The B-52's - Cosmic Thing

Many observers were prepared to write off the B-52's after the release of Bouncing Off the Satellites. Granted, the album was completed in the wake of Ricky Wilson's death, but the group appeared bereft of new musical ideas and were sounding rather stale. In other words, the last thing anyone expected was a first-class return to form, which is what they got with Cosmic Thing. Working with producers Don Was and Nile Rodgers, the B-52's updated their sound with shiny new surfaces and deep, funky grooves -- it was the same basic pattern as before, only refurbished and contemporized. Just as importantly, they had their best set of songs since at least Wild Planet, possibly since their debut. "Cosmic Thing" and "Channel Z" were great up-tempo rockers; "Roam" had a groovy beat blessed with a great Cindy Wilson vocal; and "Deadbeat Club" was one of their rare successful reflective numbers. Then there was "Love Shack," an irresistible dance number with delightfully silly lyrics and hooks as big as a whale that unbelievably gave the group a long-awaited Top Ten hit. The thing is, Cosmic Thing would already have been considered a triumphant return without its commercial success. The big sales were just the icing on the cake. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Name Credits Alpana Bawa Clothing/Wardrobe Arno Hecht Horn Arno Hect Horn Bob Funk Horn Bob Ludwig Mastering Budd Tunick Production Manager Carl Beatty Horn Charley Drayton Drums Charlie Drayton Drums Chris Cioe Horn Cindy Wilson Vocals David Cook Engineer Don Was Producer Ed Brooks Second Engineer Fred Schneider Percussion, Vocals (Background), Vocals Kate Pierson Vocals, Vocals (Background), Keyboards Keith Freedman Second Engineer Keith Strickland Keyboards, Guitar, Vocals, Vocals (Background) Leroy Clouden Drums Martin Kunitz Assistant Engineer Nile Rodgers Guitar, Mixing, Guitar (Electric), Producer Patrick Dillett Second Engineer Paul Literal Horn Philippe Saisse Keyboards Richard Hilton Programming, Keyboards Sara Lee Guitar (Bass), Keyboards, Vocals (Background) Sonny Emory Drums Steve Ferrone Drums Tom Durack Engineer Tom Durak Engineer, Mixing Tom Mandel Keyboards Tommy Mandel Keyboards