"Radio Waves" is the opening track from Roger Waters' second solo studio album, Radio K.A.O.S. It was chosen as the lead single for the album, released worldwide in May 1987
| "Radio Waves" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Roger Waters | ||||
| from the album Radio K.A.O.S. | ||||
| B-side | "Going to Live in L.A." | |||
| Released | 18 May 1987[1] | |||
| Recorded | 1986 | |||
| Studio | Billiard Room (London) | |||
| Length | 4:59 (album version) 3:47 (single version) 6:58 (extended version) | |||
| Label | Columbia/CBS (US) EMI (UK) | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Roger Waters | |||
| Producer(s) |
| |||
| Roger Waters singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Radio Waves" on YouTube | ||||
Background
edit"Radio Waves" introduces the main character, Billy, a disabled man who finds a way to talk and become friends with a radio disc jockey (DJ). Billy is gifted and has the miracle of hearing and interpreting radio waves in his head. He explores a cordless phone which was hidden in his wheelchair by his brother Benny, after destroying and robbing a store. Recognising its similarity to a radio, he experiments with the phone and is able to access computers and speech synthesizers, he learns to speak through them. He calls a radio station named Radio KAOS, a completely fictitious radio station based in Los Angeles and tells them of his abilities and his life story throughout the album.
Track listings
edit| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Radio Waves (Edit)" | 4:13 |
| 2. | "Going to Live in L.A." | 5:50 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Radio Waves" | 3:47 |
| 2. | "Going to Live in L.A." | 5:50 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Radio Waves (Extended Remix)" | 6:58 |
| 2. | "Going to Live in L.A." | 5:50 |
| 3. | "Radio Waves (7" Version)" | 3:47 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Radio Waves (Edit)" | 4:13 |
| 2. | "Radio Waves (Single Version)" | 3:47 |
Charts
edit| Chart (1987) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[2] | 43 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[3] | 74 |
| US Mainstream Rock Songs (Billboard)[4] | 12 |
References
edit- ^ "New Singles". Music Week. 16 May 1987. p. 27.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, New South Wales: Australian Chart Book. p. 334. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
- ^ "Roger Waters - Radio Waves". Billboard. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
External links
edit- "Radio Waves" at Discogs (list of releases)