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Considerable Sounds / Byrne-ing Down The House »

Posted by: Radiofreeeuropa 1 year ago

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A short story and an overview of The Talking Heads influence and influences in music. A glimpse of the 1980's.

Read Full Story at dulyconsider.blogspot.com

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Comments So Far: 60
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    Radiofreeeuropa1 year ago

    A short story (a day in the life of 1980), some opinion and review.

    And where were you when you first heard these songs?

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    0-SukiDesu-01 year ago

    Hey, RFE, this is good stuff as usual, and maybe a few people here at Netscape have actually heard of this act. It takes me back but the music is timeless!

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      Radiofreeeuropa1 year ago

      It's always a joy to read about people we know and like, but finding out about new things is quite important even if it doesn't grab us the way a headline about someone familiar might. I hope to balance both.

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    Radiofreeeuropa1 year ago

    It's nice to bounce around!

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      trnscndr1 year ago

      This piece exhibits not only a knowledge of the music, but I sense a deeper emotional attachment and tone of excitement. Your writing is always good, but I think this was one of your more inspired articles.

      I am glad to be reminded of this era, when, quite frankly, I was slam dancing and my hair was spiked. People younger than I were quite angry they had missed the sexual revolution prior to AIDS but there was still a sense of joie de vivre. Of course, you could still get into bars at 18 (but not for long as the Reagan movement gained ground). Formulaic disco had died and the music scene was electric.

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        humemacdonald1 year ago

        Lol- sounds familiar- Yes , great article it was a lot of fun to "travel back"- I a mwith you radio that song "America is waiting" is a big fave of mine. This article also reminded me to look for some music I used to have- Brian Eno-John Cale, and the album Wrong Way Up. That first song, Lay my love is great!

        Fantastic stuff!

        Cheers!

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        Radiofreeeuropa1 year ago

        Absolutely, I was in a band called Macchu Picchu in the 80s and played CBGBs a few times but we were big in the South Street Scene in Phila. The story kind of mixes the remembered with fiction. The Heads had a great artistic stance that resonates still today I think.

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          joeeddie1 year ago

          Their artistic stance is what made them great. I always hated to label them as "New Wave" or "techno" or "punk" or really any label. If I remember correctly, David Byrne was classically trained. He fused many styles together to create a sound that has not been matched. Kind of like Boston were studio magicians, The Talking Heads were fusion magicians who rarely missed the mark and was never "the same as it ever was". Thanks RFE and DR for recommending the subject to Duly Consider.

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          jaern1 year ago

          Thanks Radio. I watched a special on VH1 this last weekend NY77 and I had just gotten Psycho killer qu'est que c'est to stop running thru my head and then I got your message on this submission!

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            BronxBomber1 year ago

            Thanks once again RFE, as always, another good 'un! I have wondered about David Byrnes and the origins of Talking Heads. They're music always had a catchy beat, and melodic mantras that eased on one's moods. From last I heard, David, was exploring new sounds in the Latin music, and blending that with his repertoire of rhythm. The 80's new wave era were tops to say the least in those days. A lot of kick-@zz bands! Heck! I've seen a lot of them in the old CBGB's & Kenny's Castaways, etc. back in the day!

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              HomerJS491 year ago

              Radio, Now you've got my attention! These guys were absolutely awesome. So much talent it couldn't be contained. I just bought my wife 'Sand in The Vaseline' she wasn't much of a Heads fan in the day but she can't stop playing it , now. The music is still VERY relevant especially 'Life During Wartime', it was kinda prophetic for NOW don'tcha think?

              I remember seeing Bowie during the 'Let's Dance' tour. During the break they played some Heads ( the exact tune slips my mind) I was sitting in the auditorium looking down and it was AMAZING how many bodies started 'Bouncing' around. ' I never saw them but I musta watched 'Stop Making Sense ' hundreds of times.

              Great post. Thanks!!!

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              Radiofreeeuropa1 year ago

              Yes, I saw them a couple times and no one could be still.

              The undeniable groove!

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                GWHayduke1 year ago

                I saw Byrne at a local small venue a couple of years ago - the brown suit tour.

                He still has the energy and the presence to get everyone bopping around and chopping down on their arms!

                The heads perfected the Art Rock scene that was by-and-large spawned by the Velvet Underground. Love them and Byrne - too bad the reunion at the R&R HOF was likely the last time we'll get to see them play together.

                Good one RFE!

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                not2needy1 year ago

                Thanks RFE, it was great, and a nice change of pace.

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                  not2needy1 year ago

                  Thanks RFE, it was great, and a nice change of pace.

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                    joeeddie1 year ago

                    Yeah - Thanks RFE, it was nice, and a great change of pace.

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                      not2needy1 year ago

                      No idea why that posted twice, NS glitch i guess! I only posted it once.

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                    puffin1 year ago

                    David Byrne is my idea of Geek Love. Rawrr.

                    ; )

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                    Bkumm1 year ago

                    I love the Heads. What imagery, what poetry, what wonderful, delightful weirdness.

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                      icono11 year ago

                      True......"...This ain't no foolin' around....."

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                      bill-smith1 year ago

                      Thanks for the memories! All those bands I was discovering in the late 70's and early 80's. The Clash, the Heads, the Ramons, the Sex Pistols, the Cure, Black Flag, Agent Orange, TSOL, Dead Kennedys, the list seems endless. Music was exciting, it was vibrant, it was dangerous. I miss feeling that way about music sometimes. Thanks for the diversion.

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                        jdhatl1 year ago

                        there's a whole lot of bands now who are keeping the spirit of that era alive, with all those qualities. It is a different era, but it is a lot easier for people to find out about obscure music. Now that radio is almost completely dead, there is no shortage of exuberance, talent, as well as dangerousness. Just because there are a whole lot of terrible bands labeling themselves as "punk" when they are really just the current version of mainstream pop, if you just ignore them and realize there are just so many bands out there, you can find some really amazing music. And its easier than ever.

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                      klr601 year ago

                      Hi Ben---Once Upon a Lifetime. I loved everything about your report, & it sure did bring back good memories, from the past. I personnaly think, you do your best, to enlighten people in the music scene. Keep up the great work, as, you are the best-have a great weekend-klr60

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                        david_nwpa1 year ago

                        RFE, you touched on one of my favorite groups of all times, the B52s. Their music from Rock Lobster to Songs for a Future Generation and Good Stuff kept me going through some darker times in the 1980s. Another great artist though he was more jazzy than pop was Joe Jackson. I recall in high school how hot his "Stepping Out" was. I had no idea how prophetic it was either. Thanks for stirring up some strange but friendly memories.

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                          Radiofreeeuropa1 year ago

                          Joe Jackson did fantastic stuff indeed, and the B-52s had a corner on the "campy" market that was so enjoyable!

                          Proof that great art was FUN.

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                        ciera-marie1 year ago

                        Thanks Radio.

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                          EarReverence1 year ago

                          David Byrne is one of my favorite artists. I thought his collaborations with Brian Eno were particularly masterful, even genius. Byrne still has it though, I thought his last release "Grown Backwards" was creatively ambitious and fun!!!! Same as it ever was, Same as it ever was, Same as it ever was Same as it ever was, Same as it ever was, Same as it ever was Same as it ever was, Same as it ever was, Same as it ever was Same as it ever was, Same as it ever was, Same as it ever was

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                            itsme21 year ago

                            Thanks RFE!!! This is cool and interesting, I was 2 at the time and remember the music but not anything of substance about them.

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                              scott42611 year ago

                              I think David Byrne is a genius. I listened to all of that music (and still listen to much of it). I would comment more, but I have company. I just wanted to get this comment in before the story is a day old.

                              RFE, you rock! Keep 'em coming!

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                                1basque11 year ago

                                Thanks Ben,

                                I was in my early 20's and it was such a different time to be living in..When I read your articles from day's gone past, it just gives me a wonderful sense of how truly lucky that I was to have those musical legends as memories . Keep up the great work ! Very pleasing to me !!!

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                                  dotsie_d1 year ago

                                  The Ramones, Blondie, the Sex Pistols and the Talking Heads were living proof that a basic three-chord progression, filled in with some creative background work, could work magic when it came to rock music and it revolutionized the way we all listened and played music yet again. I fell in love with the "Heads" from the subtle opening of "Take Me To the River." I was a Senior in college and editor of my campus newspaper and we were trying to keep the paper on-campus because of the sheer idiocy of my predecessor and my staff and I were under a lot of pressure to keep our noses clean, and that became our theme song. We wore the album out, we listened to it so much. Thanks for bringing me back, yet again, to another good time in my life when things were a little crazier and I could get away with it!

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                                    GuruGurl1 year ago

                                    Now that takes me back and I'm loving it! Awesome writing as well!

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                                      Radiofreeeuropa1 year ago

                                      Thank you everyone!

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                                        Radiofreeeuropa1 year ago

                                        Yes, my research indicates (mostly from numerous interviews around the hall of fame performance) that we should not expect a reunion. The rift started right after "Remain In Light". And shows no sign of abatement.

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