I'm up late sleepless, nursing a troublesome ear infection and two straight insomniac nights, trying to avoid a COVID shopping trip to the ER. So I am gonna bust this one up in case I end up unavailable for a while.
This is one of those tours and shows that make archival music what it is: a stunning multi-channel capture and matrix of what, at the time, was likely the best and most imitated band in the world.
They really do sound like the Light Brigade, or a charging herd of skittering, neurotic funk elephants on dexedrine.
If you ask me, these guys never again reached the heights of this record and this tour.
They made more money after this and of course the film, but they never again achieved the laser focus and sense of transcendence that they did on 1980's Remain In Light jaunt.
This one -- a complete set from Amsterdam -- is likely the best boot of this tour, and lo and behold, it's 40 years old today!
Talking Heads
Jaap Eden Hall
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
12.11.1980
01 Psycho Killer
02 Warning Sign
03 Stay Hungry
04 Cities
05 band introductions
06 I Zimbra
07 Drugs
08 Once In a Lifetime
09 Animals
10 Houses In Motion
11 Born Under Punches
12 Crosseyed & Painless
13 Life During Wartime
14 Take Me to the River
15 The Great Curve
Total time: 1:26:08
disc break goes after Track 09
David Byrne - guitar, vocals & percussion
Chris Frantz - drums & percussion
Tina Weymouth - bass & vocals
Jerry Harrison - guitars, keyboards & vocals
Adrian Belew - guitar & vocals
Bernie Worrell - keyboards, percussion & vocals
Steve Scales - percussion & vocals
Busta Jones - bass
Dolette McDonald - vocals & percussion
mono soundboard/stereo audience matrix made by the folks at talkingheadsconcerthistory.com, from the tapes of Hans Devente
567 MB FLAC/December 2020 archive link
If I can stay outta the hospital, I have a wild one planned for Saturday, as well as more for Sunday and Monday. If I live. I'll try. I promise.
Anyway enough of my whiny hypochondria.... this set'll clear everybody's Heads!--J.