List of songs recorded by Talking Heads
![Talking Heads performing in 1978](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d8/Talking_Heads_band1.jpg/240px-Talking_Heads_band1.jpg)
![Tina Weymouth performing in 1978](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/19/Tina_Weymouth%2C_1977.jpg/106px-Tina_Weymouth%2C_1977.jpg)
Talking Heads were an American new wave band who, between 1975 and 1991, recorded 96 songs, 12 of which were not officially released until after their break-up. The group has been described as "one of the most acclaimed bands of the post-punk era" by AllMusic and among the most "adventurous" bands in rock history by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.[1][2]
After leaving art school, Talking Heads released their debut single, "Love → Building on Fire", in early 1977,[3] followed by their debut album, Talking Heads: 77, later that year.[1] The album contained "stripped down rock & roll" songs and was notable for its "odd guitar-tunings and rhythmic, single note patterns" and its "non-rhyming, non-linear lyrics".[4] While initially not a big hit, the album was aided by the single "Psycho Killer".[4] The band's follow-up, More Songs About Buildings and Food (1978), began the band's string of collaborations with producer Brian Eno.[1] Its songs are characterized as more polished than its predecessor, emphasizing experimentation and the rhythm section, as well as the genres of art pop and funk.[1][5] The experimentation continued on Fear of Music (1979), in which the band began utilizing African-styled polyrhythms, most notably on the album's opening track "I Zimbra".[1][6] The style and sound of Fear of Music was expanded upon on their final Eno collaboration, Remain in Light (1980).[6][7] Often classified as their magnum opus[8][9] and one of the best albums of the 1980s,[10][11] the album integrated several new musicians, including a horn section, which helped the band further experiment on their African-style rhythms and their use of funk, pop, and electronics.[1][7] After Remain in Light, the band went on a three-year hiatus and worked on solo projects.[1] During their hiatus, the live album The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads (1982), was released; it features live recordings of songs from their four albums to date, as well as the previously unreleased song "A Clean Break".[12]
In 1983, the band parted ways with Eno and released their fifth album, Speaking in Tongues (1983).[1] The album continued the rhythmic innovation of Remain in Light, but in a more stripped-down, rigid pop song structure.[1] The album also contained the band's first and only top ten hit, "Burning Down the House".[13] The band's sixth album, Little Creatures (1985), marked a major musical departure from their previous albums – its songs being straightforward pop songs mostly written by Byrne alone.[1][14] After Little Creatures, the band released True Stories (1986), an album containing songs from Byrne's film of the same name.[1][15] Notable songs from the album include one of the group's biggest hits, "Wild Wild Life", and "Radio Head", a song from which the English rock band of the same name took their name.[15][16] Two years later, Talking Heads released their final album, Naked.[1] The album marked a return to the experimentation and styles of their Eno albums, most notably Remain in Light.[1][17] After Naked, the band went on a hiatus; formally announcing their breakup three years later in 1991.[1] Their final release was the song "Sax and Violins", released on the Until the End of the World soundtrack that same year.[18]
Since their breakup, 12 previously unreleased songs have been officially released. The compilation album Sand in the Vaseline: Popular Favorites (1992) included five and the box set Once in a Lifetime (2003) included one, "In Asking Land", an outtake from the Naked sessions.[19][20] The 2005 reissue of Talking Heads: 77 included the previously unreleased "I Feel It in My Heart",[21] and the 2006 reissues of Fear of Music and Remain in Light included unfinished outtakes from those albums' sessions.[22][23]
Songs
Contents |
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A · B · C · D · E · F · G · H · I · L · M · N · O · P · R · S · T · U · W · Notes · References |
† | Indicates single release |
---|---|
‡ | Indicates song solely written by David Byrne |
![Brian Eno in 2008](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/af/Brian_Eno_2008.jpg/200px-Brian_Eno_2008.jpg)
![Al Green in 1973](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7c/Al_Green_1973.jpg/200px-Al_Green_1973.jpg)
Song | Writer(s) | Original release | Year | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
"Air" | David Byrne ‡ | Fear of Music | 1979 | [24] |
"And She Was" † | David Byrne ‡ | Little Creatures | 1985 | [25] |
"Animals" | David Byrne ‡ | Fear of Music | 1979 | [24] |
"Artists Only" | David Byrne Wayne Zieve | More Songs About Buildings and Food | 1978 | [26] |
"The Big Country" | David Byrne ‡ | More Songs About Buildings and Food | 1978 | [26] |
"Big Daddy" | Talking Heads | Naked | 1988 | [27] |
"Bill" | Talking Heads | Naked | 1988 | [27] |
"Blind" † | Talking Heads | Naked | 1988 | [27] |
"The Book I Read" | David Byrne ‡ | Talking Heads: 77 | 1977 | [28] |
"Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On)" | Talking Heads Brian Eno | Remain in Light | 1980 | [29] |
"Burning Down the House" † | Talking Heads | Speaking in Tongues | 1983 | [30] |
"Cities" † | David Byrne ‡ | Fear of Music | 1979 | [24] |
"City of Dreams" | David Byrne ‡ | True Stories | 1986 | [31] |
"A Clean Break" (live) | David Byrne ‡ | The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads | 1982 | [32] |
"Cool Water" | Talking Heads | Naked | 1988 | [27] |
"Creatures of Love" | David Byrne ‡ | Little Creatures | 1985 | [25] |
"Crosseyed and Painless" † | Talking Heads Brian Eno | Remain in Light | 1980 | [29] |
"Dancing for Money"[a] | David Byrne ‡ | Fear of Music (CD reissue) | 2006 | [22] |
"The Democratic Circus" | Talking Heads | Naked | 1988 | [27] |
"Don't Worry About the Government" | David Byrne ‡ | Talking Heads: 77 | 1977 | [28] |
"Double Groove"[a] | Talking Heads Brian Eno | Remain in Light (CD reissue) | 2006 | [23] |
"Dream Operator" | David Byrne ‡ | True Stories | 1986 | [31] |
"Drugs" | David Byrne Brian Eno | Fear of Music | 1979 | [24] |
"Electric Guitar" | David Byrne ‡ | Fear of Music | 1979 | [24] |
"The Facts of Life" | Talking Heads | Naked | 1988 | [27] |
"Fela's Riff"[a] | Talking Heads Brian Eno | Remain in Light (CD reissue) | 2006 | [23] |
"First Week/Last Week... Carefree" | David Byrne ‡ | Talking Heads: 77 | 1977 | [28] |
"Found a Job" | David Byrne ‡ | More Songs About Buildings and Food | 1978 | [26] |
"Gangster of Love" | Talking Heads | Sand in the Vaseline: Popular Favorites | 1992 | [33] |
"Girlfriend Is Better" † | Talking Heads | Speaking in Tongues | 1983 | [30] |
"The Girls Want to Be with the Girls" | David Byrne ‡ | More Songs About Buildings and Food | 1978 | [26] |
"Give Me Back My Name" | Talking Heads | Little Creatures | 1985 | [25] |
"The Good Thing" | David Byrne ‡ | More Songs About Buildings and Food | 1978 | [26] |
"The Great Curve" | Talking Heads Brian Eno | Remain in Light | 1980 | [29] |
"Happy Day" | David Byrne ‡ | Talking Heads: 77 | 1977 | [28] |
"Heaven" | David Byrne Jerry Harrison | Fear of Music | 1979 | [24] |
"Hey Now" | David Byrne ‡ | True Stories | 1986 | [31] |
"Houses in Motion" † | Talking Heads Brian Eno | Remain in Light | 1980 | [29] |
"I Feel It in My Heart" | David Byrne ‡ | Talking Heads: 77 (reissue) | 2005 | [21] |
"I Get Wild/Wild Gravity" | Talking Heads | Speaking in Tongues | 1983 | [30] |
"I Want to Live" (demo) | David Byrne ‡ | Sand in the Vaseline: Popular Favorites | 1992 | [33] |
"I Wish You Wouldn't Say That"[b] † | David Byrne ‡ | Non-album single B-side to "Psycho Killer" | 1977 | [34] |
"I Zimbra" † | David Byrne Brian Eno Hugo Ball | Fear of Music | 1979 | [24] |
"I'm Not in Love" | David Byrne ‡ | More Songs About Buildings and Food | 1978 | [26] |
"In Asking Land" | Talking Heads | Once in a Lifetime (box set) | 2003 | [35] |
"The Lady Don't Mind" | Talking Heads | Little Creatures | 1985 | [25] |
"Life During Wartime" † | Talking Heads | Fear of Music | 1979 | [24] |
"Lifetime Piling Up" | Talking Heads | Sand in the Vaseline: Popular Favorites | 1992 | [33] |
"Listening Wind" | Talking Heads Brian Eno | Remain in Light | 1980 | [29] |
"Love for Sale" | David Byrne ‡ | True Stories | 1986 | [31] |
"Love → Building on Fire"[b][c] † | David Byrne ‡ | Non-album single | 1977 | [3] |
"Making Flippy Floppy" | Talking Heads | Speaking in Tongues | 1983 | [30] |
"Memories Can't Wait" | David Byrne Jerry Harrison | Fear of Music | 1979 | [24] |
"Mind" | David Byrne ‡ | Fear of Music | 1979 | [24] |
"Mommy Daddy You and I" | Talking Heads | Naked | 1988 | [27] |
"Moon Rocks" | Talking Heads | Speaking in Tongues | 1983 | [30] |
"Mr. Jones" | Talking Heads | Naked | 1988 | [27] |
"New Feeling"[d] † | David Byrne ‡ | Talking Heads: 77 | 1977 | [28] |
"No Compassion" | David Byrne ‡ | Talking Heads: 77 | 1977 | [28] |
"(Nothing But) Flowers" † | Talking Heads | Naked | 1988 | [27] |
"Once in a Lifetime" † | Talking Heads Brian Eno | Remain in Light | 1980 | [29] |
"The Overload" | Talking Heads Brian Eno | Remain in Light | 1980 | [29] |
"Papa Legba" | David Byrne ‡ | True Stories | 1986 | [31] |
"Paper" | David Byrne ‡ | Fear of Music | 1979 | [24] |
"People Like Us" | David Byrne ‡ | True Stories | 1986 | [31] |
"Perfect World" | David Byrne Chris Frantz | Little Creatures | 1985 | [25] |
"Popsicle" | Talking Heads | Sand in the Vaseline: Popular Favorites | 1992 | [33] |
"Psycho Killer" † | David Byrne Chris Frantz Tina Weymouth | Talking Heads: 77 | 1977 | [28] |
"Pull Up the Roots" | Talking Heads | Speaking in Tongues | 1983 | [30] |
"Pulled Up" † | David Byrne ‡ | Talking Heads: 77 | 1977 | [28] |
"Puzzlin' Evidence" | David Byrne ‡ | True Stories | 1986 | [31] |
"Radio Head" | David Byrne ‡ | True Stories | 1986 | [31] |
"Right Start"[a] | Talking Heads Brian Eno | Remain in Light (CD reissue) | 2006 | [23] |
"Road to Nowhere" † | David Byrne ‡ | Little Creatures | 1985 | [25] |
"Ruby Dear" | Talking Heads | Naked | 1988 | [27] |
"Sax and Violins" † | Talking Heads | Until the End of the World: Music from the Motion Picture Soundtrack | 1991 | [18] |
"Seen and Not Seen" | Talking Heads Brian Eno | Remain in Light | 1980 | [29] |
"Slippery People" | Talking Heads | Speaking in Tongues | 1983 | [30] |
"Stay Hungry" | David Byrne Chris Frantz | More Songs About Buildings and Food | 1978 | [26] |
"Stay Up Late" | David Byrne ‡ | Little Creatures | 1985 | [25] |
"Sugar on My Tongue" (demo) | David Byrne ‡ | Sand in the Vaseline: Popular Favorites | 1992 | [33] |
"Swamp" | Talking Heads | Speaking in Tongues | 1983 | [30] |
"Take Me to the River" † (Al Green cover) | Al Green Mabon "Teenie" Hodges | More Songs About Buildings and Food | 1978 | [26] |
"Television Man" | David Byrne ‡ | Little Creatures | 1985 | [25] |
"Tentative Decisions" | David Byrne ‡ | Talking Heads: 77 | 1977 | [28] |
"Thank You for Sending Me an Angel" | David Byrne ‡ | More Songs About Buildings and Food | 1978 | [26] |
"This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)" † | Talking Heads | Speaking in Tongues | 1983 | [30] |
"Totally Nude" | Talking Heads | Naked | 1988 | [27] |
"Two Note Swivel"[a] | Talking Heads | Speaking in Tongues (CD reissue) | 2006 | [36] |
"Uh-Oh, Love Comes to Town" † | David Byrne ‡ | Talking Heads: 77 | 1977 | [28] |
"Unison"[a] | Talking Heads Brian Eno | Remain in Light (CD reissue) | 2006 | [23] |
"Walk It Down" | David Byrne ‡ | Little Creatures | 1985 | [25] |
"Warning Sign" | David Byrne Chris Frantz | More Songs About Buildings and Food | 1978 | [26] |
"What a Day That Was" (live) | David Byrne ‡ | Stop Making Sense | 1984 | [37] |
"Who Is It?" | David Byrne ‡ | Talking Heads: 77 | 1977 | [28] |
"Wild Wild Life" † | David Byrne ‡ | True Stories | 1986 | [31] |
"With Our Love" | David Byrne ‡ | More Songs About Buildings and Food | 1978 | [26] |
Notes
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Talking Heads – Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
- ^ "Talking Heads – Rock & Roll Hall of Fame". Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 2002. Archived from the original on October 30, 2018. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
- ^ a b c d "Love → Building on Fire" (7" single liner notes). Talking Heads. US: Sire Records. 1977. SAA-737.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ a b Ruhlmann, William. "Talking Heads: 77 – Talking Heads". AllMusic. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
- ^ Ruhlmann, William. "More Songs About Buildings and Food – Talking Heads". AllMusic. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
- ^ a b Ruhlmann, William. "Fear of Music – Talking Heads". AllMusic. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
- ^ a b Ruhlmann, William. "Remain in Light – Talking Heads". AllMusic. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
- ^ Clark, Tyler; Nunnally, Doug (March 8, 2018). "Ranking: Every Talking Heads Album from Worst to Best". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
- ^ Tatusian, Alex (April 13, 2013). "Talking Heads Albums From Worst To Best". Stereogum. Archived from the original on October 15, 2018. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
- ^ Sounds staff (December 13, 1980). "The Best of 1980". Sounds. p. 31.
- ^ Melody Maker staff (December 13, 1980). "1980 Melody Maker Albums". Melody Maker (pull-out section).
- ^ Westergaard, Sean. "The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads – Talking Heads". AllMusic. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
- ^ Ruhlmann, William. "Speaking in Tongues – Talking Heads". AllMusic. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
- ^ Ruhlmann, William. "Little Creatures – Talking Heads". AllMusic. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
- ^ a b Hastings, Michael. "True Stories – Talking Heads". AllMusic. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
- ^ Staff (December 18, 2007). "David Byrne and Thom Yorke on the Real Value of Music". Wired. Archived from the original on 2018-10-15. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
- ^ Hastings, Michael. "Naked – Talking Heads". AllMusic. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
- ^ a b Until the End of the World: Music from the Motion Picture Soundtrack (CD liner notes). Various Artists. US: Warner Bros. Records. 1991. 7599-26707-2.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Popular Favorites 1976–1992: Sand in the Vaseline – Talking Heads". AllMusic. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Once in a Lifetime – Talking Heads". AllMusic. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
- ^ a b Talking Heads: 77 (CD liner notes). Talking Heads. US: Sire. 2005.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ a b c Fear of Music (CD booklet and case back cover). Talking Heads. London: Warner. 2006.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ a b c d e f Remain in Light (CD booklet and case back cover). Talking Heads. London: Warner. 2006.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Fear of Music (LP liner notes). Talking Heads. US: Sire. 1979.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ a b c d e f g h i Little Creatures (LP liner notes). Talking Heads. US: Warner Bros./Sire. 1985.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ a b c d e f g h i j k More Songs About Buildings and Food (LP liner notes). Talking Heads. US: Sire. 1978.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Naked (LP liner notes). Talking Heads. US: Warner Bros. 1988.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Talking Heads: 77 (LP liner notes). Talking Heads. US: Sire. 1977.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ a b c d e f g h Remain in Light (LP liner notes). Talking Heads. US: Sire. 1980.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ a b c d e f g h i Speaking in Tongues (LP liner notes). Talking Heads. US: Sire. 1983.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ a b c d e f g h i True Stories (LP liner notes). Talking Heads. US: Sire. 1986.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads (LP liner notes). Talking Heads. US: Sire. 1982.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ a b c d e f Sand in the Vaseline: Popular Favorites (CD liner notes). Talking Heads. US: Warner Bros./Sire. 1992.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Psycho Killer" (7" single liner notes). Talking Heads. UK: Sire Records. 1977. 6078 610.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Once in a Lifetime (CD liner notes). Talking Heads. US: Warner Bros. 2003.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Speaking in Tongues (CD liner notes). Talking Heads. US: Sire. 2006.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Stop Making Sense (LP liner notes). Talking Heads. US: Sire. 1984.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
- v
- t
- e
- Talking Heads: 77
- More Songs About Buildings and Food
- Fear of Music
- Remain in Light
- Speaking in Tongues
- Little Creatures
- True Stories
- Naked
- The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads
- Stop Making Sense
- Popular Favorites 1976–1992: Sand in the Vaseline
- Once in a Lifetime: The Best of Talking Heads
- Once in a Lifetime
- The Best of Talking Heads
- Talking Heads
- Bonus Rarities and Outtakes
- "Love → Building on Fire"
- "Psycho Killer"
- "Take Me to the River"
- "Life During Wartime"
- "I Zimbra"
- "Cities"
- "Crosseyed and Painless"
- "Once in a Lifetime"
- "Houses in Motion"
- "Burning Down the House"
- "This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)"
- "Girlfriend Is Better"
- "Road to Nowhere"
- "And She Was"
- "Wild Wild Life"
- "Blind"
- "(Nothing But) Flowers"
- "Sax and Violins"
- "Thank You for Sending Me an Angel"
- "Heaven"
- "Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On)"
- Stop Making Sense
- True Stories
- Storytelling Giant
- Live Phish Volume 15
- Everyone's Getting Involved
- Discography
- Songs
- How Music Works
- "King's Lead Hat"
- My Life in the Bush of Ghosts
- No Talking, Just Head
- Sounds from True Stories
- Tom Tom Club
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