The Witching Hour Sessions – 05/02/2018
The B-52’s
The B-52s are an American new wave band, formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1976. The original line-up consisted of Fred Schneider, Kate Pierson, Cindy Wilson, Ricky Wilson and Keith Strickland. After Ricky Wilson’s death from AIDS in 1985, Strickland switched from drums to lead guitar. The band also added touring members for albums and live performances. The band is best known for their 1978 debut single ‘Rock Lobster’, and their pair of 1989 hits; ‘Love Shack’ and ‘Roam’..
Rooted in new wave and 1960s rock and roll, the group later straddled many genres, ranging from post-punk to pop rock. The “guy vs. gals” vocals of Schneider, Pierson, and Wilson, sometimes used in call and response style, and their unique guitar and keyboard driven instrumentation compose their trademark sound.
Tonight’s listening1;
1 – The B-52’s (1979)
Even in the weird, quirky world of new wave and post-punk in the late ’70s, the B-52’s’ debut stood out as an original. It’s difficult to imagine the endless kitschy retro fads of the ’80s and ’90s without the B-52’s pointing the way, but The B-52’s’ isn’t simply an historic artifact — it’s a hell of a good record. This album is well worth hearing and highly recommended.
2 – Wild Planet (1980)
Conventional wisdom has it that all the B-52’s’ subsequent releases are highly inferior to their debut. While ‘Wild Planet’ is not the rarefied wonder their first album is, it’s still a very good album. The songs here are generally faster, tighter, and punchier than before.
3 – Cosmic Thing (1989)
A class return to form after a few underwhelming albums, ‘Cosmic Thing’ would already have been considered a triumphant return without its commercial success. The big sales were just the icing on the cake. Possibly their best set of songs since their debut.