Talking Heads - "I Feel It In My Heart"

Yesterday afternoon, we stopped in at The Kitchen to check out the retrospective of their SoHo years. Among the many artifacts on display was a 1976 video of the Talking Heads playing a set at the gallery. The ~20 minute video happened to feature "I Feel It In My Heart", a song which we took as an early unreleased gem that was unfamiliar to us.

Upon returning home, we discovered quite the contrary: a studio version of the tune has been recorded and released, as a B-Side on the 2005 reissue of 77. Poppy and light, the tune fits in perfectly with the feel of 77 and is notably tighter than the live version we saw on video. You can see for yourself: check out the vid above, and the mp3 below!

mp3: Talking Heads - I Feel It In My Heart

Talking Heads - "Cities" (Alternate Version)

When the Talking Heads reissued their entire catalog a few years back, there was a lot to take in. Not only were all the records released in 5.1 surround sound, but they were remastered and included a whole slew of bonus tracks. We were so enamored with the 5.1 remasters (which didn't include the bonus tracks), that we only just started digesting all the awesome bonus material that's on the stereo sides of these discs.

Case in point: an alternate take on "Cities", from Fear Of Music. While the take on the song is, on the surface, very similar, it actually has a dynamic and feel that is vastly differentiated. Notably, the bass line is turned WAY up in the mix, synths are ricocheting all over the place, and Byrne's vocals are even more aggressive than in the freaked out original. Combine that with the fact that the track ends on a resolve, rather than fading out, and you have yourself a wholly different piece of music.

It seems as though all great bands spend a lot of time iterating on their work, to find the sweet spot where everything truly clicks. Obviously this is true with the Talking Heads, and the alternate take on "Cities" illustrates just how much the subtleties of mix and production can contribute to the feel of a final record. Having that insight not only makes the band a more dynamic entity, but also illustrates exactly why they are noted by so many admirers as explorers of the new.

mp3: Talking Heads - Cities (Alternate Take)

Weekend Entertainment: Wolfgang's Vault Has The Clash, Talking Heads, And Joe Strummer

It's been a little while since we've seen any new material that caught our eye on Wolfgang's Vault, but apparently when it rains, it pours. This weekend the streaming site has shows from The Clash and Talking Heads, as well as a two part interview with Joe Strummer. Yes, tasty indeed.

The Clash show is from The Agora Ballroom in Ohio circa 1979, and as such it has a selection of tracks from the band's first two records. Some of those tracks (especially from the second album) got rarer in later years, so it's nice to catch a live version of some of those tracks. We were psyched to see "Stay Free" on the list.

The Talking Heads set is from a 1977 set at CBGB for King Biscuit Flower Hour. It was recorded prior to the band's debut 77, but also interesting contains their cover of "Take Me To The River" from the second album. If you want raw, early Talking Heads, this is your cup of tea.

Finally, the Joe Strummer interview is made up of two parts, one from 1983 and one from 1984. The focus is largely on the breakup of The Clash, and decidedly absent is the optimistic Joe of the late 90's. It's interesting, to say the least.

All in all, these three serve to underscore why Wolfgang's Vault continues to be filed under "awesome" here at HAD - free, rare, new concerts every week? Too cool.

Stream: The Clash Live At Agora Ballroom
Stream: Talking Heads Live At CBGB's
Stream: Joe Strummer Interview

Talking Heads: "Psycho Killer" (Live On The Old Grey Whistle Test)

We don't usually post on the weekends, but saw this, and well, come on. You're not complaining, now are you?

Talking Heads: Blind

The first time we saw David Byrne live was at The Avalon in Boston in the days following September 11th. The show was a unique one, in that the tension on the East coast (and all over, for that matter) at that time was palpable. Attending any public events, having a good time, or even being carefree was somewhat questionable, and many were still figuring out how to react to the tragic events in New York. To go see David Byrne in these conditions is an odd thing indeed: his shows are unquestionably joyful affairs. They get everyone dancing, and inspire you songs you do know, as well as those you don't.

So, how did Byrne handle this paradox? First off, by delivering an awesome show, that showed us that it was okay to be happy and enjoy both life and music. But second, and perhaps more importantly, he demonstrated that fear and self doubt were not in order as he dove into a perfect version of Life During Wartime. The song ironically jabs at exactly the sensitivities that people were feeling at the time, with its lyrics of:

"This ain't no party, this ain't no disco
this ain't no fooling around
No time for dancing, or lovey dovey
I ain't got time for that now"

Byrne's hypothetical paranoia of 20 years earlier had now become a subconscious reality for everyone in the room, but his ability perform a fearless delivery in the face of all that had happened left everyone in the room feeling just a little bit better.

Fast forward seven years: we're still dealing with the aftermath of September 11th, only much has changed. The problems today involve energy crises, wars and conflict on the other side of the globe, and an economy that is in a questionable state. Moreover, the president's disapproval rating has reached a fever pitch, and the number of suspected "terrorists" on watch lists has crossed a million. It seems that maybe today a more applicable lyric might come from the lead track "Blind" off the band's swan song Naked:

"Dogs start to run in,
Hungry for some food
Dogs start a-twitching
And they're looking at you
It was light
By five
Torn all apart
All in the name of democracy"

mp3: Talking Heads - Life During Wartime (click through, yousendit link)
stream: Talking Heads - Blind (last.fm)