The holidays are fast approaching and What’s Going On has you covered when it comes to music gifts. For the music lover in your life, especially one who’s a devoted Talking Heads fan, Talking Heads: 77 (Super Deluxe Edition) is an absolute must-have this holiday season. Released via Rhino, this expansive 4LP + 4 7″ singles box set is a comprehensive celebration of the band’s debut album.
The collection includes four stunning vinyl LPs: the remastered original album, a bonus LP featuring rare and previously unreleased demos and outtakes, and an exclusive 2LP recording of Live at CBGB, New York, NY, from October 10th, 1977, that’s only available in this box set.
Additionally, the 4 7” singles come in a gatefold with a striking black-and-white image of the band. There’s also a great 80-page hardcover book, which includes never-before-seen photos, show fliers, artwork, and personal liner notes from band members Tina Weymouth, David Byrne, Chris Frantz, and Jerry Harrison, plus additional insights from the band’s longtime engineer Ed Stasium. Fans will also appreciate the 13 previously unreleased live recordings, including electrifying renditions of “Psycho Killer,” “Uh-Oh Love Comes to Town,” and “Don’t Worry About the Government” captured during the band’s 1977 performance at legendary rock venue CBGB.
The box set also contains a fantastic bunch of rarities, including B-sides, alternate versions, and acoustic recordings, like the rare “Psycho Killer (Acoustic Version)” featuring the brilliant Arthur Russell. Other highlights include alternate pop versions of “Uh-Oh Love Comes to Town” and “Pulled Up.” These gems showcase the band’s keen sense of creativity and experimentation, even back in 1977.
David Byrne: “We knew cellist and singer/songwriter Arthur Russell from the downtown world. He died early from AIDS, and during his life, he released very disparate records—spacey tunes on the album ‘World of Echo’ and disco club tunes under the name Dinosaur L. He left a huge legacy of recordings, which are still filtering out 40 years after his passing. I remember seeing him play Philip Glass music for a Mabou Mines production of a Beckett play. I think Beckett’s folks hated it, as they didn’t want there to be music in his plays. So it wasn’t a huge stretch that we’d invite Arthur to arrange and play on an alternate version of “Psycho Killer.” Somewhat perversely, I always saw the song as being a slightly more intimate folk rock thing rather than the rock song that folks seemed to love. So I had a special attachment to this version.”
This holiday season, give the gift of music history, and art with Talking Heads: 77 (Super Deluxe Edition). Order here.
Talking Heads: 77 (Super Deluxe Edition) Tracklisting:
Original Album Remastered
Uh-Oh, Love Comes to Town
New Feeling
Tentative Decisions
Happy Day
Who Is It?
No Compassion
The Book I Read
Don’t Worry About the Government
First Week/Last Week… Carefree
Psycho Killer
Pulled Up
Rarities
Sugar on My Tongue
I Want to Live
(Love Goes To) Building On Fire
I Wish You Wouldn’t Say That
Psycho Killer (Acoustic Version)
Uh-Oh Love Comes to Town (Alternate “Pop” Version)
New Feeling (Alternate “Pop” Version)
Pulled Up (Alternate “Pop” Version) (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)
Stay Hungry (1977 Version)
First Week/Last Week… Carefree (Acoustic Version)
I Feel It in My Heart
Psycho Killer (Alternate Version) (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)
Live (All Previously Unreleased)
(Love Goes To) Building On Fire (Live at CBGB’s, New York, New York, 10/10/77) (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)
Don’t Worry About the Government (Live at CBGB’s, New York, New York, 10/10/77) (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)
Take Me to the River (Live at CBGB’s, New York, New York, 10/10/77) (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)
The Book I Read (Live at CBGB’s, New York, New York, 10/10/77) (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)
New Feeling (Live at CBGB’s, New York, New York, 10/10/77) (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)
A Clean Break (Live at CBGB’s, New York, New York, 10/10/77) (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)
No Compassion (Live at CBGB’s, New York, New York, 10/10/77) (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)
Thank You for Sending Me an Angel (Live at CBGB’s, New York, New York, 10/10/77) (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)
Who Is It? (Live at CBGB’s, New York, New York, 10/10/77) (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)
Pulled Up (Live at CBGB’s, New York, New York, 10/10/77) (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)
Uh-Oh Love Comes to Town (Live at CBGB’s, New York, New York, 10/10/77) (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)
Psycho Killer (Live at CBGB’s, New York, New York, 10/10/77) (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)
Stay Hungry (Live at CBGB’s, New York, New York, 10/10/77) (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)
