2SR 3590 The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads
Produced by Talking Heads
Released on March 1982
US CHART POSITION #31 . . . UK CHART POSITION #22
Find it at GEMM
2SR 3590 cover
[high resolution photo]		  

W hile the Heads rolled off in separate directions, Sire fed the faithful with a double-elpee serving of live material from three separate tours over the band’s brief career. The Name Of This Band Is Talking Heads, which takes its title from David Byrne’s deadpanned live introductions to songs as “The name of this song is…,” thus functions as a live compilation rather than a live album. This turns out to be a neat idea, allowing the listener to watch the band’s live performances evolve along with their material, gaining confidence while the size of their audience audibly swells. Although not one of the three tours represented really captures the essence of the band (they were always in transition), it does create a composite picture from a distance that is quintessentially Heads-like. The 1977 concerts are personal and mildly provocative, offering a giddy rendition of “Pulled Up” and closing with the big hit (at the time), “Psycho Killer.” The 1979 concert that follows features material from their first three albums, including “Air” and “Building on Fire.” Byrne’s vocals are more agitated this time around, and the band gives him nearly enough rope to hang himself as he offers distracting versions of “Artists Only” and “Stay Hungry.” The second record focuses on the band’s most recent tour, which included illustrious guests (Adrian Belew, Bernie Worrell, Busta Jones, etc.) in an attempt to reproduce the exotic arrangements of Remain In Light. While much of that record’s exotic energy dissipates on stage, there are some advantages to the live performances, none more fascinating than Belew’s wonderful guitar work. It’s too bad more record companies haven’t picked up on the idea of creating live compilations like this; in many ways it’s superior to the dull, dry greatest hits collections that offer no new insights into the band’s musical development or changing commercial fortunes. Of interest, both sides of the album are designed to function as the cover, which is cool if a little confusing.

2SR 3590 back cover? 2SR 3590 picture sleeve 2SR 3590 other pic sleeve
2SR 3590 back cover? 2SR 3590 picture sleeve 2SR 3590 other pic sleeve

TRACK LISTING

    record one
  1. NEW FEELING    (David Byrne)    3:10
  2. A CLEAN BREAK    (David Byrne)    4:57
  3. DON'T WORRY ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT    (David Byrne)    3:08
  4. PULLED UP    (David Byrne)    4:08
  5. PSYCHO KILLER    (David Byrne/Tina Weymouth/Chris Frantz)    5:34
  6. ARTISTS ONLY    (David Byrne/Wayne Zieve)    3:48
  7. STAY HUNGRY    (David Byrne/Chris Frantz)    4:00
  8. AIR    (David Byrne)    4:08
  9. BUILDING ON FIRE    (David Byrne)    3:36
  10. MEMORIES (CAN'T WAIT)    (David Byrne)    3:58

    record two
  11. I ZIMBRA    (David Byrne/Brian Eno/Hugo Ball)    3:33
  12. DRUGS    (David Byrne)    4:47
  13. HOUSES IN MOTION    (David Byrne/Chris Frantz/Jerry Harrison/Tina Weymouth/Brian Eno)    7:00
  14. LIFE DURING WARTIME    (David Byrne)    5:03
  15. THE GREAT CURVE    (David Byrne/Chris Frantz/Jerry Harrison/Tina Weymouth/Brian Eno)    6:58
  16. CROSSEYED AND PAINLESS    (David Byrne/Chris Frantz/Jerry Harrison/Tina Weymouth/Brian Eno)    7:05
  17. TAKE ME TO THE RIVER    (Al Green/M Hodges)    6:43

    CD reissue w. bonus tracks: disc one
  18. NEW FEELING
  19. A CLEAN BREAK
  20. DON'T WORRY ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT
  21. PULLED UP
  22. PSYCHO KILLER
  23. WHO IS IT?
  24. THE BOOK I READ
  25. THE BIG COUNTRY
  26. I'M NOT IN LOVE
  27. THE GIRLS WANT TO BE WITH THE GIRLS
  28. ELECTRICITY (DRUGS)
  29. FOUND A JOB
  30. MIND
  31. ARTISTS ONLY
  32. STAY HUNGRY
  33. AIR
  34. LOVE -> BUILDING ON FIRE
  35. MEMORIES CAN'T WAIT
  36. HEAVEN

    CD reissue w. bonus tracks: disc two
  37. PSYCHO KILLER
  38. WARNING SIGN
  39. STAY HUNGRY
  40. CITIES
  41. I ZIMBRA
  42. DRUGS (ELECTRICITY)
  43. ONCE IN A LIFETIME
  44. ANIMALS
  45. HOUSES IN MOTION
  46. BORN UNDER THE PUNCHES
  47. CROSSEYED AND PAINLESS
  48. LIFE DURING WARTIME
  49. TAKE ME TO THE RIVER
  50. THE GREAT CURVE

CREDITS

DAVID BYRNE -- vocals, guitar
CHRIS FRANTZ -- drums
JERRY HARRISON -- keyboards, guitar, piano, backing vocals, synthesizer
TINA WEYMOUTH -- bass, backing vocals, synthesizer, percussion
Adrian Belew -- guitars, backing vocals
Nona Hendryx -- vocals
Busta Jones -- bass, guitar
Dolette McDonald -- backing vocals, percussion
Steve Scales -- percussion
Bernie Worrell -- clavinet, backing vocals
Rod O'Brian -- engineer
Dave Hewett -- engineer
Kooster McAllister -- engineer
Katshuiko Sato -- engineer
Brian Eno -- egineering assistance
Talking Heads -- mixing
Butch Jones -- mixing
M&Co. New York -- design
John Dalton, Lynn Goldsmith -- cover photos

return to TALKING HEADS discography

REGION RELEASE DATE LABEL MEDIA ID NUMBER FEATURES
US March 1982 Sire 2LP/2CS 2SR/2SR5 3590 picture sleeves
UK March 1982 Sire 2LP SRK2 3590  
BRA 1982 WEA 2LP 260778 picture sleeves
YUG   Suzy 2LP ULP1053  
US August 17, 2004 Sire 2CD 76489 w. bonus tracks

 

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