band claimed he died of natural causes. The B-52s eventually completed the album Bouncing Off the Satellites, which was released in September 1986, but the surviving group members were too shaken with grief to tour or promote the album, and they went on hiatus. In 1988, the surviving members of the B-52s began writing new material and returned to the recording studio, with Nile Rodgers producing one set of sessions and Don Was producing another. 1989s Cosmic Thing proved to be the biggest hit of the B-52s career, spawning two Top Five singles ("Love Shack" and "Roam") and selling over four million copies. Reinvigorated, the group launched a successful concert tour in support, with Keith taking over on guitar and several guest musicians joining them on the road to handle additional bass, drum, and keyboard duties. In 1990, Cindy Wilson left the B-52s in order to stay home and start a family, and Fred, Kate, and Keith recorded 1992s Good Stuff without her; vocalist Julee Cruise stood in for Cindy on tour. In 1994, the group recorded a new version of "Meet the Flintstones" for the big-screen reboot of the popular animated series, billed as the B.C.-52s; the single peaked at number 33. In 1996, Cindy returned to the B-52s, and the group recorded two new songs for the 1998 compilation Time Capsule: Songs for a Future Generation. A more expansive career overview, Nude on the Moon: The B-52s Anthology, came out in 2002. While the B-52s remained busy as a live act and made periodic guest appearances on such television shows as The Simpsons, The L Word, and Portlandia, it wasnt until 2008 that they returned with fresh music. Funplex, produced by Steve Osborne, gave the group a more up-to-date sound informed by electronic dance music, though the B-52s personality still shone through. In 2012, Keith announced that he would no longer tour with the B-52s, though he would continue to work with the band. An archival digital-only live album appeared in 2015; Live! 8-24-1979 preserved a show they played opening for Talking Heads only weeks after the release of their debut album. As the band focused on live work in the 2010s, the members worked on solo recording projects. Fred recorded with his side band the Superions, Kate made her solo debut in 2015 with Guitars and Microphones, and Cindy stepped out on her own with 2017s Change. | ||
 | Album: 1 of 19 Title: The B‐52’s Released: 1979-07-12 Tracks: 9 Duration: 39:33 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Planet Claire (04:37) 2 52 Girls (03:35) 3 Dance This Mess Around (04:37) 4 Rock Lobster (06:51) 5 Lava (04:56) 6 There’s a Moon in the Sky (Called the Moon) (04:58) 7 Hero Worship (04:09) 8 6060‒842 (02:53) 9 Downtown (02:57) |
| The B‐52’s : Allmusic album Review : Even in the weird, quirky world of new wave and post-punk in the late 70s, the B-52s eponymous debut stood out as an original. Unabashed kitsch mavens at a time when their peers were either vulgar or stylish, the Athens quintet celebrated all the silliest aspects of pre-Beatles pop culture -- bad hairdos, sci-fi nightmares, dance crazes, pastels, and anything else that sprung into their minds -- to a skewed fusion of pop, surf, avant-garde, amateurish punk, and white funk. On paper, it sounds like a cerebral exercise, but it played like a party. The jerky, angular funk was irresistibly danceable, winning over listeners dubious of Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilsons high-pitched, shrill close harmonies and Fred Schneiders campy, flamboyant vocalizing, pitched halfway between singing and speaking. Its all great fun, but it wouldnt have resonated throughout the years if the group hadnt written such incredibly infectious, memorable tunes as "Planet Claire," "Dance This Mess Around," and, of course, their signature tune, "Rock Lobster." These songs illustrated that the B-52s adoration of camp culture wasnt simply affectation -- it was a world view capable of turning out brilliant pop singles and, in turn, influencing mainstream pop culture. Its difficult to imagine the endless kitschy retro fads of the 80s and 90s without the B-52s pointing the way, but The B-52s isnt simply an historic artifact -- its a hell of a good time. | ||
 | Album: 2 of 19 Title: Wild Planet Released: 1980-08-27 Tracks: 9 Duration: 34:54 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Party Out of Bounds (03:21) 2 Dirty Back Road (03:21) 3 Runnin’ Around (03:10) 4 Give Me Back My Man (04:01) 5 Private Idaho (03:38) 6 Devil in My Car (04:29) 7 Quiche Lorraine (03:58) 8 Strobe Light (04:01) 9 53 Miles West of Venus (04:53) |
| Wild Planet : Allmusic album Review : Conventional wisdom has it that all the B-52s subsequent releases are highly inferior to their debut. While Wild Planet is not the rarefied wonder their first platter is, its still darn good. The songs here are generally faster, tighter, and punchier than previously, though production values are not as wonderfully quirky and detailed; fewer songs here are as over-the-top crazy as the first albums "Rock Lobster" or "52 Girls." These formless selections continue to exhibit a cunning mix of girl group, garage band, surf, and television theme song influences, all propelled along by an itchy dance beat. "Give Me Back My Man" allows Cindy Wilson a unique opportunity to croon a broad, expressive melodic line. Fred Schneider parades his inimitably nervous vocals on chucklesome ditties like "Quiche Lorraine" and "Strobe Light." The best songs here are "Private Idaho," a wonderfully jittery number that employs a variant on the famous melodic snippet from the Twilight Zone theme music, and "Devil in My Car," a delightfully loopy hoot that lays the craziness on very thickly. Performances and sound quality are fine. This album is well worth hearing and recommended. | ||
 | Album: 3 of 19 Title: Party Mix! Released: 1981 Tracks: 6 Duration: 28:28 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Party Out of Bounds (05:12) 2 Private Idaho (04:03) 3 Give Me Back My Man (07:03) 4 Lava (06:12) 5 Dance This Mess Around (02:56) 6 52 Girls (03:01) |
 | Album: 4 of 19 Title: Mesopotamia Released: 1982-01-27 Tracks: 6 Duration: 26:17 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Loveland (05:01) 2 Deep Sleep (03:30) 3 Mesopotamia (03:51) 4 Cake (05:50) 5 Throw That Beat in the Garbage Can (04:32) 6 Nip It in the Bud (03:32) |
 | Album: 5 of 19 Title: Whammy! Released: 1983-04 Tracks: 9 Duration: 37:23 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Legal Tender (03:40) 2 Whammy Kiss (05:21) 3 Song for a Future Generation (03:58) 4 Butterbean (04:18) 5 Trism (03:23) 6 Queen of Las Vegas (04:37) 7 Dont Worry (03:58) 8 Big Bird (04:13) 9 Work That Skirt (03:51) |
| Whammy! : Allmusic album Review : Following the botched collaboration with David Byrne on Mesopotamia, the B-52s decided to craft their fourth album as a return to the pop-culture funk explosion of their debut. Smartly, they decided to not simply replicate the skewed Southern funk of that album, choosing to update their signature sound with drum machines and new wave synths. As a result, it now sounds a little forced and dated, but the best moments -- "Legal Tender," "Whammy Kiss," "Butterbean," "Song for a Future Generation" -- rank as B-52s classics, and the entire record is certainly entertaining, even with its faults. [Whammy! was originally released with a cover of Yoko Onos "Dont Worry." When the time came to reissue the CD in 1989, the group ran into copyright troubles with Ono and the song was pulled, replaced by "Moon 83."] | ||
 | Album: 6 of 19 Title: Bouncing off the Satellites Released: 1986-09 Tracks: 10 Duration: 46:12 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Summer of Love (04:06) 2 Girl From Ipanema Goes to Greenland (04:24) 3 Housework (04:06) 4 Detour Thru Your Mind (05:09) 5 Wig (04:21) 6 Theme for a Nude Beach (04:53) 7 Ain’t It a Shame (05:32) 8 Juicy Jungle (04:51) 9 Communicate (04:08) 10 She Brakes for Rainbows (04:38) |
| Bouncing off the Satellites : Allmusic album Review : Two years after the release of Whammy!, guitarist Ricky Wilson died of AIDS, a shattering blow for the B-52s. The group recouped and finished Bouncing Off the Satellites, the album they were recording when Wilson died. Considering their loss, its not surprising that the B-52s dont sound entirely focused throughout the record, and its easy to forgive them for the momentary loss of direction. Still, that doesnt make listening to Bouncing Off the Satellites any more fun. Musically, its a continuation of Whammy!, with the groups signature sound being enhanced by drum machines, synths, and sessionmen. There are so many musicians on the record that it winds up sounding too carefully considered -- the polar opposite of the loose, inspired fun of their early work. That said, there are some flashes of inspiration scattered throughout the album ("Wig," "Juicy Jungle," "Theme for a Nude Beach," "She Brakes for Rainbows"). There isnt quite enough to make it of interest to anyone but the dedicated, yet those listeners will find that theres enough worth hearing on Bouncing Off the Satellites, especially if theyre in a forgiving mood. | ||
 | Album: 7 of 19 Title: Cosmic Thing Released: 1989-06-06 Tracks: 10 Duration: 47:29 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Cosmic Thing (03:53) 2 Dry County (04:56) 3 Deadbeat Club (04:49) 4 Love Shack (05:22) 5 Junebug (05:09) 6 Roam (04:55) 7 Bushfire (04:59) 8 Channel Z (04:50) 9 Topaz (04:23) 10 Follow Your Bliss (04:08) |
| Cosmic Thing : Allmusic album Review : Many observers were prepared to write off the B-52s after the release of Bouncing Off the Satellites. Granted, the album was completed in the wake of Ricky Wilsons death, but the group appeared bereft of new musical ideas and were sounding rather stale. In other words, the last thing anyone expected was a first-class return to form, which is what they got with Cosmic Thing. Working with producers Don Was and Nile Rodgers, the B-52s updated their sound with shiny new surfaces and deep, funky grooves -- it was the same basic pattern as before, only refurbished and contemporized. Just as importantly, they had their best set of songs since at least Wild Planet, possibly since their debut. "Cosmic Thing" and "Channel Z" were great up-tempo rockers; "Roam" had a groovy beat blessed with a great Cindy Wilson vocal; and "Deadbeat Club" was one of their rare successful reflective numbers. Then there was "Love Shack," an irresistible dance number with delightfully silly lyrics and hooks as big as a whale that unbelievably gave the group a long-awaited Top Ten hit. The thing is, Cosmic Thing would already have been considered a triumphant return without its commercial success. The big sales were just the icing on the cake. | ||
 | Album: 8 of 19 Title: The Best of The B‐52’s: Dance This Mess Around Released: 1990 Tracks: 13 Duration: 53:12 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Party Out of Bounds (03:21) 2 Devil in My Car (04:29) 3 Dirty Back Road (03:21) 4 6060‒842 (02:53) 5 Wig (04:21) 6 Dance This Mess Around (04:37) 7 Rock Lobster (06:51) 8 Strobe Light (04:01) 9 Give Me Back My Man (04:01) 10 Song for a Future Generation (03:58) 11 Planet Claire (04:37) 12 52 Girls (03:01) 13 Private Idaho (03:38) |
| The Best of The B‐52’s: Dance This Mess Around : Allmusic album Review : Released only in the U.K., Japan, and various parts of Europe in 1990, The Best of the B-52s: Dance This Mess Around was designed to capitalize on the unexpected success of Cosmic Thing. Its an excellent summation of the groups late-70s/early-80s heyday, featuring such staples as "Wig," "Give Me Back My Man," "Song for a Future Generation," "52 Girls," "Private Idaho," "Strobe Light," "Devil in My Car," "Planet Claire," and "Rock Lobster," as well as remixes of "Party out of Bounds" and "Dance This Mess Around." Even though it ignores the groups most commercially successful period (because it was released during that era), it still is arguably the best compilation of the groups work, since it has a focus and doesnt contain the chaff (namely, the new songs) that weighs down Time Capsule. Anyone looking for a far-reaching overview of the groups career should stick with Time Capsule, but Dance This Mess Around is a first-rate survey of the bands best (and most groundbreaking) years. | ||
 | Album: 9 of 19 Title: Party Mix / Mesopotamia Released: 1991-02 Tracks: 12 Duration: 54:13 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 Party Out of Bounds (05:12) 2 Private Idaho (04:03) 3 Give Me Back My Man (07:03) 4 Lava (06:12) 5 Dance This Mess Around (02:56) 6 52 Girls (03:01) 7 Loveland (05:05) 8 Deep Sleep (03:30) 9 Mesopotamia (03:51) 10 Cake (05:36) 11 Throw That Beat in the Garbage Can (04:09) 12 Nip It in the Bud (03:32) |
 | Album: 10 of 19 Title: Good Stuff Released: 1992-06-19 Tracks: 10 Duration: 56:23 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Tell It Like It T‐I‐Is (05:15) 2 Hot Pants Explosion (04:57) 3 Good Stuff (05:58) 4 Revolution Earth (05:50) 5 Dreamland (07:37) 6 Is That You Mo‐Dean? (05:33) 7 The World’s Green Laughter (04:06) 8 Vision of a Kiss (05:59) 9 Breezin’ (05:23) 10 Bad Influence (05:41) |
| Good Stuff : Allmusic album Review : "Good Stuff" was a transparent attempt to recapture the good vibes of "Love Shack." It didnt succeed, but it had its own charms, from the friendly beat to Fred Schneiders endearing vocal affectations. It wasnt great, but it did have the distinction of being the best single pulled from Good Stuff. Since it was released in 1992, when singles were released in seemingly endless permutations in both the U.S. and the U.K., "Good Stuff" was available in all sorts of incarnations. In the U.S., it was released as a seven-inch single, with an edit of the title track taking up the A-side and the B given over to "Bad Influence." This same lineup was released as a seven-inch and cassette single in the U.K. In the U.S., it was also released as a 12-inch and CD-5 single featuring "Bad Influence" and three versions of "Good Stuff" -- the "12-inch remix," the "remix edit" and the "Schottische Mix." Minus "Bad Influence," this lineup was replicated for the U.K. 12-inch single, but the same lineup -- plus the original version of "Good Stuff" -- was released as a single in Europe. But that wasnt the end of it by any means. Not counting the American promotional single (a worthless issue for anyone but DJs, containing just the edit and original version of "Good Stuff"), "Good Stuff" was also released in a box set (!) in the U.K., featuring the edited single version of the title track, "Bad Influence" and "Return to Dreamland," plus three badges, a sticker and a postcard. Certainly the kind of item just for collectors. When all is said and done, the American CD-5 single and 12-inch offers the best value for the money, but the mixes arent particularly noteworthy, so only budget-minded serious fans will need to seek it out. | ||
 | Album: 11 of 19 Title: Planet Claire Released: 1995-10 Tracks: 14 Duration: 58:56 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Planet Claire (04:37) 2 Rock Lobster (06:51) 3 Lava (04:56) 4 Downtown (03:18) 5 6060‒842 (02:53) 6 52 Girls (03:35) 7 Give Me Back My Man (04:01) 8 Strobe Light (04:01) 9 Dirty Back Road (03:21) 10 Loveland (05:02) 11 Nip It in the Bud (03:33) 12 Future Generation (03:59) 13 Wig (04:21) 14 Girl From Ipanema Goes to Greenland (04:24) |
| Planet Claire : Allmusic album Review : Released within months of the official, Warner-sanctioned compilation, Planet Claire was another European compilation of the B-52s early years, containing a nearly identical lineup to Dance This Mess Around and The Best of the B-52s. That means all the familiar items are here -- "Planet Claire," "Rock Lobster," "Lava," "Downtown," "6060-842," "52 Girls," "Future Generation," "Wig," "Girl From Ipanema Goes to Greenland" -- plus a couple of ringers to distinguish it from its predecessors. Like its cousins, its a likable, enjoyable collection of the groups best years, but it falls short of matching the excellence of Dance This Mess Around or Time Capsule. Casual fans on a budget might find it worthwhile, but American fans should be aware that theyll be paying high import prices for an average compilation. | ||
 | Album: 12 of 19 Title: Time Capsule: Songs for a Future Generation Released: 1998-05-26 Tracks: 18 Duration: 1:19:30 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Planet Claire (04:37) 2 Rock Lobster (04:54) 3 Party Out of Bounds (03:21) 4 Strobe Light (04:01) 5 Private Idaho (03:34) 6 Quiche Lorraine (03:58) 7 Mesopotamia (03:51) 8 Legal Tender (03:40) 9 Song for a Future Generation (03:58) 10 Summer of Love (original unreleased mix) (04:34) 11 Channel Z (04:50) 12 Deadbeat Club (04:49) 13 Love Shack (05:22) 14 Roam (04:55) 15 Good Stuff (05:58) 16 Is That You Mo‐Dean? (05:07) 17 Debbie (03:33) 18 Hallucinating Pluto (04:19) |
| Time Capsule: Songs for a Future Generation : Allmusic album Review : Released in 1998, Time Capsule: Songs for a Future Generation is the essential B-52s greatest-hits collection. A chronologically assembled highlight reel of the groups first two decades, it contains all of their singles and a number of album favorites, along with two exclusive then-newly written tracks. When they first arrived on the scene in 1979, their kitschy thrift-store image and weirdly spartan sound immediately set them apart from others in the new wave scene to which they were loosely attached. Three guys, two girls, arcane hairdos, no bassist, and a sound that was equal parts spy music and good-time dance party, the B-52s were always fascinatingly loveable outsiders and remained so throughout their years of success. Beginning with "Planet Claire," "52 Girls," and the immortal "Rock Lobster," Time Capsule winds its way through their early and mid-80s hits like "Quiche Lorraine" and the charming "Song for a Future Generation." As they continued to grow and evolve, their sound expanded, becoming both more nostalgic and more light-hearted, leading into their commercial peak in the early 90s with the excellent "Channel Z," "Roam," and of course "Love Shack." A highlight of this collection is the previously unreleased original mix of "Summer of Love," which feels far more natural than the version which ended up being released on 1986s Bouncing Off the Satellites. The two newly recorded cuts, "Debbie" and "Hallucinating Pluto," are decent enough and will interest collectors, though they can hardly be considered among the bands best material. Still, tacked as they are to the end, they serve as worthy bookends to this excellent 18-track set, which reveals the full career arc of one of rocks most fun and most distinctive acts. | ||
 | Album: 13 of 19 Title: Nude on the Moon: The B‐52’s Anthology Released: 2002-01-15 Tracks: 35 Duration: 2:37:06 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 52 Girls (03:35) 2 Dance This Mess Around (04:37) 3 Rock Lobster (06:51) 4 Lava (04:56) 5 Hero Worship (04:09) 6 Planet Claire (04:37) 7 Give Me Back My Man (04:01) 8 Private Idaho (03:34) 9 Devil in My Car (04:29) 10 Party Out of Bounds (03:23) 11 Strobe Light (04:01) 12 Quiche Lorraine (live) (04:31) 13 Mesopotamia (remix) (03:51) 14 Queen of Las Vegas (Mesopotamia outtake version) (05:40) 15 Legal Tender (03:40) 16 Song for a Future Generation (03:58) 17 Trism (03:23) 18 Whammy Kiss (live) (03:59) 1 Summer of Love (04:06) 2 Aint It a Shame (04:33) 3 Theme for a Nude Beach (04:24) 4 Girl From Ipanema Goes to Greenland (04:24) 5 Wig (04:21) 6 She Brakes for Rainbows (04:38) 7 Cosmic Thing (03:53) 8 Deadbeat Club (extended remix) (04:57) 9 Love Shack (05:22) 10 Roam (04:55) 11 Channel Z (04:50) 12 Junebug (05:05) 13 Follow Your Bliss (04:08) 14 Good Stuff (05:58) 15 Revolution Earth (05:50) 16 Is That You Mo-Dean? (Interdimension mix) (04:38) 17 Debbie (03:33) |
| Nude on the Moon: The B‐52’s Anthology : Allmusic album Review : The B-52s were one of the great new wave bands, one of the ones who defined the style and cut one of the great records of their time (their eponymous debut), an outfit who maintained a dedicated following even as they fell off the radar of critics and hipsters, a group who overcame a tragic loss (guitarist Ricky Wilson) to make a startling, unpredictable comeback that launched them beyond college radio and to the top of the pop charts. Its a hell of a story, even if the final act was decidedly anticlimatic (after one follow-up to the Cosmic Thing comeback, 1992s Good Stuff, the group essentially disappeared apart from an embarrassing version of the Flintstones theme for the 1993 big-screen adaptation), and theyre easily one of the more legendary bands of their time. Unfortunately, legend doesnt always translate to great music, and the fact of the matter is that the B-52s really only had two very good records: the transcendent debut and the comeback. The second record had its share of moments, more than the other albums that followed, and there were some sublime cuts scattered among the other records, but by and large they were a band who got by on their brilliant moments -- brilliant moments that were surrounded by competence and mediocrity. It really was the kind of career that could be salvaged and justified by a tremendous double-disc retrospective -- which Nude on the Moon: The B-52s Anthology unfortunately isnt. Make no mistake, its pretty good and it has a lot of their greatest moments, but it stumbles at certain points, letting seminal songs like "Quiche Lorraine" or "Mesopotamia" be represented by alternate takes (1990 live take and remix, respectively), and padding it toward the end with album tracks that arent that interesting. Thats the worst thing about this lavish, lovingly produced set; no matter the care of the sound and presentation, there are just too many songs that are just average, not quite illustrating why the B-52s are so beloved. Of course, thats the fault of the band themselves, who never quite lived up to their early promise, but it would still be possible to jigger the final recordings to an artificial narrative, the kind that would show why people love this band. This isnt it; no matter the testimonials, the interviews in the comprehensive booklet, the great photos, or just the general warm vibe this Georgian band -- perhaps the greatest Georgian musical act this side of Jerry Reed or R.E.M. -- gives off. And thats because the material just isnt there. No matter their legacy, they have enough terrific material for a comprehensive single-disc set, not a double-disc set, and while this is more comprehensive and better-produced than the single-disc compilations, most listeners will find theyll skip over most of the material just to get to the good stuff from The B-52s and Cosmic Thing. | ||
 | Album: 14 of 19 Title: Funplex Remix EP Released: 2008-03-03 Tracks: 4 Duration: 21:48 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Funplex (04:07) 2 Funplex (CSS remix) (04:26) 3 Funplex (Peaches Pleasure Seeker remix) (04:43) 4 Funplex (Scissor Sisters Witches at the Wet Seal mix) (08:31) |
 | Album: 15 of 19 Title: Funplex Released: 2008-03-25 Tracks: 11 Duration: 48:16 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Pump (04:53) 2 Hot Corner (03:24) 3 Ultraviolet (04:25) 4 Juliet of the Spirits (04:22) 5 Funplex (04:07) 6 Eyes Wide Open (05:35) 7 Love in the Year 3000 (04:14) 8 Deviant Ingredient (04:50) 9 Too Much to Think About (03:47) 10 Dancing Now (04:02) 11 Keep This Party Going (04:34) |
| Funplex : Allmusic album Review : After hearing the ultra-sheen producer Steve Osborne smoothed across New Orders 2001 album Get Ready, the B-52s guitarist and music director Keith Strickland found the sound that would bring his band into 21st century. The ultra-slick, synthesizer and drum machine driven Funplex is the result, and while it doesnt make up for the 16 years since their last full-length, its a good argument that they should get off the revival concert circuit and get back to the studio more often. On the opening "Pump," singers Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson prove right away they can still create sweet harmonies, while Fred Schneider displays that hes lost none of his campy spark and still sounds credible when barking out stories of hot mamas cruising the mall while high on diet pills. The tracks exciting Stereolab-meets-Duane Eddy construction vindicates Stricklands hunch about Osborne, whose half-new wave, half-MP3 age production is a great match throughout. The bands shimmy and shake performance is as energetic as ever and with songs like "Hot Corner," "Juliet of the Spirits," and the title track bringing warm reminders of "Roam," "Summer of Love," or "Good Stuff," the B-52s in 2008 are still adding fine material to their catalog. Bright moments that loyal fans will cherish dot the album, like when Fred delivers a "Robots-Bootybots-Erotobots" chant ("Love in the Year 3000"), or when a simple, quintessential B-52s riff mixes with intoxicating future disco ("Eyes Wide Open"). Problem is the songwriting seems a bit forced at times and the towering highlights found on their top-shelf efforts are missing. Nothing here is as gripping or as perfect as "Rock Lobster," "Private Idaho," or "Love Shack," and the songs that are borderline filler get pushed into one big forgettable lump towards the end of the album. Turns out, being the worlds greatest party combo isnt just like riding a bike, but the B-52s are certainly pointed in the right direction. Think of Funplex as a likeable album from a lovable band and adjust your party planner accordingly. | ||
 | Album: 16 of 19 Title: With the Wild Crowd! Live in Athens, GA Released: 2011-10-07 Tracks: 18 Duration: 1:16:26 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 Pump (04:45) 2 Private Idaho (03:46) 3 Mesopotamia (04:50) 4 Ultraviolet (04:21) 5 Give Me Back My Man (05:38) 6 Funplex (04:05) 7 Whammy Kiss (03:51) 8 Roam (05:04) 9 52 Girls (03:47) 10 Party Out of Bounds (03:53) 11 Love in the Year 3000 (04:16) 12 Cosmic Thing (03:58) 13 Hot Corner (03:28) 14 Band Intros (00:43) 15 Love Shack (05:45) 16 Wig (04:01) 17 Planet Claire (04:51) 18 Rock Lobster (05:24) |
 | Album: 17 of 19 Title: Original Album Series Released: 2012-09-11 Tracks: 47 Duration: 3:25:37 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Planet Claire (04:37) 2 52 Girls (03:35) 3 Dance This Mess Around (04:37) 4 Rock Lobster (06:51) 5 Lava (04:56) 6 There’s a Moon in the Sky (Called the Moon) (04:58) 7 Hero Worship (04:09) 8 6060‒842 (02:53) 9 Downtown (02:57) 1 Party Out of Bounds (03:21) 2 Dirty Back Road (03:21) 3 Runnin’ Around (03:10) 4 Give Me Back My Man (04:01) 5 Private Idaho (03:38) 6 Devil in My Car (04:29) 7 Quiche Lorraine (03:58) 8 Strobe Light (04:01) 9 53 Miles West of Venus (04:53) 1 Legal Tender (03:40) 2 Whammy Kiss (05:21) 3 Song for a Future Generation (03:58) 4 Butterbean (04:18) 5 Trism (03:23) 6 Queen of Las Vegas (04:37) 7 Moon 83 (04:02) 8 Big Bird (04:13) 9 Work That Skirt (03:51) 1 Summer of Love (04:06) 2 Girl From Ipanema Goes to Greenland (04:24) 3 Housework (04:06) 4 Detour Thru Your Mind (05:09) 5 Wig (04:21) 6 Theme for a Nude Beach (04:53) 7 Ain’t It a Shame (05:32) 8 Juicy Jungle (04:51) 9 Communicate (04:08) 10 She Brakes for Rainbows (04:38) 1 Cosmic Thing (03:53) 2 Dry County (04:56) 3 Deadbeat Club (04:49) 4 Love Shack (05:22) 5 Junebug (05:09) 6 Roam (04:55) 7 Bushfire (04:59) 8 Channel Z (04:50) 9 Topaz (04:23) 10 Follow Your Bliss (04:08) |
| Original Album Series : Allmusic album Review : Original Album Series gathers together the first five albums from Athens, Georgia, new wave dance punkers the B-52s, starting with their 1979 self-titled debut and working through their strongest material up to 1989s Cosmic Thing. Other albums included here are the underrated Whammy! and Bouncing Off the Satellites as well as 1980s sophomore effort, Wild Planet. Sadly omitted are early-period stopgap EPs Party Mix! and the David Byrne-produced mini-album Mesopotamia. While not a complete picture of the bands brightest years, highlights are plentiful, with classic dance singles like "Rock Lobster," "Private Idaho," and "52 Girls," deeper cuts like "Summer of Love" and "Legal Tender," and later pop radio hits like "Love Shack" and "Roam." Apart from the hit singles, Original Album Series offers bountiful lesser-known songs from the early catalog of the B-52s, highlighting the fun and spontaneity of the bands best work. | ||
 | Album: 18 of 19 Title: The Complete Studio Album Collection 1979-1992 Released: 2014-08-27 Tracks: 63 Duration: 4:48:16 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Planet Claire (04:37) 2 52 Girls (03:35) 3 Dance This Mess Around (04:37) 4 Rock Lobster (06:51) 5 Lava (04:56) 6 There’s a Moon in the Sky (Called the Moon) (04:58) 7 Hero Worship (04:09) 8 6060‒842 (02:53) 9 Downtown (02:57) 1 Party Out of Bounds (03:21) 2 Dirty Back Road (03:21) 3 Runnin’ Around (03:10) 4 Give Me Back My Man (04:01) 5 Private Idaho (03:38) 6 Devil in My Car (04:29) 7 Quiche Lorraine (03:58) 8 Strobe Light (04:01) 9 53 Miles West of Venus (04:53) 1 Loveland (05:01) 2 Deep Sleep (03:30) 3 Mesopotamia (03:51) 4 Cake (05:50) 5 Throw That Beat in the Garbage Can (04:32) 6 Nip It in the Bud (03:32) 1 Legal Tender (03:40) 2 Whammy Kiss (05:21) 3 Song for a Future Generation (03:59) 4 Butterbean (04:18) 5 Trism (03:23) 6 Queen of Las Vegas (04:37) 7 Moon 83 (04:01) 8 Big Bird (04:13) 9 Work That Skirt (03:51) 1 Summer of Love (04:06) 2 Girl From Ipanema Goes to Greenland (04:24) 3 Housework (04:06) 4 Detour Thru Your Mind (05:09) 5 Wig (04:21) 6 Theme for a Nude Beach (04:53) 7 Ain’t It a Shame (05:32) 8 Juicy Jungle (04:51) 9 Communicate (04:08) 10 She Brakes for Rainbows (04:38) 1 Cosmic Thing (03:53) 2 Dry County (04:56) 3 Deadbeat Club (04:49) 4 Love Shack (05:22) 5 Junebug (05:09) 6 Roam (04:55) 7 Bushfire (04:59) 8 Channel Z (04:50) 9 Topaz (04:22) 10 Follow Your Bliss (04:08) 1 Tell It Like It T‐I‐Is (05:15) 2 Hot Pants Explosion (04:57) 3 Good Stuff (05:58) 4 Revolution Earth (05:50) 5 Dreamland (07:37) 6 Is That You Mo‐Dean? (05:33) 7 The World’s Green Laughter (04:06) 8 Vision of a Kiss (05:59) 9 Breezin’ (05:23) 10 Bad Influence (05:41) |
 | Album: 19 of 19 Title: Live! 8‐24‐1979 Released: 2015-04-21 Tracks: 9 Duration: 39:38 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 52 Girls (with intro) (03:58) 2 606‒0842 (02:39) 3 Lava (05:03) 4 Private Idaho (03:52) 5 Devil in My Car (05:35) 6 Dance This Mess Around (04:49) 7 Runnin’ Around (03:20) 8 Rock Lobster (with encore outro) (05:47) 9 Strobe Light (04:35) |