Talking Heads were an American rock band formed in 1975 in New York City and active until 1991.
The band was composed of David Byrne (lead vocals, guitar), Chris Frantz (drums), Tina Weymouth (bass), and Jerry Harrison (keyboards, guitar).
Described by the critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine as “one of the most critically acclaimed bands of the ’80’s,”
the group helped to pioneer new wave music by integrating elements of punk, art rock, funk, and world music with avant-garde sensibilities and an anxious, clean-cut image.
Former art school students who became involved in the 1970’s New York punk scene, Talking Heads released their 1977 debut album, Talking Heads: 77, to positive reviews.
They collaborated with producer Brian Eno on a trio of experimental and critically acclaimed releases: More Songs About Buildings and Food (1978), Fear of Music (1979), and Remain in Light (1980).
After a hiatus, Talking Heads hit their commercial peak in 1983 with the U.S. Top 10 hit “Burning Down the House” from the album Speaking in Tongues and released the concert film Stop Making Sense, directed by Jonathan Demme.
They released several more albums, including their best-selling LP Little Creatures (1985), before disbanding in 1991.
Without Byrne, the other band members performed under the name Shrunken Heads, and released an album, No Talking, Just Head, as the Heads in 1996.
In 2002, Talking Heads were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Four of their albums appear in Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, and three of their songs (“Psycho Killer”, “Life During Wartime”, and “Once in a Lifetime”) were included among the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll.
Talking Heads were also number 64 on VH1’s list of the “100 Greatest Artists of All Time”.
In the 2011 update of Rolling Stone’s “100 Greatest Artists of All Time”, they were ranked number 100.
Tracklist
A1 Psycho Killer
A2 Sugar On My Tongue
A3 Thank You For Sending Me An Angel
A4 I Want To Live
A5 I Wish You Wouldn’t Say That
A6 The Girls Want To Be With The Girls
A7 Who Is It
A8 With Our Love
B1 Stay Hungry
B2 Tentative Decisions
B3 Warning Sign
B4 I’m Not In Love
B5 The Book I Read
B6 Love –> Building On Fire
B7 No Compassion
Members
David Byrne – lead vocals, guitar (1975–1991, 2002)
Chris Frantz – drums, backing vocals (1975–1991, 1996, 2002)
Tina Weymouth – bass, backing vocals (1975–1991, 1996, 2002)
Jerry Harrison – keyboards, guitar, backing vocals (1977–1991, 1996, 2002)
Touring musicians
Adrian Belew – lead guitar, vocals (1980–1981)
Alex Weir – guitar, vocals (1983–1984)
Bernie Worrell – keyboards, backing vocals (1980–1984)
Busta Jones – bass (1980–1981)
Steve Scales – percussion, backing vocals (1980–1984)
Dolette McDonald – vocals, cowbell (1980–1981)
Ednah Holt – vocals (1983–1984)
Lynn Mabry – vocals (1983–1984)
Nona Hendryx – vocals (1980)
Talking Heads discography
Talking Heads: 77 (1977)
More Songs About Buildings and Food (1978)
Fear of Music (1979)
Remain in Light (1980)
Speaking in Tongues (1983)
Little Creatures (1985)
True Stories (1986)
Naked (1988)
