B-52s: Classic or Dud.

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

A thread I'm assuming will turn into they were great up until X record* versus they weren't great at all. Feel free to treat as a single-by-single Search and Destroy, though.

* ("x record" being the one immediately before Cosmic Thing, at the very very latest.)

― Nitsuh, Friday, 7 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

My take: not much of an album band, unless you just had to be listening at the time. But very classic on the basis of the big early singles, most notably "My Own Private Idaho" and "Rock Lobster."

― Nitsuh, Friday, 7 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Classic. In my 1981 Junior High School yearbook it says "likes the B- 52s" under my picture. Of course, the first two lps were the best. But still love'em, on principle alone.

― Sean, Friday, 7 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Cosmic Thing was huge in Australia and, surprisingly, - from the live shows - mostly amongst young girls who shrieked with joy when Deadbeat Club was played. I've always loved the first 2 LPs and enjoyed most of CT but the rest seems very forced indeed.

― philT, Friday, 7 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I'd say they were classic right up through _Cosmic Thing_. Some of the tracks off of that one are really nice, especially "Channel Z" and "Bushfire".

Still, how do you measure up to the genius of "52 Girls"?

― Dan Perry, Friday, 7 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Best queercore band ever!

― Arthur, Friday, 7 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Oh c'mon...."52 Girls," "Dance this Mess Around," and the celestial "Private Idaho"? CLASSIC, CLASSIC and thrice CLASSIC.

― alex in nyc, Friday, 7 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

The Deadbeat Club is a fantastic song, why do I get the feeling I would've been one of those little girls being referenced screaming at it? But it was great, Cosmic Thing was a great CD.

― Ally, Friday, 7 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

What everyone else said. After _Cosmic Thing_, ah well. I mean, what was that _Flintstones_ tie-in song about, for a start?

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 7 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I love how angry & absurd "dance this mess around" is: "I'm not no LIM-BUR-GER!"

― fritz, Friday, 7 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Fritz, those were the dances that Fred and the girls created. I think they peaked at 'Whammy' - Song for a Future Generation was camp yet feel-good futurism (you could almost see an animated short as drawn by Kenny Scharff in place of they kitschy video)

― Jason, Friday, 7 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Holy Geez! Have we possibly found a band that everyone on ILM will like?

(See how I'm baiting a contrarian to come along and disagree?)

― Nitsuh, Saturday, 8 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

fucking classic, deadbeat club, rock lobster - oh, these guys I took my mom to see, but I also once had sex with a gorgeous hunk, listening to cosmic thing, plus b52s are huge in argentina...how many bands can you say that about (apart from air supply?)

― Geoff, Saturday, 8 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

You have not found a band that everyone on ILM likes.

US/UK cultural equivalences: B-52s / Adam And The Ants??

― Tom, Saturday, 8 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Classic for "Mesopotamia" alone.

― Andy, Saturday, 8 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

The best band to come out of athens and make a splash on the ny art scene

― anthony, Saturday, 8 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

The whole first record ist ROCK. It's the only one I've ever really heard but on that basis alone you'd have to give them ILM's golden ClassiXoR Card.

plus "Planet Claire" is a DJ's best friend.

― Tracer Hand, Sunday, 9 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

"Hero Worship! He deserves it! I preserve it" Such brilliant lyrics on those first couple of albums. Tracer, get the second one! It's just as good as the first. "My Own Private Idaho" and "Give Me Back My Man" are especially good. "I'll give you fish I'll give you candy I'll give you everything I have in my hand

― Arthur, Sunday, 9 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

"Planet Claire" = first single mark s evah bought

― mark s, Sunday, 9 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

US/UK cultural equivalences: B-52s / Adam And The Ants??

No. I have no problem with the B-52s, but saying that is like saying "A Regular Ass Candy Wrapper / The Candy Wrapper With The Golden Ticket??"

― Ally, Sunday, 9 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Ally again speaks wisdom. Much as I enjoy the early B-52 albums, Adam is a God and the boxset proves it.

― Ned Raggett, Sunday, 9 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Wasn't Rock Lobster the song that got Lennon to take his guitar down again in 1980 ater he heard it in a Carribean nightclub? He claimed the world was finally catching up with the Yoko stuff.

― David Gunnip, Monday, 10 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

McCartney reckons "Coming Up" was the song which brought Lennon back into the fray (it was so good he just had to try to match it). I find the B52s argument more plausible though.

― scott, Monday, 10 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I hope a big rock lobster comes along and bites the B52s very hard. And the Violent Femmes too. I don't like that sort of thing at all. American college rock they used to call it. Yeach!

― Nick, Monday, 10 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

"Good Stuff" (the song) is the only thing past Cosmic Thing I enjoy, but it's a damn catchy song. Other than what's been mentioned, search "Summer of Love" and "Strobe Light".

― palpable, Tuesday, 11 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Am I the only one who thinks the Comedy Central logo music is a funky bass version of the guitar line from "Roam" with two notes different?

― Tracer Hand, Tuesday, 11 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

one year passes...

Wow....look when the last date that someone posted to this board was!

In any event, I'm listening to Nude on the Moon right now, so REVIVE!

And look.....even Killing Joke approves! (check out Youth's shirt!)

http://www.an-irrational-domain.net/images/youth/youth15.JPG

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 8 July 2003 20:12 (twenty-one years ago)

..and doesn't Jaz look surprised at that!

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 8 July 2003 20:15 (twenty-one years ago)

Classis up through Cosmic Thing, after that, the band wasn't really the B-52s anymore, with Ricky dead and Cindy in absentia. But Fred Schneider - damn, that man is a god. One of the funniest, weirdest, most-overflowing-with-personality-while-not-demonstrating-any-particular-talent-ed guys EVER! He makes the band for me, his songs are always highlights.

― Shakey Mo Collier, Tuesday, 8 July 2003 20:36 (twenty-one years ago)

Favorite moment: just a few seconds into "Party Out of Bounds" when Fred yells "SU-PRIIIIISE!" like a drunk Charles Nelson Reily violating Paul Lynn at a toga party. Classic.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 8 July 2003 20:41 (twenty-one years ago)

"dirty back roads" is a brilliant piece of ambient music and the rest ain't bad either

CLASSIC

― Millar (Millar), Tuesday, 8 July 2003 20:47 (twenty-one years ago)

the first 2 LPs are godlike.

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Tuesday, 8 July 2003 22:11 (twenty-one years ago)

DO THE AQUAVELVA

― gygax! (gygax!), Tuesday, 8 July 2003 22:15 (twenty-one years ago)

like a drunk Charles Nelson Reily violating Paul Lynn at a toga party

This description is so classic, it hurt my hips.

― donut bitch (donut), Tuesday, 8 July 2003 22:27 (twenty-one years ago)

My answer is stupid, but: Los Fabulosos Cadillacs.

― Cacaman Flores, Tuesday, 8 July 2003 22:43 (twenty-one years ago)

1st 2 records classic. Tons of great songs, but no classic albums after that. Also no duds.

― John Bullabaugh (John Bullabaugh), Wednesday, 9 July 2003 01:49 (twenty-one years ago)

cindy is the woman of my dreams.

― di smith (lucylurex), Wednesday, 9 July 2003 02:03 (twenty-one years ago)

How did I not know Ricky Wilson was DEAD? He'd better have died saving his two year old cousin from an alligator or something heroic like that

― Andrew Thames (Andrew Thames), Wednesday, 9 July 2003 11:56 (twenty-one years ago)

AIDS heroic enough?

― Colin Meeder (Mert), Wednesday, 9 July 2003 12:09 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah, why not.

― Andrew Thames (Andrew Thames), Wednesday, 9 July 2003 12:16 (twenty-one years ago)

one year passes...

IT'S 2525 AND WE'VE GOT THE HOTTEST WIGS ALIVE!

― Shaeky Mo Collier, Monday, 18 April 2005 22:38 (twenty years ago)

I don't know. "Whammy" has some wonderful songs ("Butterbean," "Legal Tender," "Song for a Future Generation"), and so does the one after that, after Ricky died. If you can find the original LP edition of "Whammy," they do a rather good Yoko Ono covers (and one of the first).

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Monday, 18 April 2005 22:44 (twenty years ago)

I have the LP but I guess it aint the original cuz its sans any Yoko Ono songs. What did they cover? Hopefully either "What a Bastard the World is" (her best tune ever) or "Mind Train"

― Shakey Mo Collier, Monday, 18 April 2005 22:48 (twenty years ago)

Shakey: they covered "Don't Worry, Mummy"

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Monday, 18 April 2005 22:52 (twenty years ago)

whenever I worry that none of the music of my youth still holds its appeal (some albums lose their original kick and gain a new one I never would have noticed before) I throw on Cosmic Thing, which - fuck it all - still sounds like a million bucks.

― miccio (miccio), Monday, 18 April 2005 22:53 (twenty years ago)

The newer editions of Whammy replaced the Yoko cover with "Moon 83"

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Monday, 18 April 2005 22:55 (twenty years ago)

they're classic. saw them on the "cosmic thing" tour and had great time. still love "whammy" and "legal tender" best of all their stuff.

― edd s hurt (ddduncan), Monday, 18 April 2005 22:56 (twenty years ago)

I want the original Mesopotamia EP -- as in the original David Byrne mix -- on CD. I like the 1990 mix (where they pretty much un-David Byrne-d it), but the original one is excellent too... it's as if Byrne used the B-52s as a vehicle to compete with the Tom Tom Club in '81/'82... that EP is an oft-forgotten gem in the canon of "post-punk-disco".

― donut debonair (donut), Monday, 18 April 2005 23:24 (twenty years ago)

That said, you can a near mint copy of the EP on vinyl for pocket change.

― donut debonair (donut), Monday, 18 April 2005 23:25 (twenty years ago)

I should underscore that the arrangements for most of the songs on the original vs. 1990 remix of Mesopatamia are like night and day. The original is far more sparse and dubby, and entire chunks are either amplified and echoed, or just muted out. The 1990 mix is just a nice succinct "rock" mix. Both work, but both are practically different releases.

― donut debonair (donut), Monday, 18 April 2005 23:26 (twenty years ago)

Skipping 149 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

nice, thanks, I do love extended 80s/90s mixes

― I painted my teeth (sleeve), Sunday, 24 March 2024 19:29 (one year ago)

I like the Good Stuff remix too

― Requiem for a Dream: The Musical! (Dan Peterson), Sunday, 24 March 2024 20:06 (one year ago)

I had Bouncing Off the Satellites on tape in high school (I took my car in for service and it was in the cassette player when I picked it up) and I think it's kinda slept on... has some of their very best songs (Summer of Love, Ain't It a Shame, Girl from Ipanema, Wig). She Brakes for Rainbows kinda points the way to Cosmic Thing, too.

― the absence of bikes (f. hazel), Sunday, 24 March 2024 20:21 (one year ago)

yeah it's a solid LP imo, better than Whammy (which, in turn, sounded MUCH better when I revisited it recently)

― I painted my teeth (sleeve), Sunday, 24 March 2024 20:27 (one year ago)

Bouncing Off The Satellites has been out of print for ages. Don't remember ever seeing a copy in the UK.

Good Stuff forms part an extremely incongruous 2-for-1 CD package.

https://countrymusicusa.com/cdn/shop/products/20190320_123_740x.jpg

― Wry & Slobby (Portsmouth Bubblejet), Sunday, 24 March 2024 20:40 (one year ago)

Ahahaha!

Well, there are too many horn arrangements on Good stuff imo

― Requiem for a Dream: The Musical! (Dan Peterson), Sunday, 24 March 2024 20:43 (one year ago)

That’s the Blood, Sweat and Tears album where Fred Schneider joined as lead singer

― Halfway there but for you, Sunday, 24 March 2024 20:44 (one year ago)

Revisiting Whammy a few days ago, I was struck by how tinny and crudely programmed those sequencers and drums are. The songs are okay.

By contrast, Bouncing Off the Satellites bounce off the walls. "Ain't It a Shame" is their Secret Best Song. Sinead O'Connor killed it a decade ago:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUF5mrKUOVA

― poppers fueled buttsex crescendo (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 24 March 2024 21:08 (one year ago)

can't be doing with any version of that song that doesn't have the Galaga samples

― the absence of bikes (f. hazel), Sunday, 24 March 2024 21:23 (one year ago)

I totally love Whammy. Alfred, have you heard Plastics? I’ve written this elsewhere but the second time I saw the B-52s Plastics toured with them, and I’ve long thought the “tinny” rhythms on Whammy may have been Plastics-inspired. That period after Wild Planet that yielded Party Mix and Mesopotamia they were obviously casting about for what to do next.

I thought Bouncing off the Satellites was a minor letdown on release, but I’ve come to love that as well. It lacks anything that rocks me like “Trism” or “Queen of Las Vegas” though.

― Requiem for a Dream: The Musical! (Dan Peterson), Sunday, 24 March 2024 22:00 (one year ago)

…which is crazy because Plastics were certainly inspired by the B-52s; Whammy seems to me like returning the favor.

― Requiem for a Dream: The Musical! (Dan Peterson), Sunday, 24 March 2024 22:11 (one year ago)

I think I've said it before, but I love the Mesopotamia outtake version of Queen of Las Vegas (from the Nude on the Moon anthology):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4SAclO9JAE

― the absence of bikes (f. hazel), Sunday, 24 March 2024 22:12 (one year ago)

Absolutely, it’s wonderful. I wish there were more outtakes like that, but there really aren’t.

― Requiem for a Dream: The Musical! (Dan Peterson), Sunday, 24 March 2024 22:16 (one year ago)

yo I like The Plastics!! I have their Rough Trade 7"

― I painted my teeth (sleeve), Sunday, 24 March 2024 22:16 (one year ago)

Yay! I often use ilx threads to decide what to play. This afternoon: Good Stuff, Whammy, and Welcome Back Plastics.

― Requiem for a Dream: The Musical! (Dan Peterson), Sunday, 24 March 2024 22:26 (one year ago)

Good Stuff needed to be 20 minutes shorter, resequenced, and preferably done with other producers.

― Requiem for a Dream: The Musical! (Dan Peterson), Sunday, 24 March 2024 22:29 (one year ago)

That "Queen..." outtake is what I heard in my head that the Whammy version doesn't produce.

― poppers fueled buttsex crescendo (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 24 March 2024 23:06 (one year ago)

i completely forgot bouncing off the satellites even existed until we were listening to a b-52s mix in the car the other week and Wig came on. What a great song.

― I? not I! He! He! HIM! (akm), Sunday, 24 March 2024 23:48 (one year ago)

two months pass...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mPCLvsB5GQ

― Maresn3st, Sunday, 2 June 2024 11:02 (eleven months ago)

Awesome.

― Overly dramatic elevator music (Dan Peterson), Sunday, 2 June 2024 22:48 (eleven months ago)

“Whammy Kiss” live, sans rhythm box, rocks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIEobB7JDkA

― Overly dramatic elevator music (Dan Peterson), Thursday, 6 June 2024 12:11 (eleven months ago)

FYI, they're playing a one-off show at the Riviera Theatre in Chicago in November.

― birdistheword, Thursday, 6 June 2024 21:01 (eleven months ago)

Was talking with some friends yesterday about (the lack of) Mexican food in the UK and that you don’t see e.g. tamales.

I mentioned the line, “Hi, my name is ricky and i'm a pisces. I love computers and hot tamales” from Song For A Future Generation and was informed there is a candy brand called “Hot Tamales” and now I’m not sure which one he loved. Any ideas?

― Chewshabadoo, Sunday, 9 June 2024 12:23 (ten months ago)

I was just watching Twin Peaks and remembered that Julee Cruise joined to perform Cindy’s parts during her hiatus. Still doesn’t compute for me.

― assert (matttkkkk), Sunday, 9 June 2024 13:19 (ten months ago)

Not the candy. xp

Before the 1986 album Bouncing Off the Satellites was released, Ricky Wilson died of Aids-related illness, having kept his illness secret from all of his bandmates except Strickland until just before his death. “We saw Ricky get thin and asked, ‘Are you OK?’ And he said, ‘Oh, I stopped eating Mexican food.’ He loved Mexican food.

― Overly dramatic elevator music (Dan Peterson), Sunday, 9 June 2024 15:09 (ten months ago)

Thank you :)

― Chewshabadoo, Sunday, 9 June 2024 18:18 (ten months ago)

ten months pass...

All WB-owned albums have been newly remastered and will be released in a box set of complete albums, first on LP then CD. Albums only - no rarities or bonus material even though Fred teased such a box set in 2020 (as well as two new songs). Ah well.

https://www.rhino.com/article/the-b-52s-announce-the-warner-and-reprise-years-collection

― birdistheword, Friday, 25 April 2025 04:30 (one week ago)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2pljSVp0Uk

― Lithium Just Madison (C. Grisso/McCain), Friday, 25 April 2025 04:34 (one week ago)

LOL, yeah, I always think of that sketch too, but I still want that box.

― birdistheword, Friday, 25 April 2025 04:57 (one week ago)

man I am broke as shit and don't even have a record player at the moment but I want that so bad

if I get a job offer before they're all gone I'm on it

― papal hotwife (milo z), Saturday, 26 April 2025 00:15 (one week ago)

have we ever discussed how incredible the original mix of "summer of love" was ... jfc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1O_TNZfvBY

― ok (D-40), Saturday, 26 April 2025 00:33 (one week ago)

maybe my fav song of theirs now

― ok (D-40), Saturday, 26 April 2025 00:33 (one week ago)

sounds like Arthur Baker and a Fairlight CMI... where's startrekman?

― imperial frfr (Steve Shasta), Saturday, 26 April 2025 01:28 (one week ago)

fuckin A, never heard that. I think the mix that was out that year was certainly the right one for the time, that was a time indeed, but fuck this is great

― J Edgar Noothgrush (Joan Crawford Loves Chachi), Saturday, 26 April 2025 02:06 (one week ago)

What’s funny is based on what I like now I should prefer the released version — in general I’ve been gravitating a lot to that crisp / gated / separated sound from the mid 80s a lot lately. This though … I would have a tough time saying I don’t prefer the original unreleased by a lot. The melancholy of it just sits there in a way that matches the season / concept, like that kind of oppressive heat

― ok (D-40), Sunday, 27 April 2025 04:51 (one week ago)

oh wow and you can def hear Ricky Wilson

― the talented mr pimply (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 28 April 2025 12:46 (one week ago)

What’s funny is based on what I like now I should prefer the released version — in general I’ve been gravitating a lot to that crisp / gated / separated sound from the mid 80s a lot lately. This though … I would have a tough time saying I don’t prefer the original unreleased by a lot. The melancholy of it just sits there in a way that matches the season / concept, like that kind of oppressive heat

yeah - hearing Wilson's guitar so clearly adds a very sharp hurt for me, and the whole vibe is just more intense -- more early B-52s. I love Cosmic Thing, a miracle of an album for me, but this wasn't one of my favorite tracks on it...but in this incarnation it just gets stronger, more biting

― J Edgar Noothgrush (Joan Crawford Loves Chachi), Monday, 28 April 2025 19:07 (one week ago)

Isn’t summer of love from bouncing off the satellites?

― Kung Fu Gift Shop (Boring, Maryland), Monday, 28 April 2025 19:42 (one week ago)

I’ve always loved Song for a future generation, and it has the same sort of sad/elegiac but stoic quality—hearing Ricky speak also adds to the atmosphere.

― Kung Fu Gift Shop (Boring, Maryland), Monday, 28 April 2025 19:44 (one week ago)

Let me praise the monster guitar hook in "Girl From Ipanema Goes to Dreamland."

― the talented mr pimply (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 28 April 2025 19:50 (one week ago)

I think it was someone on IlX who clued me to "Ain't It A Shame" on Bouncing..., thanks whoever that was!

― Chuck_Tatum, Monday, 28 April 2025 20:02 (one week ago)

this revive has reminded me that I still need the European version of Mesopotamia, ty all

also this og version rules, never heard it!

― sleeve, Monday, 28 April 2025 20:03 (one week ago)

Bouncing Off the Satellites has a ton of really strong tracks on it!

― fluffy tufts university (f. hazel), Monday, 28 April 2025 20:08 (one week ago)

Curious as to which version of Mesopotamia is gonna be on this new box.

― Lithium Just Madison (C. Grisso/McCain), Monday, 28 April 2025 20:21 (one week ago)

Girl from Ipanema and aint it a shame are incredible records ! I play ipanema when djing sometimes

― ok (D-40), Monday, 28 April 2025 21:41 (one week ago)

I think it was someone on IlX who clued me to "Ain't It A Shame" on Bouncing..., thanks whoever that was!

― Chuck_Tatum, Monday, April 28, 2025

I'll take credit for some of it, though Sinead O'Connor deserves credit; her cover introduced me to it 20 years ago.

― the talented mr pimply (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 28 April 2025 22:36 (one week ago)

Z_tbd wrote a long and very moving post abt that song iirc!

― sleeve, Tuesday, 29 April 2025 01:32 (one week ago)

Isn’t summer of love from bouncing off the satellites?

oh shit yr right!

― J Edgar Noothgrush (Joan Crawford Loves Chachi), Tuesday, 29 April 2025 01:35 (one week ago)

In my mind, Catherine O'Hara is a member of the B-52s.

― assert (matttkkkk), Tuesday, 29 April 2025 02:08 (one week ago)

Wig was the only song I liked in the album back in the day, should check it out again although I remember the whole album feeling tinny and sterile.

― licorice oratorio (baaderonixx), Tuesday, 29 April 2025 08:12 (one week ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.