Talking Heads | Talking Heads: 77 (Debut Album)

On September 16th, 1977, Talking Heads released their debut LP Talking Heads: 77, featuring the iconic single “Psycho Killer”.

Originally called The Artistics, these Alumni of Rhode Island School of Design—David Byrne, Chris Frantz, and Tina Weymouth—moved to New York and became an integral part of the avant-garde Art-Punk scene, and along with Television were an integral part of the development of what would later be called Post-Punk.

In the liner notes of Once in a Lifetime: The Best of Talking Heads, Byrne reflected on the writing of “Pscyho Killer”:

“When I started writing this (I got help later), I imagined Alice Cooper doing a Randy Newman-type ballad. Both the Joker and Hannibal Lecter were much more fascinating than the good guys. Everybody sort of roots for the bad guys in movies.”

Here are the French lyrics in the bridge:

Ce que j’ai fait, ce soir-là
Ce qu’elle a dit, ce soir-là
Réalisant mon espoir
Je me lance vers la gloire… OK

Translated into English:

What I did, that evening
What she said, that evening
Fulfilling my hope
Headlong I go towards glory… OK

Watch below a 1978 performance of “Psycho Killer” from the BBC’s Old Grey Whistle Test.

Talking Heads played their first gig as “Talking Heads” opening for the Ramones at CBGB on June 5, 1975.

For a great early insight into the band, read this 3 part 1977 to 1978 interview conducted by Bernie Kugel of Big Star Magazine here.

Tracklist:

Side A

1. Uh-Oh, Love Comes To Town
2. New Feeling
3. Tentative Decisions
4. Happy Day
5. Who Is It?
6. No Compassion

Side B

1. The Book I Read
2. Don’t Worry About The Government
3. First Week / Last Week…Carefree
4. Psycho Killer
5. Pulled Up