The B-52's Wild Planet LP 1980 1st Pressing Play Loud Label DJ Promo punch

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The B-52's Wild Planet LP 1980 1st Pressing Play Loud Label DJ Promo punch Archival Sleeve
Wild Planet is the second studio album by American new wave band the B-52's, released in 1980 by Warner Bros. Records.

As with their first album, the B-52's traveled to Compass Point Studios in the Bahamas to record Wild Planet. Several of the songs from the album had been concert staples since 1978. The band deliberately did not record them for their first album because they had too many tracks and wanted a strong second album, knowing that performing the tracks live would make fans look forward to it.

  There are some people who would have you believe that "Wild Planet" is a lesser retread of the B-52's self-titled debut album. But, you know, I actually prefer this follow-up. The general quality is higher, the flow is better, it's expansive, and it's even more rockin' too. The distinctive sound of the B-52's is well and truly set down on "Wild Planet", thanks to the band's improved musicianship which helps them better put across their wacky visions and lyrical quirks. The female singing by Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson is meshing better than ever, and the songs are top notch. There's not a single dud track on "Wild Planet", in contrast to "The B-52's" which carried a few clunkers near the end. Private Idaho is the classic, inspirational single; Quiche Lorraine is wildly, insanely imaginative (and way existential too, when you think about it); and Dirty Back Road has to be one of the most gracefully dirty songs ever written, demonstrating the B's ability to absorb virtually any style they like, in this case the Blues (thanks to those wonderfully suggestive lyrics, penned by Robert Waldrop). Party Out Of Bounds is a great opener, and sets the listener up for one fun ride. Okay, so 53 Miles West Of Venus sounds like a revamp of the debut's Planet Claire; but it's almost as good, and it makes a great closer for the record. Best of all has to be Devil In My Car: it's simply one of the best songs the B-52's ever wrote, and it's the most indicative of the band's superb grasp of rock and roll dynamics. Runnin' Around and Strobe Light are simpler but by no means less satisfying pleasures; it's only a shame the B's never attempted more of this sort of thing because it suits the band's punk-inspired ethic very well. After "Wild Planet" the B-52's started to take their trash-as-art idea a little bit too seriously (the mini LP "Mesopotamia"), before the creative rebirth of sorts on 1983's "Whammy". But "Wild Planet" is the B-52's at their absolute peak. Don't trash it; treasure it.