TALKING HEADS The Great Curve | REACTION

[@crrhoades4]

Adrian Belew's otherworldly guitar mastery was unexpectedly revealed to me when I saw him perform w The Talking Heads on the RIL tour. I had been listening to RIL for weeks maybe months already when I and a few pals drove a few hours to see the Heads near Cleveland. And pretty sure it was the show's opening song -- Born Under Punches -- just as on the album that my jaw dropped when I witnessed this skinny dude playing on his guitar what I had always assumed was a pitch-bending, psuedo-atonal synth solo (from Bernie Whorrel, speaking of P-Funk)!! Belew's masterful creativity in eliciting rhythms and sounds from his guitar -- live, mind you -- was literally amazing!! Since that revelation circa 1981 I have seen Belew play dozens of times, in several configurations, including solo acoustic (even on drums!), and I have an ever-growing appreciation and affection for not just his music but for his vibrant joyful spirit that he shares in every performance. Run, do not walk, to experience Adrian Belew perform.

[@crrhoades4]

Also -- Belew and Jerry Harrison are currently touring in celebration of Remain in Light, playing many songs from that release and other TH albums, and a King Crimson song or two as well ! I saw that Sean Lennon was playing on at least some of the dates, and many also include Les Claypool's Fearless Frog Brigade -- as the opener! Regrettably, bad timing and difficult logistics prevented me from seeing them when they were in my area.

[@robshaw2639]

@@crrhoades4 Wow. I had no idea something this Big (capital-B) was going on...

[@markdrechsler5660]

About the same time that the Heads were working on this album, Byrne and Eno also recorded “My Life in the Bush of Ghosts,” a groundbreaking early effort at looping and sampling. It’s a great record, very influential, and interesting to hear in conjunction with “RIL.” Also, you should check out some of Adrian Belew’s solo catalog, lots of great stuff.

[@katskillz]

essential album = Op Zop Too Wah

[@markdrechsler5660]

@@katskillz I agree, one of the best. I have a CD copy signed by Adrian. I’ve seen him solo or with the Power Trio a number of times.

[@cobbycaputo3332]

It's easy to see why Belew fit in so well with this phase of the Heads if you look at what he was doing with David Bowie right before this. The live version of Bowie's "Stay" from the Musikladen show demonstrates his ability to put those weird sounds (odd but also somehow melodic) on top of a good groove. Although Stay is not nearly as frenetic as this.

[@robshaw2639]

Thanx for the vid and the extended discussion - I figured you would like the guitar. The first time I heard this song, I didn't get it - but then later I realized it fits the song at the Gilmour level of a solo fitting a song...

[@markdrechsler5660]

Belew is something else!

[@markmilner842]

Talking Heads were so great. Experimental & strange. Tina Weymouth & Chris Frantz made such a funky rhythm section. (Their Tom Tom Club albums are very cool, too.) Adrian Belew’s guitar parts really push this track over the top.

[@T-ShirtMagic]

Purchased my first *Talking Heads* cassette tape *Fear Of Music* because title was interesting. Returned it to record store owner and we'd both determined recording was defective. But replacement cassette sounded same and was offered my money back. Instantly became my most played car tape for years.

[@JustinPanariello]

Wow, I did the same thing with a jazz singers CD decades ago... I thought the CD was skipping a lot on a particular track so I returned it and got a new one. Same thing on the next CD. They were doing it on purpose and were so good at it I thought the disc was actually skipping lol

[@droopyofthenorthwestmounted]

The slow build layering of the music is perfectly reflected in the staging of Stop Making Sense. Also, there's an oversize suit. 😊

[@flyingardilla143]

This song scratches an itch I didn't know I had.

[@kevinhampton6986]

It's really interesting to hear the similarities of Remain In Light and King Crimson's Discipline, which was released a year later and features Adrian Belew on guitar and vocals. Also a great record. And I second Mark's opinion of "My Life in the Bush of Ghosts." Just an amazing few years for music as the 1980s got going.

[@robshaw2639]

Yep - this song vs Elephant Talk... lol

[@katskillz]

Too bad Justin can't react to that King Crimson era, or any, I think any KC reactions get guaranteed blocked

[@katskillz]

I think Bowie's Scary Monsters and The Police Zenyata Mondata fit in from this same time period, 80-81.

[@robshaw2639]

@@katskillz Dang. KC blocks like Hendrix? Too bad they (or their heirs) don't see the value in KZbin exposure (and elsewhere...)

[@katskillz]

​@@robshaw2639 well the official DGM youtube channel does post a lot of content. But they want to maintain tight control over what is released and when. The KC reactions that I have seen on youtube could only work around it by not including the song's audio during the reaction, they would provide a link in the description to open a window to the official DGM song to listen along. It is a shame in one sense, since reactions to the underappreciated Discipline album (and Thrak for that matter) would really bring in a lot of new interest to KC. But on the other hand, having read Fripp's web journals and interviews for years and years, I understand why he won't let people monetize their public scrutiny of his music ; )

[@RubraLIber]

Masterpiece between the masterpieces

[@donnelson6694]

Great dance music.

[@yes_head]

I feel like stuff like this was what fueled the early rave/Burning Man scene. Also, the way you describe David Byrne coming up with these lyrics is exactly how Jon Anderson used to do it with Yes, and yet people would lambast him for his "word salad gobbledygook". I guess it's OK as long as you can dance to it. 🙄

[@robshaw2639]

lol. it's been a minute, but i came back to rewatch...and that guitar makes it for you, right? so what can I say? oh I know what I can say...this is just more evidence that Clockwork is the next Grace Under Pressure....😁

[@robshaw2639]

btw - i listened to Parliment Mothership (2003) this morning while doing dishes... yep, i definitely digged it...

[@JustinPanariello]

now Motor Booty Affair