Talking Heads’ first album, Talking Heads: 77, sounded completely different than any other album at the time. The New York City quartet changed punk, classic rock, and even Krautrock into something brand new. Talking heads was jumpy and exciting, yet stiff and awkward in a strange and intriguing way.
The majority of that came from Byrne, who focused on the banalities of daily life. Talking Head’s preoccupation with books, streets, buildings, and emotions in a wonderfully blunt fashion was unique in the punk scene at the time. The other bands at CBGBs didn’t know what to think of this outfit.
Talking Heads didn’t adopt the rhythm-heavy dance approach that would define their career in the 1980s. When the album was recorded, bassist Tina Weymouth had only been in the group for about two years, and Jerry Harrison had only just joined. Talkingheads: 77 is raw and nervy in a way that no other Talkingheads album is. New music would have to wait for later albums.
The world music influence of Brian Eno would also be involved. It was just talking heads trying to figure out their place in the music scene. Bongiovi wasn’t able to get a hold of the band’s unique style. It was difficult for anyone outside of the band’s circle to understand what Talking Heads was about.
Talking Heads: 77 would have been an underground punk album if it wasn’t for the hit song ‘Psycho Killer’. The first NYC punk band to gain mainstream attention was Talking Heads. Their departure onto bigger and better things felt natural because they didn’t fit into that scene.
Each of the album’s 11 songs has been put against each other to celebrate the album’s anniversary. The tracks are ranked in order of greatness.
Ranking all the songs on ‘Talking Heads: 77’
11. ‘Who Is It?’
Talking Head’s least essential track is ‘Who Is It?’ The track is a bit of goofy fun when taken on its merits, but the extremely minimalist arrangement and awkward fumbling around the theme of love don’t jive with the band’s style at the time.
Talking heads has a surprising number of love songs. He swore them off starting with the group’s next album, More Songs About Buildings and Food.
10. ‘Happy Day’
One of the calmer and quieter songs on Talking Heads is ‘Happy Day’. The band’s tight playing ability is underscored by a brief pause in the arrangement, showing off the rest of the band’s tight playing ability.
There isn’t enough going on in ‘Happy Day’ for it to be any higher on this list. It is a perfect day, but it is a little tooppy. He was better when he was questioning the world around him.
9. ‘First Week / Last Week… Carefree’
The world’s music influences would have to wait until Talking Heads were more comfortable with themselves. On the band’s debut, those influenced seemed a bit messed up. On the stripped-back album, the steel drum and giro feel out of place.
When a saxophone comes tootling into the arrangement, the Caribbean style becomes stranger. It is a good thing that Talking Heads is weird, but it is not as fun or interesting as the first week of carefree.
8. ‘Tentative Decision’
The rest of Talking Heads were equally important to the creation of the band’s music. It wouldn’t be as good as it is without Chris Frantz’s military drumming or Tina Weymouth’s slippery bass line.
He sounds like an alien who has never met humans. The boys and girls are concerned with something. What is the reason that Byrne cares so much? ‘Tentative Decisions’ is one of the first major interrogations of emotion and human interaction that David Byrne has ever done.
7. ‘No Compassion’
When he wanted to show off his work, he had a sinister edge to it. “Other people’s problems, they overwhelm my mind” is probably the most stereotypical lyric that accurately describes Byrne’s approach to society, but the narrator of ‘No Compassion’ is much closer to the crazed central figure of ‘Psycho Killer’ than the cheerful everyman of ‘Happy
After a minute-long march of an introduction, ‘No Compassion’ lifts into a sprightly uptempo rock number. Jerry Harrison gets to play some of his most inventive guitar playing on the entire album as Byrne loses his mind over people pushing his compassion.
6. ‘The Book I Read’
It was quite comical how disinterested he was. The niche in music was created by keeping his focus on the small things. There were no deeper meanings, hidden allusions, or even metaphors to be found when he said he was writing about the book he read and had to sing about it.
Talking heads were cutting edge. Talking heads brought rock and roll back to earth with a wonderfully wonky preoccupation with the mundane after a decade of fancy and circumstance. The best example of this is the book.
5. ‘New Feeling’
The addition of Jerry Harrison was needed. The band needed a dual-threat guitarist and keyboardist who could keep up with their atypical arrangements and unique style. Harrison was the perfect person for the job.
What Harrison adds to the band is clear to hear on ‘New Feelings’, he weaves his high guitar sting with the smooth rhythm of the band. As Talking Heads continued to evolve, Harrison’s focus shifted more towards keyboards, but ‘new feeling’ is a great showcase for his guitar abilities.
4. ‘Don’t Worry About The Government’
It must have been weird to see a double bill featuring Talking Heads and other people playing music. When they compliment acts like Television, there are times when they are followed by more guttural street punks like the Dead Boys.
None of those bands were worried about the government, the clouds in the sky, or the buildings around the city. Is it possible that Joey Ramone would sing about pinecones? Talking Heads was already formed, and it was called ‘Don’t worry about the government’.
3. ‘Pulled Up’
The last few songs of Talking Heads: 77 seem to be heating up. There are two of the best songs on the record. On the album closer ‘Pulled Up’, Talking Heads find new gear just as you think they’re about to settle down.
One of the Talking Heads greatest hidden gems is the song ‘Pulled Up’. The band is on top of their game as they prepare to release their album closer to Talking Heads: 77.
2. ‘Uh-Oh, Love Comes to Town’
For someone who mostly avoids romantic topics in his songs, David Byrne sings about love a lot on Talking Heads: 77. The idea that Talking Heads were just singing about buildings and food wasn’t correct.
Talking Heads: 77 begins with an infectiously jaunty song. The band’s very first song on vinyl is where everything is singular about Talking Heads.
1. ‘Psycho Killer’
The top spot on this list is not complicated. There is life before and afterPsycho Killer for talking heads. The first moment when Talking Heads became a great band was with ‘Psycho Killer’, featuring an all-time great bass line from Tine Weymouth.
If you listen to the band’s first hit, ‘Psycho Killer’, you may get old on the 1,000th listen. There is something new to find every time the song is played. It is one of the best Talking Heads songs of all time.