Talking Heads Revisit the Past with Talking Heads: 77 Reissue, Unveil Acoustic “Psycho Killer” Featuring Arthur Russell
The Talking Heads are reaching into their past, offering fans a fresh look at their groundbreaking debut album. On November 8, the band will release a deluxe edition of Talking Heads: 77, complete with a wealth of unreleased material. This new package not only includes a remastered version of the original album but also features live performances from CBGB, plus 12 rare tracks that explore the band’s early creative journey.
Among the standout pieces is a newly surfaced acoustic version of “Psycho Killer” featuring avant-garde musician Arthur Russell. David Byrne recalls the collaboration: “We knew Arthur from the downtown world. I had a special attachment to this version.” The reworked acoustic take on the band’s signature song brings a new sense of vulnerability, with Russell’s contributions adding a unique depth and eerie texture to the track.
An Immersive 4xLP Exploration of Early Talking Heads
The Talking Heads: 77 (Super Deluxe Edition) offers more than just a simple remaster—it’s a comprehensive look at the band’s early evolution. Alongside the remastered album, the collection includes a 1977 live recording from the famous CBGB venue, showcasing the band’s raw energy in a setting that helped define the punk and new wave scenes. Live versions of songs like “Love Goes to a Building on Fire” and “Take Me to the River” reflect the urgency and creativity brewing in New York at that time.
For die-hard fans, this reissue is packed with rarities. Two alternate takes of “Psycho Killer” are part of the set: the acoustic version with Russell, and another previously unreleased version. The collection also features tracks like “Pulled Up (Alternate Pop Version)” and early renditions of future hits like “Uh-Oh, Love Comes to Town.”
Additionally, the box set includes an 80-page hardcover book filled with rare photographs, flyers from early gigs, original artwork, and personal commentary from the band members. Engineer Ed Stasium also provides valuable insight into the recording process behind their seminal album.
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Key Tracks and Highlights
This deluxe reissue contains iconic tracks like “New Feeling” and “Don’t Worry About the Government,” while the bonus rarities offer fresh perspectives on familiar songs. The live recording from CBGB, exclusive to the vinyl edition, captures the raw intensity of the Talking Heads at the height of New York’s underground punk movement.
Tracklist for Talking Heads: 77 (Super Deluxe Edition)
Talking Heads: 77 (2024 Remaster):
- Uh-Oh, Love Comes to Town (2024 Remaster)
- New Feeling (2024 Remaster)
- Tentative Decisions (2024 Remaster)
- Happy Day (2024 Remaster)
- Who Is It? (2024 Remaster)
- No Compassion (2024 Remaster)
- The Book I Read (2024 Remaster)
- Don’t Worry About the Government (2024 Remaster)
- First Week/Last Week…Carefree (2024 Remaster)
- Psycho Killer (2024 Remaster)
- Pulled Up (2024 Remaster)
Rarities & Demos:
- Sugar on My Tongue (2024 Remaster)
- I Want to Live (2024 Remaster)
- Love Goes to a Building on Fire (2024 Remaster)
- I Wish You Wouldn’t Say That (2024 Remaster)
- Psycho Killer (Acoustic Version) (2024 Remaster) [ft. Arthur Russell]
- Uh-Oh, Love Comes to Town (Alternate Pop Version) (2024 Remaster)
- New Feeling (Alternate Pop Version) (2024 Remaster)
- Pulled Up (Alternate Pop Version) (2024 Remaster)
- Stay Hungry (1977 Version) (2024 Remaster)
- First Week/Last Week…Carefree (Acoustic Version) (2024 Remaster)
- I Feel It in My Heart (2024 Remaster)
- Psycho Killer (Alternate Version) (2024 Remaster)
Live at CBGB (New York, NY, 10/10/1977):
- Love Goes to a Building on Fire (2024 Remaster)
- Uh-Oh, Love Comes to Town (2024 Remaster)
- Don’t Worry About the Government (2024 Remaster)
- Take Me to the River (2024 Remaster)
- The Book I Read (2024 Remaster)
- New Feeling (2024 Remaster)
- A Clean Break (Let’s Work) (2024 Remaster)
- No Compassion (2024 Remaster)
- Thank You for Sending Me an Angel (2024 Remaster)
- Who Is It? (2024 Remaster)
- Pulled Up (2024 Remaster)
- Psycho Killer (2024 Remaster)
- Stay Hungry (2024 Remaster)
For those eager to reconnect with the early, restless energy of the Talking Heads, this reissue provides an immersive experience. Fans of avant-garde music and Russell’s work will find the new acoustic version of “Psycho Killer” particularly striking.
Be sure to listen to the acoustic version of “Psycho Killer” and prepare for a wave of post-punk nostalgia this November.
