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List of songs recorded by Talking Heads

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Talking Heads performing in 1978
Tina Weymouth performing in 1978
Talking Heads performing in 1978. L–R: Jerry Harrison, Chris Frantz, David Byrne, and Tina Weymouth.

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 (Let's Work)".[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

[edit]
Contents
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Key
† Indicates single release
‡ Indicates song solely written by David Byrne
Brian Eno in 2008
Talking Heads collaborated with producer Brian Eno on More Songs About Buildings and Food, Fear of Music, and Remain in Light.
Al Green in 1973
Talking Heads covered Al Green's song "Take Me to the River" on their second album, More Songs About Buildings and Food.
Name of song, writer(s), original release, and year of release
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 (Let's Work)" (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

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f Song is an unfinished outtake.[22][23]
  2. ^ a b Later appeared on Sand in the Vaseline: Popular Favorites[33]
  3. ^ Also known as "Love Goes to Building on Fire"[3]
  4. ^ Originally released as the B-side to "Love → Building on Fire" in early 1977 before Talking Heads: 77.[3]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ "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.
  3. ^ 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)
  4. ^ a b Ruhlmann, William. "Talking Heads: 77 – Talking Heads". AllMusic. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  5. ^ Ruhlmann, William. "More Songs About Buildings and Food – Talking Heads". AllMusic. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  6. ^ a b Ruhlmann, William. "Fear of Music – Talking Heads". AllMusic. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  7. ^ a b Ruhlmann, William. "Remain in Light – Talking Heads". AllMusic. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  8. ^ Clark, Tyler; Nunnally, Doug (March 8, 2018). "Ranking: Every Talking Heads Album from Worst to Best". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ Sounds staff (December 13, 1980). "The Best of 1980". Sounds. p. 31.
  11. ^ Melody Maker staff (December 13, 1980). "1980 Melody Maker Albums". Melody Maker (pull-out section).
  12. ^ Westergaard, Sean. "The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads – Talking Heads". AllMusic. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  13. ^ Ruhlmann, William. "Speaking in Tongues – Talking Heads". AllMusic. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  14. ^ Ruhlmann, William. "Little Creatures – Talking Heads". AllMusic. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  15. ^ a b Hastings, Michael. "True Stories – Talking Heads". AllMusic. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  16. ^ 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.
  17. ^ Hastings, Michael. "Naked – Talking Heads". AllMusic. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  18. ^ 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)
  19. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Popular Favorites 1976–1992: Sand in the Vaseline – Talking Heads". AllMusic. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  20. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Once in a Lifetime – Talking Heads". AllMusic. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  21. ^ 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)
  22. ^ 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)
  23. ^ 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)
  24. ^ 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)
  25. ^ 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)
  26. ^ 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)
  27. ^ 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)
  28. ^ 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)
  29. ^ 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)
  30. ^ 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)
  31. ^ 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)
  32. ^ 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)
  33. ^ 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)
  34. ^ "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)
  35. ^ 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)
  36. ^ Speaking in Tongues (CD liner notes). Talking Heads. US: Sire. 2006.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  37. ^ Stop Making Sense (LP liner notes). Talking Heads. US: Sire. 1984.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

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