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Many observers were prepared to write off the B-52's after the release of Bouncing Off the Satellites. Granted, the album was completed in the wake of Ricky Wilson's death, but the group appeared bereft of new musical ideas and were sounding rather stale. In other words, the last thing anyone expected was a first-class return to form, which is what they got with Cosmic Thing. Working with producers Don Was and Nile Rodgers, the B-52's updated their sound with shiny new surfaces and deep, funky grooves -- it was the same basic pattern as before, only refurbished and contemporized. Just as importantly, they had their best set of songs since at least Wild Planet, possibly since their debut. "Cosmic Thing" and "Channel Z" were great up-tempo rockers; "Roam" had a groovy beat blessed with a great Cindy Wilson vocal; and "Deadbeat Club" was one of their rare successful reflective numbers. Then there was "Love Shack," an irresistible dance number with delightfully silly lyrics and hooks as big as a whale that unbelievably gave the group a long-awaited Top Ten hit. The thing is, Cosmic Thing would already have been considered a triumphant return without its commercial success. The big sales were just the icing on the cake.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
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The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Vocals, Writer - Ed Brooks, SecondEngineer - Kate Pierson, Vocals, Writer - Keith Freedman, SecondEngineer - Keith Strickland, Guitar, Writer - NILE RODGERS, Producer, MixingEngineer - Patrick Dillett, SecondEngineer - Paul Argelli, SecondEngineer - Richard Hilton, Programmer - TOM DURACK, Engineer, MixingEngineer - Dan Hersch, Remastering Engineer - Fred Schneider, Vocals, Writer - Steve Ferrone, Drums - Tommy Mandell, Keyboards
© 2019 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1989, 2019 Warner Records Inc. Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Company, A Warner Music Group Company.
The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Vocals, Writer - Ed Brooks, SecondEngineer - Kate Pierson, Vocals, Writer - Keith Freedman, SecondEngineer - Keith Strickland, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer - NILE RODGERS, Producer, MixingEngineer - Patrick Dillett, SecondEngineer - Paul Argelli, SecondEngineer - Richard Hilton, Programmer - Sara Lee, Bass Guitar - TOM DURACK, Engineer, MixingEngineer - Dan Hersch, Remastering Engineer - Fred Schneider, Vocals, Writer - Sonny Emory, Drums - PHILIPPE SAISSE, Keyboards
© 2019 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1989, 2019 Warner Records Inc. Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Company, A Warner Music Group Company.
Cynthia L. Wilson, Writer - The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Vocals - Ed Brooks, SecondEngineer - Kate Pierson, Vocals - Keith Freedman, SecondEngineer - Keith Strickland, Guitar, Background Vocals - NILE RODGERS, Producer, MixingEngineer - Patrick Dillett, SecondEngineer - Paul Argelli, SecondEngineer - Richard Hilton, Programmer - Sara Lee, Bass Guitar - TOM DURACK, Engineer, MixingEngineer - Dan Hersch, Remastering Engineer - Fred Schneider, Background Vocals - Sonny Emory, Drums - PHILIPPE SAISSE, Keyboards - Catherine Pierson, Writer - Frederick William Schneider II, Writer - J Keith Stickland, Writer
© 2019 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1989, 2019 Warner Records Inc. Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Company, A Warner Music Group Company.
Don Was, Producer - The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Vocals, Writer - Kate Pierson, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer - Keith Strickland, Guitar, Writer - Sara Lee, Bass Guitar - TOM DURACK, MixingEngineer - Dan Hersch, Remastering Engineer - Chris Cioe, Horn - Dave Cook, Engineer - Martin Kunitz, AssistantEngineer - Paul Literal, Horn - Arno Hecht, Horn - Bob Funk, Horn - Carl Beatty, Horn - Charlie Drayton, Drums - Fred Schneider, Vocals, Writer
© 2019 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1989, 2019 Warner Records Inc. Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Company, A Warner Music Group Company.
Don Was, Producer - The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Vocals, Writer - Kate Pierson, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer - Keith Strickland, Guitar, Keyboards, Writer - Sara Lee, Bass Guitar - TOM DURACK, MixingEngineer - Dan Hersch, Remastering Engineer - Dave Cook, Engineer - Martin Kunitz, AssistantEngineer - Charlie Drayton, Drums - Fred Schneider, Percussion, Vocals, Writer
© 2019 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1989, 2019 Warner Records Inc. Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Company, A Warner Music Group Company.
Robert Waldrop, Composer - The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Composer, Vocals - Ed Brooks, SecondEngineer - Kate Pierson, Composer, Vocals - Keith Freedman, SecondEngineer - Keith Strickland, Composer, Guitar - Leroy Clouden, Drums - NILE RODGERS, Producer, MixingEngineer - Patrick Dillett, SecondEngineer - Paul Argelli, SecondEngineer - Richard Hilton, Keyboards, Programmer - Sara Lee, Bass Guitar - TOM DURACK, Engineer, MixingEngineer - Dan Hersch, Remastering Engineer - Fred Schneider, Composer
© 2019 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1989, 2019 Warner Records Inc. Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Company, A Warner Music Group Company.
Don Was, Producer - The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Vocals, Writer - Kate Pierson, Vocals, Writer - Keith Strickland, Guitar, Keyboards, Writer - Sara Lee, Bass Guitar - TOM DURACK, MixingEngineer - Dave Cook, Engineer - Martin Kunitz, AssistantEngineer - Charlie Drayton, Drums - Fred Schneider, Percussion, Vocals, Writer
© 2019 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1989, 2019 Warner Records Inc. Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Company, A Warner Music Group Company.
Don Was, Producer - The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Vocals, Writer - Kate Pierson, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer - Keith Strickland, Guitar, Keyboards, Writer - TOM DURACK, MixingEngineer - Dan Hersch, Remastering Engineer - Dave Cook, Engineer - Martin Kunitz, AssistantEngineer - Charlie Drayton, Drums - Fred Schneider, Vocals, Writer
© 2019 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1989, 2019 Warner Records Inc. Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Company, A Warner Music Group Company.
The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Vocals, Writer - Ed Brooks, SecondEngineer - Kate Pierson, Vocals, Writer - Keith Freedman, SecondEngineer - Keith Strickland, Guitar, Writer - Leroy Clouden, Drums - NILE RODGERS, Producer, MixingEngineer - Patrick Dillett, SecondEngineer - Paul Argelli, SecondEngineer - Richard Hilton, Keyboards, Programmer - Sara Lee, Bass Guitar - TOM DURACK, Engineer, MixingEngineer - Dan Hersch, Remastering Engineer - Fred Schneider, Writer
© 2019 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1989, 2019 Warner Records Inc. Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Company, A Warner Music Group Company.
The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Writer - Ed Brooks, SecondEngineer - Kate Pierson, Writer, Background Vocals - Keith Freedman, SecondEngineer - Keith Strickland, Guitar, Keyboards, Writer - Leroy Clouden, Drums - NILE RODGERS, Producer, MixingEngineer - Patrick Dillett, SecondEngineer - Paul Argelli, SecondEngineer - Richard Hilton, Keyboards, Programmer - Sara Lee, Bass Guitar, Keyboards, Background Vocals - TOM DURACK, Engineer, MixingEngineer - Dan Hersch, Remastering Engineer - Fred Schneider, Writer
© 2019 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1989, 2019 Warner Records Inc. Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Company, A Warner Music Group Company.
The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Composer - Kate Pierson, Composer - Keith Strickland, Composer - Fred Schneider, Composer
© 2019 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1989, 2019 Warner Records Inc. Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Company, A Warner Music Group Company.
Don Was, Producer - The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Vocals, Writer - Kate Pierson, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer - Keith Strickland, Guitar, Writer - Sara Lee, Bass Guitar - TOM DURACK, MixingEngineer - Dan Hersch, Remastering Engineer - Chris Cioe, Horn - Dave Cook, Engineer - Martin Kunitz, AssistantEngineer - Paul Literal, Horn - Arno Hecht, Horn - Bob Funk, Horn - Carl Beatty, Horn - Charlie Drayton, Drums - Fred Schneider, Vocals, Writer
© 2019 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1989, 2019 Warner Records Inc. Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Company, A Warner Music Group Company.
Don Was, Producer - The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Vocals, Writer - Kate Pierson, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer - Keith Strickland, Guitar, Keyboards, Writer - TOM DURACK, MixingEngineer - Dan Hersch, Remastering Engineer - Dave Cook, Engineer - Martin Kunitz, AssistantEngineer - Charlie Drayton, Drums - Fred Schneider, Vocals, Writer
© 2019 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1989, 2019 Warner Records Inc. Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Company, A Warner Music Group Company.
Andres Levin, Remixer - Robert Waldrop, Composer - The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Composer, Vocals - Ed Brooks, SecondEngineer - Kate Pierson, Composer, Vocals - Keith Freedman, SecondEngineer - Keith Strickland, Composer, Guitar - Leroy Clouden, Drums - NILE RODGERS, Producer, Remixer, MixingEngineer - Patrick Dillett, SecondEngineer - Paul Argelli, SecondEngineer - Richard Hilton, Keyboards, Programmer - Sara Lee, Bass Guitar - TOM DURACK, Engineer, Remixer, MixingEngineer - Dan Hersch, Remastering Engineer - Fred Schneider, Composer
© 2019 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1989, 2019 Warner Records Inc. Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Company, A Warner Music Group Company.
Robert Waldrop, Composer - The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Composer, Vocals - Ed Brooks, SecondEngineer - Kate Pierson, Composer, Vocals - Keith Freedman, SecondEngineer - Keith Strickland, Composer, Guitar - Leroy Clouden, Drums - NILE RODGERS, Producer, MixingEngineer - Patrick Dillett, SecondEngineer - Paul Argelli, SecondEngineer - Richard Hilton, Keyboards, Programmer - Sara Lee, Bass Guitar - TOM DURACK, Engineer, MixingEngineer - Dan Hersch, Remastering Engineer - Fred Schneider, Composer
© 2019 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1989, 2019 Warner Records Inc. Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Company, A Warner Music Group Company.
DISC 2
The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Vocals, Writer - Kate Pierson, Vocals, Writer - Keith Strickland, Guitar, Writer - Dan Hersch, Remastering Engineer - Fred Schneider, Percussion, Vocals, Writer - Tracy Wormworth, Bass Guitar - Pat Irwin, Keyboards - Bill Ingot, ReissueProducer - Zachary Afford, Drums
© 2019 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 2019 Warner Records Inc. Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Company, A Warner Music Group Company.
The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Vocals, Writer - Kate Pierson, Vocals, Writer - Keith Strickland, Guitar, Writer - Dan Hersch, Remastering Engineer - Fred Schneider, Percussion, Vocals, Writer - Tracy Wormworth, Bass Guitar - Pat Irwin, Keyboards - Bill Ingot, ReissueProducer - Zachary Afford, Drums
© 2019 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 2019 Warner Records Inc. Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Company, A Warner Music Group Company.
The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Vocals - Kate Pierson, Vocals - Keith Strickland, Guitar, Writer - Dan Hersch, Remastering Engineer - Fred Schneider, Percussion, Vocals, Writer - Tracy Wormworth, Bass Guitar - Pat Irwin, Keyboards - Ricky Wilson, Writer - Bill Ingot, ReissueProducer - Zachary Afford, Drums
© 2019 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 2019 Warner Records Inc. Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Company, A Warner Music Group Company.
The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Vocals, Writer - Kate Pierson, Vocals, Writer - Keith Strickland, Guitar, Writer - Dan Hersch, Remastering Engineer - Fred Schneider, Percussion, Vocals, Writer - Tracy Wormworth, Bass Guitar - Pat Irwin, Keyboards - Ricky Wilson, Writer - Bill Ingot, ReissueProducer - Zachary Afford, Drums
© 2019 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 2019 Warner Records Inc. Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Company, A Warner Music Group Company.
The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Vocals, Writer - Kate Pierson, Vocals, Writer - Keith Strickland, Guitar, Writer - Dan Hersch, Remastering Engineer - Fred Schneider, Percussion, Vocals, Writer - Tracy Wormworth, Bass Guitar - Pat Irwin, Keyboards - Bill Ingot, ReissueProducer - Zachary Afford, Drums
© 2019 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 2019 Warner Records Inc. Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Company, A Warner Music Group Company.
The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Vocals, Writer - Kate Pierson, Vocals, Writer - Keith Strickland, Guitar, Writer - Dan Hersch, Remastering Engineer - Fred Schneider, Percussion, Vocals, Writer - Tracy Wormworth, Bass Guitar - Pat Irwin, Keyboards - Ricky Wilson, Writer - Bill Ingot, ReissueProducer - Zachary Afford, Drums
© 2019 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 2019 Warner Records Inc. Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Company, A Warner Music Group Company.
The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Vocals, Writer - Kate Pierson, Vocals - Keith Strickland, Guitar, Writer - Dan Hersch, Remastering Engineer - Fred Schneider, Percussion, Vocals, Writer - Tracy Wormworth, Bass Guitar - Pat Irwin, Keyboards - Ricky Wilson, Writer - Bill Ingot, ReissueProducer - Zachary Afford, Drums
© 2019 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 2019 Warner Records Inc. Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Company, A Warner Music Group Company.
Cynthia L. Wilson, Writer - The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Vocals - Kate Pierson, Vocals - Keith Strickland, Guitar - Dan Hersch, Remastering Engineer - Fred Schneider, Percussion, Vocals - Tracy Wormworth, Bass Guitar - Pat Irwin, Keyboards - Catherine Pierson, Writer - Frederick William Schneider II, Writer - J Keith Stickland, Writer - Bill Ingot, ReissueProducer - Zachary Afford, Drums
© 2019 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 2019 Warner Records Inc. Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Company, A Warner Music Group Company.
The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Vocals - Kate Pierson, Vocals, Writer - Keith Strickland, Guitar, Writer - Dan Hersch, Remastering Engineer - Fred Schneider, Percussion, Vocals, Writer - Tracy Wormworth, Bass Guitar - Pat Irwin, Keyboards - Ricky Wilson, Writer - Bill Ingot, ReissueProducer - Zachary Afford, Drums
© 2019 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 2019 Warner Records Inc. Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Company, A Warner Music Group Company.
The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Vocals - Kate Pierson, Vocals - Keith Strickland, Guitar, Writer - Dan Hersch, Remastering Engineer - Fred Schneider, Percussion, Vocals, Writer - Tracy Wormworth, Bass Guitar - Pat Irwin, Keyboards - Ricky Wilson, Writer - Bill Ingot, ReissueProducer - Zachary Afford, Drums
© 2019 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 2019 Warner Records Inc. Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Company, A Warner Music Group Company.
Robert Waldrop, Composer - The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Composer, Vocals - Kate Pierson, Composer, Vocals - Keith Strickland, Composer, Guitar - Dan Hersch, Remastering Engineer - Fred Schneider, Composer, Percussion, Vocals - Tracy Wormworth, Bass Guitar - Pat Irwin, Keyboards - Bill Ingot, ReissueProducer - Zachary Afford, Drums
© 2019 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 2019 Warner Records Inc. Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Company, A Warner Music Group Company.
The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Vocals - Kate Pierson, Vocals - Keith Strickland, Guitar - Dan Hersch, Remastering Engineer - Fred Schneider, Percussion, Vocals - Tracy Wormworth, Bass Guitar - Pat Irwin, Keyboards - Ricky Wilson, Writer - Jeremy Ayers, Writer - Bill Ingot, ReissueProducer - Zachary Afford, Drums
© 2019 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 2019 Warner Records Inc. Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Company, A Warner Music Group Company.
The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Vocals, Writer - Kate Pierson, Vocals, Writer - Keith Strickland, Guitar, Writer - Dan Hersch, Remastering Engineer - Fred Schneider, Percussion, Vocals, Writer - Tracy Wormworth, Bass Guitar - Pat Irwin, Keyboards - Bill Ingot, ReissueProducer - Zachary Afford, Drums
© 2019 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 2019 Warner Records Inc. Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Company, A Warner Music Group Company.
The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Vocals - Kate Pierson, Vocals - Keith Strickland, Guitar - Dan Hersch, Remastering Engineer - Fred Schneider, Percussion, Vocals, Writer - Tracy Wormworth, Bass Guitar - Pat Irwin, Keyboards - Ricky Wilson, Writer - Bill Ingot, ReissueProducer - Zachary Afford, Drums
© 2019 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 2019 Warner Records Inc. Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Company, A Warner Music Group Company.
The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Vocals, Writer - Kate Pierson, Vocals, Writer - Keith Strickland, Guitar, Writer - Dan Hersch, Remastering Engineer - Fred Schneider, Percussion, Vocals, Writer - Tracy Wormworth, Bass Guitar - Pat Irwin, Keyboards - Ricky Wilson, Writer - Bill Ingot, ReissueProducer - Zachary Afford, Drums
© 2019 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 2019 Warner Records Inc. Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Company, A Warner Music Group Company.
The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Vocals, Writer - Kate Pierson, Vocals, Writer - Keith Strickland, Guitar, Writer - Dan Hersch, Remastering Engineer - Fred Schneider, Percussion, Vocals, Writer - Tracy Wormworth, Bass Guitar - Pat Irwin, Keyboards - Bill Ingot, ReissueProducer - Zachary Afford, Drums
© 2019 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 2019 Warner Records Inc. Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Company, A Warner Music Group Company.
Album review
Many observers were prepared to write off the B-52's after the release of Bouncing Off the Satellites. Granted, the album was completed in the wake of Ricky Wilson's death, but the group appeared bereft of new musical ideas and were sounding rather stale. In other words, the last thing anyone expected was a first-class return to form, which is what they got with Cosmic Thing. Working with producers Don Was and Nile Rodgers, the B-52's updated their sound with shiny new surfaces and deep, funky grooves -- it was the same basic pattern as before, only refurbished and contemporized. Just as importantly, they had their best set of songs since at least Wild Planet, possibly since their debut. "Cosmic Thing" and "Channel Z" were great up-tempo rockers; "Roam" had a groovy beat blessed with a great Cindy Wilson vocal; and "Deadbeat Club" was one of their rare successful reflective numbers. Then there was "Love Shack," an irresistible dance number with delightfully silly lyrics and hooks as big as a whale that unbelievably gave the group a long-awaited Top Ten hit. The thing is, Cosmic Thing would already have been considered a triumphant return without its commercial success. The big sales were just the icing on the cake.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 2 disc(s) - 31 track(s)
- Total length: 02:37:47
- Main artists: The B-52's
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Rhino - Warner Records
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
© 2019 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 2019 Warner Records Inc. Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Company, A Warner Music Group Company.
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