The B-52's (album)

The B-52's
Studio album by The B-52s
Publication (s)	July 6, 1979
Label (s)	Warner Bros. Records Island Records
Format (s)	LP , CD , MC
Genre (s)	New wave
Title (number)	9
running time	39:14
occupation	Kate Pierson - vocals , guitar , keyboard , organ Fred Schneider - vocals , keyboard , piano , children's piano , percussion Keith Strickland - drums , percussion Cindy Wilson - vocals , guitar , bongos , tambourine Ricky Wilson - guitar
production	Chris Blackwell , Robert Ash
Studio (s)	Compass Point Studios , Nassau
chronology - The B-52's Wild Planet (1980)

Chart positions Explanation of the data

Albums

The B-52's   US 59 May 10, 1980 (74 weeks)

Singles

Rock lobster   US 56 May 24, 1980 (8 weeks)

The B-52’s is the debut album by the American rock band The B-52’s . In German-speaking countries it is also known under the title Play Loud . It was recorded in the Bahamas in 1978/79 and published in July 1979. The band's first album is one of the classics of the New Wave .

background

The style of the B-52's covers a wide musical spectrum, ranging from pop , rock , dance and new wave . Rock guitar riffs , the alternating melodic and shrill vocals of Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilsons (the sister of guitarist Ricky Wilson) as well as Fred Schneider's extravagant, slightly nasal vocals, which range between singing and spoken chant, characterize this album.

The cover shows the group in an edited photograph by George DuBose against a yellow background; Faces, hands and feet are photographed while the clothes are printed on. Also striking are the high beehive hairstyles of Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson, who acted as trademarks and namesake of the band. The cover was designed by Tony Wright aka Sue Ab Surd. Photographer DuBose previously made a name for himself by collaborating with the punk band Ramones .

Track list

page 1

1. Planet Claire ( Fred Schneider , Keith Strickland , Henry Mancini ) - 4:35

2. 52 Girls (Jeremy Ayers, Ricky Wilson) - 3:34

3. Dance This Mess Around ( Kate Pierson , Schneider, Strickland, Cindy Wilson , R. Wilson) - 4:36

4. Rock Lobster (Schneider, R. Wilson) - 6:49

Page 2

5. Lava (Pierson, Schneider, Strickland, C. Wilson, R. Wilson) - 4:54

6. There's a Moon in the Sky (Called the Moon) (Pierson, Schneider, Strickland, C. Wilson, R. Wilson) - 4:54

7. Hero Worship (Robert Waldrop, R. Wilson) - 4:07

8. 6060-842 (Pierson, Schneider, Strickland, R. Wilson) - 2:48

9. Downtown ( Tony Hatch ) - 2:57

To individual titles

The album begins with Planet Claire , which is one of the B-52's most popular tracks. It is based on a guitar run that quotes Henry Mancini's theme from the television series Peter Gunn and is also characterized by a striking keyboard game . It reflects the atmosphere of a science fiction film .

This is followed by the track 52 Girls , in which Ricky Wilson's scruffy guitar playing and the singing sounding far away from the listener form a contrast.

The third track, Dance This Mess Around , is particularly noticeable because of its monotonous tones and the shrill, screeching vocals of Cindy Wilson. It's one of the most memorable songs on the LP, as well as in the entire B-52's work.

The fourth track, Rock Lobster , ends the first page of the LP. At almost seven minutes, it is the longest on the album and at the same time, alongside Love Shack from the album Cosmic Thing , the most successful song by the band.

The last track on the album is Downtown , a cover version of the classic by Petula Clark and at the same time a somewhat ironic commentary on the same.

reception

source	rating
Allmusic
Rolling Stone
Pitchfork Media
Laut.de
Music Express

The American music magazine Rolling Stone leads The B-52's at number 152 of the 500 best albums of all time and the song Rock Lobster at number 147 of the 500 greatest songs of all time . The album also ranks 28th among the 100 best debut albums. In the selection of the 500 best albums of all time by the New Musical Express , it reached number 452. The album was included in the 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die .

Web links

• The B-52’s at Allmusic (English)
• The B-52's / Play Loud at Discogs
• The B-52's. at Rolling Stone , archived from the original ; accessed on January 2, 2017 (English). 

Individual evidence

1. ↑ The B-52s Chart History (Billboard 200) on Billboard (accessed October 14, 2018)
2. ↑ The B-52s Chart History (Hot 100) on Billboard (accessed October 14, 2018)
3. ↑ The B-52's - The B-52's [Play Loud]. In: hitparade.ch. Retrieved January 2, 2017 . 
4. ↑ The B-52's - Play Loud. In: discogs.com. Discogs , accessed January 2, 2017 . 
5. ↑ Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine on Allmusic (accessed October 14, 2018)
6. ↑ Review by Pat Blashill on Rolling Stone (archived) (accessed October 14, 2018)
7. ↑ Review by Susan Shepard on Pitchfork Media (accessed October 14, 2018)
8. ↑ Review by Jasmin Lütz on Laut.de (accessed October 14, 2018)
9. ↑ Review by Hermann Haring, in: Musikexpress 09/1979, issue 284, p. 42.
10. ↑ 500 Greatest Albums of All Time on Rolling Stone (accessed October 14, 2018)
11. ↑ 500 Greatest Songs of All Time on Rolling Stone (accessed October 14, 2018)
12. ↑ 100 Best Debut Albums of All Time on Rolling Stone (accessed October 14, 2018)
13. ↑ The 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time on New Musical Express (accessed October 14, 2018)