Talking Heads: 77
| Talking Heads: 77 | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | September 16, 1977 | |||
| Recorded | Late 1976 – April, June 1977 | |||
| Studio | Sundragon, New York City | |||
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| Length | 38:37 | |||
| Label | Sire | |||
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| Talking Heads chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Talking Heads 77 | ||||
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Talking Heads: 77 is the debut studio album by 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. The single Psycho Killer reached number 92 on the Billboard Hot 100 and later became remembered as one of the band's most famous songs and one of the most popular 70s rock songs
Labels and demos
From the group's earliest days as a trio in 1975, Talking Heads were approached by several record labels for a potential album deal. The first person to approach the band was Mark Spector for Columbia Records, who saw Talking Heads perform at CBGB and invited them to record a demo album. Next would come Mathew Kaufman for Beserkley Records. Kaufman brought the trio to K&K Studios in Great Neck, Long Island, to record a three-song, 16-track demo tape containing "Artists Only", "Psycho Killer" and "First Week, Last Week". Kaufman was pleased with the results, but the band felt that they would need to improve drastically before re-entering a recording studio. The group also sent the Columbia demo to Arista Records, but when drummer Chris Frantz called Bob Feilden about it a few weeks later, he claimed the tape was lost.
In November 1975, Seymour Stein, cofounder of Sire Records, had heard Talking Heads open for the Ramones. He liked the song "Love → Building on Fire", and the next day, offered a record deal, but the group was still unsure about their studio abilities, and wanted a second guitarist as well as a keyboard player to help improve their sound. They agreed to let him know when they felt more confident.
A month later, Lou Reed, who had seen a few Talking Heads shows at CBGB, invited the trio to his New York apartment, where he began to critique the group's act, telling them to slow down "Tentative Decisions", which had originally been fast and bass-heavy. Reed also suggested to David Byrne that he never wear short sleeves on stage, in order to hide his hairy arms. Over breakfast at a local restaurant, Reed expressed a desire to produce the group's first album and wanted to introduce them to his manager, Jonny Podell. That same day Podell called the trio to meet at his office, where he immediately offered them a recording contract.
To assist with the contracting, the group sought out assistance from lawyer Peter Parcher, a friend of Frantz's father. The next day, the trio visited Parcher's office, where Parcher asked his partner Alan Shulman to look over the contract. Shulman told the group not to sign the deal, or else Reed and Podell would own full rights to the album and collect all profit. Talking Heads declined the deal, but maintained a respectful relationship with Reed.
Around August 1976, Chris Frantz was given the number of Jerry Harrison by former The Modern Lovers bass player Ernie Brooks. Brooks assured Frantz that Harrison was not only a great keyboard player, but was a great guitarist too, two things the band were seeking out. When Frantz called Harrison, he was still feeling burnt out from the demise of the original Modern Lovers and had just enrolled at a Harvard Graduate School, and was unsure about joining a new band. But after discovering that several labels were interested in signing the group, he agreed to hear them play live. Frantz booked a concert local to Harrison in Cambridge, Massachusetts. When the group began to perform, they found Harrison nowhere in sight, but eventually saw him mid-set, seriously observing the band, and appearing displeased. After the show, Frantz asked Harrison what he had thought. Harrison did not answer until the next day, saying he was not impressed by the show, but was intrigued. He said he would like to jam in New York but stipulated that he would not officially join until they had secured a recording deal.
During late September the group began to consider Sire Records again, and asked advice from Danny Fields, the Ramones' manager. Fields praised Sire despite them having the normal flaws of a record label. On November 1 the trio met with Seymour Stein again at Shulman's office, and signed a recording deal with Sire, with an advance allowing the trio to make music their full-time career.
Release history
The album was released by Sire Records in the UK and US and Philips Records throughout continental Europe.
Track listing
All tracks are written by David Byrne except "Psycho Killer", which he co-wrote with Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Uh-Oh, Love Comes to Town" | 2:48 |
| 2. | "New Feeling" | 3:09 |
| 3. | "Tentative Decisions" | 3:04 |
| 4. | "Happy Day" | 3:55 |
| 5. | "Who Is It?" | 1:41 |
| 6. | "No Compassion" | 4:47 |
| Total length: | 19:24 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Book I Read" | 4:06 |
| 2. | "Don't Worry About the Government" | 3:00 |
| 3. | "First Week/Last Week… Carefree" | 3:19 |
| 4. | "Psycho Killer" | 4:19 |
| 5. | "Pulled Up" | 4:29 |
| Total length: | 19:13 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 12. | "Love → Building on Fire" | 3:00 |
| 13. | "I Wish You Wouldn't Say That" | 2:39 |
| 14. | "Psycho Killer" (Acoustic version) | 4:20 |
| 15. | "I Feel It in My Heart" | 3:15 |
| 16. | "Sugar on My Tongue" | 2:36 |
Personnel
Adapted from the album's liner notes.
Talking Heads
- David Byrne – guitar, lead vocals, production
- Chris Frantz – drums, steel pan, production
- Jerry Harrison – guitar, keyboards, backing vocals, production
- Tina Weymouth (credited as Martina Weymouth) – bass guitar, production
Additional musicians
- Arthur Russell – cello on "Psycho Killer" (Acoustic Version)
Production
- Tony Bongiovi – producer
- Joe Gastwirt – mastering
- Lance Quinn – producer
- Mick Rock – photography
- Ed Stasium – engineer