Fred The Cancerian From New Jersey

Yes, I know it was Fred Schneider's 73rd birthday on 1st July and I'm almost two weeks late, but better late than never, right?

To belatedly celebrate (again), here's a fresh selection of classic cuts by The B-52's, who seem to have played more 'final' shows than Elton John and have a Las Vegas residency in November to do it all one more/last time (delete as applicable).

No complaints from me: a world with The B-52's in it is a much brighter, happier as the three quarters of an hour (give or take) will amply demonstrate. 

The eleven songs here span all of their albums, with the exception of 2008 reunion Funplex. Ain't It A Shame originally appeared on 1986's Bouncing Off The Satellites, although I've gone for the 'New Edit' that appeared on the fab 2002 compilation Nude On The Moon. Likewise, I've plumped for David Byrne's original album mix of Deep Sleep rather than Tom Durack's remix which appeared on the CD reissue of Mesopotamia several years later. 1992's Good Stuff abum is represented by a couple of single edits and remixes.

 

If you need some visuals as well, check out my previous posts on The B-52's from July 2021 and November 2023, which include twenty videos to delight and entertain.

 

And, if that's not enough, go back to July 2022 for my previous (and first) Dubhed selection dedicated to The B-52's.

 

Keep partying, Fred!

1) Deep Sleep (Album Version By David Byrne) (1982)

2) Bushfire (Album Version By Don Was) (1989)

3) Song For A Future Generation (Album Version By Steven Stanley) (1983)

4) Give Me Back My Man (Album Version By Rhett Davies & The B-52's) (1980)

5) Dance This Mess Around (Album Version By Chris Blackwell, Robert Ash & Cass Rigby) (1979)

6) Is That You Mo-Dean? (Edit By Don Was) (1992)

7) Ain't It A Shame (New Edit By Bradford Cobb & Gary Stewart) (2002)

8) Dry County (Album Version By Nile Rodgers) (1989)

9) Big Bird (Album Version By Steven Stanley) (1983)

10) Lava (Album Version By Chris Blackwell, Robert Ash & Cass Rigby) (1979)

11) Good Stuff (Remix Edit By Ben Grosse) (1992) 

1979: The B-52's: 5, 10

1980: Wild Planet: 4

1982: Mesopotamia: 1

1983: Whammy!: 3, 9

1989: Cosmic Thing: 2, 8

1992: Good Stuff EP: 11

1992: Is That You Mo-Dean? EP: 6

2002: Nude On The Moon: 7

Fred The Cancerian From New Jersey (47:19) (KF) (Mega)

 

Can You Name, Name, Name, Name Them Today?

On 6th July 1979, The B-52's released their eponymous debut album in the US. It arrived in the UK nearly two weeks later, on 20th July. I got a secondhand copy pretty much 8 years later, in 1987, on the back of the single Wig and belatedly picking up the Rock Lobster 12", a re-released hit single from the year before, both of which ignited my interest in the band. The album also evokes memories of my very brief foray into playing Dungeons And Dragons, with my school mates Phil and Chris. Phil was the Dungeon Master, and basically the only one that actually owned the sets, so we'd pile round to his house for a 2-3 hour session every so often. This may have gone on for less than a year and I never expressed any interest in RPGs again, but I have four distinct memories of this time:

 

1) One game/scenario ended up with the thrilling ultimatum, "Skate Or Die!" (I guess we were more swords and skateboards on that occasion, less swords and sorcery, although I don't think we owned a skateboard between us).

2) Phil's mum would bring us snacks, including the much-anticipated and mirth-inducing "rubbish tarts" (we think she meant "junk food").

3) Chris had a habit of yelling "Mumm-Ra!" (the Thundercats villain) randomly and out loud, (a) to freak Phil's mum out and (b) to wind Phil up.

4) Phil's aunt had Dire Straits' Brothers In Arms on CD, and Phil had taped it, which meant that we were frequently subjected to this (excuse the pun) dire album, whilst Phil delighted in telling us that the CD was different from the vinyl in that it contained extended versions of several tracks. They were all too long to begin with, in my opinion.

 

All of which preamble leads to the seemingly unlikely but happy story that I lent Phil my copy of The B-52's album and he loved it. I mean, really loved it. Yes, it's a fantastic album but what were the odds?

 

Phil, Chris and I have long since lost contact but this one's dedicated to them, Mumm-Ra and "rubbish tarts" (but definitely not Mark Knopfler and Dire Straits).

 

1) Planet Claire (Performed in Plymouth, UK for Get Fresh, ITV, 11 July 1987)

2) 52 Girls (Live, Capital Theatre, Passaic, New Jersey, USA, 11 July 1980)

3) Dance This Mess Around (Live, Dortmund, Germany, 14 May, 1983)  

4) Rock Lobster (Official Video)

5) Lava (Video Directed By Brad Sergi, 1978)

6) There's A Moon In The Sky (Called The Moon) (Live, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, 20 January 1985)

7) Hero Worship (Live, Downtown Cafe, Atlanta, Georgia, USA, 1978)

8) 6060-842 (Live On Studio Jam, WSAI FM, Chicago, USA, 1 January 1978)

9) Downtown (Cover of Petula Clark) (Live, Corcoran College Of Art And Design, Washington DC, USA, circa 1978/79)