Popular Favorites 1976-1992/Sand In the Vaseline

Talking Heads

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 13, 1992)
• Original Release Date: October 13, 1992
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Warner Bros / Wea
• ASIN: B000002LRK
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #8,781 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #38 in	Music > Alternative Rock > American Alternative > American Punk
  #76 in	Music > Alternative Rock > New Wave & Post-Punk > Post-Punk

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Released four years after the Talking Heads called it a day with 1988's Naked, Popular Favorites provides a thorough overview of one of the most important American bands of the '80s. From tightly wound early efforts such as "Psycho Killer" and "Don't Worry About the Government" to the seriously funky likes of "I Zimbra" and "Burning Down the House," David Byrne, Jerry Harrison, Tina Weymouth, and Chris Franz grew as musicians as they stretched the original concepts of the unit to the breaking point. Over the course of two discs and 32 selections, the anthology chronicles the Heads' development from Bowery art punks (albeit of the most civil stripe) to unlikely arena stars. A smattering of unreleased tracks and notes from the original quartet nicely flesh out the retrospective. --Steven Stolder

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thank the "Heads" that put together this collection, December 12, 2000

By	Brian D. Rubendall (Oakton, VA) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

I'll start off by saying that I am not the world's biggest Talking Heads fans. But I do like a lot of their individual songs, and they are to be commended for putting together one of the best ever anthology albums. This is appreciated for those of us who want all the best material without having to shell out major coin for a box set full of excess material we don't want. At two discs and 33 songs, covering every one of their studio albums, "Sand in the Vaseline" uncanilly manages to hit the all the highlights. Everything essential is here, from early successes like "Love--Building on Fire" and "Psycho Killer" to late career successes such as "Wild Wild Life" and "(Nothing But) Flowers."

Overall, this is a perfect album for the casual fan. My hat is off to the Heads.

28 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What happened to real music?, June 10, 2004

By A Customer

So, I guess you would say I'm a jerk for saying this but what happened to music? I wasn't alive during the 80's and I have grown up with the "music" of the 90s and early 2000s. I don't really listen to it anymore because I have discovered that this is around. Honestly, find me a rap cd that has the contingency of "And she was", "Burning down the house", "Psycho Killer", or their cover of "Take me to the river". Talking heads are amazing. Their instruments sound GOOD together, not just like a heavy metal bang. Oh, and have you noticed there's actually a tune to the song, making it possible to whistle it? These two cds cover just about every category of loudness, some uprising, some moderate, and some that lull you to sleep. This is completely amazing that this one band is able to create such a beautiful, yes beautiful, mix of noise. do yourself a favor and buy this cd to save music!

24 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Talking Heads Career Celebrated On 2CD Set, June 15, 2000

By	Anthony G Pizza "trivialtony" (FL) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Few groups merged the disposable bubblegum pop of the Ohio Express with the hypnotic dance-funk of the Ohio Players. Talking Heads lead singer/ writer/guitarist David Byrne, who in the liner notes ranked the Jackson 5's "Get It Together" with the Beatles "Sgt. Pepper," saw New Wave as a synthesis of those styles. The Talking Heads, with cryptic lyrics and art-rock presentation, led that sound, and became one of the most influential bands of the last 20 years.

"Sand In The Vaseline" chronicles their career. Drummer Chris Frantz and bassist Tina Weymouth studied 70s funk albums like textbooks, giving it right back to George Clinton in rave-ups like "Wild, Wild Life," "Burning Down The House," and the hits from 1985's "Little Creatures." ("And She Was," "Stay Up Late").

Byrne's lyrics were often misunderstood; evangelical Christians bristled over his vision of heaven as "where nothing ever happens." (Wait 'till they read his liner notes on "Take Me To The River.")But his stories often shifted from dark ("Life During Wartime," "Psycho Killer," unleashed during 1977's Summer of Sam) to whimsical ("Nothin' But Flowers").

Not every experiment is successful ("Love For Sale" falls flat; Frantz found "City of Angels" "relaxing." You'll find it boring). But all of it intrigues, and hearing it again reminds you of rock and rap artists today influenced by the Heads, payback for the group's own roots. In her portion of the liner notes, Weymouth thanks her bandmates for "never, ever, being boring.") With rare exceptions, she was correct, and "Sand In The Vaseline" is highly musical, compelling proof. Recommended.