Talking Heads have announced an extensive “super deluxe edition” of their 1977 debut LP, Talking Heads: 77, featuring a number of rare demos and alternate takes as well as a previously unreleased live recording of the band at the legendary CBGB in New York the year the album was recorded.
A 4LP Black Vinyl + 4 7” Singles boxed set is available exclusively via Rhino or Talking Heads’ website The expansive collection is housed in a lift-off-lid box including the 4LPs: 1LP of the remastered original album, 1LP of rare and previously unreleased demos and outtakes, and a 2LP Live at CBGB, New York, NY, Oct. 10, 1977 recording that finds the band performing to a rabid hometown crowd unaware that it was witnessing history in the making. While the remastered LP and rarities will appear on digital platforms upon release, the live album will only be available in this vinyl box.
The 7” singles are set in a gatefold jacket with a black and white image of the band and an immersive 80-page hardcover book comprising never-before-seen photos, fliers, artwork, and thoughtful liner notes penned by each band member: Tina Weymouth, David Byrne, Chris Frantz, and Jerry Harrison. Additional notes were provided plus notes by recording engineer Ed Stasium.
Alongside the reissue’s announcement, Talking Heads shared one of its many featured rarities, an acoustic version of “Psycho Killer” featuring cellist Arthur Russell. As David Byrne recalled of the recording in a statement, “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—spacey tunes on the album World of Echo and disco club tunes under the name Dinosaur L. He left a huge legacy of recordings, which are still filtering out 40 years after his passing. 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.’”
Byrne adds, “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.” Listen to the acoustic “Psycho Killer” via the Spotify player below or on the platform of your choice here.
Talking Heads – “Psycho Killer” (Acoustic Version) [feat. Arthur Russell]
Click below to view the full list of tracks, rarities, and live recordings included in the new Talking Heads: 77 (Super Deluxe Edition) reissue due out November 8th. Pre-order/pre-save here.
In other Talking Heads news, the band recently announced that it will round out its year of celebrating the 40th anniversary of Stop Making Sense by screening the iconic concert film in 300 IMAX theaters nationwide on October 2nd. For a full listing of participating theaters, head here.
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