Planet Claire
| "Planet Claire" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by the B-52's | ||||
| from the album The B-52's | ||||
| B-side |
| |||
| Released | July 6, 1979 | |||
| Recorded | 1978–1979 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 4:35 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriters | ||||
| Producer | Chris Blackwell | |||
| The B-52's singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Audio | ||||
| "Planet Claire" on YouTube | ||||
"Planet Claire" is a song the B-52's released in July 1979 as the second single from their first album The B-52's. Based on Duane Eddy's version of Henry Mancini's Peter Gunn theme,[3] the single reached number 43 on the Australian Kent Music Report chart and number 24 on the Billboard dance chart in the US.[4]
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'."[5] Record World said that it had "an undeniable rhythm track" and "more unique synthesizer lines" compared to "Rock Lobster".[6]
The Morse code at the beginning of the song is "NAWS DE CFH - ZKR F1 3394.....", which is from a "call tape" recording transmitted by Canadian Forces Station Mill Cove in Hubbards, Nova Scotia.[7]
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.[8]
Track listing
| 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 | |||
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 |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[9] | 43 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[10] | 35 |
| US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[4] | 24 |
| Chart (1986) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles (OCC)[11] with "Rock Lobster" |
12 |
Cover version
While the original version appears during the end credits of the Annie Award winning 2009 DreamWorks Animation sci-fi comedy motion picture Monsters vs. Aliens, an instrumental cover version of the song performed by the Les Deux Love Orchestra is featured during Stephen Colbert's character President Hathaway's solo encounter with the alien robot.
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.
- ^ Sawdey, Evan (2022-09-28). "The B-52's Sublime 1979 Debut Album (Between the Grooves)". PopMatters. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "B52's Planet Claire CW message decoded". March 19, 2026.
- ^ "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 on 18/5/1986 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 22, 2020.