Legal Tender (song)

Infobox Single
Name = Legal Tender


Artist = The B-52's
Album = Whammy!
A-side =
B-side =
Released = 1983
Format = 7", 12"
Recorded = 1982
Genre = New Wave
Length = 3:40
Label = Warner Bros. Records
Writer = The B-52's, Keith Strickland, Robert Waldrop
Producer = Steven Stanley
Certification =
Last single = "Give Me Back My Man" (1980)
This single = "Legal Tender" (1983)
Next single = "Whammy Kiss" (1983)
Misc =

"Legal Tender" is the first single released by The B-52's from their 1983 album "Whammy!".

The single was their third Billboard Hot 100 chart entry, at #81. The song also peaked at #9 on the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play chart, along with album tracks "Whammy Kiss" and "Song for a Future Generation".

Musically, "Legal Tender" is an upbeat synthesizer-fuelled track with a drum machine and hand-clap rhythm. The lead vocals are shared by Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson. The opening track on the band's third record, "Whammy!", it was a sign that the band had altered their sound quite significantly for this album. The band's heavy use of synthesizers on these tracks was indicative of a new wave trend at that time with Eurythmics, Depeche Mode, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark and many others also making use of modern synthesizer machines. "Legal Tender" was performed live in the set of the "Whammy!" tour, with Keith Strickland on synthesizer and with horn parts added.

Lyrically, "Legal Tender" is an adventure in the counterfeiting of American dollars. The lyrics describe kitting out a basement with "heavy equipment", and learning to print bills because of rising prices.

A music video was made to accompany "Legal Tender" for promotion on television, featuring many different coloured and shaped wigs (which were habitually worn by Wilson and Pierson in the bands early years).

Chart positions