Talking Heads ‘Chronology’ DVD to Collect Live Performances From Band’s Entire Career
For years, the classic ‘Stop Making Sense’ concert film has been about the only available live material on video from Talking Heads. That will change this fall as Eagle Entertainment digs deeper into the band’s archives to present a new DVD of 18 rare live tracks, spanning from 1975 to 1983 with the band’s 2002 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction performance of ‘Life During Wartime’ tacked on as a bonus.
Due Oct. 18, the appropriately titled ‘Chronology’ set is fully loaded, both with content and bonus features. The initial run of the DVD will come packaged in 48-page hardback book featuring rare photographs and an essay-length Village Voice review of the ‘Fear of Music’ album written by famed rock critic Lester Bangs in 1979.
‘Chronology’ also includes commentary by all four members of Talking Heads, plus an additional archival 1978 David Byrne interview. About the only thing that is missing from this release is a replica of Byrne's famous 'Big Suit' and we're guessing that it probably would have been difficult to fit that package on store shelves anyway.
The set trends more towards the obscure tracks as opposed to the hits (although plenty of those are certainly present). Tracks are featured from throughout the band’s career, including choice material from their early shows at CBGB’s, culminating with performances from the the final ‘Fear of Music’ show in 1983.
Familiar favorites like ‘Burning Down The House,’ ‘Psycho Killer’ and ‘Take Me To The River’ are surrounded by some real “oh wow” moments. We’re specifically geeked to see two of our favorites from the Eno-produced ‘More Songs About Buildings And Food’ album -- ‘Artists Only’ and ‘The Girls Want To Be With The Girls’ -- in the track listing, amongst many other highlights.
Without seeing a second of video, ‘Chronology’ already looks very impressive. If we were going to get greedy about it, we’d suggest a double-DVD package pairing these live performances with the previously released Heads video compilation ‘Storytelling Giant,’ but bringing ourselves back down from the fantasy clouds, ‘Chronology’ will play rather nicely on its own!