This must be Talking Heads — A song by song, album by album look at their music

This must be Talking Heads — A song by song, album by album look at their music

Come on an album by album exploration of Talking Heads, David Byrne, Tom Tom Club and Jerry Harrison. No stone will go unturned as we retrace their path from humble beginnings at New York's infamous CBGB to their induction to the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame.

Episodes

June 21, 2026 57 mins

David Byrne's 1997 solo album Feelings is a tour de force and an undeniably powerful statement. More than just a pop release, it's a deeply personal, artistic statement that still balances broad popular appeal and art rock sensibilities. Featuring collaborations with Morcheeba, Devo and more, Feelings was an attempt to reconcile once and for all the duality of artist and entertainer, and luckily David came out on top in the end.

Tr...

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I hope you enjoy this special presentation, an off the cuff impression of every song on the album in real time (so you can sync up your copy of the album, Pink Floyd style). Like the organic nature of the album, this is a straight reaction that's as unpolished as it gets, but I hope you've been enjoying the album and make it to the shows if there's a tour stop near you.

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May 20, 2025 49 mins

Time to break from tradition and abandon the usual deep dive into a single album to cover a random smattering of side projects, collaborations, songs for theater and movie productions and other musical orphans. With the spin of a wheel we'll explore classics like "Don't Fence Me In", "Lazy" and "Pay Attention!"

Tracklist:

  • High on a rocky ledge (w. Rufus Wainwright)
  • Si Fulano (w. Perez and Carol C)
  • Don't fence me in
  • Santa Cruz ...
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January 29, 2025 57 mins

By 1994 it was more important that ever that David Byrne could prove there was an audience for his unique style of art rock. After a number of high-concept albums, he returned with a more accessible yet eclectic series of tunes that not only build on the grooves on earlier projects but reach a new depth of introspection and emotional reflection.

Tracks:

  • A long time ago
  • Angels
  • Crash
  • A self-made man
  • Back in the box
  • Sad song
  • Noth...
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Meet Jason Jones from Rhino Records, he's the guy behind all your favourite Talking Heads reissues from the last few years. I pepper Jason with nerdy questions about how he approaches standard album reissues as well as expanded ultra-deluxe packages full of rarities like the newly released Talking Heads: 77 boxset that he manifested into reality. A condensed version of this interview can also be found on my newly updated YouTube ch...

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October 1, 2024 53 mins

David Byrne's follow up to Rei Momo, the 1992 LP "Uh-oh" co-incided with the official end of Talking Heads. A new producer helped bring a clean, commercial sound to David's oddball instrumentation and left of center lyrics. While the songs were still like children to him, the overall album needed to walk the line of appealing to his previous Talking Heads audience while also showing that he wasn't taking himself too seriously and d...

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For Mikey, the last few years have been a wild ride to say the least. When the opportunity of a lifetime presented itself and his band joined Jerry Harrison and Adrian Belew to tour for the 40th anniversary of Remain In Light it should have been a high point of his career. Instead, it triggered a tailspin that saw his band disintegrate and strained the relationships with the bandmates and collaborators that had become like family. ...

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May 6, 2024 75 mins

We've finally reached the first pure David Byrne solo album, no theatre soundtrack or main collaborators, David was free to do whatever he wanted and this was it. I hope this gives everyone an insight into not just the album, but a glimpse at David's genuine passion for this music, which critics at the time labelled as passion-less and uninspired. My goal, as always, is to prove that it's anything but!

Tracklist:

  • Independence ...
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A series of featurettes outlining David's soundtracks and collaborations throughout the Talking Heads-era. I touch on everything from the beloved The Catherine Wheel, through the esteemed Knee Plays and The Last Emperor, to the surprisingly personal The Forest.

The Catherine Wheel

  • His wife refused
  • Cloud Chamber
  • My big hands (Fall through the cracks)
  • Big Business
  • What a day that was
  • Big blue plymouth (Eyes wide open)

The ...

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Why watch it alone? Previously released to supporters of the podcast, to mark the theatrical release of the remastered edition of Stop Making Sense, enjoy this bonus episode featuring Rodney's watch-along commentary for the film.

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Come on a journey through David Byrne and Brian Eno’s collaborative side-project “My Life in the Bush of Ghosts, a ground-breaking album that has only grown in standing over the decades that Eno called the “laboratory” for Remain in Light.

Tracklist:

  • America is Waiting
  • Mea Culpa
  • Regiment
  • Help me somebody
  • The Jezebel Spirit
  • Very very hungry / Quran
  • Moonlight in Glory
  • The Carrier
  • A secret life
  • Come with u...
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This episode is dedicated to the life and memory of Ryuichi Sakamoto and Seymour Stein.

Launching into season 2, I present a portrait of David Byrne as a young artist, examine the relationship between his artistic work and his music, why he left art school, and whet your appetite for the journey ahead.

Songs from this episode:

  • Who (w. St Vincent)
  • Heart's a lonely hunter (w. Thievery Corporation)
  • Loco de Amor (w. Celia Cruz)
  • Ev...
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Grab your pencil and rewind your cassettes to discover some live covers, drop the needle on some studio rarities, unpack the break-up and The Heads side-project, learn how Stop Making Sense nourished the concept of a reunion, and eagerly log in for the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame induction.

Tracks: 

  • Live: "1, 2, 3... Red Light", "96 teardrops", "So much in love", "I wanna be your boyfriend", "I can't control myself", "Pabl...
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Featuring special guest Chris Frantz, founding member of Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club.

With Talking Heads on permanent hiatus, Tom Tom Club becomes the default vehicle for Chris and Tina's music. Hear exclusive insights into their sounds and influences from their albums "Dark Sneak Love Action", "The good, the bad, and the funky", "Downtown Rockers"  and much more - including a few surprise side-projects.

Tracklist:

  • Sun...
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Well this is something different! Instead of your usual programming, I offer my discussion with Josh and Frankie from the fabulous Primus Tracks podcast where we deep dive into the Talking Heads influence on the early Primate/Primus sound. You don't need to know anything about either band to enjoy this, but knowing a little might help.

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February 19, 2022 70 mins

What did it take for Talking Heads to regroup for another album, after indulging David's personal vision for a number of years? With the release of Naked we reach a milestone in the band's history - their final album - and investigate how the world, and the band themselves, have changed along the way. And get a glimpse of what still lies ahead.

Tracklist:

  • Blind
  • Mr Jones
  • Totally Nude
  • Ruby Dear
  • Hero track: (Nothing but) Flowers
  • ...
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September 28, 2021 64 mins

"It's like 60 Minutes on acid." With a film, book, soundtrack and studio album all related to the one project, True Stories is far more than just another Talking Heads record. Sure it delivers MTV favourites like "Wild Wild Life", but are all the songs really based on Tabloid news stories?

Tracks: 

  • Love For Sale
  • Puzzlin' Evidence
  • Hey Now
  • Papa Legba
  • Wild Wild Life (Hero Track)
  • Radio Head
  • Dream Operator
  • People Like Us
  • City ...
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How did Jerry Harrison end up recording his smash hit “Rev it up” in a bomb shelter? Which song has a connection to a Presidential candidate? To find out, I’m joined by none other than Jerry himself for an in-depth career retrospective. Covering five decades we reflect on the birth of punk music with the Modern Lovers, to his groundbreaking solo albums like “The Red and The Black” and “Casual God...

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Featuring Modern Lover, Talking Head and Casual God himself... Jerry Harrison.

Capitalising on the success of Stop Making Sense, the band release their best-selling album Little Creatures which features their smash hits "And she was", "Lady don't mind" and this album's hero track "Road to nowhere". In this episode Jerry discusses what he's been up to lately and shares some insights about the recording of Little Creatures, then in t...

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With a reputation as one of the world’s best live bands, we embark on a detailed illumination of Talking Heads’ live albums, TV profiles and notable concerts. Learn about the inspiration and impact of the greatest concert film of all time, Stop Making Sense, including an insiders perspective from Jon Braun, frontman for Talking Heads tribute band Start Making Sense, along with details and recordings of the band’s ...

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