The Name of This Band is Talking Heads [Extra tracks]

Talking Heads | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 17, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Extra tracks
• Label: Rhino
• ASIN: B0002IQML6
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (78 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,412 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #31 in Music > Alternative Rock > Hardcore & Punk > American Punk
  • #36 in Music > Alternative Rock > New Wave & Post-Punk > Post-Punk
  • #51 in Music > Alternative Rock > Hardcore & Punk > General AAS

Editorial Reviews

Formed in NYC in the mid-'70s by David Byrne, Chris Franz, Tina Weymouth, and ex-Modern Lover Jerry Harrison, Talking Heads soared out of their humble CBGB's beginnings to become Rock and Roll Hall of Famers and one of the most adventurous and influential bands ever. The onstage energy that propelled their rise to fame was documented in the 1982 double-LP set THE NAME OF THIS BAND IS TALKING HEADS, now available on CD for the first time. Following them through several early evolutions from '77-'81, this live gem - a 1982 Top 40 Billboard Album- is a riveting portrait of a stellar band on the rise. For its CD debut it's been expanded with over 30 minutes of rare and mostly previously unreleased bonus material.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

75 of 78 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely Essential, an old-school Walkman classic, August 17, 2004

By 

Clare Quilty (a little pad in hawaii) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Name of This Band is Talking Heads (Audio CD)

This is one of the greatest live rock albums ever released, which always made me wonder: why the hell wasn't it ever released on CD? Fortunately, that omission has been corrected and then some.

I, like most of the other reviewers here, bought this on cassette in the early 80s, and listened to it over and over and over on my Walkman. Once CDs became the dominant form, it seemed like this release was just going to fade away and I started cautiously eyeballing the extra-long cassette with its extra-thin tape to allow for 40 minutes per side. I found the double-LP set in a used record store, cued up an XLII and made a safety copy.

But now not only is that no longer necessary, but the CD is almost double the length of the original set. Great remastered barebones live Talking Heads from 77, 78, 79, 80 and some other rarities. It charts the early evolution of the band from Izod-wearing art schoolies to rhythmic world beat hipsters, dropping off just before the "Stop Making Sense" period began.

The new version sounds amazing (maybe I'm just used to my muddy old dubs) and it's almost box-set-like in its set list and packaging. It's a record to make your day.

29 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE live Talking Heads album, August 24, 2004

By 

WTDK "If at first the idea is not absurd, the... (My Little Blue Window, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Name of This Band is Talking Heads (Audio CD)

Took them long enough. 22 years after its vinyl release, one of the best live albums finally sees the light of day on CD. For years I had to listen myself to the CDR copy I made from vinyl (and that was tweaked by an engineer for CD). Late last year frustrated with not seeing this great album on CD, I wrote Rhino Handmade a email (I'm sure I'm not the only one)asking them to considering bulking up the original and re-releasing it on CD. Evidently my email and many others from other Talking Heads fans connected with someone as we finally have this terrific live document available on CD. TNOTBITH sounds better than ever and with 15 rare/previously unreleased tracks to boot!This was always my favorite Talking Heads album just behind "Remain in Light". Why? To be truly appreciated TH had to be seen and heard live. It's a pity there's no visual documentation of this version of the band available.

Charting the rise of the band from an early live recording in 1977 when the band was still a three piece to the legendary 10 piece featuring guitar great Adrian Belew. While "Stop Making Sense" gained more notice because it was after the band broke through (and because of Jonathan Demme's marvelous film), this album features some of the best shows/live versions of classic Talking Heads songs. The original album had 17 tracks (the cassette release had 18 including "Cities"). Rhino has added tracks recorded for radio shows, a rare Warner promo album and shows previously not represented on the vinyl or cassette versions. Now spread out over two CDs, there's a total of 33 tracks roughly doubling the original album.

The booklet basically reproduces the original packaging for the album with additional notes on the new material. There's no involved liner notes but that's OK as the music speaks for itself.

27 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally!!! Some new official material & some old fun..., August 17, 2004

By 

L. Colon (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Name of This Band is Talking Heads (Audio CD)

The Name of this Band is Talking Heads is one of my all-time favorite live records. All through high school & college it was an album I always returned to (on cassette) when I wanted something great & energetic to listen to in the studio or on the road.
But there was never a CD release. I have the vinyl for home & the tape for travel...but there was no CD version.
Now, after a long wait, Rhino has released this amazing expanded version of the classic 2 lp set. After buying my copy last night & listening to it during the olympics I had to write a review...because it's amazing. Even if they had just released the original version it would have been great, but this 2 cd set with 16 brand spanking new tracks (and three from the Promo live record) is unreal.
Even though the Heads never changed their songs much, the jammy live versions added here of Animals, Who Is It?, and Born Under Punches add so much to the original album that it makes purchasing this new release worth it and then some. If you've been craving some additional Heads stuff to add to your collection, this 2cd set is the fix...combined, the 33 traks make for a great listen, and show the gap left in music since the demise of this amazing band.
Thanks to Rhino for doing it best yet again!