Album · The B-52's
Whammy! by The B-52's
Whammy! is an album by The B-52's, released in 1983. 4 songs from it have charted on rock radio countdowns, with 41 countdown appearances in total. The biggest is “Song For A Future Generation”, on 18 lists with a best position of #65.
Whammy!, the third studio album from the B-52's, came out on April 27, 1983, on Warner Bros. in America and Island in Europe and Japan. The Athens, Georgia party band cut it at Compass Point Studios in Nassau in December 1982 with Steven Stanley producing, and the plan was to update their thrift-shop sound with drum machines and synthesizers. It worked: the songs are tighter and more electronic, but still loaded with Fred Schneider's camp barking and Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson's sky-high harmonies, with Ricky Wilson's guitar and Keith Strickland's drums keeping it bouncing.
"Legal Tender", "Whammy Kiss" and "Song for a Future Generation" were the singles, the last a showcase for the album's big novelty: for the first time on record, all five members sing. "Legal Tender" crossed onto both the Hot 100 and the dance club chart. It was also the last album the band released before Ricky Wilson died of AIDS in 1985.
Written with AI assistance from RockLists chart data, MusicBrainz and Wikipedia.
Songs from Whammy! on radio countdowns
| # | Song | Strength | Lists | Best | #1s | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Song For A Future Generation | 18 | #65 | – | 1983–2014 | |
| 2 | Legal Tender | 13 | #65 | – | 1983–2003 | |
| 3 | Whammy Kiss | 9 | #38 | – | 1983–2023 | |
| 4 | Work that Skirt | 1 | #1570 | – | 2003 |
Only songs that appear on at least one countdown are listed. Release data from MusicBrainz.