All 10 Talking Heads Albums, Ranked By Fans
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- Photo: Sire, Warner Bros.1
Stop Making Sense
Produced as a soundtrack for the 1984 concert movie directed by Jonathan Demme, this live album was praised for its treatment and editing. It stayed on the Billboard 200 chart for over two years, signaling its broad appeal among fans and critics. Standout tracks like "Psycho Killer" and "Burning Down the House" allowed listeners to experience the band's live performances in a new light. Despite its age, the album continues to resonate, securing its place in the realm of timeless music.
Tracklist:
1. Psycho Killer
2. Heaven
3. Thank You for Sending Me an Angel
4. Found a Job (Byrne)
5. Slippery People
6. Burning Down the House
7. Life During Wartime
8. Making Flippy Floppy
9. Swamp
10. What a Day That Was
11. This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)
12. Once in a Lifetime
13. Genius of Love
14. Girlfriend Is Better
15. Take Me to the River
16. Crosseyed and Painless - Photo: Sire
This critically-acclaimed fourth studio album from the Talking Heads, released in October 1980, is seen as a groundbreaking blend of styles. Praised for its innovative fusion of African polyrhythms, funk, and electronics, the album spawned hit singles “Once in a Lifetime” and “Houses in Motion.” Honored for its historical and artistic significance, it is considered the band's crowning achievement.
Tracklist:
1. Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On)
2. Crosseyed and Painless
3. The Great Curve
4. Once in a Lifetime
5. Houses in Motion
6. Seen and Not Seen
7. Listening Wind
8. The OverloadMore Remain in Light
- #81 of 1,702 onThe Greatest Albums of All-Time
- #140 of 276 onThe Greatest Guitar Rock Albums of All Time
- #13 of 20 on20 Essential Albums Of The 1980s, Ranked By True Music Fans
- Photo: Sire
Released in 1979 by the Talking Heads, their third studio album, produced by Brian Eno, turned heads with its unique blend of disco rhythms, cinematic soundscapes, and traditional rock elements. Applauded for its unconventional beats and gripping lyrical performances by frontman David Byrne, the project scaled to number 21 on the Billboard 200, clinching a gold certification after racking up half a million U.S. sales. Audience favorites like "Life During Wartime", "I Zimbra", and "Cities" anchored the collection, contributing to its stature as a masterpiece in the music history.
Tracklist:
1. I Zimbra
2. Mind
3. Paper
4. Cities
5. Life During Wartime
6. Memories Can't Wait
7. Air
8. Heaven
9. Animals
10. Electric Guitar
11. Drugs - Photo: Sire
Following their split with producer Brian Eno, Talking Heads ventured into uncharted territories with this 1983 classic. Their fifth studio record stands as the band's commercial breakthrough featuring the US top-ten hit, "Burning Down the House". Garnering gold certification for sales exceeding half a million in the US, the acclaim for this release was undeniable. The unconventional rhythmic patterns, infused with a unique synthesis of different genres, left listeners awe-struck. Critics lauded the confluence of art rock and groovy funk in popular tracks including "Burning Down The House", "Making Flippy Floppy", and "Girlfriend Is Better".
Tracklist:
1. Burning Down the House
2. Making Flippy Floppy
3. Girlfriend Is Better
4. Slippery People
5. I Get Wild/Wild Gravity
6. Swamp
7. Moon Rocks
8. Pull Up the Roots
9. This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody) - Photo: Sire
Led by the enigmatic David Byrne, the debut album of the Talking Heads was released in 1979 to widespread praise. The popularity of the album surged with the hit single "Psycho Killer", which made its way to number 92 on the Billboard Hot 100. The combination of their innovative soundscapes and lyrical prowess gave the album a unique zest. The fusion of varying genres, brilliant songwriting, and haunting melodies resonated with listeners, cementing the band's place in the history of rock music.
Tracklist:
1. Uh-Oh, Love Comes to Town
2. New Feeling
3. Tentative Decisions
4. Happy Day
5. Who Is It?
6. No Compassion
7. The Book I Read
8. Don't Worry About the Government
9. First Week/Last Week… Carefree
10. Psycho Killer
11. Pulled Up - Photo: Sire
Marked by the vibrant artistic vision of David Byrne, the second studio album saw Talking Heads move towards an intriguing fusion of dance and rock. Critically applauded and a commercial success, it hit number 29 on the US Billboard Pop Albums chart and 21 on the UK Albums Chart. Distinct for its danceable style, the album was hailed for its innovative blend of American rock with bold rhythmic emphasis. A cover of Al Green's "Take Me to the River" became their first top-thirty single, further cementing the band's reputation. With its unique, compelling sound, this release became a milestone in the history of rock.
Tracklist:
1. Thank You for Sending Me an Angel
2. With Our Love
3. The Good Thing
4. Warning Sign
5. The Girls Want to Be with the Girls
6. Found a Job
7. Artists Only
8. I'm Not in Love
9. Stay Hungry
10. Take Me to the River
11. The Big Country - Photo: Sire
Released in 1985, their sixth studio album featured a deliberate turn towards Americana, incorporating elements of country music with the addition of a steel guitar. Garnering accolades as the album of the year in The Village Voice Pazz & Jop critics poll, it sold over two million copies in the United States alone. Iconic tracks such as "Road to Nowhere" and "And She Was" reflected the band's evolving styles. Coupled with the cover art by outsider artist Howard Finster, Rolling Stone recognized the album with the honor of 'album cover of the year’.
Tracklist:
1. And She Was
2. Give Me Back My Name
3. Creatures of Love
4. The Lady Don't Mind
5. Perfect World
6. Stay Up Late
7. Walk It Down
8. Television Man
9. Road to Nowhere - Photo: Fly/Sire
After a shift towards Latin funk and pop rock, Talking Heads' 1988 album marked a return to their worldbeat roots, capturing listeners worldwide. Respected critics noted the album's ambitious nature, praising its fusion of eclectic genres and its technically perfect production. Taking a playful yet consequential tone, the band dove headfirst into socio-political concerns, with David Byrne's lyrics contributing the much-needed cynosure to their intricate melodies. An iconic album that reached peak spots on global charts, it featured popular tracks like "Blind" and "(Nothing But) Flowers." This musical journey stands as a testament to the band's relentless pursuit of innovation.
Tracklist:
1. "Blind"
2. "Mr. Jones"
3. "Totally Nude"
4. "Ruby Dear"
5. "(Nothing But) Flowers"
6. "The Democratic Circus"
7. "The Facts of Life"
8. "Mommy Daddy You and I"
9. "Big Daddy"
10. "Bill"
11. "Cool Water" - Photo: Sire
Releasing their seventh studio album in 1986, Talking Heads continued to push boundaries under the innovative vision of David Byrne. Celebrated for its film companion piece directed by Byrne himself, the album received considerable accolades, with the standout single, "Wild Wild Life," achieving remarkable success. This hit track secured two MTV Video Music Awards in 1987, adding to its list of achievements. Other songs, such as "Love for Sale" and "People Like Us," further demonstrated their genre-bending style, combining rock and pop elements in innovative ways. Diverse and daring, this pioneering record cemented the band's status in the rock pantheon.
Tracklist:
1. Love for Sale
2. Puzzlin' Evidence
3. Hey Now
4. Papa Legba
5. Wild Wild Life
6. Radio Head
7. Dream Operator
8. People Like Us
9. City of Dreams
10. Wild Wild Life
11. Papa Legba
12. Radio Head - Photo: Sire, Rhino10
The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads
Following their initial success, Talking Heads released a double live album in 1982 that quickly gained a reputation for its highly innovative and unique style. The blend recordings from two distinct periods, the quartet from 1977 and 1979 and the expanded ten-piece ensemble from the 1980-1981 tour, intrigued fans and critics alike. Derived from their first four studio albums, the live versions of popular tracks such as "Psycho Killer" and "Take Me to the River" added to the band's evolving sound. Reissued in 2004, this work maintained its original charm while introducing an additional 15 tracks from live performances, capturing the eclectic soundscape that the band excelled at.
Tracklist:
Disc One
1. "New Feeling"
2. "A Clean Break (Let's Work)"
3. "Don't Worry About the Government"
4. "Pulled Up"
5. "Psycho Killer"
6. "Who Is It?"
7. "The Book I Read"
8. "The Big Country"
9. "I'm Not in Love"
10. "The Girls Want to Be With the Girls"
11. "Electricity (Drugs)"
12. "Found a Job"
13. "Mind"
14. "Artists Only"
15. "Stay Hungry"
16. "Air"
17. "Love → Building on Fire"
18. "Memories (Can't Wait)"
19. "Heaven"Disc Two
1. "Psycho Killer"
2. "Warning Sign"
3. "Stay Hungry"
4. "Cities"
5. "I Zimbra"
6. "Drugs (Electricity)"
7. "Once in a Lifetime"
8. "Animals"
9. "Houses in Motion"
10. "Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On)"
11. "Crosseyed and Painless"
12. "Life During Wartime"
13. "Take Me to the River"
14. "The Great Curve"
