Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. New Feeling
2. Clean Break (Let's Work)
3. Don't Worry About the Government
4. Pulled Up
5. Psycho Killer
6. Who Is It?
7. Book I Read
8. Big Country
9. I'm Not in Love
10. Girls Want to Be With the Girls
11. Electricity (Drugs)
12. Found a Job
13. Mind
14. Artists Only
15. Stay Hungry
16. Air
17. Love (Goes To) Building on Fire
18. Memories (Can't Wait)
19. Heaven

Disc 2:

1. Psycho Killer
2. Warning Sign
3. Stay Hungry
4. Cities
5. I Zimbra
6. Drugs (Electricity)
7. Once in a Lifetime
8. Animals
9. Houses in Motion
10. Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On)
11. Crosseyed and Painless
12. Life During Wartime
13. Take Me to the River
14. Great Curve

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #35514 in Music
• Released on: 2004-08-23
• Number of discs: 2
• Formats: Extra tracks, Live, Original recording remastered
• Dimensions: .27 pounds

CD Description
This live album was originally released as a double LP in 1982, when the Talking Heads were still extremely active. Twenty-two years later, the bonus-laden, two-CD reissue serves as a fascinating in-concert document of the phases the band went through during its first five years. The late-'70s tracks on the first disc show the early version of the band in all its geeky glory, mixing spastic New Wave quirkiness, funkrhythms, and art-school lyrics. It's intriguing to hear thedifference between some of the songs' inception and their eventual recorded versions, such as a relatively straightforward "Electricity (Drugs)", which would turn ominous and atmospheric on FEAR OF MUSIC.
The second disc captures the expanded, early-'80s version of the band, with extra musiciansand backing vocalists in tow, tackling the fugue-like art-funk masterpieces of the aforementioned album and REMAIN IN LIGHT. It's all the more impressive to hear the interlocking of the guitars, keyboards, and percussion achieved without the benefit of studio overdubbing, and David Byrne's near-manic intensity is even more focused and affecting in the live setting. Even vinyl freaks/Heads maniacs who hung on to the original LP for two decades will need to get this, if only for the wealth of indispensable bonus tracks.

Customer Reviews

Excellent expanded live document from premier new wave band
The original vinyl edition of this live album has been hugely extended by 12 tracks to make this into a comprehensive document of live Talking Heads. The first disc of this 2 CD package is made up of live recordings spanning 1977 to 1979. But it's the second disc that shines from this set. Made up from the complete set-list of the "Remain in Light" tour, this CD showcases the expanded Talking Heads Funk Orchestra to perfection.

With "Remain in Light", Talking Heads had reached their peak of creativity, the partnership of band and producer Brian Eno producing one of the most original and exciting albums of the 70's. That, together with Byrne and Eno's groundbreaking "My Life in the Bush of Ghosts" and Byrne's own "The Catherine Wheel" soundtrack, reflect what a fertile period this was for David Byrne with his inspirational mix of cerebral, nervy New York artsy new wave, the heady funk of the Funkadelic/Parliament axis and African rhythms. The augmented line-up breathes new life into earlier Talking Heads pieces to the extent that they sound totally reworked. For me guitarist Adrian Belew is the star of the show, as his inclusion adds a completely new dimension to the arrangements. His skewed, elephantine sounding guitar gives the songs an alien, otherworldly feel. There is an edginess to the performance which is typical of the material and David Byrne at that time. The following "Speaking in Tongues" tour, which produced the best concert film ever shows the band in a more relaxed, confident light and actually having lots of fun. Highlights are a beefed up "Houses in Motion", "Warning Sign", the always excellent "Take me to the River", the blissful "Drugs" and the just downright boogielicious "I Zimbra".

As ever with Ryko re-issues the packaging is excellent, with lots of photos, notes and review snippets from the period. The sound on the earlier material is strangely better than that on disc 2, which sounds a tad harsh in some areas, but in some ways adds to the raw, hyper performance on display. This is an excellent live document from one of the best bands ever.

A Heads Start
Having been a big fan of Talking Heads since the early eighties, TNOFTBITH had always eluded me despite my record buying fervour and I had never been able to lay my hands on the original version of this album, although I had heard it many times thanks to a friend who was reluctant to let it out of his sight even so I could tape it!

I can now say that I am the proud owner of one of the best CD's that has ever been produced.

I won't try to duplicate the other reviews that appear, suffice to say that if you are new to the Talking Heads experience buy this CD first before acquiring 'Stop Making Sense' or any 'greatest hits' compilations. It captures the absolute essence of a band that took the 'P' out of Punk (quite literally) and replaced it with an 'F'.

I can't fail to mention two of my favourites on this album - New Feeling and Pulled Up. The Heads at their consistent best.

Buy it and you will be taken on a musical journey that simply cannot be compared.

This Band Rocks
From the first second this album rocks.I was fortunate to see the band in the late 70's and I can honestly say this album captures them at their peak. Buy it without any reservations and listen to how a rock band should sound. Raw, exciting, fresh, innovative ans above all cool. The Heads rock and always will.