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Whammy!
''Whammy!'' is the third studio album by American new wave band the B-52's, released on April 27, 1983 in the United States, with Warner Bros. Records as the primary label. It was recorded at Compass Point Studios in Nassau, Bahamas, in December 1982 and produced by Steven Stanley. The album spawned three singles: "Legal Tender", " Whammy Kiss", and "Song for a Future Generation". The album entered the ''Billboard'' 200 twice in 1983, reaching both number 29 and 171 throughout the year, while "Legal Tender" reached the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart, as well as the ''Billboard'' Hot Dance Club Play Singles chart alongside its two respective singles. The band's goal with ''Whammy!'' was to update their signature sound with drum machines and synthesizers. The album was also the first to feature vocal performances by all five members of the band, as exemplified in "Song for a Future Generation". This was the final album the B-52's released before guitarist and founding member Ri ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The B-52's
The B-52's, also styled as The B-52s, are an American new wave band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1976. The original lineup consisted of Fred Schneider (vocals, percussion), Kate Pierson (vocals, keyboards, synth bass), Cindy Wilson (vocals, percussion), Ricky Wilson (guitar), and Keith Strickland (drums, guitar, keyboards). Ricky Wilson died of AIDS-related illness in 1985, and Strickland switched from drums to lead guitar. The band also added various members for albums and live performances. The group evoked a "thrift shop aesthetic", in Bernard Gendron's words, by drawing from 1950s and 1960s pop sources, trash culture, and rock and roll. Schneider, Pierson, and Wilson sometimes use call-and-response-style vocals (Schneider's often humorous sprechgesang contrasting with Wilson's and Pierson's melodic harmonies), and their guitar- and keyboard-driven instrumentation is their trademark sound, which was also set apart from their contemporaries by the unusual guitar tunings Ric ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mesopotamia (album)
''Mesopotamia'' is an EP by American new wave band the B-52's, released in 1982. It was produced by David Byrne of Talking Heads and was originally planned to be the band's third studio album. Due to conflicts with Byrne and record label pressure, recording sessions were aborted prematurely and only six of ten songs to be completed were released. The record was distributed as a 12-inch EP by Warner Bros. in the U.S. and by Island Records on vinyl and cassette in the UK and other non-U.S. markets. ''Mesopotamia'' is considered a departure in style for the B-52's, with Byrne and the band adding additional instruments, vocal overdubs, horns, synthesizers and layered percussion. A larger emphasis was placed on production after the raw sound of their 1979 eponymous debut album and the slightly more produced sound of their second album, ''Wild Planet'' (1980). Background ''Mesopotamia'' was initially conceived by the B-52's in October 1981, following the release of their previous ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mesopotamia (EP)
''Mesopotamia'' is an EP by American new wave band the B-52's, released in 1982. It was produced by David Byrne of Talking Heads and was originally planned to be the band's third studio album. Due to conflicts with Byrne and record label pressure, recording sessions were aborted prematurely and only six of ten songs to be completed were released. The record was distributed as a 12-inch EP by Warner Bros. in the U.S. and by Island Records on vinyl and cassette in the UK and other non-U.S. markets. ''Mesopotamia'' is considered a departure in style for the B-52's, with Byrne and the band adding additional instruments, vocal overdubs, horns, synthesizers and layered percussion. A larger emphasis was placed on production after the raw sound of their 1979 eponymous debut album and the slightly more produced sound of their second album, ''Wild Planet'' (1980). Background ''Mesopotamia'' was initially conceived by the B-52's in October 1981, following the release of their previous ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Song For A Future Generation
"Song for a Future Generation" is a song by new wave band The B-52's. The song was released as the third single from the album '' Whammy!'', peaking at #63 on the UK Singles Chart. It is the first of two songs by the B-52's to feature more than 3 band members singing lead vocals, the second being "Theme for a Nude Beach" from the album ''Bouncing off the Satellites''. Concept & lyrics The song's lyrical content made implicit references to "familiar media images of glamorous people, ike'The Empress of Fashion' and 'The Captain of the Enterprise'" and describes "a goofy series of mythic couples meeting to populate the future." Music video A music video was filmed to accompany "Song for a Future Generation" for promotion on television. It features the band members performing the song on podiums and swings and in a ''Brady Bunch'' style split screen. The video also features the female members of the band wearing outlandish wigs, including one made of golden tinsel, one with a chicke ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Legal Tender (song)
"Legal Tender" is the first single released by the B-52's from the 1983 album ''Whammy!''. Description The lyrics of "Legal Tender" tell a story about counterfeiting American dollars by outfitting a basement with "heavy equipment" and learning to print bills because of rising prices. A companion music video was produced featuring Cindy Wilson and Kate Pierson in wigs of many shapes and colors. "Legal Tender" is an upbeat synthesizer-based track with a drum machine and hand-clap rhythm. The lead vocals are shared by Pierson and Wilson. The song appears as the opening track on the band's third studio album ''Whammy!'', signifying that the band had altered their sound quite significantly for the album. "Legal Tender" was performed live during the ''Whammy!'' tour, with Keith Strickland on synthesizer and with horn parts added. Chart performance The single was the band's third ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart entry, peaking at #81. The song also reached #9 on the U.S. Hot Dance Club P ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Whammy Kiss
"Whammy Kiss" is the second single released by The B-52's from their 1983 album ''Whammy!''. The song reached number nine on the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play chart, along with the album tracks "Legal Tender Legal tender is a form of money that courts of law are required to recognize as satisfactory payment for any monetary debt. Each jurisdiction determines what is legal tender, but essentially it is anything which when offered ("tendered") in ..." and " Song for a Future Generation." Track listing # "Whammy Kiss" – 5:20 # " Song for a Future Generation" – 7:54 Chart positions {{The B-52's 1983 singles The B-52's songs Songs written by Fred Schneider Songs written by Kate Pierson Songs written by Keith Strickland Songs written by Cindy Wilson Warner Records singles 1983 songs ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bouncing Off The Satellites
''Bouncing off the Satellites'' is the fourth studio album by American, new wave band the B-52's, released on September 8, 1986 by Warner Bros. Records. It was recorded in July 1985 and was produced by Tony Mansfield. Founding member and guitarist Ricky Wilson died of AIDS after most of the work on the album was completed, but a year prior to its release. The B-52's had gone on hiatus by the time ''Bouncing Off the Satellites'' was released, and it took three years for the band to recover from Wilson's death and release their next album, ''Cosmic Thing''. Recording and death of Ricky Wilson Recording sessions for ''Bouncing off the Satellites'' began in July 1985. The album was seen as darker and more melancholy than the band's previous work, having more ballads. A backwards message was deliberately inserted into the album by the B-52's. The message occurs in the song "Detour Thru Your Mind", in the last 30 seconds of the track: Fred Schneider says (slowly and distinctly) ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Don't Worry Kyoko (Mummy's Only Looking For Her Hand In The Snow)
"Don't Worry Kyoko (Mummy's Only Looking for Her Hand in the Snow)" (also known as "Don't Worry Kyoko (Mummy's Only Looking for a Hand in the Snow)") is a song by Yoko Ono that was originally released by Plastic Ono Band in October 1969 as the B-side of John Lennon's single "Cold Turkey" and was later released on Ono's 1971 album '' Fly''. Several live versions have been released, including on ''Live Peace in Toronto 1969'' and ''Some Time in New York City'' in 1972. An early version was titled "Mum's Only Looking for Her Hand in the Snow". It has been covered by several other artists. Lyrics and music "Don't Worry Kyoko (Mummy's Only Looking for Her Hand in the Snow)" was inspired by Lennon's and Ono's custody fight with Ono's ex-husband Anthony Cox over Cox's and Ono's daughter Kyoko, representing Ono's attempt to communicate with her daughter. Ono and Kyoko were finally reunited in the 1990s when Kyoko was in her thirties. The lyrics of "Don't Worry Kyoko (Mummy's Only Lookin ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ricky Wilson (American Musician)
Ricky Helton Wilson (March 19, 1953 – October 12, 1985) was an American musician best known as the original guitarist and founding member of rock band the B-52's. Born in Athens, Georgia, Wilson was the brother of fellow member Cindy Wilson. The B-52's were founded in 1976, when Ricky, Cindy, Kate Pierson, Keith Strickland and Fred Schneider shared a tropical flaming volcano drink at a Chinese restaurant and, after an impromptu music session at the home of their friend Owen Scott III, played for the first time at a Valentine's Day party for friends. Wilson's unusual guitar tunings were a large contribution to the band's quirky sound. On October 12, 1985, at the age of 32, Wilson died from complications related to AIDS following the recording of the band's fourth studio album ''Bouncing Off the Satellites''. According to Strickland, the album had been completed and mixed before Wilson's death, with only the cover art not yet designed (an illustration by Kenny Scharf was ultima ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gary Kurfirst
Gary Kurfirst (8 July 1947 – 13 January 2009) was an American music promoter, producer, manager, publisher, and record label executive. Kurfirst founded Radioactive Records, whose acts included Live, Black Grape, Ramones, Big Audio Dynamite, Talking Heads, Eurythmics and Shirley Manson. He managed a variety of artists including Manson, Blondie, Tom Tom Club, the Ramones, Jean Beauvoir, Eurythmics, Bob Marley and the Wailers, Toots and the Maytals, and The B-52s. Early years Kurfirst was born in Forest Hills, Queens. He started promoting dances while he was still a student at Forest Hills High School in Queens. He rapidly moved on to organizing and promoting shows at the tennis stadium at the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills and moving across the East River to promoting gigs in Manhattan. Kurfirst helped arrange the first East Coast performances of acts including Jimi Hendrix and The Who. Career He established the Village Theater in the East Village at Second Avenue ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Keith Strickland
Julian Keith Strickland (born October 26, 1953) is an American singer-songwriter, composer, musician, multi-instrumentalist, and one of the founding members of The B-52s. He was born in Athens, Georgia. Originally the band's drummer, Strickland switched to guitar after the death of guitarist Ricky Wilson in 1985. Strickland also plays keyboards and bass guitar on many of The B-52s recordings, and has occasionally provided backing vocals. Strickland composes the music for The B-52s. He said of the process: "Ricky and I used to write the music together, but now I write the individual instrument parts and arrange the instrumental compositions myself. I'm trying to convey a feeling when I compose. I think of my instrumentals as soundscapes – the chord progressions, rhythms, harmonics and musical direction are used to evoke various sonic atmospheres or moods." Strickland came out as gay in 1992. On December 13, 2012, Strickland retired from touring for the B-52s. Fred Schneider ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kate Pierson
Catherine Elizabeth Pierson (born April 27, 1948) is an American singer, lyricist, and founding member of the B-52's. She plays guitar, bass and various keyboard instruments. In the B-52s, she has performed alongside Cindy Wilson, Fred Schneider, Ricky Wilson, and Keith Strickland. In the early years, as well as being a vocalist, Pierson was the main keyboard player and performed on a keyboard bass during live shows and on many of the band's recordings, taking on a role usually filled by a bass guitar player, which differentiated the band from their contemporaries. This, along with Pierson's distinctive wide-ranging singing voice, remains a trademark of the B-52's' unique sound. Pierson has also collaborated with many other artists including The Ramones, Iggy Pop and R.E.M. Pierson possesses a soprano vocal range. In February 2015, Pierson released her first solo album, '' Guitars and Microphones'', featuring material co-written by Sia. She later released the non-album single ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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