Rock Lobster (1979)

This one may surprise you! Read on!

Sometimes our neighbors from the “Great White North” can spot an iconic song long before we can. Today's “Great Song of the '70s” is a case in point.

In 1978, the song (and the album it came from) was released on a small independent label, which caught the attention of just about no one—except Warner Brothers, who immediately signed the group to THEIR label.

The B-52s got right to work on a brand new self-titled album, and re-worked the song for single release.

In late1979, crossing over in 1980, “Rock Lobster” was a HUGE hit in Canada, topping the Top 40 Chart. (It also was big in Australia, peaking at #3.)

In the US? It was a moderate hit on the Dance Chart (#24)...but on the Hot 100, it stalled at #56.

Critics loved the song, using adjectives like “infectious” and “memorable,” but America as a whole wasn't quite ready for all the quirkiness that came with a new wave song about a beach party with lyrics that listed marine creatures like jellyfish piranha, and narwhals.

The song also featured weird vocal sounds and screams by group members Cindy Wilson and Kate Pierson, who said they were definitely inspired by—Yoko Ono!

SOME people, however, were impressed--including John Lennon, who by 1979 was an American citizen. He noticed the Yoko similarities, and was inspired to end his 5 year hiatus from music and start recording again—with Yoko, of course—figuring the time had finally come for them to record an album together. The result? His final album: “Double Fantasy.”

in 2004, Rolling Stone Magazine placed “Rock Lobster” at #147 on their list of the “500 Greatest Songs of All Time.”

Better late than never, America! :-)

Canada led the way for the B-52s...and the B-52s led the way BACK for John Lennon.

That's why, IMHO, “Rock Lobster is a “Great Song of 1979” (and '80)!