The B-52's (album)

Labels

• Warner Bros.

Occupation

Kate Pierson - vocals, guitar, keyboard, organ

Fred Schneider - vocals, keyboard, piano, walkie -talkie

Keith Strickland - drums, sound effects, percussion

Cindy Wilson - vocals, guitar, bongos, tambourine

Ricky Wilson - Guitar

The B- 52's is the debut album by the New Wave band The B -52's from Athens, Georgia ( USA). It was recorded in 1979 and released in June of the same year.

Style

The style of the B -52's covers a wide musical spectrum that ranges from pop, rock and New Wave. Rocking guitar riffs that alternately melodic and shrill vocals Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson ( the sister of guitarist Ricky Wilson ) and Fred Schneider's extravagant, slightly nasal vocals, which moves between singing and chanting, are hallmarks of this album.

The cover shows the group on an edited photograph by George DuBose against yellow background; Faces, hands and feet are photographed, while the clothing is printed. Remarkable also is the high beehive hairstyles of Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson, who acted as a trademark and namesake of the band.

For individual titles

The album begins with the song Planet Claire, which is one of the most popular pieces of the B -52's. It is on a rhythm reminiscent of Henry Mancini's theme from the TV series " Peter Gunn " and also distinguished by a striking keyboard playing. It reflects the atmosphere of a science fiction film.

It follows the title 52 Girls, in which the schrammelnde Ricky Wilson's guitar playing and the listener far away from sounding vocals form a contrast.

The third piece, Dance this mess around, attention especially because of its monotonous tones and the shrill, shrieking vocals Cindy Wilson. It is one of the most memorable songs on the LP and the entire work of the B -52's.

The fourth title, Rock Lobster, marks the end of the first side of the LP. With just under seven minutes in length it is the longest of the album and at the same time, next to Love Shack from the album Cosmic Thing, the most successful song of the band.

The last piece of the album is Downtown, the same a cover version of the classic Petula Clark and at the same time a somewhat ironic comment.

Importance

The B- 52's are considered to be influential group, who have succeeded with this album to combine rock with jazzy New Wave.

Title list

Chart positions

Album

Singles