Talking Heads recomendations
#1
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Talking Heads recomendations
I just heard "(Nothing But) Flowers" on Launchcast radio a minute ago and I got to thinking about how I do not have any of their recordings. Since I saw "Stop Making Sense" on sale at Borders for $12.99, I will probably pick that up, but what would you recommend after that? Should I go with albums or just a greatest hits package?
#2
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Studio albums:
Buy their first four albums in the order they were released, then stop. You'll own everything you need:
Talking Heads '77
More Songs About Buildings and Food
Fear Of Music
Remain In Light
Nothing else by them is worth listening to, for me at least.
Compilations:
If you can find the compilation called "The Name Of This Band Is Talking Heads", buy that. It is much, much better than the horrible "Sand In the Vaseline" compilation that came out later.
Buy their first four albums in the order they were released, then stop. You'll own everything you need:
Talking Heads '77
More Songs About Buildings and Food
Fear Of Music
Remain In Light
Nothing else by them is worth listening to, for me at least.
Compilations:
If you can find the compilation called "The Name Of This Band Is Talking Heads", buy that. It is much, much better than the horrible "Sand In the Vaseline" compilation that came out later.
#3
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The 2-disc compilation "Sand in the Vasoline" is a pretty good overview of their carreer. In just a few short years, they changed their style dramatically and matured from new wave to more refined pop (mush as the Police did). My two favorite albums are Fear of Music for the early stuff and the wonderful Little Creatures for the later period.
Stop Making Sense is a great album, but it makes a better DVD and all I can think of when I listen to the CD was how much was cut to make it the length of one record. Buy the DVD instead.
Stop Making Sense is a great album, but it makes a better DVD and all I can think of when I listen to the CD was how much was cut to make it the length of one record. Buy the DVD instead.
#4
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Originally posted by Decker
Stop Making Sense is a great album, but it makes a better DVD and all I can think of when I listen to the CD was how much was cut to make it the length of one record. Buy the DVD instead.
Stop Making Sense is a great album, but it makes a better DVD and all I can think of when I listen to the CD was how much was cut to make it the length of one record. Buy the DVD instead.
#5
(Nothing But) Flowers is off of their last studio album - the only one I don't have. The best albums are the three produced by Eno. I would probably start with More Songs About Buildings & Food &/or Speaking In Tongues. They're both really fun. Quirky, but easy to get into. Then go to Fear Of Music & Remain In Light which are both a bit heavier. Talking Heads:77 & Little Creatures are both at least half great, but I don't think very good places to start. True Stories can wait for last. I don't have Sand In The Vaseline, but just looked it up & it does look to be a pretty good collection.
#6
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Originally posted by Brain Stew
Did you listen to the 1999 version? I hear it has the original nine tracks, plus 7 restored.
Did you listen to the 1999 version? I hear it has the original nine tracks, plus 7 restored.
#7
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Originally posted by wendersfan
Studio albums:
Buy their first four albums in the order they were released, then stop. You'll own everything you need:
Talking Heads '77
More Songs About Buildings and Food
Fear Of Music
Remain In Light
Nothing else by them is worth listening to, for me at least.
Compilations:
If you can find the compilation called "The Name Of This Band Is Talking Heads", buy that. It is much, much better than the horrible "Sand In the Vaseline" compilation that came out later.
Studio albums:
Buy their first four albums in the order they were released, then stop. You'll own everything you need:
Talking Heads '77
More Songs About Buildings and Food
Fear Of Music
Remain In Light
Nothing else by them is worth listening to, for me at least.
Compilations:
If you can find the compilation called "The Name Of This Band Is Talking Heads", buy that. It is much, much better than the horrible "Sand In the Vaseline" compilation that came out later.
I'd start with "More Songs..", then get "Fear of Music", then the first one, then "Remain in Light". "RIL" is their best, IMO, but that album is so complicated and densely packed with ideas that you need to hear it in context before jumping in. "MSABAF" and "FOM" are the most accessiblke of the bunch, IMO.
Remain in Light still sounds about twenty years into the future today. It's amazing that the band was that advanced in 1980.
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"(Nothing But) Flowers" is a great song, but the album (Naked) isn't very good -- I wouldn't start with it. The Sand in the Vaseline compilation is, I think, pretty good -- one of the few greatest hits albums I've kept. You should definitely start with Stop Making Sense. I have a soft spot in my heart for Little Creatures (my first Talking Heads album), but I agree with the others -- start with the earlier stuff.
#9
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Originally posted by Hiro11
I agree with everything said here, except:
I'd start with "More Songs..", then get "Fear of Music", then the first one, then "Remain in Light". "RIL" is their best, IMO, but that album is so complicated and densely packed with ideas that you need to hear it in context before jumping in. "MSABAF" and "FOM" are the most accessiblke of the bunch, IMO.
Remain in Light still sounds about twenty years into the future today. It's amazing that the band was that advanced in 1980.
I agree with everything said here, except:
I'd start with "More Songs..", then get "Fear of Music", then the first one, then "Remain in Light". "RIL" is their best, IMO, but that album is so complicated and densely packed with ideas that you need to hear it in context before jumping in. "MSABAF" and "FOM" are the most accessiblke of the bunch, IMO.
Remain in Light still sounds about twenty years into the future today. It's amazing that the band was that advanced in 1980.
#11
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Originally posted by Mistafadedglory
3 words: Stop Making Sense
3 words: Stop Making Sense
#12
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You guys would really stop after their first four recordings? There are very few bands with as many albums as they own where I like just about all of them ('cept "Naked").
"Stop Making Sense" might be my fave.
"Stop Making Sense" might be my fave.
#13
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Originally posted by atlantamoi
You guys would really stop after their first four recordings? There are very few bands with as many albums as they own where I like just about all of them ('cept "Naked").
"Stop Making Sense" might be my fave.
You guys would really stop after their first four recordings? There are very few bands with as many albums as they own where I like just about all of them ('cept "Naked").
"Stop Making Sense" might be my fave.
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Originally posted by Brain Stew
I guess it's settled then. I will pickup Punch Drunk Love and Stop Making Sense (CD) this week .
I guess it's settled then. I will pickup Punch Drunk Love and Stop Making Sense (CD) this week .
#15
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The movie Stop Making Sense was my favorite concert flick, so the DVD would be cool. With the new CD version with the new songs, I would say it is a great place to start with their music.
#16
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Originally posted by wendersfan
Studio albums:
Compilations:
If you can find the compilation called "The Name Of This Band Is Talking Heads", buy that.
Studio albums:
Compilations:
If you can find the compilation called "The Name Of This Band Is Talking Heads", buy that.
I agree that "The Name Of..." is a great album! It's actually a live set; the first is of early Heads, the second is later Heads with a large lineup (including Adrien Belew on guitar).
My question is - why is this not available on CD?!?!
Alan
#17
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What's different with the Stop Making Sense cd vs. the DVD?
I love More Songs About Buildings and Food the most, closely followed by Fear of Music, then '77, then Remain in Light. The others all have their moments.
When I originally bought MSABaF I hated it. I tried it a month later and after a few listens it clicked-becoming an all-time fave.
I love More Songs About Buildings and Food the most, closely followed by Fear of Music, then '77, then Remain in Light. The others all have their moments.
When I originally bought MSABaF I hated it. I tried it a month later and after a few listens it clicked-becoming an all-time fave.
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Originally posted by Buford T Pusser
What's different with the Stop Making Sense cd vs. the DVD?
What's different with the Stop Making Sense cd vs. the DVD?
wendersfan, wow... I don't consider "Little Creatures" or "Speaking in Tongues" to be worthless at all. I love those recordings. They're different, but not too shabby.
#19
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Originally posted by atlantamoi
I think the DVD has extra songs not on the shorter CD. The recordings are the same.
wendersfan, wow... I don't consider "Little Creatures" or "Speaking in Tongues" to be worthless at all. I love those recordings. They're different, but not too shabby.
I think the DVD has extra songs not on the shorter CD. The recordings are the same.
wendersfan, wow... I don't consider "Little Creatures" or "Speaking in Tongues" to be worthless at all. I love those recordings. They're different, but not too shabby.
#20
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Geez, I'm out of touch! I didn't realize 4 years ago they made a new version of the CD with the whole concert on it. I usually buy a recording and never go for the updated versions.
I just checked my DVD and there are 16 songs from the concert, plus two bonus tracks ("Cities" and "Big Business/I Zimbra").
I just checked my DVD and there are 16 songs from the concert, plus two bonus tracks ("Cities" and "Big Business/I Zimbra").
#21
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Originally posted by atlantamoi
wendersfan, wow... I don't consider "Little Creatures" or "Speaking in Tongues" to be worthless at all. I love those recordings. They're different, but not too shabby.
wendersfan, wow... I don't consider "Little Creatures" or "Speaking in Tongues" to be worthless at all. I love those recordings. They're different, but not too shabby.
BTW, I didn't care as much for "More Songs About Buildings and Food" when I first heard it, either. I don't think it's as consistently strong as "Talking Heads '77". My understanding is that Byrne was a little short on material and had to dig up some earlier songs that didn't make it onto the first album.
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Just because nobody else mentioned it, "Stop Making Sense," the concert movie was directed by Jonathan Demme, of "Silence of the Lambs" and "Philadelphia", amongst others.
J
J
#23
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Originally posted by atlantamoi
Geez, I'm out of touch! I didn't realize 4 years ago they made a new version of the CD with the whole concert on it. I usually buy a recording and never go for the updated versions.
I just checked my DVD and there are 16 songs from the concert, plus two bonus tracks ("Cities" and "Big Business/I Zimbra").
Geez, I'm out of touch! I didn't realize 4 years ago they made a new version of the CD with the whole concert on it. I usually buy a recording and never go for the updated versions.
I just checked my DVD and there are 16 songs from the concert, plus two bonus tracks ("Cities" and "Big Business/I Zimbra").
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Hey! Don't front on True Stories! I loved the movie, album, and book. Hook Line and Sinker. I do agree that there is a greatness to the early work, but there are subtleties on Little Creatures and True Stories that are very beautiful.