Talking Heads: 77

What a fantastic surprise it was to hear to this again. Dig out your copy and see what you think. I probably haven't listened to this for decades: if I'm reaching for a Talking Heads album it would be Fear of Music, Remain in Light, or else Little Creatures and possibly Naked. When I think of Talking Heads: 77, the profile of Psycho Killer stands above all else, and I think of the other tracks as sketches or footnotes to it. But that's not true, I tell you!

Time and recent developments had led me to assume that the early Talking Heads sound was the one that Franz Ferdinand and others had ripped off. However, it's more subtle and nuanced than the latter's failed plagiarism (actually I don't mind FF, but all the second division of bands behind them, whose names I can't be bothered to recall, are the real offenders). From the start of Uh Oh, Love Comes to Town, the music swings and grooves more than I remember. There are steel drums on it, for Pete's sake. Were they always there? Must have been, I suppose. And First Week/Last Week…Carefree: what a great, great song. One that connects directly with David Byrne's more recent work, including its exotic percussion. All round, the Frantz and Weymouth rhythm section sound brilliant. Helped, too, by clean production and the great textured roundness of vinyl.

Honestly, dig out your copy and give it a spin. Tell me you're not surprised.

MusicBrainz entry for this album

Comments

[Andy]

I haven't listened to this for an age either and sadly don't have the luxury of being ale to drag it out of the cupboard. This was my favourite Talking Heads album when I was listening to Talking Heads (which I admit I don't do so much these days - although seeing them on that BBC4 thing about New York music a week or so back whet (wet?) my appetite).

A few years ago for fear of upsetting my mum because we hadn't bought each other xmas presents my sister and I came up with a ruse whereby she wrapped up one of my own records for me and I wrapped up one of MY OWN records for her - she was supposed to return 77 but instead took it to Lancaster with her and I've not seen it since!