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Wild Planet

by The B-52's

Released: August 27, 1980

New wave, dance-rock, surf

musicOnOff editorial

Why This Album Matters

This album matters because its strongest editorial story is: Breakthrough.

The Album

"Wild Planet" is the second studio album of the American new wave band B-52's. It was unveiled to the public on August 27, 1980 following their successful self-titled debut album. The album incorporates upbeat party anthems like 'Party Out Of Bounds', 'Private Idaho', and 'Strobe Light'.

Inside the Recording

Predominantly recorded in Compass Point Studios in Nassau, Bahamas, the album is a manifestation of the B-52's joyous, oddball approach to rock and dance music, featuring unusual guitar tunings and synopsis-like lyrics that are simultaneously simple yet cryptic. The music from "Wild Planet" showcases the band's quirky style and unique artistry, mixing genres such as post-punk, new wave, and dance-rock, making it an exemplar of the band's early sound.

Stories and details

Interesting Facts

The charm and uniqueness of the "Wild Planet"…

The charm and uniqueness of the "Wild Planet" album have established it as a classic in new wave music.

Watch and listen

Explore the Album

The B-52's - Wild Planet

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Then

Reception

"Wild Planet" was both a critical and commercial success, ranking in various music charts worldwide, peaking at number 3 on the Australian Kent Music Report Albums Chart, and number 18 on the Billboard 200 in the United States. The hit 'Private Idaho' scored in the top 5 of Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play Singles chart. The album, as of today, retains its critical acclaim and distinguishes the B-52's as one of the pioneering bands of the new wave genre.

Full background

The Complete Album Story

"Wild Planet" is the second studio album of the American new wave band B-52's. It was unveiled to the public on August 27, 1980 following their successful self-titled debut album. The music from "Wild Planet" showcases the band's quirky style and unique artistry, mixing genres such as post-punk, new wave, and dance-rock, making it an exemplar of the band's early sound.

The album incorporates upbeat party anthems like 'Party Out Of Bounds', 'Private Idaho', and 'Strobe Light'. "Wild Planet" was both a critical and commercial success, ranking in various music charts worldwide, peaking at number 3 on the Australian Kent Music Report Albums Chart, and number 18 on the Billboard 200 in the United States. The hit 'Private Idaho' scored in the top 5 of Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play Singles chart.

The album, as of today, retains its critical acclaim and distinguishes the B-52's as one of the pioneering bands of the new wave genre. The charm and uniqueness of the "Wild Planet" album have established it as a classic in new wave music.