Burning The Ground Exclusive
Hold onto your beehives, kids—today we’re teleporting back to the zany, post-punk planet of The B-52’s, and this time… you’re headed straight to your own Private Idaho! 🌵💃
From their sophomore album Wild Planet, “Private Idaho” is a woozy swirl of surf rock, sci-fi twang, and cryptic political commentary—all shaken up in that unmistakable B-52’s cocktail. Fred Schneider’s shout-speak delivery, Cindy and Kate’s glorious harmonies, and that reverb-drenched guitar? Chef’s kiss! This track struts, strangles, and spins like a disco ball in a trailer park—and we LOVE it.
Released in late 1980, “Private Idaho” became the band’s second U.S. charting single, peaking at #74 on the Billboard Hot 100 and reaching #5 on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart—a major feat for such a gleefully unorthodox group. Down under, the song was a surprise hit, reaching #11 in Australia, where it remains a cult favorite.
This 12″ promo packs the full-length LP version, but what makes it truly special is the B-side: an instrumental version of “Party Out Of Bounds”—the opening track of Wild Planet! This mix is exclusive to Private Idaho singles and isn’t widely available elsewhere. It’s an absolute party-starter, even without the vocals—kitschy, manic, and full of that signature B-52’s sass.
🎈🎶 These two tracks are a celebration of the group’s fearless weirdness, queer-coded joy, and wild energy—making them perfect for Pride Month. Long before mainstream culture caught on, the B-52’s were unapologetically themselves, creating space for all the freaks, misfits, and dancefloor dreamers to come together and let go.
🌀So whether you’re lost in your own Private Idaho or just partying out of bounds—this 12” is a reminder to embrace the odd, crank up the fun, and dance like you’ve got a bouffant on fire!
Stay bold, stay loud, stay proud!
SIDE A:
Private Idaho 3:34
Written-By – C. Wilson, F. Schneider, K. Pierson, K. Strickland, R. Wilson*
SIDE B:
Party Out Of Bounds (Instrumental) 4:30
Written-By – K. Strickland, R. Wilson
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
U.S. CHART HISTORY:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Private Idaho | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | #74 |
| 1980 | Private Idaho | U.S. Billboard Dance / Club Songs | #5 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Warner Bros. Records – PRO-A-890
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo
Country: US
Released: Aug 1980
Genre: Rock
Style: New Wave, Pop Rock
CREDITS:
- Engineer – Rhett Davies
- Engineer [Assistant] – Benjamin Armbrister
- Executive-Producer – Chris Blackwell
- Producer – Rhett Davies, The B-52’s
NOTES:
From the Warner Bros. Album BSK 3471 Wild Planet.
Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS
VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
for burningtheground.net
THE GEAR:
Turntable: Technics SL-1200MK7
Cartridge/Stylus: Ortofon Concorde Music Black
Turntable Isolation Platform: ISO-Tone™ Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro Spin Acrylic Mat
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Pro-Jec Tube Box DS2
Tubes: Genalex Gold Lion 12AX7 ECC83/B759 Gold Pins Vacuum Tube – Matched Pair
DAC: Alpha Design Labs GT40a USB DAC
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner
SOFTWARE:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 25 (Recording)
Down Sampling/Dither: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator
RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi
**24bit FLAC Only Available For Seven Days!
Password: burningtheground
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Thanks again, Paul 🙂
Hey Paul, it’s weird for us in the UK seeing The B-52s on Warner Bros. Private Idaho was on Island here (as with all their first few albums & singles).
Loving the pride month selection… as a favour (favor in the U.S.A.!) could you possibly re-post the 12″ of Marc Almond’s “The Boy Who Came Back” and its wonderful flipside “Joey Demento” (extended). I have it on an ancient cassette tape but a hi-fi burningtheground version would be a massive treat!
Thank you Paul! I’m not sure I have heard the instrumental of Party. 🙂 Have a great weekend.
I love how the B-52’s channel surf rock, new wave and dance all into one infectious beat! Thank you for this rarity Paul!! I’m excited about the exclusive B-side too. I’ve actually been into their incredible comeback album, Cosmic Thing, recently (one of those I keep coming back to), so this is a nice treat! Big thank you!
So glad you’re enjoying this one, Retro Hound! The B-52s really were masters at mashing up surf rock, new wave, and dance into something totally their own — always quirky, always catchy, and always fun. 🌟
“Private Idaho” is such a classic, and that exclusive B-side instrumental of Party Out Of Bounds really is a hidden gem — glad you’re excited about it! And yes to Cosmic Thing! That album is such a joyful comeback — still sounds fresh every time I revisit it.
Thanks as always for the kind words and for being part of the fun!
I live in Georgia and went to UGA in Athens so you know I love me some B-52s!!! Thanks very much for this one Paul!
Love that, Grant! Being from Georgia and a UGA alum, you’re right in the heart of B-52s country! 🌟 Athens really birthed something special with them. Their wild energy and originality still feel just as fresh today.
So glad you enjoyed this one — thanks for being here and sharing the Georgia love!
Thanks Paul for spotlighting my favorite party band of all time! I’ve seen them three times in concert and they never disappoint. They’ve added some younger musicians to their live show that keeps their spirit alive as long as Fred keeps his politics to himself. He talked smack about Geo “W” Bush at the O.C. Fair in Costa Mesa the last time I saw them, and they briefly were booed. (OC has been a long-time Republican stronghold, and he should have know better.) Fun fact: Correct spelling: The B-52s. Late in their career they realized the apostrophe in their name… Read more »
Thanks so much! Couldn’t agree more—the B-52s are pure party energy, and seeing them live is always an unforgettable ride! I love that they’ve kept the spirit alive with new musicians, and yes… Fred’s always been outspoken. While it might not have landed well in that setting, I do believe in free speech, even when it ruffles a few feathers. It’s part of what keeps the punky, rebellious heart of this band beating! And thank you for the grammar trivia! I always get a kick out of the apostrophe story—leave it to The B-52s to make even punctuation part of… Read more »
Many thanks, love your B-52’s singles, wonderful rips
Thank you so much 🙂
I wasn’t aware of this B-52’s music period. Such a fun record, though. I will play it loud!
Thanks Paul.
You’re welcome, Mark 🙂
Very Nice! Thanks for taking the time and effort to rip and share this!
You’re welcome, my pleasure 🙂
I’m jumping for joy, Paul!! This is the epitome of what New Wave is!! Quirky, herky-jerky rhythms, and enthusiastically wild vocals!! I just love the selection today!! The B52’s are so eccentrically marvelous!! And what an influence they were. I keep on thinking how Bobby Orlando aped their style on his, “Just A Gigolo” record by Barbi and the Kens!! I love it. And the B-side is so incredible! It’s true how certain parties can get out of hand! I considered this record a warning to NOT HAVE A PARTY when my parents were away!! Anyway, I just love this… Read more »
Jeff, your joy is totally infectious!! You absolutely nailed the spirit of The B-52s — that wild, off-kilter rhythm and those larger-than-life vocals are New Wave magic at its finest. They gave all of us “weirdos” a neon-lit permission slip to be exactly who we are, and I love that you felt that freedom in their music. 💖 And YES — I totally hear what you mean about Bobby Orlando channeling that same quirky energy in “Just A Gigolo”! Such a great connection. And the B-side… Party Out of Bounds is not only a blast but also a cautionary tale.… Read more »
Wow, I didn’t even know this existed. Huge thanks!
You’re welcome, Dean 🙂