Talking Heads have announced a sprawling 4-LP box set celebrating their landmark 1977 debut, Talking heads: 77.
On November 8th, the super deluxe edition of Talking heads: 77 Includes one LP of the remastered original album, one LP consisting of rare and unreleased demos and outtakes, and two LPs containing the complete live album. Live at CBGB, New York, NY, October 10, 1977, which is only available in this package.
The box set also contains four 7-inch singles, including the newly released acoustic version of “Psycho Killer” featuring Arthur Russell. The singles are presented in a gatefold sleeve featuring a black-and-white image of the band; the box set also includes an 80-page hardcover book featuring uncovered photos, flyers, artwork, and handwritten liner notes by band members David Byrne, Tina Weymouth, Chris Frantz, and Jerry Harrison, as well as original recording engineer Ed Stasium. Pre-orders for the vinyl box set are available at now in progress.
The reissue will also be available as a 2xLP neon green vinyl set available exclusively at Barnes & Noble and a Standard Black Vinyl 2xLP It is available at all general retailers. In addition to the vinyl and box set that will arrive on all streaming services, Talking Heads will release a Blu-Ray 3xCD Edition which includes the same hardcover book and a 2024 stereo remaster. Pre-orders are in progress.
It's a massive collection and a definitive look at the early career of Talking Heads, who reunited last year to celebrate the 40th anniversary re-release of It stops making sensePerhaps the most notable aspect of the box set is the previously unreleased live album, which captures the band's final performance at famed New York club CBGB. There are also a number of previously unreleased rarities, including alternate versions of “Psycho Killer” and “Pulled Up.”
Regarding the new acoustic version of “Psycho Killer” featuring Arthur Russell, David Byrne wrote in a statement: “We knew cellist and singer-songwriter Arthur Russell from the inner-city world. He died young of AIDS and, during his lifetime, released very disparate records: spacey tunes on the album World of echo and club songs under the name Dinosaur L. He left behind a huge legacy of recordings, which are still leaking out 40 years after his death.”
Byrne went on to say: “I remember seeing him play Philip Glass music for a Mabou Mines production of a Beckett play. I think Beckett’s parents didn’t like it as they didn’t want any music in his plays. So it wasn’t a huge stretch to invite Arthur to arrange and play on an alternative version of ‘Psycho Killer’. Somewhat perversely, I always saw the song as a slightly more intimate folk rock thing rather than the rock song that people seemed to love. So I had a special attachment to this version.” Listen to the acoustic version of ‘Psycho Killer’ below.
While Talking Heads did not reunite for this year's shows, they did maintain the It stops making sense Celebration that goes with the tribute album Everyone Gets Involved: A Tribute to Talking Heads' Stop Making SenseThe covers album featured contributions from Miley Cyrus, Paramore, Lorde, The National and many more.
Talking Heads: 77 (Super Deluxe Edition) Tracklist:
Original album remastered
01. Uh-Oh, love is coming to town
02. New sensation
03. Tentative decisions
04. Happy day
05. Who is it?
06. Without compassion
07. The book I read
08. Don't worry about the government
09. First week/Last week… No worries
10. Psychopathic killer
11. Pulled up
Oddities
01. Sugar on my tongue
02. I want to live
03. (Love goes to) Burning building
04. I wish you wouldn't say that
05. Psycho Killer (acoustic version)
06. Uh-Oh Love Comes to Town (alternative pop version)
07. New Feeling (alternative pop version)
08. Pulled Up (alternative pop version)
09. Stay Hungry (1977 version)
10. First week/Last week… Carefree (acoustic version)
11. I feel it in my heart
12. Psycho Killer (alternate version)
Live at CBGB, New York, New York, 10/10/77
01. (Love goes to) Burning building
02. Don't worry about the government
03. Take me to the river
04. The book I read
05. New sensation
06. A clean break
07. Without compassion
08. Thank you for sending me an angel
09. Who is it?
10. Pulled up
11. Uh-Oh, love is coming to town
12. Psychopathic killer
13. Stay hungry
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