Talking Heads - The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads [Expanded 2CD]

Album Overview

Talking Heads document the rapid evolution of their early live sound on The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads, the group’s first live album. Originally released in 1982, the collection draws from performances recorded between 1977 and 1981, tracing the band’s transformation from the tightly wound new wave of its original quartet to the larger, rhythm-driven ensemble that followed Remain in Light.

The first disc focuses on performances from 1977 through 1979, featuring David Byrne, Chris Frantz, Jerry Harrison, and Tina Weymouth on songs including “Psycho Killer,” “Pulled Up,” “The Big Country,” “Found a Job,” and “Heaven.” The second disc moves into the expanded 1980–1981 touring lineup, with musicians including Adrian Belew, Bernie Worrell, Busta Jones, Steve Scales, Dolette McDonald, and Nona Hendryx adding layers of guitar, keyboards, percussion, and vocals.

Across the collection, Talking Heads revisit material from their first four studio albums, including extended live versions of “Once in a Lifetime,” “Houses in Motion,” “Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On),” “Crosseyed and Painless,” “Life During Wartime,” and “The Great Curve.” The performances capture the band’s progression from lean art-school new wave into the dense funk, polyrhythms, and experimentation of the Remain in Light era.

This expanded 2004 CD edition marked the album’s long-awaited debut on compact disc and adds more than 30 minutes of material beyond the original double LP. The two-disc set contains 33 live performances, including rare and previously unreleased recordings, and was remastered by Bob Ludwig.

Why You’ll Love It

If you enjoy hearing how Talking Heads transformed their songs onstage, The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads is one of the most revealing releases in the band’s catalog. The two discs capture distinctly different versions of the group, from the nervous energy of their late-1970s quartet to the expansive, funk-driven ensemble of the early 1980s. This expanded edition goes far beyond the original vinyl release with additional performances that offer an even deeper look at the band’s evolution.

Album Highlights

• Expanded 2004 two-CD edition of Talking Heads’ first live album
• Originally released as a double LP in 1982
• Features 33 live performances recorded between 1977 and 1981
• Adds rare and previously unreleased material not included on the original LP
• Includes “Psycho Killer,” “Once in a Lifetime,” “Life During Wartime,” and “Take Me to the River”
• Documents both the original quartet and expanded Remain in Light-era touring lineup
• Features Adrian Belew, Bernie Worrell, Nona Hendryx, Steve Scales, and additional musicians
• Remastered by Bob Ludwig

Track Listing

Disc 1 – 1977–1979
1. New Feeling
2. A Clean Break (Let’s Work)
3. Don’t Worry About the Government
4. Pulled Up
5. Psycho Killer
6. Who Is It?
7. The Book I Read
8. The Big Country
9. I’m Not in Love
10. The 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 → Building on Fire
18. Memories Can’t Wait
19. Heaven

Disc 2 – 1980–1981
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. The Great Curve

Format Details

Artist: Talking Heads
Title: The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads
Format: 2CD
Edition: Expanded Edition / Remastered Reissue
Release Type: Live Album
Original Album Year: 1982
Physical Release Year: 2004
Label: Rhino Records
Catalog Number: R2 76489
Country: United States
Release Date: August 17, 2004
UPC: 081227648923

Preview The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads below before adding this expanded two-CD live collection to your collection.