Talking Heads '77

Talking Heads | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Warner Bros / Wea
• ASIN: B000002KNU
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,093 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #17 in Music > Alternative Rock > Hardcore & Punk > American Punk
  • #63 in Music > Alternative Rock > Hardcore & Punk > Punk
  • #69 in Music > Alternative Rock > New Wave & Post-Punk > New Wave

Editorial Reviews

No Description Available
No Track Information Available
Media Type: CD
Artist: TALKING HEADS
Title: TALKING HEADS '77
Street Release Date: 07/07/1987
Domestic
Genre: ROCK/POP

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One Of The Best Debut Albums Ever, February 19, 2002

By 

Bud (Seminole, Texas, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Talking Heads '77 (Audio CD)

Soon after emerging from the punk/alternative/new wave CBGB's Club scene in 1976, the Talking Heads released their amazingly authentic debut, "Talking Heads '77." This exhilirating, inspiring debut album features the band at their most attentive, crafting every detail to the fullest. Foreshadows every direction the band's music will take, while capturing the sophistication (there's that word again) of their unique music. Although "77" was relatively disappointing on the charts and in commercial terms, it remains true that all great classics are brought to the light with time. "Uh-Oh, Loves Comes To Town" is just as unique as the Talking Heads themselves, while "No Compassion" shows the more grim, yet delightful side of their music. The purposely naive and satirical "Don't Worry About The Government" foreshadows the Heads' later cynical aspect. And "Psycho Killer" remains to this day one of the group's most effective and uneasy songs. And although there are many predictable (yet still unique) places in the content, "Talking Heads 77" is a remarkable, landmark gem deserving of attention.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Beginning Of Something Great, September 18, 2008

By 

BeatlesFan3287 (Fairfield) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Talking Heads '77 (Audio CD)

People picking up The Talking Head's debut album for the first time may be in for a surprise, especially if they're used to the eccentric experimentation of the "Remain In The Light" era, or the commercialized pop of the "Little Creatures" era. Back in 1977, the Talking Heads were a punk band but mostly only in their ethics. They played simple rock tunes but most of them lacked the raw energy of punk as played by the Ramones or Clash. Indeed, much of the music here sounds like late 60s and early 70 pop rock. What seperates these songs from post-psychedelic pop, however, is the lyrics and frantic atmosphere that would go on to characterise much of The Talking Head's music in the coming years.

David Byrne's singing style is paranoid and tense and the lyrics are as abstract and arty as any art-rock album. In a way, this is art-rock brought done to a more pop like level. This was also a proto-type for the New Wave sound that was beginning to appear around this time. Songs like "Psycho Killer" have become early staples for the New Wave era and they also signaled the beginning of punk as being an art form rather than just a backlash against corporate rock. New wave can be seen as the first form of punk where the music was more important than the attitude.

And that's what albums like this signify: A transistion of the popular music format. Music always goes through transistions and albums, like this one, that aid in those transistions are often the best representations of the new genres that are created. This was a beginning for The Talking Heads but it was also part of the beginning for the whole 80s new wave sound. Though in some ways the influence out ranks the music, this is still a fun listen and an essential addition to a person's music collection.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A New Wave Classic!, February 18, 2000

By 

Michael J Harrington (Phoenix, Arizona USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Talking Heads '77 (Audio CD)

I couldn't say it much better than Mike Farmer's review earlier...this was just one collection of tunes that really grab you in some strange way - a gem among the midst the rather bland arena rock of the time... The 'Heads' were geniuses of the time - despite the 'competition' of the hard-edge punk and other non-eventful music of the time, they rose above it all with a refreshingly original sound and solid rhythm.

For those new to their music, go for this one and 'More Songs about Buildings and Food', as well as 'Fear of Music'. To get it all in one, the 'best of (Sand in the Vaseline) is not a bad collection either...

The bottom line is that this CD is a *classic*, and easily ranks with similar classics of the time in this genre (debuts from the Car's, B-52's and Pretenders).