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Talking Heads history: Difference between revisions

added a bit of info about Sire records getting picked up for distribution just before 77 came out
(added a bit of info about Sire records getting picked up for distribution just before 77 came out)
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== Talking Heads: 77 (1977) ==
== Talking Heads: 77 (1977) ==
In March 1977, they added Jerry Harrison, after the release of their debut single, "Love → Building on Fire", formerly of Jonathan Richman's band the Modern Lovers, on keyboards, guitar, and backing vocals.
The recording sessions for the album that would become "Talking Heads: 77"  took place in April 1977 at New York's Sundragon Studios. One of the first tracks the group record was "New Feeling" and the single, "Love → Building on Fire". While Jerry Harrison had joined the group in March of that year, he was not present at these sessions, as he had not yet been informed that the group had received a record deal from [[Sire Records]]. These sessions were produced by Tony Bongiovi and Tom Erdelyi. After hearing of the recording session, Harrison was eager to join, and in January 1977, the trio of Byrne, Frantz and Weymouth went to Harrison's apartment in Ipswich to teach him their songs and play a few shows in the area.
 
Talking Heads: 77 is the debut studio album by American rock band Talking Heads. It was recorded in April 1977 at New York's Sundragon Studios and released on September 16 of that year by Sire Records.
 
Sessions started at Sundragon Recording Studios in late 1976, where the group recorded the track "New Feeling" and the single, "Love → Building on Fire". Jerry Harrison was not present at these sessions, as he had not yet been informed that the group had received a record deal. These sessions were produced by Tony Bongiovi and Tom Erdelyi. After hearing of the recording session, Harrison was eager to join, and in January 1977, the trio went to his apartment in Ipswich to teach him their songs and play a few shows in the area.


The first song to have vocals recorded was "Psycho Killer". Allegedly, during recording of this track, Bongiovi went into the studio kitchen and gave Byrne a knife, telling him to get into character when singing. Byrne simply responded with "No, that's not going to work" and the band took a break. During the break Byrne confessed that he felt uncomfortable singing with Bongiovi watching, and asked Stasium to remove him. Stasium suggested evasion, recording when Bongiovi was not around, before he arrived, or after he left. Bongiovi allegedly never noticed they were doing this, being more concerned with the building of Power Station Studios.
The first song to have vocals recorded was "Psycho Killer". Allegedly, during recording of this track, Bongiovi went into the studio kitchen and gave Byrne a knife, telling him to get into character when singing. Byrne simply responded with "No, that's not going to work" and the band took a break. During the break Byrne confessed that he felt uncomfortable singing with Bongiovi watching, and asked Stasium to remove him. Stasium suggested evasion, recording when Bongiovi was not around, before he arrived, or after he left. Bongiovi allegedly never noticed they were doing this, being more concerned with the building of Power Station Studios.
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While on tour the group continued to develop their sound, and on May 14, performed at The Rock Garden in Covent Garden, London, where John Cale, Brian Eno and Chris Thomas saw them. Linda Stein, the Ramones' co-manager, brought Cale, Eno and Thomas backstage after the concert where they all shook hands. Thomas allegedly heard Cale say to Eno "They're mine, you bugger!"
While on tour the group continued to develop their sound, and on May 14, performed at The Rock Garden in Covent Garden, London, where John Cale, Brian Eno and Chris Thomas saw them. Linda Stein, the Ramones' co-manager, brought Cale, Eno and Thomas backstage after the concert where they all shook hands. Thomas allegedly heard Cale say to Eno "They're mine, you bugger!"
The album would eventually be released in September 1977 through Sire Records. This was very good timing because just before the albums release, Sire had been picked up by Warner Brothers Records for distribution which would lead to a much wider audience hearing the band's music.<ref>Mieses, Stan. “Sounds.” ''Redlands Daily Facts'', 5 Sept. 1977, web.archive.org/web/20250310193053/newscomwc.newspapers.com/article/redlands-daily-facts/86907746/. Accessed 10 Mar. 2025.</ref>


== More Songs About Buildings And Food (1978) ==
== More Songs About Buildings And Food (1978) ==
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{{Main|Talking Heads reunions}}
{{Main|Talking Heads reunions}}


 
== References ==
[[Category:Talking Heads]]
[[Category:Talking Heads]]
[[Category:Talking Heads information]]
[[Category:Talking Heads information]]
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