Editing Whammy! (section)

==Recording==
The B-52's initially conceived ''Whammy!'' in early 1982, during a visit to [[Compass Point Studios]], where the band commenced re-recordings of three unreleased songs: "Butterbean", "Big Bird", and "Queen of Las Vegas".{{sfn|Sexton|2002|p=61}} All three tracks were originally intended to be included on their previous release, ''[[Mesopotamia (album)|Mesopotamia]]'' (1982), but none were completed, due to pressure and time constraints from [[Warner Records|Warner Bros.]] and their manager [[Gary Kurfirst]].{{sfn|Sexton|2002|p=59}} The album's remaining six songs ("[[Legal Tender (song)|Legal Tender]]", "[[Whammy Kiss]]", "[[Song for a Future Generation]]", "Trism", "Don't Worry", and "Work That Skirt") were recorded in December 1982, again at Compass Point Studios.{{sfn|Sexton|2002|p=61}}

Unlike their previous studio albums, all instruments on ''Whammy!'' were played exclusively by [[Keith Strickland]] and [[Ricky Wilson (guitarist)|Ricky Wilson]].{{sfn|Sexton|2002|p=61}} Both played the guitar and keyboards, while Strickland played the drums and Wilson played the bass.{{sfn|Sexton|2002|p=67}} Remarking on the band's new focus on electronic instrumentation, singer/instrumentalist [[Kate Pierson]] later called the recording "a transitional album."<ref name="avclub">{{cite web |url=https://www.avclub.com/kate-pierson-of-the-b-52s-1798228355 |title=Kate Pierson of The B-52s |last1=Harris |first1=Will |date=November 1, 2011 |website=[[The A.V. Club]] |access-date=February 24, 2022}}</ref> Additionally, Pierson stated that drummer Strickland "didn't want to play drums anymore, so ''Whammy!'' featured drum machines and some synthesizers. It was kind of a big change in sound, which I wasn't really for very much. I didn't really like the drum machine. It was a different sound, but ''Whammy!'' was very much based around that".<ref name="avclub"/> However, she added that, during the subsequent concert tour, the band would alternate between using drum machines and live drums played by Strickland.<ref name="avclub"/>

Producer [[Steven Stanley]] supported Wilson and Strickland's initial concept of mixing the album into one continuous track, in a manner similar to the band's remix album, ''[[Party Mix!]]'' (1981).{{sfn|Sexton|2002|p=64}} However, both Kurfirst and Warner Brothers vetoed this decision in favor of a more traditional method of track sequencing.{{sfn|Sexton|2002|p=67}}