Talking Heads – Biography, Songs, Albums, Discography & Facts

Talking Heads Biography

Talking Heads was an American rock group that existed from 1975 till 1991. It was founded in New York City. Scottish-born David Byrne (lead vocals, guitar), Chris Frantz (drums), Tina Weymouth (bass), and Jerry Harrison made up the group (keyboards, guitar). The ensemble, which has been called “one of the most critically praised bands of the ’80s,” contributed to the development of new wave music by fusing punk, art rock, funk, and world music with an anxious, well-groomed aesthetic.

On June 5, 1975, the group performed at CBGB for the first time as Talking Heads, serving as the Ramones‘ opening act. Weymouth claims that a TV Guide edition is where the name Talking Heads first appeared “explained that “all content, no action” is how TV studios refer to a head-and-shoulder shot of a person speaking. It fits.” The group recorded a number of demos for CBS later that year, but they were unsuccessful in landing a record deal. They gained popularity, though, and in November 1976 they signed with Sire Records. In February of the following year, they issued “Love Building on Fire,” their debut single. They added Jerry Harrison, who had previously played keyboards, guitar, and backup vocals with Jonathan Richman’s band the Modern Lovers, in March 1977.

Talking Heads released their debut album, Talking Heads: 77, in 1977 to favorable acclaim. They were former art school students who were immersed in the New York punk scene in the 1970s. On three critically praised albums—More Songs About Buildings and Food (1978), Fear of Music (1979), and Remain in Light (1980)—they worked with producer Brian Eno, fusing their art school aesthetic with the influences of musicians like Parliament-Funkadelic and Fela Kuti. Early in the 1980s, they started to grow their band by collaborating with a variety of new musicians on recordings and live performances. Notable examples include guitarist Adrian Belew, keyboardist Bernie Worrell, singer Nona Hendryx, and bassist Busta Jones.

After a sabbatical, Talking Heads resumed their career in 1983 with the release of the concert movie Stop Making Sense and the U.S. Top 10 single “Burning Down the House” from the album Speaking in Tongues. Worrell, guitarist Alex Weir, percussionist Steve Scales, singers Lynn Mabry and Ednah Holt, and Worrell were all present for these concerts. Little Creatures, Talking Heads’ best-selling record, was released in 1985. Before splitting up in 1991, they created a soundtrack CD for Byrne’s 1986 film True Stories and released their last album, the worldbeat-inspired Naked. Without Byrne, the other band members performed as Shrunken Heads and issued an album as the Heads in 1996 titled No Talking, Just Head.

Talking Heads received their Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2002. Three of their songs—”Psycho Killer,” “Life During Wartime,” and “Once in a Lifetime”—were listed among the 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Four of their albums are included in Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. On VH1’s list of the “100 Greatest Artists of All Time,” Talking Heads was ranked number 64. They were listed as the 100th greatest artist of all time in Rolling Stone’s 2011 update.

Talking Heads Discography

NakedSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
True StoriesSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Little CreaturesSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Speaking in TonguesSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Remain in LightSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Fear of MusicSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
More Songs About Buildings and FoodSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Talking Heads: 77AppleYouTubeAmazon

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Frequently Asked Questions

What Is Talking Heads Most Famous Song?

The most famous song by Talking Heads is “Burning Down the House”. The song was released in 1983 and peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. “Burning Down the House” has been covered by numerous artists, including Paul McCartney, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Foo Fighters.

What Is Talking Heads Most Famous Album?

The band’s most famous album is probably “Stop Making Sense”, which was released in 1984. The album features the singles “Burning Down the House” and “Once in a Lifetime”. It was nominated for two Grammy Awards, including Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.

How Many Album Of Talking Heads?

David Byrne and Talking Heads released eight studio albums between 1977 and 1988. The band’s final album, Naked, was released in 1988.

What Is Genre Of Talking Heads?

The genre of Talking Heads is art rock. They are often considered one of the pioneers of the genre. The group’s musical style merged elements of punk rock, new wave, and avant-garde. They were also known for their unconventional stage performances and use of multimedia in their live shows.

Most Searched For Talking Heads Songs

Psycho KillerSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Once in a LifetimeSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Road to NowhereSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
And She WasSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Burning Down The HouseSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
I ZimbraSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Crosseyed And PainlessSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Found A JobSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon