Radio K.A.O.S.
| Radio K.A.O.S. | |||||
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| Studio album by Roger Waters | |||||
| Released | 15 June 1987 | ||||
| Recorded | October – December 1986 at the Billiard Room, London | ||||
| Genre | Progressive rock | ||||
| Length | 41:24 | ||||
| Label |
EMI (UK), Columbia Records (US) |
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| Producer | Roger Waters, Ian Ritchie and Nick Griffiths | ||||
| Roger Waters chronology | |||||
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| Roger Waters studio chronology | |||||
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| Singles from Radio K.A.O.S. | |||||
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| Professional ratings | |
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| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    |
| Los Angeles Times | |
| The Village Voice | B |
Radio K.A.O.S. is the second studio album by British rock musician and former Pink Floyd member Roger Waters. Released on 15 June 1987 in the United Kingdom and June 16 in the United States, it was Waters' first solo album after his split from Pink Floyd in 1985.
Like his previous and future studio albums and many works of his during his time with Pink Floyd, this is a concept album. The album is based on a number of key factors of politics in the late 1980s including monetarism and its effect on citizens, popular culture of the time, and the events and consequences of the Cold War. It also makes criticisms of Margaret Thatcher's government, much like Pink Floyd's The Final Cut, another album conceived by Waters.
The album follows Billy, a mentally and physically disabled man from Wales, forced to live with his uncle David in Los Angeles after his brother Benny was sent to prison after protesting against the government, following his dismissal from his job in mining due to "market forces". The album explores Billy's mind and view on the world through an on-air conversation between him and Jim, a disc jockey at a local fictitious radio station named Radio KAOS.
Internationally, the album only charted in two countries, peaking at number 25 in the United Kingdom and number 50 in the United States. The album spawned four singles in 1987. "Radio Waves" was released as the lead single from the album, charting at number 74 in the UK, as well as #12 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks in the U.S., "Sunset Strip" charted at number 15 on the Rock Tracks chart, "The Tide Is Turning" charted at number 54 in the UK, and "Who Needs Information", which failed to chart. Waters also made a Video EP for this album featuring the songs "Radio Waves," "Sunset Strip," "Fish Report," "Four Minutes," and "The Tide Is Turning (After Live Aid)."
In 1979 Waters met Jim Ladd for a radio documentary on The Wall album. It was the beginning of a friendship which remains today. Jim Ladd was an inspiration as he brought some light into Waters's dim view of L.A. life, initially through listening to the bizarre Fish Report from KMET. Waters became increasingly interested in Ladd's plight with his radio station KMET, and his eventual sacking to change the programming format of the station in search of market researched profits. In 1985, Waters wrote a song called "Get Back To Radio," which seemed to be partly based on the experiences of Ladd, and partly from childhood memories – Waters fondly remembers listening to Radio Luxembourg well into the night as a child.
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