| Legal Tender | |
| Cover: | Legal Tender single.jpg |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | the B-52's |
| Album: | Whammy! |
| B-Side: | Moon 83 |
| Released: | 1983 |
| Recorded: | 1982 |
| Studio: | Compass Point (Nassau) |
| Genre: | |
| Length: | 3:40 |
| Label: | Warner Bros. |
| Lyricist: | Robert Waldrop |
| Producer: | Steven Stanley |
| Prev Title: | Give Me Back My Man |
| Prev Year: | 1980 |
| Next Title: | Whammy Kiss |
| Next Year: | 1983 |
"Legal Tender" is the first single released by American new wave band the B-52's from their third studio album Whammy! (1983).
The lyrics of "Legal Tender" tell a story about printing counterfeit American currency, in which the protagonist outfits a basement with "jelly jars" and "heavy equipment", and learns to print money due to inflation and rising prices. A companion music video was produced featuring Cindy Wilson and Kate Pierson, in wigs of many shapes and colors.
"Legal Tender" is an upbeat, synthesizer-based track with a drum machine and hand-clap rhythm. The lead vocals are shared by Pierson and Wilson. The song appears as the opening track on the band's third studio album, Whammy! (1983), signifying that the band had altered their sound quite significantly for the record.
"Legal Tender" was performed live during the Whammy! tour, with Keith Strickland on synthesizer, and horn parts added. The band has also performed the song on various occasions throughout the years.
The single was the band's third Billboard Hot 100 chart entry, peaking at #81. The song also reached #9 on the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play chart, along with album tracks "Whammy Kiss" and "Song for a Future Generation."
The song was a 1984 airplay and club hit in Brazil, and was included in the band's performance at the 1985 Rock in Rio festival. When the band toured Brazil in 2009, omitting the song from the live set, fans chanted for them to play it.[3] Because of the song's popularity in Brazil, it appeared on the Brazilian version of , on which it replaced "52 Girls". It is also featured on the group’s Nude on the Moon (2002) compilation album.
| Chart (1983) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100[4] | 81 |
| U.S. Cashbox Top 100 | 81 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[5] | 9 |