Talking Heads
Jabberwocky, Syracuse [no label, 1CD]
Live on January 26, 1977.
Playing on January 26, 1977, Talking Heads were still about nine months shy from the release of their debut album, 77, but the group already had their intellectually stimulating and frenzied, staccato sound patented down. Even the dance-y rhythms were already in place - listen to the rolling basslines in The Book I Read. And how can anyone not be moved by the percussive Psycho Killer?
If this gig was indeed on Jan 26 (Talking Heads played the Jabberwocky again in September that year), then they were already a very tight unit (the European tour with the Ramones the previous year probably sharpened them up) but more than that - they were already familiarising their fans with songs from their yet-to-be-released album. ("The name of this song is..." is a familiar refrain.) Seven of the 11 songs on 77 were featured here. They had even perfected Al Green's Take Me To The River, which would appear on the next album, More Songs About Buildings And Food (1978).
Talking Heads opened the show with their non-album single, Love Goes To Building On Fire, and then into the next single, Uh Oh, Love Comes To Town. While David Bryne would immensely polish up his showmanship over the years, his performance here isn't as quirky as expected but it is still an energetic performance and the pre-FM recording manages to convey the band's musical nuances. For the offbeat, the band tackles The Troggs' Love Is All Around - a version that scores high on the kooky counter but it isn't the sweet, romantic ballad Wet Wet Wet would infect the world with.
Before David Byrne got his white suit and baggy pants; before Talking Heads discovered world music and made dance respectable... It's still early days and Talking Heads have yet to thrill the world with Remain In Light and Stop Making Sense but one could already sense the excitement and potential here. Ironically, the group's album, 77, wasn't the financial hit the record label expected.
Track 01 Radiointr
Track 02 Love Goes To Building On Fire
Track 03 Uh Oh, Love Comes To Town*
Track 04 Don't Worry About The Government*
Track 05 Take Me To The River
Track 06 The Book I Read*
Track 07 New Feeling*
Track 08 A Clean Break
Track 09 Stay Hungry
Track 10 Thank You For Sending Me An Angel
Track 11 Pulled Up*
Track 12 No compassion*
Track 13 Psycho Killer*
Track 14 I'm Not In Love
Track 15 Love Is All Around
*Studio versions appear on Talking Heads' 77.
http://rapidshare.de/files/37042443/thjab.rar
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