Sunset Strip (song)

"Sunset Strip" is a song written by Roger Waters for his second studio album, Radio K.A.O.S. It was placed as the fifth track on the record. It was also released as the album's second single, in September 1987.

For the Ray Stevens song, see Unreal!!!
"Sunset Strip"
Single by Roger Waters
from the album Radio K.A.O.S.
B-side
Released12 September 1987
Recorded1986
GenreProgressive rock
Length4:45 (Album Version)
4:06 (Single Version)
LabelColumbia/CBS Records (US)
EMI (UK)
Songwriter(s)Roger Waters
Producer(s)Roger Waters
Nick Griffiths
Ian Ritchie
Roger Waters singles chronology
"Radio Waves"
(1987)		 "Sunset Strip"
(1987)		 "The Tide Is Turning"
(1987)
Alternative covers
American single cover
Music video
"Sunsret Strip" on YouTube

Background

Billy is a young man with a disability. He uses a wheelchair and is thought to be incapable of speech. However, Billy is highly intelligent and gifted, and can hear radio waves in his head. He begins to explore the cordless phone, recognising its similarity to a radio. He experiments with a phone which his brother, Benny, now in prison, hid in his wheelchair after burgling an electronics shop. Through it Billy is able to access computers and speech synthesisers and learns to speak through them. He calls a radio station in Los Angeles named "Radio KAOS" and tells the DJ of his life story. "Sunset Strip" is about Billy's sister-in-law, Molly not being able to cope and sending him to L.A. to live with his uncle Dave. During the song Billy expresses his longing for home and the song mentions various things associated with Wales, such as the Red Dragon, male voice choirs, the land of his fathers and the Black Fields.

Track listings
12" single
No.TitleLength
1."Sunset Strip"4:06
2."Money (Live)"6:28
3."Get Back to Radio (Demo)"4:46
US, Europe and Australian 7" single
No.TitleLength
1."Sunset Strip"4:06
2."Money (Live)"6:28
South African 7" single
No.TitleLength
1."Sunset Strip"4:06
2."The Tide Is Turning (After Live Aid)"5:43

Charts
Chart (1987) Peak
position
US Mainstream Rock Songs (Billboard)[1] 15

See also

References
  1. "Roger Waters - Sunset Strip". Billboard. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
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