Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
Even in the weird, quirky world of new wave and post-punk in the late '70s, the B-52's' eponymous debut stood out as an original. Unabashed kitsch mavens at a time when their peers were either vulgar or stylish, the Athens quintet celebrated all the silliest aspects of pre-Beatles pop culture -- bad hairdos, sci-fi nightmares, dance crazes, pastels, and anything else that sprung into their minds -- to a skewed fusion of pop, surf, avant-garde, amateurish punk, and white funk. On paper, it sounds like a cerebral exercise, but it played like a party. The jerky, angular funk was irresistibly danceable, winning over listeners dubious of Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson's high-pitched, shrill close harmonies and Fred Schneider's campy, flamboyant vocalizing, pitched halfway between singing and speaking. It's all great fun, but it wouldn't have resonated throughout the years if the group hadn't written such incredibly infectious, memorable tunes as "Planet Claire," "Dance This Mess Around," and, of course, their signature tune, "Rock Lobster." These songs illustrated that the B-52's' adoration of camp culture wasn't simply affectation -- it was a world view capable of turning out brilliant pop singles and, in turn, influencing mainstream pop culture. 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 time.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From $10.83/month
The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Tambourine, Vocals - Kate Pierson, Organ, Vocals, Synth Bass - Keith Strickland, Drums, Percussion, Writer - Henry Mancini, Writer - Fred Schneider, Vocals, Writer - CHRIS BLACKWELL, Producer - Ricky Wilson, Guitar - Robert Ash, Engineer, AssociateProducer - Cass Rigby, AssistantEngineer
© 1979 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1979 Island Records
The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Tambourine, Vocals - Kate Pierson, Additional Guitar, Organ, Vocals, Synth Bass - Keith Strickland, Drums, Percussion - Fred Schneider, Vocals - CHRIS BLACKWELL, Producer - Ricky Wilson, Guitar, Writer - Robert Ash, Engineer, AssociateProducer - Cass Rigby, AssistantEngineer - Jeremy Ayers, Writer
© 1979 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1979 Warner Records Inc.
The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Tambourine, Vocals, Writer - Kate Pierson, Organ, Vocals, Writer, Synth Bass - Keith Strickland, Drums, Writer - Fred Schneider, Vocals, Writer - CHRIS BLACKWELL, Producer - Ricky Wilson, Guitar, Writer - Robert Ash, Engineer, AssociateProducer - Cass Rigby, AssistantEngineer
© 1979 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1979 Warner Records Inc.
The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Tambourine, Vocals - Kate Pierson, Organ, Vocals, Synth Bass - Keith Strickland, Drums, Percussion - Fred Schneider, Vocals, Writer - CHRIS BLACKWELL, Producer - Ricky Wilson, Guitar, Writer - Robert Ash, Engineer, AssociateProducer - Cass Rigby, AssistantEngineer
© 1979 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1979 Warner Records Inc.
The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Writer - Kate Pierson, Organ, Vocals, Writer, Synth Bass - Keith Strickland, Drums, Percussion, Writer - Fred Schneider, Vocals, Writer - CHRIS BLACKWELL, Producer - Ricky Wilson, Guitar, Writer - Robert Ash, Engineer, AssociateProducer - Cass Rigby, AssistantEngineer
© 1979 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1979 Warner Records Inc.
The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Additional Guitar, Tambourine, Vocals, Writer - Kate Pierson, Organ, Vocals, Writer, Synth Bass - Keith Strickland, Drums, Percussion, Writer - Fred Schneider, Vocals, Writer - CHRIS BLACKWELL, Producer - Ricky Wilson, Guitar, Writer - Robert Ash, Engineer, AssociateProducer - Cass Rigby, AssistantEngineer
© 1979 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1979 Warner Records Inc.
Robert Waldrop, Writer - The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Tambourine, Vocals - Kate Pierson, Organ, Vocals - Keith Strickland, Drums, Percussion - Fred Schneider, Vocals, Synth Bass - CHRIS BLACKWELL, Producer - Ricky Wilson, Guitar, Writer - Robert Ash, Engineer, AssociateProducer - Cass Rigby, AssistantEngineer
© 1979 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1979 Warner Records Inc.
The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Tambourine, Vocals - Kate Pierson, Organ, Vocals, Writer, Synth Bass - Keith Strickland, Drums, Percussion, Writer - Fred Schneider, Vocals, Writer - CHRIS BLACKWELL, Producer - Ricky Wilson, Guitar, Writer - Robert Ash, Engineer, AssociateProducer - Cass Rigby, AssistantEngineer
© 1979 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1979 Warner Records Inc.
The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Tambourine, Vocals - Kate Pierson, Organ, Vocals, Synth Bass - Keith Strickland, Drums, Percussion - TONY HATCH, Writer - Fred Schneider, Vocals - CHRIS BLACKWELL, Producer - Ricky Wilson, Guitar - Robert Ash, Engineer, AssociateProducer - Cass Rigby, AssistantEngineer
© 1979 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1979 Warner Records Inc.
Album review
Even in the weird, quirky world of new wave and post-punk in the late '70s, the B-52's' eponymous debut stood out as an original. Unabashed kitsch mavens at a time when their peers were either vulgar or stylish, the Athens quintet celebrated all the silliest aspects of pre-Beatles pop culture -- bad hairdos, sci-fi nightmares, dance crazes, pastels, and anything else that sprung into their minds -- to a skewed fusion of pop, surf, avant-garde, amateurish punk, and white funk. On paper, it sounds like a cerebral exercise, but it played like a party. The jerky, angular funk was irresistibly danceable, winning over listeners dubious of Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson's high-pitched, shrill close harmonies and Fred Schneider's campy, flamboyant vocalizing, pitched halfway between singing and speaking. It's all great fun, but it wouldn't have resonated throughout the years if the group hadn't written such incredibly infectious, memorable tunes as "Planet Claire," "Dance This Mess Around," and, of course, their signature tune, "Rock Lobster." These songs illustrated that the B-52's' adoration of camp culture wasn't simply affectation -- it was a world view capable of turning out brilliant pop singles and, in turn, influencing mainstream pop culture. 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 time.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 9 track(s)
- Total length: 00:39:28
- Main artists: The B-52's
- Label: Reprise
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
© 1979 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1979 Warner Records Inc.
Distinctions:
Improve album information
Why buy on Qobuz?
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalog with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets, and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.