''Funplex'' is the seventh studio album (eighth overall) by

The B-52s The B-52's, also styled as The B-52s, are an American new wave band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1976. The original lineup consisted of Fred Schneider (vocals, percussion), Kate Pierson (vocals, keyboards, synth bass), Cindy Wilson (vocals, ...

, recorded during 2006 and 2007. The album was released on March 25, 2008, by

Astralwerks Records Astralwerks is an American record label primarily focused on electronic music owned by Universal Music Group. Its material is distributed via Capitol Music Group in the United States. The label was founded in 1993 and, in its early years, featur ...

. It was the first album of new material the group had released since ''

Good Stuff ''Good Stuff'' is the sixth studio album by American new wave band the B-52's, released in 1992 by Reprise Records. Background ''Good Stuff'' was created in the wake of the departure of B-52's singer and founding member Cindy Wilson, who lef ...

'' in 1992, although the band did record two new songs for their 1998 compilation album '' Time Capsule: Songs for a Future Generation''.

Single releases

The first single from the album was released digitally on January 29, 2008, and is the title track, " Funplex". A music video was filmed in West Hollywood on March 1, 2008, and featured a cameo appearance by

RuPaul RuPaul Andre Charles (born November 17, 1960; stylized as RuPaul) is an American drag queen, television personality, actor, musician, and model. Best known for producing, hosting, and judging the reality competition series '' RuPaul's Drag Race ...

, who had previously appeared in the video for " Love Shack". ''Funplex'' debuted at number 11 on the U.S. ''Billboard'' 200 chart, selling about 30,000 copies in its first week. The second single from the album was "

Juliet of the Spirits ''Juliet of the Spirits'' ( it, Giulietta degli spiriti) is a 1965 fantasy comedy-drama film directed by Federico Fellini and starring Giulietta Masina, Sandra Milo, Mario Pisu, Valentina Cortese, and Valeska Gert. The film is about the v ...

Alternate versions

The CD, packed in the

Digipak Optical disc packaging is the packaging that accompanies CDs, DVDs, and other formats of optical discs. Most packaging is rigid or semi-rigid and designed to protect the media from scratches and other types of exposure damage. Jewel case ...

format, was released in three, front cover color variants of the lettering in the album title and the band's shadows: the original (shown above) in gray, multi-colored, and hot pink. In the colored versions, the coloring covers the band's instruments while the band members themselves, along with the band's logotype, retain their original rendering throughout all versions. Exclusive, limited-edition autographed copies were offered by

Newbury Comics Newbury Comics is an American comic book and music retailer based in New England. Newbury Comics began as a comic book vendor on Newbury Street in Boston. The company was founded in 1978 by Massachusetts Institute of Technology students John B ...

and FYE, as well during the Funplex 2008 tour, and a special limited-edition double-disc set of ''Funplex'' was available only at

Target Target may refer to: Physical items * Shooting target, used in marksmanship training and various shooting sports ** Bullseye (target), the goal one for which one aims in many of these sports ** Aiming point, in field artillery, fi ...

stores in the US. The bonus disc features five live tracks recorded at the band's November 16, 2007, concert at the Roxy in Los Angeles. Two additional live tracks from that same concert were available exclusively on iTunes.

Track listing

All songs written and arranged by the B-52s; music by Keith Strickland; and lyrics and vocal melodies by

Kate Pierson Catherine Elizabeth Pierson (born April 27, 1948) is an American singer, lyricist, and founding member of the B-52's. She plays guitar, bass and various keyboard instruments. In the B-52s, she has performed alongside Cindy Wilson, Fred Schneide ...

Fred Schneider Frederick William Schneider III (born July 1, 1951) is an American singer, songwriter, arranger, and musician, best known as the frontman of the rock band The B-52's, of which he is a founding member. Schneider is well known for his '' sprechg ...

, and Cindy Wilson.Album liner notes #"Pump" – 4:53 #"Hot Corner" – 3:24 #"Ultraviolet" – 4:25 #"

" – 4:22 #" Funplex" – 4:07 #"Eyes Wide Open" – 5:35 #"Love in the Year 3000" – 4:14 #"Deviant Ingredient" – 4:50 #"Too Much to Think About" – 3:47 #"Dancing Now" – 4:02 #"Keep This Party Going" – 4:31 iTunes-exclusive deluxe version bonus tracks #

" Private Idaho" (Live at the Roxy) – 4:00 #" Planet Claire" (Live at the Roxy) – 5:28 Target-exclusive bonus CD: ''Live at the Roxy in L.A.'' #"

Party Out of Bounds "Party Out of Bounds" is the title of a 1980 song by The B-52's, from their album '' Wild Planet''. Featured with the other dancefloor-bound tracks from the album, the song peaked at number 5 on the ''Billboard'' Hot Dance Club Play chart in 1 ...

" – 3:45 #" Channel Z" – 5:26 #" Roam" – 5:13 #"Strobe Light" – 4:38 #"

Rock Lobster "Rock Lobster" is a song written by Fred Schneider and Ricky Wilson, two members of the B-52's. It was twice recorded and released as a single, first by DB Records as their debut release in April 1978, and again the following year for the ban ...

" – 5:33

Personnel

The B-52s *

– vocals, cowbell (track 6) *

– vocals * Cindy Wilson – vocals * Keith Strickland – guitars, keyboards, programming, bass (tracks 1-2 & 11) Additional musicians *

Tracy Wormworth Tracy Ann Wormworth (born December 15, 1958) is an American bass guitarist. Wormworth is a member of the B-52s. She has recorded and toured with the band since the Cosmic Tour of 1990. She played on their sixth studio album, 1992's ''Good Stuf ...

– bass (tracks 1, 3, 8 & 11) * Zachary Alford – drums (tracks 1, 3, 5, & 8-9) *

Sterling Campbell Sterling Campbell (born May 3, 1964) is an American drummer and songwriter who has worked with numerous high-profile acts, including The B-52s, Duran Duran, Soul Asylum, Cyndi Lauper, Nena, Grayson Hugh, Spandau Ballet, Gustavo Cerati and Da ...

– drums (tracks 2, 6-7 & 10-11) *Steve Osbourne – organ (tracks 1 & 3), bass & timpani (track 9) *Pete Davis – keyboards, synth programming (tracks 2, 4, 6-8 & 10-11) drum programming (tracks 4 & 7) *Dave McCracken – programming (tracks 5 & 9) *Damian Taylor – effects programming (tracks 1, 3, 5, & 8-9) *Sharon Adl-Doost – intro vocal (track 1) Production *Producer:

Steve Osborne Stephen John "Steve" Osborne (born 1963) is a British record producer, living in Bath, England. He has worked with a wide variety of musicians, including Suede, the B-52s, A-ha, New Order, Elbow, U2, Happy Mondays, Placebo, Gregory Porter, D ...

*Engineers: Dan Austin, Rick Morris, Pete Davis, Keith Strickland, Kris Sampson *Mixing: Steve Osborne *Mastering:

Bob Ludwig Robert C. Ludwig (born c. 1945) is an American mastering engineer. He has mastered recordings on all the major recording formats for all the major record labels, and on projects by more than 1,300 artists including Led Zeppelin, Lou Reed, Quee ...

Artwork *Art direction and design: Jeri Heiden & John Heiden *Photography: Joseph Cultice *Hair: Gerard Kelly *Make-up: Kristofer Buckle *Stylist: Robert Molnar

Chart performance

Album

Singles

References

{{Authority control The B-52's albums 2008 albums Albums produced by Steve Osborne Astralwerks albums