Bouncing Off The Satellites  by The B-52s

Bouncing Off The Satellites is the fourth studio album by The B-52's, which was released on September 8, 1986. It represents the darkest and most transitional moment in the band's history, as it was marked by the death of founding member and guitarist Ricky Wilson.

The album was recorded in July 1985 at Sigma Sound Studios in New York and is a blend of new wave, synth-pop, and pop rock elements. The process was difficult due to the declining health of Ricky Wilson, who kept it a secret from most members (except Keith Strickland) that he was suffering from AIDS. The producer was Tony Mansfield. Bouncing Off The Satellites veered away from the characteristic "party" sound of the early albums, incorporating heavily the use of the Fairlight CMI synthesizer. The sound is described as more "polished" and digital, typical of mid-80s aesthetics, while maintaining the quirky vocals of The B-52's. The songs were written by the band members, often in different combinations of members. Summer Of Love, Girl From Ipanema Goes To Greenland, and Wig were the three singles of the album, which achieved some relative success on secondary Billboard charts. The cover art is a painting by well-known artist Kenny Scharf.

Overall, the album was initially considered a commercial failure. The band, devastated by Wilson's death, did not tour to promote it. In the United Kingdom, it reached up to No74 in 1987.