Formed in the mid-?70s by art school chums David Byrne, Chris Franz, and Tina Weymouth?and ex-Modern Lover Jerry Harrison?Talking Heads exploded out of CBGB?s punk breeding ground to become one of the most artistically adv... more »enturous and influential bands ever. Their visionary, polyrhythmic spin on rock fused elements including funk, African beats, Brazilian sway, avant-garde minimalism, pop savvy, and punk?s DIY aesthetic into a pioneering sound that was at once experimental and accessible . . . wholly inventive yet immediately welcoming. From 1977?s self-titled debut to 1988?s Naked , their work both unceasingly pushed the envelope and delivered massive Top 10 hits like "Burning Down The House." Without question, these Rock ?n? Roll Hall of Famers will forever remain one of music?s true originals. The first-ever Talking Heads box! Covers 1976?1992, including almost four hours of career-spanning, groundbreaking music. Remastered for startling sound! Over 50 tracks on three loaded CDs, including all their biggest hits, plus a selection of five previously unreleased rarities, outtakes, and alternate versions. Packaged with the out-of-print video compilation Storytelling Giant, now on DVD for the first time?and newly expanded with three previously unreleased bonus clips! Set is packaged in an artistic and uniquely designed horizontal layout, including commentary from notables including: renowned music journalist David Fricke; cultural studies guru Dick Hebdige, author of Subculture: The Meaning Of Style; revered Japanese editor and scribe Kyoichi Tsuzuki; author Ricky Moody; and women of letters Maggie Estep and Mary Gaitskill.« less
Formed in the mid-?70s by art school chums David Byrne, Chris Franz, and Tina Weymouth?and ex-Modern Lover Jerry Harrison?Talking Heads exploded out of CBGB?s punk breeding ground to become one of the most artistically adventurous and influential bands ever. Their visionary, polyrhythmic spin on rock fused elements including funk, African beats, Brazilian sway, avant-garde minimalism, pop savvy, and punk?s DIY aesthetic into a pioneering sound that was at once experimental and accessible . . . wholly inventive yet immediately welcoming. From 1977?s self-titled debut to 1988?s Naked , their work both unceasingly pushed the envelope and delivered massive Top 10 hits like "Burning Down The House." Without question, these Rock ?n? Roll Hall of Famers will forever remain one of music?s true originals. The first-ever Talking Heads box! Covers 1976?1992, including almost four hours of career-spanning, groundbreaking music. Remastered for startling sound! Over 50 tracks on three loaded CDs, including all their biggest hits, plus a selection of five previously unreleased rarities, outtakes, and alternate versions. Packaged with the out-of-print video compilation Storytelling Giant, now on DVD for the first time?and newly expanded with three previously unreleased bonus clips! Set is packaged in an artistic and uniquely designed horizontal layout, including commentary from notables including: renowned music journalist David Fricke; cultural studies guru Dick Hebdige, author of Subculture: The Meaning Of Style; revered Japanese editor and scribe Kyoichi Tsuzuki; author Ricky Moody; and women of letters Maggie Estep and Mary Gaitskill.
CD Reviews
Compilations piling up
Wayne Klein | My Little Blue Window, USA | 11/19/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"It must be Christmas time again. All the majors are looking to release (or re-release in this case) boxsets of classic rock acts, etc. Well I have to give credit to Rhino (and Talking Heads) for originality. Once In A Life Time is the boxed set The Heads should have gotten when Sire released Sand In The Vaseline. This three CD, 1 DVD set is packaged in a long coffee table style book (hardcover)with a number of essays, rare photos and contributions from the band members.Don't trade in Sand In The Vaseline just yet. The track listing for both sets aren't identical. I Want To Live (included on Sand In The Vaseline) isn't included here. Disc One has 21 tracks focusing on the band's first two albums (plus A Clean Break from the MIA The Name of This Band is Talking Heads). Disc Two focuses on albums 3, 4 and 5 over the course of 17 remastered tracks. However, Cities and Drugs are alternate versions. In the case of Life During Wartime it sounds quite a bit different from the version on Fear of Music because of the sound effects and the mix. Drugs also has a slightly different mix making it memorable when compared to the version on Fear of Music. 5 Tracks appear from the seminal Remain In Light. A couple of the selections from Speaking In Tongues are from the cassette (and early CD)versions and, as a result, are slightly longer than the verisons currently available (and than those on Sand).Finally Disc Three pulls together the twilight of the Heads' career. There are no songs from Stop Making Sense (which is just as well since this has already been remastered with bonus tracks). The last 17 songs are drawn from the band's last three albums with the exception of one outtake/previously unreleased track (In Asking Land which is a stunning song. I'm surprised that it wasn't released before now)and two songs drawn from the Sand compilation (which means that Gangster of Love and Popsicle the "lighter" tracks from the compilation don't appear here at all).Altogether an odd assortment that crosses over somewhat but not completely with Sand In The Vaseline. A pity that they don't cross over completely and add a fourth disc featuring the MIA The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads (guess I'll continue listening to my CDR transferred from vinyl).Still, the DVD is a nice bonus as it features all the important videos and a couple of ones that have previously been unreleased. It's a bit annoying that some of the dialog that connects the videos overlaps with the music. Additionally, the book itself is beautifully designed and small enough to avoid the self important look of an art book. A bit of warning on the DVD. Rhino hasn't labeled it as such but a parental advisory sticker would warn you that the DVD has a significant bad word mentioned a number of times in one of the linking segments. I had forgotten about it being on the video (none of the band members say it nor is it in any of the videos except for a brief moment in the lyric to the song Sax and Violins). Luckily, my kids had left the room prior to the words coming on. The remastered sound is exceptional. Rhino has put out a number of exceptional albums this year and I have to say that Once is one of the best looking career compilations I've ever seen. It makes others of this type appear cheap and gaudy by comparison (well, except the exceptional XTC Coat of Many Cupboards set). This is a great gift for Heads fans and is shaped distinctively enough to fool the heck out of everyone as to what it is. A note also to fans of Adrian Belew who played guitar on Remain in Light for some reason Belew isn't credited (more than likely an oversight)as playing on the sessions at all. I've already alerted Rhino to this oversight as they promised to fix any misinformation on the credits.My advice--record the songs missing from Sand In The Vaseline and make some customized artwork for it. Add it to this set and make it a "personalized" CD boxed set."
Absolutely Essential - Sets new standard for Boxed Sets
crj17 | NYC | 01/28/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I'm not a Talking Heads fanatic, but I am a fan. I have 3 of their albums, so this boxed set was a very welcome addition to my library. The quality of sound on Sand in the Vaseline is inferior and I'm happy I passed up its purchase in anticipation of this.I've read alot of reviews complaining about the artwork. The individuals behind these comments may know the Talking Heads music, but blatantly miss the TH theme. The artwork is exceedingly relevant to TH by merit of it's irrelevancy. It's colorfuly done and admittedly graphic. A paradise of nude figures and gentle looking animals in a colorful eden with small details of acute to dull menaces within. Similar to TH's musical observations..no? While the illus. are graphic, they do provoke, shock and make you think - the purpose of any art. Each time you look at it you notice something different. It's tempting you to look for some sort of plot, continuation or relevance to the talking heads. While colorful and intriguing, it just does not make any sense....which, after all, is the purpose: Stop Making Sense. The selection of songs is what you'd expect. The requisite back catalog with outtakes, alt versions, etc....all commonplace expectations w/Boxed sets. The DVD addition, however, I found ingenious. Thank you Sire for issuing the DVD with the boxed set and not attempting to sell it separately. Die hard TH fans should be greatful as they are the ones who'd readily pay upwards of $19 to $29 for the DVD alone - consider that when you criticize the price (ie 1st Storyteller dvd, etc..). To moan about Sire issuing another rip off boxed set is ridiculous. Price: okay, $60 is a bit expensive for a boxed set - particularly if you're not a talking heads fan or if you are a fanatic. But for the majority of us in between, it hits the mark. Incidentally, with a little educated shopping you can find this boxed set for as low as $39.99 - I got mine for $45.99 at the local Media Play / Rhino's website has it on sale for $51 and in NYC a freind of mine just bought his today for $39. Shop around.The music's great. The clarity and magnitude of the sound is outstanding. You hear things that were not apparent on the original releases. A solid and BEATUIFUL boxed set - Artsy in a non-sensical way with no seeable connection to the band yet at the same time very Talking HeadsIf you're a die hard fan with all the individual albums and can do without the essays, don't get it. If you're not a fan and considering adding them, start w/the one cd greatest hits. If you are a fan but not a fanatic and feel your collection is short some Talking heads, then for an investment of 2 1/2 cd's you have the boxed set. Until they decide to re-master TH in 5.1, I thank you Sire, for a truly worthwhile boxed set."
The (oblong, unwieldy) book i read
Jeffrey Thames | Houston, TX | 11/30/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Maybe it's because Talking Heads were the most crucial band to defining my musical tastes as a teen, but I've found myself (slightly) disappointed by both of their domestic retrospectives to date. Sand in the Vaseline seemed a tad slapdash, from the irrelevant title to David Byrne's gruff contributions to the annotations.
Now we at long last have a proper box set release, and for all of its pluses...excellent alternate takes on "New Feeling" and Fear of Music material, the CD debut of "A Clean Break", the Storytelling Giant DVD...there's still room for complaint. The artwork for this box is simply abysmal and inappropriate for one of the most visually savvy groups in rock history. It's packaged in book form, only fitting for such "artistes"; however, the book is far wider than it is tall, making it difficult to read, display, or store. I suspect Byrne had the dominating say in the design, and it appears to me that he's so burnt out on the past that he'll take any measure to diminish the band's legacy. The essays within are entertaining, particularly Maggie Estep's memoirs and Tina Weymouth's full-circle encounter with Brian Wilson (read it and you'll see what I mean).
Bottom line: if you're a major fan, the exclusives are essential; if you're a peripheral listener, Sand in the Vaseline gives you the hits and other goodies for far less, although I'd sooner recommend their individual albums (anything from the Eno period would make a sensible starting point). And on that note, a caveat: word has it that this box was released to kick off an upcoming TH catalog remaster campaign, and if the sonic quality (particularly on the Remain in Light cuts) are any indication, it should prove the proper homage to their remarkable chemistry. (Just don't let Byrne tamper with the cover art...)"
Perfect for some Talking Heads fans; not so for others
Mr Likeable | Melbourne, Australia | 11/14/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I love this set and was intrigued by poor reviews from some other Talking Heads fans submitted here.
Who am I? A 43 year old Australian; I can't begin to remember how many times I danced the night away to "Take Me To The River", or sang "You might find yourself..." while driving in my youth without a care in the world (other than very serious thoughts about the state of the world etc.).
Why I loved Talking Heads? Pure pop plus pure art. A thousand ideas per cubic centimetre, but always with an attempt to polish the most esoteric notions into an accessible presentation. ALWAYS extremely interesting, and danceable.
Why I bought this set? I had Sand In The Vaseline, but was still hungry, and when I saw this set, I liked the look of it.
Satisfied? YES. There's some good reading in the "booklet". A highlight for me is David Byrne's discussion about the change in his own creativity, and while he likes his own expressions from Talking Heads early days, he can't continue to deliver that style of expression, because he's moved on. It's an inspiring essay about art. And I've really enjoyed listening to all of this music again (a few alternate takes are minor surprises; heaps of pleasure in so many old favourites). And it's ideal for creating an iTunes/iPod playlist.
Casual fans - try the one disc best of, or maybe Sand In The Vaseline.
Talking Heads maniacs - buy all the original albums and do a web search for essays about / by the band.
Old time fans of the art and pop mix that was Talking Heads - this is a great package."
Seen and Unseen
John Stodder | livin' just enough | 01/08/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"First, the packaging. This ain't no Mudd Club, no CBGBs...! I don't know for sure if this is rock's first coffee table book/box set, but it is surely the most pretentious packaging I've ever seen! You have no choice but to put it on your coffee table because it won't fit anywhere else. I imagine people will eventually tire of looking at the strangely unappealing artwork (why is that guy's crotch bleeding? why is he smiling about it?) that bedecks this set's cover, remove the four removable disk sleeves somewhere in their CD cabinet, where they will thereupon be impossible to find, and then put the rest of the packaging in the hall closet. The essays inside range from precious and silly to informative and evocative, but none of them seem so essential that you would miss them after you put this awkward package in the deep freeze.But the music is worth keeping. It is a generous selection of their music, with enough alternative cuts and bonus tracks that fans who already own the albums won't feel completely robbed. Hearing so much of their music in one place leads me to the following conclusions:-- "Remain in Light" was by far the best thing they ever did. The tracks jump off the disk; more than two decades later, they still sound as fresh and unique as they did then. Little wonder "Once in a Lifetime" is their most famous song--it is just a fabulous performance. -- Its successor, "Speaking in Tongues," lacks the same magic; some of the songs start off strong, but sometimes meander into shapeless jams. -- "Fear of Music" is a brilliant work of art that time has been very kind to. When it came out, it seemed kind of alienating, due to the metallic, heavily treated mix, but now it seems very different. "Air" is almost symphonic, "Heaven" manages to be both funny and yearning, "I Zimbra" foreshadows "Remain in Light" by yielding so ecstatically to the beat. -- The last three albums, represented on disk 3, demonstrate a group that somehow lost its identity, didn't have a clue anymore what it was about. The disk has many pleasures--the charming lyrics on songs like "And She Was" or "Road to Nowhere," the country flavor of "People Like Us," the Latin rhythms on "Nothing But Flowers." The songs from "True Stories" seem like the group's low point--too often sarcastic rather than clever, like Woody Allen making fun of non-New Yorkers. --The first two albums, represented on disk 1, strike me now as some of the strangest songs ever written--songs written with the aid of some kind of truth serum. It is so strange that this stuff caught on with a large public, but it did. "Thank You For Sending Me An Angel" thrills me still."
Track Listings (21) - Disc #1