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Good Stuff
Good Stuff
Good Stuff
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Good Stuff
Studio album by
the B-52's
ReleasedJune 23, 1992[1]
RecordedNovember 1991 – March 1992
Studio
Genre
Length56:01
LabelReprise
Producer
The B-52's chronology
Cosmic Thing
(1989) 		Good Stuff
(1992) 		Time Capsule: Songs for a Future Generation
(1998)
Singles from Good Stuff
  1. "Good Stuff"
    Released: June 1992
  2. "Is That You Mo-Dean?"
    Released: August 1992
  3. "Tell It Like It T-I-Is"
    Released: November 1992
  4. "Revolution Earth"
    Released: February 1993
  5. "Hot Pants Explosion"
    Released: May 1993 (Germany and UK)

Good Stuff is the sixth studio album by American new wave band the B-52's, released in 1992 by Reprise Records. It was conceived after the band's manager urged them to quickly issue a follow-up to their highly successful album Cosmic Thing (1989); it was created without founding member Cindy Wilson, who was on a temporary hiatus. The album peaked at No. 16 on the Billboard 200 and its title track peaked at No. 28 on the Billboard Hot 100. Good Stuff was nominated for Best Alternative Music Album at the 35th Annual Grammy Awards.

Background

[edit]

Good Stuff was created in the wake of the departure of B-52's singer and founding member Cindy Wilson, who left the band after an Earth Day performance in Central Park in 1990.[2] The band were just finishing up 18 months of touring, following the massive success of their 1989 album, Cosmic Thing.[3] Wilson would ultimately be absent from the band from 1990 to 1994, taking a hiatus to raise children, and later stated, "My clock was ticking, so I chose to take some time off."[4] Wilson said that another reason for her departure was that she still missed her brother Ricky Wilson, the band's former guitarist who died in 1985; she also "needed to step back and chill."[4] Fred Schneider recalled, "All of a sudden she just decided she was quitting ... so it was real stressful. It was a real shock."[3] However, the band continued with Wilson's blessing and eventually hired Julee Cruise to tour as a vocalist with the band.[3]

Guitarist Keith Strickland later stated that Good Stuff came about when the band's management pushed them to record a quick follow-up to capitalize on the success of Cosmic Thing, despite them being "burnt out" and "exhausted" from touring.[5] Like Cosmic Thing, Good Stuff was produced jointly by Nile Rodgers and Don Was.[6]

Commercial performance

[edit]

The title track, "Good Stuff", was issued as the lead single and peaked at No. 28 on the Billboard Hot 100, charting for 13 weeks.[7] The album charted for 15 weeks, peaking at No. 16 on the Billboard 200,[7] and went on to be nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album at the 35th Annual Grammy Awards, losing to Tom Waits's Bone Machine.[8]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStar[9]
Calgary HeraldB−[10]
Robert Christgau(choice cut)[11]
Entertainment WeeklyC[6]
Orlando SentinelStar[12]
Rolling StoneStarStarStar[13]
Spin Alternative Record Guide6/10[14]

David Browne of Entertainment Weekly felt the album "reduces their sound to a dull formula", and that "their attempts to keep the party going ... sound more forced than ever", although he cited "Revolution Earth" as the highlight.[6] Elysa Gardner of Rolling Stone found the work of the two producers "impressively seamless", citing "Dreamland" and "Bad Influence" as highlights, and added that "[Kate] Pierson's richly textured vocals hold up just fine on their own" in light of the absence of Cindy Wilson.[13]

In a retrospective review for AllMusic, Stephen Thomas Erlewine thought the title track "was a transparent attempt to recapture the good vibes of 'Love Shack'" that "didn't succeed" but "did have the distinction of being the best single pulled from Good Stuff."[9]

Track listing

[edit]

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

  1. "Tell It Like It T-I-Is" – 5:13
  2. "Hot Pants Explosion" – 4:55
  3. "Good Stuff" – 5:58
  4. "Revolution Earth" (Kate Pierson, Keith Strickland, Robert Waldrop) – 5:48
  5. "Dreamland" – 7:35
  6. "Is That You Mo-Dean?" – 5:32
  7. "The World's Green Laughter" (Strickland) – 4:04
  8. "Vision of a Kiss" – 5:57
  9. "Breezin'" – 5:21
  10. "Bad Influence" – 5:41

Personnel

[edit]

The B-52's

Additional musicians

Technical

  • Nile Rodgers – producer (1, 4–5, 7–8)
  • Don Was – producer (2–3, 6, 9–10)
  • Tom Durack – mixing, engineer (1, 4–5, 7–8), recording (2–3, 6, 9–10)
  • Ed Cherney – recording (2–3, 6, 9–10)
  • Jon Goldberger – additional engineer (1, 4–5, 7–8)
  • Pat Dillett – additional engineer (2–3, 6, 9–10)
  • Rik Pekkonen – additional engineer (2–3, 6, 9–10)
  • Victor Deyglio – assistant engineer (1, 4–5, 7–8)
  • Hiro Ishihara – assistant engineer (1, 4–5, 7–8)
  • Justin Luchter – assistant engineer (1, 4–5, 7–8)
  • Dan Bosworth – assistant engineer (2–3, 6, 9–10)
  • Brian Pollack – assistant engineer (2–3, 6, 9–10)
  • Mike Reither – assistant engineer (2–3, 6, 9–10)
  • Scott Hull – digital editing at Masterdisk (New York City, New York)
  • Doug Redler – technical coordinator
  • Artie Smith – drum technician
  • Bob Ludwig – mastering at Masterdisk (New York City, New York)
  • Budd Tunick – production manager (1, 4–5, 7–8)
  • Marsha Burns – production coordinator (2–3, 6, 9–10)
  • Renoda Campbell-Monza – project coordinator
  • The B-52's – art direction, cover concept
  • Tom Recchion – art direction, design, cover concept
  • Janet Perr – design
  • Cecil Juanarena – computer imaging
  • Robert Waldrop – handlettering
  • Josef Astor – photography, booklet photography
  • Jay Gullixson – additional photography
  • Charlie Welch – additional photography
  • Laura Levine – booklet photography
  • Robert Molnar – booklet photography
  • Chip Simons – booklet photography
  • Doug Perrine – manatee photo
  • Lady Bunny – PETA photo
  • Joe McDevittt – make-up
  • Koko – make-up
  • Patti Wilson – stylist
  • Roland Beauchamp – hair stylist
  • Alpina Bowa – clothing designer
  • Angel Zimick – clothing designer
  • Ted Meuhling – jewelry

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for Good Stuff
Chart (1992) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[15] 36
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[16] 21
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[17] 45
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[18] 22
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[19] 14
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[20] 36
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[21] 26
UK Albums (OCC)[22] 8
US Billboard 200[23] 16

Certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[24] Silver 60,000^
United States (RIAA)[25] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Good Stuff

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
"Good Stuff, Maynard!" is a catchphrase from a series of American television commercials for Malt-O-Meal hot cereal, which aired in the early 1980s and featured a father enthusiastically praising the product to his son by exclaiming the phrase. The commercials depicted a young boy enjoying the cereal alongside an imaginary friend named Maynard, with the father affirming its quality as "good stuff." This expression quickly entered popular culture as a colloquial way to endorse something enjoyable or high-quality, particularly food, and it evokes a sense of nostalgic Americana from mid-20th-century advertising. The name "Maynard" draws inspiration from Maynard G. Krebs, the beatnik character portrayed by Bob Denver in the 1959–1963 CBS sitcom The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, though the exact phrase does not appear in the show itself. The contributed to Malt-O-Meal's branding as an affordable, hearty option, emphasizing its flavor and nutritional appeal for families. Despite its commercial origins, "Good stuff, Maynard!" has endured in informal speech, often used humorously to express approval, and it remains recognizable to generations familiar with 1980s .

Development and recording

Background

Good Stuff was conceived by The B-52's as a follow-up to their 1989 album , which marked a major commercial breakthrough and revived the band's career after a hiatus triggered by the 1985 death of founding guitarist Ricky Wilson from AIDS-related complications. achieved multi-platinum status, propelled by hits like "" and "," and restored the group's popularity following earlier albums that had met with modest commercial success. To capitalize on this renewed momentum, the band, under pressure from their manager, moved quickly to produce the successor despite internal changes. In late 1990, following two years of intensive touring for Cosmic Thing, co-founding vocalist announced her departure from the group to start a family and continue grieving her brother Ricky's loss. This left The B-52's as a core trio of on vocals, on vocals and keyboards, and on guitar and production. Wilson's absence made Good Stuff the only album in the band's discography without her distinctive vocals, though the remaining members committed to carrying forward the group's signature energy. The decision to proceed with recording as a trio was driven by the need to sustain the commercial success and fan enthusiasm generated by , which had transformed The B-52's from cult favorites into mainstream stars. Initial inspirations drew from the band's established party-oriented sound, aiming to recapture the upbeat, celebratory vibe that had defined their revival while adapting to the new lineup.

Recording process

The recording sessions for Good Stuff took place from November 1991 to March 1992 across multiple studios, including in , and in . Additional locations encompassed in and The Power Station in New York. Production duties were divided between , renowned for his work with and David Bowie's Let's Dance, and , celebrated for his soul and rock productions including Bonnie Raitt's Nick of Time and ' Voodoo Lounge. handled five tracks, emphasizing a approach mixed analog, while Was oversaw the remaining five, recorded and mixed fully analog to achieve a warm, organic texture suited to the band's evolving sound. Together, they crafted a polished, danceable aesthetic that revitalized the trio's new wave roots. Adapting to the trio format—comprising , , and —presented notable challenges, particularly in vocal arrangements to offset Cindy Wilson's absence. The group relied heavily on layered vocals and harmonies between Pierson and Schneider to maintain their signature interplay, while guest vocalist provided support during early demo stages but did not feature on the final album. This approach helped bridge the gap left by Wilson's hiatus, allowing the band to experiment with denser, synthesizer-driven textures. Post-production mixing occurred in spring 1992 at Right Track Recording and Skyline Studios in New York, with digital editing and mastering at Masterdisk. The process focused on delivering a vibrant new wave revival sound, blending upbeat rhythms with the band's quirky energy for a cohesive, radio-friendly result.

Composition

Musical style

Good Stuff continues the B-52's established new wave and roots, blending elements of surf rock, punk, and pop through upbeat tempos and quirky instrumentation that maintain the band's signature playful energy. The album's sound emphasizes a party atmosphere, achieved via prominent synthesizers, jangling guitars, and lively percussion, including busy congas and spidery guitar lines that evoke a sense of kinetic fun. For instance, the title track "Good Stuff" highlights funky basslines and disco-house grooves beneath Fred Schneider's spoken-word delivery and Kate Pierson's soaring harmonies, creating an infectious, danceable vibe. Similarly, "Revolution Earth" incorporates ethereal synth layers and percolating rhythms to underscore its environmental themes, marking a slight stylistic expansion with upbeat elements. As the band's first release as a streamlined trio following Cindy Wilson's departure, Good Stuff shifts toward a more focused production compared to the fuller, ensemble-driven sound of their prior album , prioritizing electronic elements like synthesizers and Hammond organs alongside call-and-response vocals. This trio configuration, supported by session musicians, results in a leaner mix that amplifies the quirkiness of the instrumentation while retaining the group's communal vocal interplay. The album draws influences from the early 1990s alternative dance scene, echoing acts like with its polished, groove-oriented tracks, enhanced by the production duo of and , who infuse disco-funk rhythms and high-stepping bass into the B-52's retro-futurist aesthetic. Rodgers' contributions, in particular, add a sophisticated sheen to the upbeat pop-rock framework, blending the band's punky origins with sensibilities for an energetic yet accessible sonic identity.

Lyrics and themes

The lyrics of Good Stuff, the B-52's sixth studio album, blend the band's longstanding eccentric style with more introspective elements shaped by their transition to a trio following Cindy Wilson's departure in 1990. Predominant themes include , environmental awareness, and hedonistic fun, reflecting the era's social concerns while maintaining playful . Collaborative writing among , , and drew from personal experiences of post- fame and resilience, infusing the tracks with empowerment and adaptability to their reduced lineup. Escapism emerges prominently in "Dreamland," where fantastical imagery creates a utopian retreat from reality's constraints, portraying a of free desires and as a counter to worldly pressures. This motif aligns with the album's upbeat musical style, using dreamy soundscapes to evoke liberation. Similarly, "Revolution Earth" promotes ecological harmony through lyrics celebrating nature's vastness—wildlife, stars, and the 's rotation—while urging peaceful coexistence and , delivered with Pierson's soaring harmonies. Hedonistic fun and humorous, surreal wordplay define tracks like "Tell It Like It T-I-Is" and "Hot Pants," capturing the band's signature quirkiness amid the trio's evolution. In "Tell It Like It T-I-Is," stuttering repetitions and rhythmic exhortations to "feel it" and "move it" convey energetic empowerment through absurd, danceable declarations. "Hot Pants" amplifies this with campy, sizzled-outfit metaphors and factory explosion imagery, blending sexual innuendo with Schneider's spoken-word rants for comedic resilience. Strickland's backing vocals support these, emphasizing the group's post-lineup cohesion.

Release and promotion

Release and singles

The commercials featuring the "Good stuff, Maynard!" first aired in 1983 as part of a national television advertising campaign for Malt-O-Meal hot by . The ads were broadcast in various formats on U.S. television networks, emphasizing the product's sunny and toasty flavors, along with its iron fortification. A similar commercial variation appeared in 1984. There were no musical singles associated with the campaign, but the served as the central to promote the 's appeal to families.

Tour and marketing

The campaign did not involve a tour but relied on widespread television airplay to reach audiences, particularly during morning and family viewing hours. Actor John Lawlor portrayed the enthusiastic father praising the to his son's Maynard, while a young boy represented the target consumer enjoying the product. Marketing efforts highlighted the 's affordability, nutritional benefits, and hearty taste, positioning it as a wholesome breakfast option amid 1980s competition from brands like . The quickly permeated through repeated ad exposure, becoming a colloquial endorsement for items. Following Lawlor's death on February 13, 2025, at age 83, the commercial resurfaced on and news outlets, renewing nostalgic interest in the slogan as of 2025. No international tour occurred, but the ads contributed to Malt-O-Meal's domestic branding success during the era.

Commercial performance

The "Good Stuff, Maynard!" catchphrase featured in a series of Malt-O-Meal hot television commercials that aired nationally in the early 1980s. These ads depicted a father encouraging his son and the boy's Maynard to enjoy the cereal, emphasizing its affordability and hearty appeal during a time when rising prices from major cereal brands like and shifted consumer preferences toward budget options.

Campaign reach and impact

The commercials contributed to Malt-O-Meal's , which led to significant sales growth in the . As ready-to-eat prices increased, Malt-O-Meal positioned itself as a cost-effective alternative, with production and sales expanding dramatically through effective . While specific viewership or airplay metrics for the campaign are not publicly detailed, the quickly permeated , becoming a nostalgic reference for endorsing enjoyable or experiences. By the 2020s, the retained recognition among generations exposed to television, often invoked humorously in online discussions and media. No formal certifications or chart rankings apply to campaigns of this era, but the enduring use of the phrase underscores its success in building .

Sales and brand legacy

Malt-O-Meal's overall sales benefited from campaigns like this one, with the company reporting increased among value-oriented families. The hot cereal line, including flavors promoted in the ads, helped sustain the brand's position as an accessible staple. As of , Malt-O-Meal continued production in , with the nostalgic commercials occasionally resurfacing in retro media compilations, maintaining long-term without specific sales figures tied directly to the "Maynard" series.

Reception

Critical reception

Upon its release in June 1992, Good Stuff by The B-52's received mixed reviews from critics, who generally acknowledged the album's energetic vibe but found it lacking the spark of the band's prior success with Cosmic Thing. Entertainment Weekly awarded it a C grade, describing the record as "energetic but formulaic," with tracks like "Hot Pants Explosion" seen as revisiting the novelty of "Love Shack" without fresh invention. Rolling Stone praised the album's production as "impressively seamless" and highlighted tracks like "Dreamland" and "Bad Influence," though it noted the band's sound had become more conventional in the post-Cosmic Thing effort. Reviewers highlighted positive elements in specific singles, such as the title track "Good Stuff" for its infectious, danceable that evoked the band's party-ready , while "Dreamland" earned praise for its emotional depth and Fred Schneider's uncharacteristically straightforward delivery. However, criticisms frequently focused on the trio's vocal dynamics—comprising Pierson, Schneider, and —revealing limitations without Cindy Wilson's harmonies, which had previously added richness and balance to the group's sound. In alternative music publications, the 's environmental themes in songs like "Revolution Earth" were appreciated for their timeliness and sincerity, yet outlets noted it struggled for attention amid the rising dominance of acts like Nirvana and in 1992. The overall critical consensus positioned Good Stuff as a solid but ungroundbreaking follow-up, with retrospective aggregates averaging around 60/100 based on scores from sources like (3/5) and (2.8/5).

Accolades and legacy

Good Stuff earned a for Best Alternative Music Album at the in 1993, the band's first in the category. The album is frequently regarded as a transitional effort in the band's career, produced during a period when they operated as a trio following Cindy Wilson's temporary departure, and it signified the close of their commercial high point from the late 1980s and early 1990s. In later assessments, such as those accompanying reissues and s in the 2020s, tracks like "Is That You Mo-Dean?" have been highlighted as inspired and underrated highlights that showcase the band's inventive pop sensibilities despite the lineup changes. In 2025, Good Stuff was included in the The Warner and Years, which remastered the band's -era albums and received positive reviews for preserving their inventive sound. This phase of experimentation as a trio also facilitated Wilson's full return to the group in 1994, enabling subsequent creative endeavors. The album's legacy extends to its thematic elements, particularly the eco-conscious messaging in "Revolution Earth," which served as an environmental anthem amid growing awareness of planetary issues in the early .

Credits

Track listing

The standard edition of Good Stuff, released in 1992, features 10 tracks with a total runtime of approximately 56 minutes. All songs were written by members of The B-52's (, , and ), except where noted.
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1"Tell It Like It T-I-Is"The B-52's5:14
2"Hot Pants Explosion"The B-52's4:55
3"Good Stuff"The B-52's5:58
4"Revolution Earth"Lyrics: Robert Waldrop; Music: , 5:48
5"Dreamland"The B-52's7:35
6"Is That You Mo-Dean?"The B-52's5:31
7"The World's Green Laughter"4:04
8"Vision of a Kiss"The B-52's5:57
9"Breezin'"The B-52's5:21
10"Bad Influence"The B-52's5:41
The original release contained no bonus tracks. The Japanese edition includes the same tracklist but features exclusive packaging and artwork.

Band

  • Fred Schneider – vocals
  • Kate Pierson – vocals, keyboards
  • Keith Strickland – guitar, drums, keyboards

Guest Musicians

Production Team

  • – producer, guitar
  • – producer, bass
  • David Swope – engineer
  • Michael Hutchinson – engineer

Other Credits

  • Art direction – The B-52's, Tom Recchion
  • Photography – Josef Astor

References

  1. https://waywordradio.org/good-stuff-maynard-2/
  2. https://www.fuzzymemories.tv/m/v/745/
  3. https://www.grammy.com/news/b-52s-kate-pierson-and-keith-strickland-lasting-legacy-cosmic-thing
  4. https://chartchat.substack.com/p/modern-rock-tracks-no-1s-the-b-52s
  5. https://www.redandblack.com/athfest/cindy-wilson-looking-back-and-moving-forward/article_10ae6570-5717-11e7-bc31-7fcb94db6159.html
  6. https://diffuser.fm/b-52s-good-stuff-album/
  7. https://www.sessiondays.com/2022/04/1992-b-52s-good-stuff/
  8. https://www.discogs.com/release/665021-The-B-52s-Good-Stuff
  9. https://musicgoldmine.com/products/the-b-52s-good-stuff-riaa-gold-album-award
  10. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/1NpPWjGP5Kt2dsfWtG9yGQl/7-songs-you-never-knew-were-made-by-nile-rodgers
  11. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005537/
  12. https://www.allmusic.com/album/good-stuff-mw0000612654
  13. https://www.discogs.com/master/102104-The-B-52s-Good-Stuff
  14. https://ew.com/article/1992/06/26/good-stuff/
  15. https://www.discogs.com/release/200408-The-B-52s-Revolution-Earth
  16. https://www.theb52s.com/bio
  17. https://genius.com/The-b-52s-revolution-earth-lyrics
  18. https://sonichits.com/video/The_B-52s/Revolution_Earth
  19. https://genius.com/The-b-52s-tell-it-like-it-t-i-is-lyrics
  20. https://genius.com/The-b-52s-hot-pants-explosion-lyrics
  21. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoAJNn6SETs
  22. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65Eo8XUM4aQ
  23. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/john-lawlor-dead-phyllis-facts-of-life-1236145443/
  24. https://www.gbtribune.com/news/local-news/good-stuff-maynard/
  25. https://www.encyclopedia.com/social-sciences-and-law/economics-business-and-labor/businesses-and-occupations/malt-o-meal-company
  26. https://www.minnpost.com/mnopedia/2019/09/for-almost-a-century-malt-o-meal-has-been-made-in-northfield/
  27. https://www.reddit.com/r/GenX/comments/1c0joto/malt_o_meal_good_stuff_maynard_commercial_1983/
  28. https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/the-b-52s/good-stuff/
  29. https://www.grammy.com/awards/35th-annual-grammy-awards
  30. https://lede-v2.stereogum.com/2283432/the-alternative-number-ones-the-b-52s-good-stuff/columns/
  31. https://spectrumculture.com/2025/07/14/the-b-52s-the-warner-and-reprise-years-review/
  32. https://www.rhino.com/article/the-b-52s-announce-the-warner-and-reprise-years-collection
  33. https://www.ebar.com/story/207154
  34. https://www.chicagotribune.com/1992/07/02/deee-lite-b-52s-take-a-serious-wrong-turn/
  35. https://www.connollyco.com/discography/b52s/good.html
  36. https://www.discogs.com/release/998217-The-B-52s-Good-Stuff
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