Talking Heads - Remain In Light (2012) [Hi-Res]

'Remain In Light' is generally regarded by music critics as being the best Talking Heads album. It was the third album in the Heads/Eno trilogy and was -after 'I Zimbra' on Fear Of Music- their second exploration of African rhythms.

Eno was given sole production credit, and also co-wrote all the songs; originally, only Byrne and Eno were given credits for the music, but before the album was released the rest of the band persuaded the couple to add their names to the credits.

The album featured the new Talking Heads - a multi-personnel band with added percussionists, backing vocalists and guitarist Adrian Belew, who put the wah-wah pedal to its most tasteful use since Jimi Hendrix. The difference was noticeable immediately. Talking Heads songs had always been monologues in the past, but now there were two or three different vocal sections contrasting perspectives on the same issues.

The music was funkier, with more embellishments than before, and 'Remain In Light' represented a completely new approach, rather than an alteration of the old one. The album's most striking track was 'Once In A Lifetime' which - with the help of a dramatically simple and effective video - became the band's first British top 20 single. Talking Heads toured around the world with their extended line-up. In England, the band was supported by U2, then still to win a UK recording contract, as well as O.M.D.

The album's single, 'Once in a Lifetime,' flopped upon release, but over the years became an audience favorite due to a striking video, its inclusion in the band's 1984 concert film Stop Making Sense, and its second single release (in the live version) because of its use in the 1986 movie Down and Out in Beverly Hills, when it became a minor chart entry.

Byrne sounded typically uncomfortable in the verses ('And you may find yourself in a beautiful house, with a beautiful wife / And you may ask yourself -- Well ... how did I get here?'), which were undercut by the reassuring chorus ('Letting the days go by'). Even without a single, Remain in Light was a hit, indicating that Talking Heads were connecting with an audience ready to follow their musical evolution, and the album was so inventive and influential, it was no wonder. As it turned out, however, it marked the end of one aspect of the group's development and their last new music for three years.

'David Byrne said that Remain in Light 'was done in bits and pieces, one instrument at a time.' The result was a New Wave masterpiece powered by contradiction, the combined thrust of a P-Funk dance party, the ancient-to-the-future rhythm hypnosis of Nigerian funkmaster Fela Kuti and the studied adventurousness of the album's producer and Heads co-conspirator, Brian Eno. Remain in Light marked Talking Heads' transformation from avatars of the punk avant-garde to polyrhythmic magicians with hit-single appeal. Just try not dancing to 'Once in a Lifetime.' (www.rollingstone.com)

David Byrne, vocals, bass, Guitar, keyboards
Chris Frantz, drums, keyboards, percussion
Jerry Harrison, bass, guitar, keyboards
Guest artists:
Adrian Belew, guitar
Brian Eno, guitar, bass, keyboards
Jon Hassell, horn, trumpet
Nona Hendryx, vocals
Robert Palmer, percussion
Jose Rossy, percussion
Tina Weymouth, bass, keyboards, percussion

Produced by Brian Eno
Digitally remastered 2011.

Recorded at Compass Point Studios, Nassau, The Bahamas.
Vocals and additional tracks recorded at Sigma Sound, New York City and Eldorado Studios, Los Angeles. Mastered at Sterling Sound.

Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums of All Time - Rated 129/500!


Digitally remastered