While digging through their musical archives, Talking Heads unearthed hours of material that will appear on the upcoming reissue Talking Heads: 77 (Super Deluxe Edition). Out Nov. 8, the extensive release will include four LPs worth of music, including a newly-released acoustic version of “Psycho Killer” recorded with the late musician Arthur Russell nearly five decades ago.
“We knew cellist and singer/songwriter Arthur Russell from the downtown world. He died early from AIDS, and during his life, he released very disparate records,” Talking Heads‘ David Byrne shared in a statement, recalling Russell’s spacey disco records from the Seventies and Eighties. “He left a huge legacy of recordings, which are still filtering out 40 years after his passing.”
Byrne continued: “I remember seeing him play Philip Glass music for a Mabou Mines production of a Beckett play. I think Beckett’s folks hated it, as they didn’t want there to be music in his plays. So it wasn’t a huge stretch that we’d invite Arthur to arrange and play on an alternate version of ‘Psycho Killer.’ Somewhat perversely, I always saw the song as being a slightly more intimate folk rock thing rather than the rock song that folks seemed to love. So I had a special attachment to this version.”
The acoustic version of “Psycho Killer” surfaced on an earlier reissue of Talking Heads: 77 from 2006. On the upcoming edition, the recording is housed in a box set that includes a remastered cut of the original LP, as well as a full album of rare and unreleased demo recordings and outtakes. Among the unearthed songs are alternate versions of “Psycho Killer” and “Pulled Up,” which features a pop twist. There are also 13 live recordings of Talking Heads performing at CBGB in New York on Oct. 10, 1977.
A collection of photos, artwork, and fliers will appear in an accompanying 80-page hardcover book alongside liner notes from Talking Heads members Byrne, Tina Weymouth, Chris Frantz, and Jerry Harrison.
Editor’s picks
The original Talking Heads: 77 arrived on Sept. 16, 1977 as the band’s first full-length release.
Talking Heads: 77 (Super Deluxe Edition) Track List
Original Album Remastered
1. “Uh-Oh, Love Comes to Town”
2. “New Feeling”
3. “Tentative Decisions”
4. “Happy Day”
5. “Who Is It?”
6. “No Compassion”
7. “The Book I Read”
8. “Don’t Worry About the Government”
9. “First Week/Last Week… Carefree”
10. “Psycho Killer”
11. “Pulled Up”
Rarities
1. “Sugar on My Tongue”
2. “I Want to Live”
3. “(Love Goes to) Building on Fire”
4. “I Wish You Wouldn’t Say That”
5. “Psycho Killer (Acoustic Version)”
6. “Uh-Oh Love Comes to Town (Alternate “Pop” Version)”
7. “New Feeling (Alternate “Pop” Version)”
8. “Pulled Up (Alternate “Pop” Version)” ^
9. “Stay Hungry (1977 Version)”
10. “First Week/Last Week… Carefree (Acoustic Version)”
11. “I Feel It in My Heart”
12. “Psycho Killer (Alternate Version)” ^
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Live
1. “(Love Goes to) Building on Fire (Live at CBGB’s, New York, New York, 10/10/77)”
2. “Don’t Worry About the Government (Live at CBGB’s, New York, New York, 10/10/77)” ^
3. “Take Me to the River (Live at CBGB’s, New York, New York, 10/10/77)” ^
4. “The Book I Read (Live at CBGB’s, New York, New York, 10/10/77)” ^
5. “New Feeling (Live at CBGB’s, New York, New York, 10/10/77)” ^
6. “A Clean Break (Live at CBGB’s, New York, New York, 10/10/77)” ^
7. “No Compassion (Live at CBGB’s, New York, New York, 10/10/77)” ^
8. “Thank You for Sending Me an Angel (Live at CBGB’s, New York, New York, 10/10/77)” ^
9. “Who Is It? (Live at CBGB’s, New York, New York, 10/10/77)” ^
10. “Pulled Up (Live at CBGB’s, New York, New York, 10/10/77)” ^
11. “Uh-Oh Love Comes to Town (Live at CBGB’s, New York, New York, 10/10/77)” ^
12. “Psycho Killer (Live at CBGB’s, New York, New York, 10/10/77)” ^
13. “Stay Hungry (Live at CBGB’s, New York, New York, 10/10/77)” ^
^ previously unreleased
