Maps of Music

The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads (1982)

Where the lyrics of The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads take you, and where it was really made.

The title comes from a band that dropped 'the' from its name and from David Byrne's habit of naming songs live without long introductions.

Key places

Capitol Theater, Passaic, 1979 (1979)

Recording site Capitol Theatre — Tracks A6 to A10 of the album were recorded live at this venue on 17 November 1979. The source gives the venue as Capitol Theater in Passaic, New Jersey. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Emerald City, Cherry Hill (1982)

Recording site Emerald City — Second LP material was recorded live at this venue on 8 and 9 November 1980. The source gives the venue as Emerald City in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Central Park, New York City, 1980 (1980)

Recording site Great Lawn, Central Park — Second LP material was recorded live at Central Park in New York City on 27 August 1980. The source gives this as the Central Park location. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Northern Studio, Maynard, 1977 (1977)

Recording site Northern Studio — Tracks A1 to A5 of the album were recorded live at Northern Studio on 17 November 1977. The point is placed at the town level in Maynard, Massachusetts. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Sun Plaza Concert Hall, Tokyo, 1981 (1981)

Live show Tiny Voice Production — Second LP material was recorded live at Sun Plaza Concert Hall in Tokyo on 27 February 1981. The point is placed at the city level in Tokyo. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads is a double live album by the American new wave band Talking Heads
• Released on March 24, 1982 by Sire Records
• The first LP features the original quartet in concert and radio recordings from 1977 and 1979
• The second LP features the expanded ten-piece lineup that toured in 1980 and 1981
• The album contains live versions of songs from the band's first four studio albums
• Those studio albums are Talking Heads: 77, More Songs About Buildings and Food, Fear of Music, and Remain in Light

Background

• The title refers to the group's preference for leaving 'the' out of its name
• It also nods to the way David Byrne introduced songs live, simply by saying the song's name
• The original Talking Heads quartet is the lineup on the first LP
• The expanded ten-piece lineup toured in 1980 and 1981

Recording

• First LP tracks A1 to A5 were recorded live at Northern Studio in Maynard, Massachusetts, on 17 November 1977
• First LP tracks A6 to A10 were recorded live at Capitol Theater in Passaic, New Jersey, on 17 November 1979
• Second LP tracks were recorded live at Emerald City in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, on 8 and 9 November 1980
• Second LP tracks were also recorded at Central Park, New York City, on 27 August 1980
• Second LP tracks were also recorded at Sun Plaza Concert Hall, Tokyo, on 27 February 1981
• Ed Stasium is credited as mixer for A1 to A5
• Talking Heads is credited as mixer for A6 to B7, with Butch Jones credited for the same range
• Brian Eno is credited as assistant recording engineer on A6 to A10
• Greg Calbi is credited as mastering engineer
• Additional musicians include Adrian Belew, Nona Hendryx, Bernie Worrell, and Dolette McDonald

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · it.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Talking Heads were an American rock band formed in New York City in 1975.
• Byrne, Frantz, and Weymouth met at the Rhode Island School of Design, where they formed the Artistics in 1973.
• After moving to New York, they took the name Talking Heads, joined the New York punk scene, and recruited Jerry Harrison in January 1977.
• They signed to Sire Records in November 1976 and released their debut album Talking Heads: 77 in 1977.

Members

• David Byrne: lead vocals, guitar, keyboards, percussion (1975–1991, 2002).
• Chris Frantz: drums, percussion, backing vocals (1975–1991, 2002).
• Tina Weymouth: bass guitar, keyboards, backing vocals (1975–1991, 2002).
• Jerry Harrison: keyboards, guitar, backing vocals (1977–1991, 2002).
• Additional musicians including Adrian Belew, Bernie Worrell, and Nona Hendryx joined the band's shows and sessions in the 1980s.

Career

• The band collaborated with producer Brian Eno on More Songs About Buildings and Food (1978), Fear of Music (1979), and Remain in Light (1980).
• Their cover of Al Green's "Take Me to the River" was their first Billboard Top 30 hit.
• Speaking in Tongues (1983) brought mainstream commercial success, including the Top 10 hit "Burning Down the House".
• Stop Making Sense (1984), directed by Jonathan Demme, is often regarded as the greatest concert film of all time.
• Little Creatures (1985) was their best-selling studio album.
• Byrne left in 1991 and the band disbanded; they reunited briefly in 2002 for their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction.
• Four Talking Heads albums appeared on Rolling Stone's 2003 list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Upon release the album was a decent commercial and critical success
• It was somewhat overshadowed by Talking Heads' later live album and concert film Stop Making Sense
• Released on March 24, 1982 by Sire Records
• Its double-LP format pairs the original quartet with the expanded ten-piece lineup

Reappraisal

• Over time it attracted greater retrospective acclaim
• Critics remarked on the album's importance in documenting the band's artistic growth
• The record covers the band from its quartet years through the 1980-81 ten-piece tour
• The first LP stands for the quartet, the second for the larger touring band

Records

• Billboard 200 peak: number 31

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · fr.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• The title comes from the group leaving 'the' out of its name, and from Byrne introducing songs live by naming them only.
• The album opens with one of Byrne's short spoken song introductions.
• Brian Eno is credited as assistant recording engineer on A6 to A10.
• Adrian Belew is among the additional musicians on the album.

Sources: www.discogs.com · www.discogs.com · es.wikipedia.org

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