The B-52's (album)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The B-52's Cover art by Tony Wright Studio album by the B-52's Released July 6, 1979 Recorded 1978–1979 Studio Compass Point Studios, Nassau, Bahamas Genre

• New wave[1]
• post-punk[1]
• dance-rock[2]

Length 39:14 Label Warner Bros. Producer Chris Blackwell the B-52's chronology The B-52's
(1979) Wild Planet
(1980) Singles from The B-52's

1. "Rock Lobster"
   Released: April 1978
2. "Planet Claire"
   Released: July 6, 1979
3. "Dance This Mess Around"
   Released: 1979

The B-52's is the debut album by the Athens, Georgia-based new wave band the B-52's. The kitschy lyrics and mood, and the hook-laden harmonies helped establish a fanbase for the band, who went on to release several chart-topping singles. The album cover was designed by Tony Wright (credited as Sue Ab Surd).

The B-52's peaked at number 59 on the Billboard 200,[3] and "Rock Lobster" reached number 56 on the Billboard Hot 100.[4] In 2003, the television network VH1 named The B-52's the 99th greatest album of all time. Shortly before his death, John Lennon said he enjoyed the album.[5] In his 1995 book, The Alternative Music Almanac, Alan Cross placed the album ninth on the list of 10 Classic Alternative Albums. In 2012, the album was ranked number 152 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.[6]

Contents

  [hide] 

• 1Critical reception
• 2Track listing
• 3Personnel
• 4Charts and certifications
  • 4.1Chart performance
  • 4.2Certifications
• 5External links
• 6References

Critical reception[edit]

Professional ratings Review scores Source Rating AllMusic [1] Christgau's Record Guide A[7] Encyclopedia of Popular Music [8] The Great Rock Discography 8/10[9] Music Story [10] Rolling Stone [11] The Rolling Stone Album Guide [12] Select 4/5[13] Slant Magazine [14] Spin Alternative Record Guide 10/10[15]

Critical reception for The B-52's was generally favorable; critics praised the album's kitschy lyrics and party atmosphere.[1][16] Music critic Robert Christgau awarded the album an "A?" grade in his consumer guide for The Village Voice, noting his fondness "for the pop junk they recycle—with love and panache", while also noting that he was "more delighted with their rhythms, which show off their Georgia roots by adapting the innovations of early funk (a decade late, just like the Stones and Chicago blues) to an endlessly danceable forcebeat format".[17]

Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic retrospectively wrote, "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."[1] Rolling Stone writer Pat Blashill concluded that "On The B-52's, the best little dance band from Athens proved that rock & roll still matters if it's about sex and hair and moving your body. Even if you have to shake-bake shake-bake it like a Shy Tuna."[11] Slant Magazine's Sal Cinquemani stated that "(l)ike any over-the-top act, the B-52's wears thin, but the band successfully positioned themselves as pop-culture icons—not unlike the musical antiquities they emulated."[14] The B-52'swas included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.[18]

Track listing[edit]

All tracks written by The B-52's, except where noted.

Side one No. Title Writer(s) Lead vocals Length 1. "Planet Claire" Henry Mancini,[19] Fred Schneider, Keith Strickland Schneider, Pierson 4:35 2. "52 Girls" Jeremy Ayers, Ricky Wilson Pierson, Wilson 3:34 3. "Dance This Mess Around"   Schneider, C. Wilson 4:36 4. "Rock Lobster" Schneider, R. Wilson Pierson, Schneider, C. Wilson 6:49 Side two No. Title Writer(s) Lead vocals Length 1. "Lava"   Pierson, Schneider, C. Wilson 4:54 2. "There's a Moon in the Sky (Called the Moon)"   Pierson, Schneider, C. Wilson 4:54 3. "Hero Worship" Robert Waldrop, R. Wilson C. Wilson 4:07 4. "6060-842" Pierson, Schneider, Strickland, R. Wilson Pierson, Schneider, C. Wilson 2:48 5. "Downtown" (Petula Clark cover, 1964) Tony Hatch Pierson, C. Wilson 2:57 Total length: 39:14

Personnel[edit]

The B-52's

• Fred Schneider – vocals, percussion, sound effects, keyboard bass (side two track 3), toy piano (side one track 3)
• Kate Pierson – vocals, organ, keyboard bass, additional guitar (side one track 2 & side two track 3)
• Keith Strickland – drums, percussion, sound effects
• Cindy Wilson – vocals, percussion, additional guitar (side two track 2)
• Ricky Wilson – guitars, sound effects

Technical

• Robert Ash - associate producer, engineer
• Cass Rigby - assistant engineer
• Tony Wright as "Sue Ab Surd" - art direction
• George DuBose - photography

Charts and certifications[edit]

Chart performance[edit]

Album

Chart (1980) Peak
position U.S. Billboard 200 [3] 59 UK Albums Chart 22 Australian Kent Music Report Albums Chart 3

Singles

Single Chart (1980) Position "Planet Claire/Rock Lobster/Dance This Mess Around" Billboard Club Play Singles [4] 24 "Rock Lobster" Billboard Hot 100 [4] 56