4 Under-the-Radar Gems by The B-52’s

The B-52’s are like a transmission.

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Whether that distant communication arrives from the past or the future depends on perspective.

Biologist Richard Dawkins was once asked about alien life forms. And if they exist, what they might look like. But you couldn’t invent anything more peculiar than a sea creature.

“Rock Lobster” became the Athens, Georgia, band’s best-known song. It’s silly and genius all at the same time. It illustrates how Kate Pierson, Fred Schneider, Keith Strickland, and Cindy and Ricky Wilson merged the future with the past, the earthly with the cosmic.

John Lennon once said he returned to music because of “Rock Lobster.” He said popular music had finally caught up to Yoko Ono.

If you are experiencing these under-the-radar gems by The B-52’s for the first time, you are extremely lucky. Down, down!

“Give Me Back My Man” from Wild Planet (1980)

The group’s second album is best known for “Private Idaho.” But on “Give Me Back My Man,” Cindy Wilson gives a heartbreaking solo performance backed by Keith Strickland’s frenetic drumming. You can feel the anxiety. The track crescendos with Wilson’s voice layered over itself as she barters fish and candy and everything she has for the return of her man.

She cuts her hair
And calls his name
Wishing everything could be the same
Like when she had him

“Planet Claire” from The B-52’s (1979)

This may not be exactly under the radar, but we’ll include it for those who don’t know it. “Planet Claire” borrows from Henry Mancini’s Peter Gunn theme and opens with a two-and-a-half-minute instrumental intro. Almost instrumental. Kate Pierson’s voice blends with the Farfisa organ alongside bongos and The Ventures-inspired surf guitar. It’s the kind of spy-vibe groove that defines The B-52’s. And the long intro builds in eager anticipation for Fred Schneider’s tale about an alien woman from a planet with pink air.

She came from Planet Claire
I knew she came from there
She drove a Plymouth Satellite
Oh, faster than the speed of light

“Lava” from The B-52’s (1979)

“Lava” follows “Rock Lobster” on their debut and remains one of the heaviest tunes in the band’s catalog. It’s a perfect mix of angular post-punk and sci-fi art rock—a collision of retro and future sounds. Schneider sings, My love’s a lava bomb / Kick you in the head. That’s exactly what this pounding groove does.

My love may be as high as the highest volcano
But the altitude is way too high
Well, it gets so cold when you look at me that way, yeah
I just wanna have that hot lava
Lovin’ me away

“Mesopotamia” from Mesopotamia EP (1982)

Produced by David Byrne, who helped expand on the raw elements of the band’s first two studio albums. This song might be way under the radar of casual fans but it’s one of their best. There aren’t many bands capable of writing a song like “Mesopotamia.” Meanwhile, Schneider offers timeless advice: Before I talk, I should read a book!

Six or eight thousand years ago
They laid down the law!

Photo by Tom Hill/WireImage