"Radio Waves"
Single by Roger Waters
from the album Radio K.A.O.S.
B-side"Going to Live in L.A."
Released11 May 1987 (1987-05-11)
Recorded1986
StudioBilliard Room (London)
Length4:59 (album version)
3:47 (single version)
6:58 (extended version)
LabelColumbia/CBS (US)
EMI (UK)
Songwriter(s)Roger Waters
Producer(s)
Roger Waters singles chronology
"Every Stranger's Eyes"
(1984)		 "Radio Waves"
(1987)		 "Sunset Strip"
(1987)
Music video
"Radio Waves" on YouTube

"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

Background

"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 in L.A. 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

US 7" single
No.TitleLength
1."Radio Waves (Edit)"4:13
2."Going to Live in L.A."5:50
International 7" single
No.TitleLength
1."Radio Waves"3:47
2."Going to Live in L.A."5:50
CD / 12" single
No.TitleLength
1."Radio Waves (Extended Remix)"6:58
2."Going to Live in L.A."5:50
3."Radio Waves (7" Version)"3:47
Mainstream promotional single
No.TitleLength
1."Radio Waves (Edit)"4:13
2."Radio Waves (Single Version)"3:47

Charts

Chart (1987) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[1] 43
UK Singles (OCC)[2] 74
US Mainstream Rock Songs (Billboard)[3] 12

References

  1. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 334. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  2. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  3. ↑ "Roger Waters - Radio Waves". Billboard. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
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