The Essential 10: The B-52s

This edition of The Essential 10, our quickfire introduction to a wide range of my favourite artists, features The B-52s; an act that has managed 7 albums over a career that begun in 1976 and still continues today (albeit with only three of the originals playing).

I have trawled the entire catalogue to come up with ten of my favourite tracks by them, including a few surprises (although, if you don’t know much about them, they may all be surprises).

The B-52s came into my life at the end of the 1980s, with the release of Cosmic Thing - a joyous celebration and the first thing they had recorded after founder Ricky Wilson had died in 1985. We had an opportunity to see them live about 15 years ago - still kicking ourselves that we didn't do it! Anyway - having had a cold that won't disappear for the last two weeks, I needed something bright and cheering on this chilly autumnal evening - and nothing does that like ten songs from the B-52s.

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1. 6060-842: pretty much the whole of the eponymously titled debut album is catchy as heck - but I have picked this one out, just because... (audio only)

2. Private Idaho: a big, bouncy hit on the dance floors from second record, Wild Planet - and yes, it is apparently how Gus Van Sant got the inspiration to name his 1991 movie, My Own Private Idaho (Keanu Reeves and River Phoenix). (live in New Jersey, 1980)

3. Wig: a ridiculous, high-tempo romp from the last Ricky Wilson album, Bouncing Off The Satellites. I'm not entirely sure how you make a four and a half minute song about a hairpiece work, but somehow they do it! (audio only)

4. Bushfire: a gem (and perhaps my favourite) from Cosmic Thing - this is a great slow burner (how apt) to begin with, which erupts with a crash of drums and a driving guitar riff - as ever, Fred Schneider talk-sings, while Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson soar over the top. (audio only)

5. 52 Girls: I could have pretty much just put everything in here from that first album, but had to include this one - the shuffle drums, the incessant guitar, the chanting singing - a quintessential B-52s song if ever there was one. (audio only)

6. Mesopotamia: this is the title track of a 1982 EP that was produced by David Byrne, and he introduced some Talking Heads type stuff to proceedings, with some horns and a move away from straight up dancefloor songs and a bit more of a world music influence. (live in Dortmund, 1983)

7. Girl From Ipanema Goes To Greenland: a song from the album Bouncing Off The Satellites, that was just about finished when Ricky Wilson died. It jumps from the obvious reference to the popular 1960s bossa nova hit - the remaining band did record a video for this, something Fred Schneider called "bittersweet" but the 'best video they ever made'. (official music video)

8. Funplex: proving that they could still write great pop tunes in the 21st century, this title track and single from their most recent album in 2008 has echoes back to Cosmic Thing twenty years before, and that's no bad thing. (official music video)

9. Roam: Cindy Wilson and Kate Pierson take centre stage for this phenomenal track off of Cosmic Thing. A glorious wall of sound, produced by Nile Rodgers, with a suitably large and funky guitar to help it along. (official music video)

10. Rock Lobster: I know this is the obvious one, but there is no way on Earth you can compile a B-52s list without including this, their signature tune. A gloriously goofy, catchy epic track, or as music magazine Cash Box noted, "a silly yet utterly enjoyable affair". (fantastic live version in New Jersey, 1980)