Talking Heads box set 11/11

I'm sure there are plenty of demos, rare, one off, live performances, cover versions, etc.

There has to be a better way to showcase this band, that the obligatory box set. It would give the consumer a choice too.

 

Besides the Talking Heads True Stories album, there was another soundtrack album titled Sounds From True Stories. It contains incidental music composed by Byrne and played by a conglomeration of studio musicians. There was never an album of the musical performances used in the movie. As I posted earlier, a couple of them turned up as b-sides on Talking Heads' 45s.

 

I am looking forward to this. Thanks Reechie for the news!

 

All Talking Heads fans should not ignore Byrne's soundtrack to
"The Catherine Wheel" ballet (extended version originally only issued on cassette. Essential.

 

Here's the artwork for the box. Sorry, but all I can say is

and



By far, the worst album (or box, for that matter) cover of 2003, IMO. Oh, and the Speaking In Tounges tracks are the extended versions, by the way.

 

Not sure if anyone's mentioned this yet, but the recording of "Once In A Lifetime" from DOWN AND OUT IN BEVERLY HILLS was actually the live version from STOP MAKING SENSE.

I had a feelng that was the case, but didn't want to say anything until I verified the info, which I did here:


TITLE: Down and out in Beverly Hills
COUNTRY: USA
PRODUCED BY: Walt Disney
YEAR: 1986
RUNNING TIME: 103 mins
DIRECTOR: Paul Mazursky
COMMENTS: Film opens with 'Once in a Lifetime' (live version from 'Stop Making Sense') but this song does not appear on the soundtrack album.

 

Well, here's some information on the sound that I got from a Talking Heads bulliten board:

Unfortunatly, it looks like it's mastered loud. But hey, no NR!

Also, in case you guys are curious, here's the equipment the guy compared the tracks on:

 

I will not buy the box set... I wait a couple months, when Warner will release the single remasters.

 

Well, if you do that, than make sure your first purchases are Fear of Music and Remain in Light (if Rhino releases those first, which they should).

 

Thanks... beside of Fear... and Remain... I also like More Songs about Buildings and Food.

Great records... great music!

 

Oh sorry, I didn't know you owned any TH albums. In an earlier post, you said that you were just a casual fan, and I took that you liked their songs, but didn't own any albums. Oh well...

 

I only have "More Songs...", I do like I Zimbra very much and when Warner will release the remaster, I will add this CD to my collection.

 

Thanks, Claus. As for me, I've only heard 4 albums from TH, and those are More Songs-Remain In Light, and an old recorded cassette of Stop Making Sense.

I hope that Rhino's remastering won't be too bad. The Warner discs are pretty dreadful in sound quality. I hope they do add some good bonus tracks as well, like the extended I Zimbra, which I would love to hear.

 

I'm also waiting for the individual remasters (any word on when???). IMO their first 6 studio albums are all essential.

 

I'd have to count them on my fingers just to make sure you weren't including "Naked", their last album. It was okay, but they didn't sound too happy with each other......

You'd have to also throw in Byrne and Eno's "My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts" and Byrne's "Catherine Wheel" (mentioned earlier) as essentials.

It's funny, but at the time, everyone (including Byrne) thought that Byrne was the main source of their magic. His post-Heads solo career has made it painfully obvious that he needed the Heads as much as they needed him.

 

Yes. There's only about an extra 20 seconds, but I've been told it makes the song much better. I think it was only released on a 12" single, but I could be wrong. I certainly hope that Rhino adds it as a bonus track to the Fear of Music remaster.

 

Anybody get this? How is the sound quality?

 

Yes, the 12" mix of "I Zimbra" only runs 3:55. I believe that its only cd-issue to date is on a promo disc called "The Flashback Four - Hits and Rarities", which features 3 tracks each by the Heads, the Smiths, Erasure, and the Sex Pistols as well as a medley called "Pistols on 45" by Black Arabs.

 

I was on the fence about picking this one up. I am a big Heads fan, but there comes a point when a box set plays just like an abridged set of the original albums. With this box going as deep as it does into them, without significant rarities or unique material to complement them, why not just own the individual titles?

Is there anyone out there who actually thought "I wish they would put together a Heads compilation and select the best five of Little Creatures' nine tracks!" Unless someone raves about the new sound on this box, methinks I'm sticking with Sand in the Vaseline for when I need a quick Heads fix.

 

Well, there is something unique about the packaging. It is a very long, very skinny hard cover book. Lots of essays, and several paintings of naked people. Won't fit on any conventional CD or LP shelving. Very odd package. Haven't had a chance to listen to it yet, so can't comment on the mastering.

Jeff

 

I picked this up also and it is a very unique package... but what is with those "garrish" paintings of naked people. They aren't pornographic, even though they are fairly "explicit" - yet they have a very "odd" quality to them. I still don't know how they fit in with the concept of this box (unless the essays tell you - which I haven't read yet). I also haven't had a chance to listen yet to comment on the sound quality.