On this day August 27 1980, Wild Planet by The B52s was released. As the follow up to their self titled debut, the album carried forward their wild offbeat sound while tightening the grooves and sharpening the production. It was vibrant, chaotic, and defiantly different.
Wild Planet featured standout tracks like Private Idaho, Party out of Bounds, and Give Me Back My Man. The band’s mix of surf guitar, dance beats, and eccentric vocals made them one of the most unique acts in the early 80s music scene. Fred Schneider’s spoken shout vocals collided perfectly with the harmonies of Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson to create a sonic identity that could only belong to The B52s.
The album reached number eighteen on the Billboard 200 and became a staple among college radio and new wave fans. It proved that their success was no fluke and that their alien inspired brand of party music had real staying power.
80s insight: Wild Planet was made up of tracks recorded during the same sessions as their debut album, giving it the same energy while standing strong on its own.
Wild Planet featured standout tracks like Private Idaho, Party out of Bounds, and Give Me Back My Man. The band’s mix of surf guitar, dance beats, and eccentric vocals made them one of the most unique acts in the early 80s music scene. Fred Schneider’s spoken shout vocals collided perfectly with the harmonies of Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson to create a sonic identity that could only belong to The B52s.
The album reached number eighteen on the Billboard 200 and became a staple among college radio and new wave fans. It proved that their success was no fluke and that their alien inspired brand of party music had real staying power.
80s insight: Wild Planet was made up of tracks recorded during the same sessions as their debut album, giving it the same energy while standing strong on its own.
