Without Anything But The Love We Feel

A very happy 70th birthday to Keith Strickland, songwriter, guitarist, bassist, keyboard player, drummer and founder member of The B-52's, born 26th October 1953.

The B-52's played what I think are now their definitively final shows this year, though Keith formally retired from touring in 2012. If the band never tour or record again - and goodness knows they've earned a rest - the legacy of The B-52's is immense and lasting.

It could have all come to an end in 1985 when guitarist and musical genius Ricky Wilson tragically died of AIDS at the age of 32. The B-52's were part way through recording fourth album Bouncing Off The Satellites when Ricky's health severely declined. Although Ricky had previously confided in Keith, the band was largely unaware of his illness. The album was released a year after Ricky's death to little promotion and no touring by the band. Keith later recalled that with Ricky's passing, 

 

"we felt that the band was finished. We couldn't imagine continuing without him. So, we each went our separate ways."

 

After a three-year hiatus, the band reformed as a quartet, recording fifth album Cosmic Thing and having their biggest success to date with the single Love Shack. Keith switched from drums to guitar, recreating Ricky's virtuoso parts on stage and assuming a lead role in writing the band's music. As Keith later described it, 

 

"Ricky and I used to write the music together, but now I write the individual instrument parts and arrange the instrumental compositions myself. I'm trying to convey a feeling when I compose. I think of my instrumentals as soundscapes – the chord progressions, rhythms, harmonics and musical direction are used to evoke various sonic atmospheres or moods."

 

I think Keith's being a bit modest. What he and The B-52's have always done is create quirky pop earworms like nothing I've heard before or since, whilst not being afraid to drop in more challenging and thought provoking aural and/or lyrical notes. Listening to their music is an uplifting and positive experience, which I hope the next forty five minutes will amply demonstrate.

Keith's contribution cannot be underestimated and this selection is a celebration of him and his rather wonderful bandmates. 

Click on the song title links to find one official video, a few fan-made videos, some live performances and a Top Of The Pops appearance with arguably a rare wardrobe faux-pas from the usually super cool Mr. Strickland. But hey, it was the 1980s, get over it!

Have a good one, Keith, here's to many more!

 

1) Nip It In The Bud (Remix By Tom Durack) (1990)

2) Runnin' Around (Album Version) (1980)

3) Theme For A Nude Beach (Album Version) (1986)

4) Queen Of Las Vegas (Album Version) (1983)

5) Roam (Album Version) (1989)

6) Girl From Ipanema Goes To Greenland (Single Edit) (1986)

7) Party Out Of Bounds (Party Mix) (1981)

8) 52 Girls (Album Version) (1979)

9) Dirty Back Road (Album Version) (1980)

10) Detour Thru Your Mind (Album Version) (1986)

11) Downtown (Album Version) (Cover of Petula Clark) (1979) 

 

1979: The B-52's: 8, 11

1980: Wild Planet: 2, 9

1981: Party Mix!: 7

1982: Mesopotamia (remixed in 1990): 1 

1983: Whammy!: 4

1986: Bouncing Off The Satellites: 3, 10

1986: Girl From Ipanema Goes To Greenland EP: 6

1989: Cosmic Thing: 5

 

The Love We Feel (45:03) (GD) (M)

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)