Planet Claire
"Planet Claire" | ||||
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Single by The B-52's | ||||
from the album The B-52's | ||||
B-side | "Downtown" | |||
Released | July 6, 1979 | |||
Recorded | 1978–1979 | |||
Genre |
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Length | 4:35 | |||
Label |
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Songwriter(s) |
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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]
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Lead vocals | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Planet Claire" |
| 4:35 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Lead vocals | Length |
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1. | "Downtown" | Tony Hatch, arranged by Cindy Wilson and Kate Pierson |
| 2:57 |
Total length: | 7:30 |
Personnel
- Fred Schneider – lead vocals, walkie-talkie
- Kate Pierson – Farfisa organ, keyboard bass, harmony vocals
- Cindy Wilson – bongos
- Ricky Wilson – guitar
- Keith Strickland – drums, Claire sounds
Chart positions
Chart (1980) | Peak position |
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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 |
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UK Singles (OCC)[9] with "Rock Lobster" | 12 |
Cover Version
An instrumental cover version of the song performed by Les Deux Love Orchestra is featured in the DreamWorks animated motion picture Monsters vs. Aliens.
References
- ^ Mason, Stewart. "Planet Claire – Song Review". AllMusic. All Media Network. Archived from the original on September 16, 2017. Retrieved August 28, 2019.
- ^ Talevski, Nick (2010). Rock Obituaries: Knocking On Heaven's Door. Omnibus Press. p. 725. ISBN 978-0-85712-117-2.
- ^ a b "The B-52's – Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
- ^ "Singles Reviews > Singles to Watch" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. XLII, no. 5. June 14, 1980. p. 18. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
- ^ "Single Picks" (PDF). Record World. June 14, 1980. p. 16. Retrieved 2023-02-20.
- ^ "Kate Pierson of the B-52s". The A.V. Club. November 1, 2011. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
- ^ "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – CHART POSITIONS PRE 1989". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved June 18, 2014.
- ^ "The B-52's – Planet Claire". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
- v
- t
- e
- Kate Pierson
- Fred Schneider
- Keith Strickland
- Cindy Wilson
- Tracy Wormworth
- Sterling Campbell
- Ken Maiuri
- Greg Suran
- Ricky Wilson
- Sara Lee
- Paul Gordon
- Zack Alford
- Pat Irwin
- Julee Cruise
- Mesopotamia
- Party Mix!
- Time Capsule: Songs for a Future Generation
- Nude on the Moon: The B-52's Anthology
- "Rock Lobster"
- "Planet Claire"
- "Dance This Mess Around"
- "Private Idaho"
- "Party Out of Bounds"
- "Give Me Back My Man"
- "Legal Tender"/"Moon 83"
- "Whammy Kiss"
- "Song for a Future Generation"
- "Summer of Love"
- "Girl from Ipanema Goes to Greenland"
- "Wig"
- "(Shake That) Cosmic Thing"
- "Channel Z"
- "Love Shack"
- "Roam"
- "Deadbeat Club"
- "Good Stuff"
- "Is That You Mo-Dean?"
- "Tell It Like It T-I-Is"
- "Revolution Earth"
- "Hot Pants Explosion"
- "(Meet) The Flintstones"
- "Debbie"
- "Love Shack '99"
- "Funplex"
- "Juliet of the Spirits"
- The B-52's Time Capsule: Videos for a Future Generation 1979–1998
- With the Wild Crowd! Live in Athens, GA