#198 The B-52's, 'The B-52's' (1979)

Previously #152

The B52’s is one of the craziest bands ever. I say that having listened to this album a few times and seen them live. I say that with the best intentions, however. Co-lead vocalists, Fred Schneider and Kate Pierson both have incredibly unique voices. You could hear them in isolation and out of context and you’d still be able to recognise them. The album was produced by Chris Blackwell, the founder of Island Records. Ironically, the album was released on Warner Brothers. Having seen their aforementioned crazy and energetic live show, Blackwell wanted to keep the recording as true to their live sound as possible, and so he used little to no overdubs and extra effects, much to the surprise of the band.

Their fusion of Surf Rock, Pop, New Wave and Punk culminated in the lead single and signature song, ‘Rock Lobster,’ a song describing a trippy beach party with a laundry list of real and imagined marine life; “Here comes a stingray/There goes a manta-ray/In walked a jelly fish/There goes a dog-fish/Chased by a cat-fish/In flew a sea robin/Watch out for that piranha/There goes a narwhal/Here comes a bikini whale!” It’s completely crazy, but it’s such a fun song. The band is more than the music though. They were the full package and had an image to match, complete with B-52 hairdos, the classic mid-60’s look, and sharp suits. ‘Rock Lobster’ inspired none other than John Lennon to pick up the guitar and emerge from his 6-year hiatus from original music. In an interview with Rolling Stone just 3 days before his death he said: “I was at a dance club one night in Bermuda. Upstairs, they were playing disco, and downstairs I suddenly heard ‘Rock Lobster’ by the B-52’s for the first time. Do you know it? It sounds just like Yoko’s music. I said to meself, ‘It’s time to get out the old axe and wake the wife up!” That was the start of his final album, ‘Double Fantasy.”

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