portrait of this blog's author - by Stephen Blackman 2008

Wednesday, June 28, 2017


On this day in music history: June 27, 1989 - “Cosmic Thing”, the fifth album by The B-52’s is released. Produced by Don Was and Nile Rodgers, It is recorded at Dreamland Recording Studio in West Hurley, NY and Skyline Studios in New York City from Late 1988 - Early 1989. After the loss of original guitarist Ricky Wilson in October 1985 and the lukewarm reception to the “Bouncing Off The Satellites” album, the veteran new wave band take a three year long hiatus from the music business before regrouping. In the interim, Keith Stickland having switched from the drums to playing guitar (having learned Wilson’s unique guitar tunings), begin composing new material in 1988. Playing some of the new songs for his bandmates, The B-52’s begin writing and playing together again. Their first album of all new studio material in over three years. Returning to the studio in late 1988, the band work with Was (Not Was) bassist Don Was fresh off of producing Bonnie Raitt’s comeback album “Nick Of Time”, and Chic guitarist and producer Nile Rodgers. The album features additional musicians including former Gang Of Four bassist Sara Lee, drummers Steve Ferrone (AWB, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers), Sonny Emory (Earth, Wind & Fire, Bruce Hornsby), and Charley Drayton (Divinyls). It is an artistic and commercial triumph upon its release, and is the biggest selling album of their career. It spins off four singles including “Love Shack” (#3 Pop), “Roam” (#3 Pop) and “Deadbeat Club” (#30 Pop) “Cosmic Thing” peaks at number four on the Billboard Top 200, and is certified 4x Platinum in the US by the RIAA.

Another song bought when it came out and this I have on a 12" single or EP extended remix when it came out. It was a great chart classic and you could dance to it! Ironic too! 


No comments: