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"Planet Claire" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by The B-52's | ||||
from the album The B-52's | ||||
B-side | "Downtown" | |||
Released | July 6, 1979 | |||
Recorded | 1978–1979 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 4:35 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Chris Blackwell | |||
The B-52's singles chronology | ||||
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Audio | ||||
"Planet Claire" on YouTube |
"Planet Claire" is a song by the B-52's, released as the second single from their self-titled debut album in July 1979. Based on Duane Eddy's version of Henry Mancini's Peter Gunn theme, the single reached number 43 on the Australian Kent Music Report chart and number 24 on the Billboard dance chart in the US. [3]
Cash Box said that "bongos, Ventures-influenced guitar work and morse code blips are calling all pop, AOR audiences to dance to this humorous followup to 'Rock Lobster'." [4] Record World said that it had "an undeniable rhythm track" and "more unique synthesizer lines" compared to "Rock Lobster". [5]
In 2011, band member Kate Pierson expressed her dissatisfaction with the way engineer Robert Ash mixed her vocals with the Farfisa organ on the studio version, using effects to make her vocals "sound like a synthesizer", and stated that she prefers the sound of live performances of the song. [6]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Lead vocals | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Planet Claire" |
| 4:35 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Lead vocals | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Downtown" | Tony Hatch, arranged by Cindy Wilson and Kate Pierson |
| 2:57 |
Total length: | 7:30 |
Chart (1980) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (Kent Music Report) [7] | 43 |
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [8] | 35 |
US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play [3] | 24 |
Chart (1986) | Peak position |
---|---|
UK Singles (OCC) [9] with "Rock Lobster" | 12 |
The B-52s, originally presented as the B-52's, are an American new wave band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1976. The original lineup consisted of Fred Schneider, Kate Pierson, Cindy Wilson, Ricky Wilson (guitar), and Keith Strickland. Ricky Wilson died of AIDS-related illness in 1985, and Strickland switched from drums to lead guitar. The band has also added various members for albums and live performances.
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