Planet Claire

"Planet Claire" is the second single released by The B-52's from their self-titled debut album. The single was their second to chart anywhere, at no. 43 in Australia and no. 24 on the US Hot Dance Club Play chart, along with album tracks "Rock Lobster" and "Dance This Mess Around".[3]

"Planet Claire"
Single by The B-52's
from the album The B-52's
B-side	"Downtown"
Released	July 6, 1979
Recorded	1978–1979
Genre	New wave[1] dance-rock[2]
Length	4:35
Label	Island Warner Bros.
Songwriter(s)	Henry Mancini Kate Pierson Fred Schneider Keith Strickland Cindy Wilson Ricky Wilson
Producer(s)	Chris Blackwell
The B-52's singles chronology
"Rock Lobster" (1978) "Planet Claire" (1979) "Dance This Mess Around" (1979)
Audio
"Planet Claire" on YouTube

Track listing

All tracks are written by The B-52's, except where noted.

A-side

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Lead vocals	Length
1.	"Planet Claire"	Fred Schneider Keith Strickland	Pierson Schneider	4:35

B-side

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Lead vocals	Length
1.	"Downtown"	Tony Hatch, arranged by Cindy Wilson and Kate Pierson	Pierson C. Wilson	2:57
Total length:				7:30

Personnel

• Fred Schneider – vocals, walkie-talkie
• Kate Pierson – Farfisa organ, synth bass, wailing
• Cindy Wilson – bongos
• Ricky Wilson – electric guitar, smoke alarm
• Keith Strickland – drums, percussion, all other sounds

Chart positions

Chart (1980)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[4]	43
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[5]	35
US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[3]	24

Chart (1986)	Peak position
UK Singles (OCC)[6] with "Rock Lobster"	12

References

1. Mason, Stewart. "Planet Claire – Song Review". AllMusic. All Media Network. Archived from the original on September 16, 2017. Retrieved August 28, 2019.
2. Talevski, Nick (2010). Rock Obituaries: Knocking On Heaven's Door. Omnibus Press. p. 725. ISBN 978-0-85712-117-2.
3. "The B-52's – Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
4. "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – CHART POSITIONS PRE 1989". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved June 18, 2014.
5. "Charts.nz – The B-52's – Planet Claire". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
6. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 22, 2020.