The B-52's are a new wave band which was formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1976.
The band got their name from a B-52, which is a particular smooth, large, high bouffant beehive hairdo, which Pierson and Cindy Wilson wore in performances throughout the band's first decade.
Their first single, "Rock Lobster", recorded for DB Records in 1978, was an underground success, selling over 2,000 copies in total, that led to The B-52's performing at CBGB and Max's Kansas City in New York City.
Both this version of "Rock Lobster" and its B-side "52 Girls" are different recordings from those on their first album and the early version of "52 Girls" is in a different key.
During the recording of "Bouncing Off The Satellites", Ricky Wilson had been suffering from AIDS and died from his illness on 12 October 1985, at the age of 32.
Cindy Wilson was devastated by her brother's death and her bandmates were depressed about Ricky's passing. The band went into seclusion and did not tour to promote their album. This was the beginning of an extended hiatus from their musical careers.
Band members:
Fred Schneider – vocals, percussion
Kate Pierson – vocals, keyboards
Cindy Wilson – vocals, percussion
Ricky Wilson – guitar
Keith Strickland – guitar, drums, keyboards.
The band also added touring members for albums and live performances.
"The B-52's" is the debut studio album by The B-52's, released in 1979 on Warner Bros. Records. The album was reissued in 1989 on Island Records.
Tracklisting:
1. Planet Claire
2. 52 Girls
3. Dance This Mess Around
4. Rock Lobster
5. Lava
6. There's A Moon In The Sky (Called The Moon)
7. Hero Worship
8. 6060-842
9. Downtown
VBR ~250K/s 44100Hz Joint Stereo
The B-52's "Wild Planet" is their second studio album, released in 1980 on Warner Bros. Records. The album was reissued in 1989 on Island Records.
Tracklisting:
1. Party Out Of Bounds
2. Dirty Back Road
3. Runnin' Around
4. Give Me Back My Man
5. Private Idaho
6. Devil In My Car
7. Quiche Lorraine
8. Strobe Light
9. 53 Miles West Of Venus
VBR ~242K/s 44100Hz Joint Stereo
"Whammy!" is the third studio album by The B-52's, released in 1983 on Warner Bros. Records.
The album's seventh track, "Don't Worry", was removed during later pressings (September 1983 onwards) due to legal issues with Yoko Ono.
"Don't Worry" is a cover version of the Yoko Ono song "Don't Worry, Kyoko (Mummy's Only Looking For Her Hand In The Snow)" from her 1971 album Fly.
On subsequent pressings, the song was replaced with 7" Legal Tender's B-side, "Moon 83", a remake of "There's A Moon In The Sky (Called The Moon)" from their debut album.
Tracklisting:
1. Legal Tender
2. Whammy Kiss
3. Song For A Future Generation
4. Butterbean
5. Trism
6. Queen Of Las Vegas
7. Don't Worry
8. Big Bird
9. Work That Skirt
VBR ~259K/s 44100Hz Joint Stereo
"Whammy!" by The B-52's was reissued in 1990 on Island Records.
Tracklisting:
1. Legal Tender
2. Whammy Kiss
3. Song For A Future Generation
4. Butterbean
5. Trism
6. Queen Of Las Vegas
7. Moon 83
8. Big Bird
9. Work That Skirt
VBR ~255K/s 44100Hz Joint Stereo
The B-52's "Bouncing Off The Satellites" is their fourth studio album, released in 1986 on Warner Bros. Records and Island Records.
Tracklisting:
1. Summer Of Love
2. Detour Thru Your Mind
3. Housework
4. Girl From Ipanema Goes To Greenland
5. Theme For A Nude Beach
6. Wig
7. Ain't It A Shame
8. Juicy Jungle
9. Communicate
10. She Brakes For Rainbows
VBR ~264K/s 44100Hz Joint Stereo
"Party Mix/Mesopotamia" by The B-52's is a compilation album, released in 1991 on Reprise Records.
Tracks 1 to 6 are the CD release of 1981's "Party Mix", while tracks 7 to 12 are remixed versions of the tracks from the 1982 U.S. album, "Mesopotamia".
Tracks:
1-6 12" Party Mix, released in 1981
7-12 12" Mesopotamia, released in 1982.
Tracklisting:
1. Party Out Of Bounds
2. Private Idaho
3. Give Me Back My Man
4. Lava
5. Dance This Mess Around
6. 52 Girls
7. Loveland
8. Deep Sleep
9. Mesopotamia
10. Cake
11. Throw That Beat In The Garbage Can
12. Nip It In The Bud
VBR ~248K/s 44100Hz Joint Stereo
