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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, it was Waters' first 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, who is 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 DJ at a local fictitious radio station named Radio K.A.O.S.
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)."
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