How does it compare to the artist's other releases
Outstanding
Value for Money
Advantages:
Truely original band
Disadvantages:
Might be a little quirky for some people
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
Everyone know at least one song by the B-52's - you know which song I mean. What you may not know is that, that particular song came off the bands fifth album.
They started out in Georgia in the mid 70's, consisting of Fred Schneider, Kate Pierson and Sindy Wilson on vocals, Ricky Wilson on guitar and Keith Strickland on Drums. They released their first single, ' Rock Lobster' in 1979 followed quickly by the debut eponymous album. Their name comes from the nickname given to the wigs worn by Pierson and Wilson.
The first album was quickly followed by 'Wild Planet' in 1980 and then by the difficult 'Whammy' in 1983 and 'Bouncing Off The Satellites' in 1986 after the death, in 1985, of Ricky Wilson of AIDS.
After the self imposed exile from music, the now four-piece returned with 'Cosmic Thing' and 'Love Shack'
This Greatest Hits album was released the year after 'Cosmic Thing' to capitalise on their new found fame from the aforementioned single. It covers the early career of the band from the first four albums; 'The B-52's' (1979), 'Wild Planet' (1980), Whammy! (1983) and 'Bouncing Of The Satellites' (1986).
The track list is:-
1. Party Out Of Bounds (3.21) 2. Devil In My Car (4.28) 3. Dirty back Road (3.18)
4. 6060-842 (2.52)
5. Wig (4.20) 6. Dance This Mess Around (4.36)
7. Rock Lobster (6.52) 8. Strobe Light (4.00)
9. Give Me Back My Man (3.59) 10. Song For A Future Generation (3.58)
11. Planet Claire (4.36) 12. 52 Girls (3.35)
13. Private Idaho (3.35)
* = outstanding track
The first three tracks are pretty standard songs, not really outstanding at all. All three coming from the second album. 'Party Out Of Bounds' is actually a remix of the original, but has nearly perfect sounding post-punk guitar and bass. 'Devil In My Car' is a slightly rockier offering but still with the kitchness that the B-52's are famous for. 'Dirty Back Road' is again more post punk sounding, and if it wasn't for the distinct vocal of Fred Schneider et al. on these first three track you could really be listening to Talking Heads or Devo.
The next two tracks are bit more quirky, 6060-842 off the eponymous first album with the simple drums and bass and very post-punk/new wave guitar and even toms. The song talks of a telephone number to call with the song ending with the number being disconnected and Schneider calling 'Hello' into the phone to the reply of 'Sorry'. The next song is the very unusual ode to the hairpiece that named the band, 'Wig', coming of their forth album 'Bouncing Of The Satellites'. It is a more upbeat number being more dancy but still with the same instrumentation. Unusual? Yes, B-52's? Definately!
The next track, from the eponymous debut, is a art-rock bluesy number, very slow with screaming anguished vocals from Cindy Wilson of "Why won't you dance with me" that even invoke images of Courtney Love. this song is so far away from 'Love Shack' that it sounds more like Joy Division.
This is followed by the classic 'Rock Lobster' with a surf feel both with guitar and organ. It's long song but doesn't feel like it due to the everchanging nature of it, yet it still holds together. You can really tell that they are accomplished musicians from this track. All hell breaks lose at the end with screams from Schneider and dolphin and other aquatic sounds from Wilson. Add to that the sublime ending with Kate Pierson singing falsetto and you have a great track.
The next two tracks are both from the second album, 'Wild Planet', the first is 'Strobe Light' which is a bit rockabilly but not outstanding. 'Give Me Back My Man' is one of the best songs I have ever heard. It is melancholy starting with "She cuts her hair and calls his name. Wishing everything could be the same, like when she had him", it's about her losing her man. Cindy Wilson sings this one and she is so good. This is not the same B-52's that do party dancefloor songs. Or is it...? The chorus pleas "I'll give you fish, I'll give you candy".
The next song, 'Song For A Future Generation', is off the fourth album, 'Whammy', is a bit of a weak song in my opinion. It's as kitsch as any B-52's song but with competition from better songs on this collection it sounds a little poor.
The next two are both from the first album. 'Planet Claire' is more surfy sounding like a space-surf version of the 'Peter Gunn Theme'. It is both surreal and sublime at the same time talking about this weird planet called Claire with 'Green air' , a place where no-one ever dies because no-one has a head. This is followed by '52 Girls' which also doesn't stand up to the better songs on this collection.
The last track is from the second album, 'Wild Planet', and is a great place to finish - a surfy garage rock dancy song with somewhat sinister lyrics I think. I think this is about smallminded people "Get out of that state you're in" and "living in you're own private Idaho".
I would recommend this album to anyone interested in hearing what the B-52's were about before becoming 'that band who did that Love Shack song'. The thing is, the B-52's are a great post-punk band who were doing something truly original, comparable only to Talking Heads, Public Image Ltd or Devo, really. So if you like post-punk or art rock give either this collection or one of the first two albums a try.
If you have just heard 'Love Shack' / 'Cosmic Thing' then you should get this because, I think, the first two albums are much better than 'Cosmic Thing'.
Also, down to the unusual lyrics, if you like the 'Presidents Of The United States Of America', you may also like this.
You can get the rerelease (1997), new, for £8.99 or get a used original release from £1.19, both from Amazon.co.uk or from around £1.99 from ebay.
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