After nearly five decades of tremendous influence and acclaim, Talking Heads have announced a return to their origins. On Nov. 7, the legendary art-rock quartet will partner with Rhino Records release an authoritative deluxe reissue of Talking Heads: 77, retracing their roots and capturing the fervent energy around their explosive debut. Featuring a ground-up remaster of the 1977 studio project, previously unreleased recordings from a landmark live performance and a fistful of rarities, Talking Heads: 77 (Super Deluxe Edition) will finally share with fans the full story behind on with four LPs and four 7” singles. To preview the collection, the band has shared a new acoustic version of “Psycho Killer” featuring Arthur Russell.

Today’s fresh take on “Psycho Killer” imparts the torrent of ideas that Talking Heads condensed into their unprecedented jittery new wave sound. The addition of cello from Russell, a legend in his own right, brings new warmth and personality to the angular grit of the band’s breakout single, giving an idea of what the titanic band could have been. Frontman David Byrne has shared some context for the collaboration in a loving statement on Russell’s memory:

“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.” 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 preview single is one of 12 tracks featured on the expansive box set’s Rarities record, alongside other b-sides, acoustic treatments and alternate “pop” versions of timeless songs, including the yet unreleased alternate take on “Pulled Up.” Discs two and three from the collection comprise the band’s Oct. 10, 1997 performance at New York’s legendary CBGB, featuring a grand total of 13 unheard live treatments of classic early material charged with the restless energy of a young band staying hungry. The first record in the collection is the original studio album, presented in a 2024 stereo remaster helmed by Jerry Harrison. The set also features an 80-page hardcover book with never-before-seen photos, fliers, artwork, and liner notes from the band

Beyond the box set, fans can return to the essential project with two new double-LP pressings, a 3-CD/Blu-Ray version. All of the new packages can be pre-ordered now via talkingheadsofficial.com.

Pre-save Talking Heads: 77 (Super Deluxe Edition) on streaming services here, and listen to “Psycho Killer (Acoustic Version) [feat. Arthur Russell]” below. Read on for the complete tracklist from the reissue.

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Rhino Records (@rhino_records)

Tracklist:

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) (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)
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) (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)

Live (All Previously Unreleased)

1. (Love Goes To) Building On Fire (Live at CBGB’s, New York, New York, 10/10/77) (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)
2. Don’t Worry About the Government (Live at CBGB’s, New York, New York, 10/10/77) (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)
3. Take Me to the River (Live at CBGB’s, New York, New York, 10/10/77) (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)
4. The Book I Read (Live at CBGB’s, New York, New York, 10/10/77) (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)
5. New Feeling (Live at CBGB’s, New York, New York, 10/10/77) (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)
6. A Clean Break (Live at CBGB’s, New York, New York, 10/10/77) (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)
7. No Compassion (Live at CBGB’s, New York, New York, 10/10/77) (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)
8. Thank You for Sending Me an Angel (Live at CBGB’s, New York, New York, 10/10/77) (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)
9. Who Is It? (Live at CBGB’s, New York, New York, 10/10/77) (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)
10. Pulled Up (Live at CBGB’s, New York, New York, 10/10/77) (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)
11. Uh-Oh Love Comes to Town (Live at CBGB’s, New York, New York, 10/10/77) (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)
12. Psycho Killer (Live at CBGB’s, New York, New York, 10/10/77) (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)
13. Stay Hungry (Live at CBGB’s, New York, New York, 10/10/77) (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)