Bouncing off the Satellites is the fourth studio album by New Wave band The… Read Full Bio ↴Bouncing off the Satellites is the fourth studio album by New Wave band The B-52's, released on September 8, 1986. It was recorded in July 1985 and was produced by Tony Mansfield. Guitarist Ricky Wilson died of AIDS during the recording. With the band too distraught to tour, the album received minimal promotion and failed to yield any hits despite some stations initially giving good airplay to "Summer of Love". The album was seen as a departure from the band's original New Wave sound as a result, the album was initially a critical and commercial failure.
Recording sessions for Bouncing off the Satellites began in July 1985. A backwards message was deliberately inserted into the album by The B-52's. The message occurs in the song "Detour Thru Your Mind", towards the end of the passage. If Fred Schneider's psychedelic talking is played backwards, he can be heard saying "I buried my parakeet in the backyard. Oh no, you're playing the record backwards. Watch out, you might ruin your needle."
During the recording, guitarist Ricky Wilson had been suffering from AIDS/HIV-related health complications.None of the other band members were aware of his illness.In an interview, fellow band member Kate Pierson stated that Wilson had kept his illness secret from his fellow band members because he "did not want anyone to worry about him or fuss about him." On October 12, 1985, Wilson finally succumbed to the illness, at the age of 32. Devastated, the band went into seclusion and did not tour to promote the album. Nevertheless, Bouncing Off the Satellites eventually reached 85 on the Billboard 200. Cindy went into a deep depression after her brother's passing, while Keith retreated to Woodstock, New York, and Kate and Fred stayed in New York City. The band felt that it would be impossible to continue without Ricky.
Track listingAll songs written and composed by The B-52's, except where noted.
Side one
1. "Summer of Love" Kate Pierson, Keith Strickland, Cindy Wilson, Ricky Wilson Pierson, C. Wilson 4:02
2. "Girl from Ipanema Goes to Greenland" Strickland, C. Wilson, R. Wilson C. Wilson 4:22
3. "Housework" Pierson, Tim Rollins Pierson 4:04
4. "Detour Thru Your Mind" Pierson, Schneider 5:06
5. "Wig" Pierson, Schneider, C. Wilson 4:22
Side two
1. "Theme for a Nude Beach" Pierson, Schneider, Strickland, C. Wilson 4:50
2. "Ain't It a Shame" Strickland, C. Wilson, R. Wilson C. Wilson 5:30
3. "Juicy Jungle" Fred Schneider, John Coté Schneider 4:50
4. "Communicate" Pierson, Schneider, C. Wilson 4:08
5. "She Brakes for Rainbows" Strickland, C. Wilson C. Wilson 4:41
Total length: 45:55
Fred Schneider – lead vocals
Keith Strickland – bass, guitar, harmonica, percussion, keyboards, sitar, vocals, backing vocals
Cindy Wilson – lead vocals
Kate Pierson – lead vocals
Ricky Wilson – lead guitar, bass, backing vocals
Additional musicians
Tom Beckerman – guitar
on "Juicy Jungle"
Tony Mansfield – Fairlight CMI
John Coté – guitar, background vocals
on "Juicy Jungle"
Mark Mazur – guitar, bass
on "Housework"
Tim Rollins – guitar
on "Housework"
Adey Wilson – guitar, bass, vocals, background vocals
Production
Tony Mansfield – producer
Shep Pettibone – producer
Michael Hutchinson – engineering
Steve Peck – engineering
Tony Phillips – engineering
Fernando Kral – engineering assistant
Don Peterkofsky – engineering assistant
Shep Pettibone – mixing
Phill Brown – mastering
Artwork
Keith Strickland – photography
Kenny Scharf – design
Keith Bennett – art director
Kav DeLuxe – art director
Chart performanceChart (1987) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard 200 85
Recording sessions for Bouncing off the Satellites began in July 1985. A backwards message was deliberately inserted into the album by The B-52's. The message occurs in the song "Detour Thru Your Mind", towards the end of the passage. If Fred Schneider's psychedelic talking is played backwards, he can be heard saying "I buried my parakeet in the backyard. Oh no, you're playing the record backwards. Watch out, you might ruin your needle."
During the recording, guitarist Ricky Wilson had been suffering from AIDS/HIV-related health complications.None of the other band members were aware of his illness.In an interview, fellow band member Kate Pierson stated that Wilson had kept his illness secret from his fellow band members because he "did not want anyone to worry about him or fuss about him." On October 12, 1985, Wilson finally succumbed to the illness, at the age of 32. Devastated, the band went into seclusion and did not tour to promote the album. Nevertheless, Bouncing Off the Satellites eventually reached 85 on the Billboard 200. Cindy went into a deep depression after her brother's passing, while Keith retreated to Woodstock, New York, and Kate and Fred stayed in New York City. The band felt that it would be impossible to continue without Ricky.
Track listingAll songs written and composed by The B-52's, except where noted.
Side one
1. "Summer of Love" Kate Pierson, Keith Strickland, Cindy Wilson, Ricky Wilson Pierson, C. Wilson 4:02
2. "Girl from Ipanema Goes to Greenland" Strickland, C. Wilson, R. Wilson C. Wilson 4:22
3. "Housework" Pierson, Tim Rollins Pierson 4:04
4. "Detour Thru Your Mind" Pierson, Schneider 5:06
5. "Wig" Pierson, Schneider, C. Wilson 4:22
Side two
1. "Theme for a Nude Beach" Pierson, Schneider, Strickland, C. Wilson 4:50
2. "Ain't It a Shame" Strickland, C. Wilson, R. Wilson C. Wilson 5:30
3. "Juicy Jungle" Fred Schneider, John Coté Schneider 4:50
4. "Communicate" Pierson, Schneider, C. Wilson 4:08
5. "She Brakes for Rainbows" Strickland, C. Wilson C. Wilson 4:41
Total length: 45:55
Fred Schneider – lead vocals
Keith Strickland – bass, guitar, harmonica, percussion, keyboards, sitar, vocals, backing vocals
Cindy Wilson – lead vocals
Kate Pierson – lead vocals
Ricky Wilson – lead guitar, bass, backing vocals
Additional musicians
Tom Beckerman – guitar
on "Juicy Jungle"
Tony Mansfield – Fairlight CMI
John Coté – guitar, background vocals
on "Juicy Jungle"
Mark Mazur – guitar, bass
on "Housework"
Tim Rollins – guitar
on "Housework"
Adey Wilson – guitar, bass, vocals, background vocals
Production
Tony Mansfield – producer
Shep Pettibone – producer
Michael Hutchinson – engineering
Steve Peck – engineering
Tony Phillips – engineering
Fernando Kral – engineering assistant
Don Peterkofsky – engineering assistant
Shep Pettibone – mixing
Phill Brown – mastering
Artwork
Keith Strickland – photography
Kenny Scharf – design
Keith Bennett – art director
Kav DeLuxe – art director
Chart performanceChart (1987) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard 200 85
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Bouncing Off the Satellites
The B-52's Lyrics
Ain't It a Shame Flying saucers could land And it wouldn't make much differen…
Communicate Let loose Before it causes problems Let loose Before it tear…
Detour thru Your Mind Your brain is an ever-changing kaleidoscope of moods and col…
Girl from Ipanema Goes to Greenland Girl from Ipanema goes to Greenland Girl from Ipanema goes t…
Housework I am doing my housework Got no time to fool 'round I…
Juicy Jungle Millions of trees Don't chop them down See them growing for …
She Brakes for Rainbows Here comes Brenda Brenda Holiday Though she hasn't That much…
Summer of Love Summer of love Summer of love I've been waiting for the man…
Theme for a Nude Beach There is a sand bar in your mind (Sand bar in…
Wig What's that on your head? A wig What's that on your head? A…
Tony-Deborah.
on Debbie
NO! It's not about some generic "Debbie," it's a tribute to Debbie Harry of Blondie! (I guess it's easier if you grew up in the 80s)
Wayne Matthess
on Dance This Mess Around
Remember........when you held his little kitty Paw.............Remember......Remember when you held my cat';s paw...walk and talk in the name of Kalvin........before you break...My heart......oh don't ya know why.........Why won't you dance with me, my cats? I'm not no limburger.....just a limburger.......Just a limburger 2 more times...oh 3 more times.....and finally Fred....Dance this Mess Round Round Round Round Round....
Wayne Matthess
on There's A Moon In The Sky (Called The Moon)
there's a moon in the sky.....does anyone beside me think this was a song no one realized was so great....i think this is one good good song that is so danceable even 30 yrs.....listen and groove........no one has thought this is one of the best ones they've ever done but simply just one track on 2nd album, a B side song i guess.......dang, i would've put this on radio play, video the whole works....instead of that awful awful Love Shack....my god that Love Shack sucked,........