Talking Heads
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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| + | "Words: Can't say what they mean don't mean what they say" --[[Tom Tom Club]], see [[Can't say what they mean don't mean what they say|[...]]] | ||
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| + | "Take a look at these [[hands]]."--"[[Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On)]]" (1980) by Talking Heads | ||
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| + | "Bit by bit the last traces of [[Punk rock|Punk]] were drained from [[new wave music|New Wave]], as New Wave went from meaning [[Talking Heads]] to meaning [[the Cars]] to [[Squeeze (band) |Squeeze]] to [[Duran Duran]] to, finally, [[Wham!]]".--Bill Flanagan | ||
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| - | '''Talking Heads''' was an American [[rock band]] that formed in the early 1970s and was based out of [[New York City]]. The group consisted of [[David Byrne (musician)|David Byrne]], [[Chris Frantz]], [[Tina Weymouth]] and [[Jerry Harrison]]. During later stages of the band's tenure, a number of auxiliary musicians were brought in on [[keyboards]], [[percussion]], [[backing vocals]], [[bass guitar|secondary bass guitar]] and other instruments. | ||
| - | Talking Heads sound combined [[punk rock]], [[pop (music)|pop]], [[funk rock]], [[art rock]], and later in their career, [[world music]]. In [[David Byrne (musician)|David Byrne]], they had one of the most distinctive [[frontman|front men]] of the period;{{Fact|date=July 2007}} they were extremely popular while they were originally together, and continue to influence many musicians to this day. Their concert film ''[[Stop Making Sense]]'' is acclaimed by many as one of the finest examples of the genre. | + | '''Talking Heads''' (1975-1991) were an [[American rock band]] known for such songs as "[[Listening Wind]]" (1980). |
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| + | ==Overview== | ||
| + | The band was composed of [[David Byrne]] (lead vocals, guitar), [[Chris Frantz]] (drums), [[Tina Weymouth]] (bass), and [[Jerry Harrison]] (keyboards, guitar). Described as "one of the most critically acclaimed bands of the '80s", the group helped to pioneer [[new wave music]] by integrating elements of [[punk rock|punk]], [[art rock]], [[funk]], and [[world music]] with [[avant-garde]] sensibilities and an anxious, clean-cut image. | ||
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| + | As former [[art school]] students who became involved in the 1970s [[punk rock#New York City|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 critically acclaimed releases—''[[More Songs About Buildings and Food]]'' (1978), ''[[Fear of Music]]'' (1979), and ''[[Remain in Light]]'' (1980)—which blended their art school punk sensibilities with influence from artists such as [[Parliament-Funkadelic]] and [[Fela Kuti]]. By the early 1980s, they began to expand their band by including a number of additional musicians in recording sessions and stage shows, notably guitarist [[Adrian Belew]], keyboardist [[Bernie Worrell]], singer [[Nona Hendryx]], and bassist [[Busta Jones]]. | ||
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| + | 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 (Talking Heads album)|Speaking in Tongues]]'' and released the concert film ''[[Stop Making Sense]]'', directed by [[Jonathan Demme]]. For these performances, the band was joined by guitarist [[Alex Weir (musician)|Alex Weir]], percussionist Steve Scales, and singers [[Lynn Mabry]] and Ednah Holt. In 1985, Talking Heads released their best-selling album, ''[[Little Creatures]]''. They produced [[True Stories (Talking Heads album)|a soundtrack album]] for Byrne' film ''[[True Stories (film)|True Stories]]'' (1986), and released their final album, [[worldbeat]]-influenced ''[[Naked (Talking Heads album)|Naked]]'' (1988), 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. | ||
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| + | 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 [[Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time|500 Greatest Albums of All Time]], and three of their songs ("[[Psycho Killer]]", "[[Life During Wartime (song)|Life During Wartime]]", and "[[Once in a Lifetime (Talking Heads song)|Once in a Lifetime]]") were included among the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's [[500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll]]. | ||
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| + | ==Members== | ||
| + | * [[David Byrne]] – lead vocals, guitar (1975–1991, 2002) | ||
| + | * [[Chris Frantz]] – drums, backing vocals (1975–1991, 2002) | ||
| + | * [[Tina Weymouth]] – bass, backing vocals (1975–1991, 2002) | ||
| + | * [[Jerry Harrison]] – keyboards, guitar, backing vocals (1977–1991, 2002) | ||
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| + | '''Additional musicians''' | ||
| + | *[[Adrian Belew]] – lead guitar, vocals (1980–1981) | ||
| + | *[[Alex Weir (musician)|Alex Weir]] – guitar, vocals (1983–1984) | ||
| + | *[[Bernie Worrell]] – keyboards, backing vocals (1980–1984, 2002) | ||
| + | *[[Busta Jones]] – bass (1980–1981) | ||
| + | *Steve Scales – percussion, backing vocals (1980–1984, 2002) | ||
| + | *Dolette McDonald – vocals, cowbell (1980–1981) | ||
| + | *Ednah Holt – vocals (1983–1984) | ||
| + | *[[Lynn Mabry]] – vocals (1983–1984) | ||
| + | *[[Nona Hendryx]] – vocals (1980) | ||
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| + | ==Discography== | ||
| + | * ''[[Talking Heads: 77]]'' (1977) | ||
| + | * ''[[More Songs About Buildings and Food]]'' (1978) | ||
| + | * ''[[Fear of Music]]'' (1979) | ||
| + | * ''[[Remain in Light]]'' (1980) | ||
| + | * ''[[Speaking in Tongues (Talking Heads album)|Speaking in Tongues]]'' (1983) | ||
| + | * ''[[Little Creatures]]'' (1985) | ||
| + | * ''[[True Stories (Talking Heads album)|True Stories]]'' (1986) | ||
| + | * ''[[Naked (Talking Heads album)|Naked]]'' (1988) | ||
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| + | ==See also== | ||
| + | *[[List of dance-rock artists]] | ||
| + | *[[List of funk rock bands]] | ||
| + | *[[List of new wave artists and bands]] | ||
| + | *[[List of post-punk bands]] | ||
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"Words: Can't say what they mean don't mean what they say" --Tom Tom Club, see [...] "Take a look at these hands."--"Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On)" (1980) by Talking Heads "Bit by bit the last traces of Punk were drained from New Wave, as New Wave went from meaning Talking Heads to meaning the Cars to Squeeze to Duran Duran to, finally, Wham!".--Bill Flanagan |
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Featured: |
Talking Heads (1975-1991) were an American rock band known for such songs as "Listening Wind" (1980).
Contents |
Overview
The band was composed of David Byrne (lead vocals, guitar), Chris Frantz (drums), Tina Weymouth (bass), and Jerry Harrison (keyboards, guitar). Described as "one of the most critically acclaimed bands of the '80s", 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.
As former art school students who became involved in the 1970s 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 critically acclaimed releases—More Songs About Buildings and Food (1978), Fear of Music (1979), and Remain in Light (1980)—which blended their art school punk sensibilities with influence from artists such as Parliament-Funkadelic and Fela Kuti. By the early 1980s, they began to expand their band by including a number of additional musicians in recording sessions and stage shows, notably guitarist Adrian Belew, keyboardist Bernie Worrell, singer Nona Hendryx, and bassist Busta Jones.
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. For these performances, the band was joined by guitarist Alex Weir, percussionist Steve Scales, and singers Lynn Mabry and Ednah Holt. In 1985, Talking Heads released their best-selling album, Little Creatures. They produced a soundtrack album for Byrne' film True Stories (1986), and released their final album, worldbeat-influenced Naked (1988), 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 StoneTemplate:'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.
Members
- David Byrne – lead vocals, guitar (1975–1991, 2002)
- Chris Frantz – drums, backing vocals (1975–1991, 2002)
- Tina Weymouth – bass, backing vocals (1975–1991, 2002)
- Jerry Harrison – keyboards, guitar, backing vocals (1977–1991, 2002)
Additional musicians
- Adrian Belew – lead guitar, vocals (1980–1981)
- Alex Weir – guitar, vocals (1983–1984)
- Bernie Worrell – keyboards, backing vocals (1980–1984, 2002)
- Busta Jones – bass (1980–1981)
- Steve Scales – percussion, backing vocals (1980–1984, 2002)
- Dolette McDonald – vocals, cowbell (1980–1981)
- Ednah Holt – vocals (1983–1984)
- Lynn Mabry – vocals (1983–1984)
- Nona Hendryx – vocals (1980)
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)
See also
- List of dance-rock artists
- List of funk rock bands
- List of new wave artists and bands
- List of post-punk bands
