New Wave Weekend!!
Talking Heads – This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody) (Live Version)
My sisters favorite Talking Heads song :)
First released in 1983 off the bands Speaking In Tongues album, 80′s movie buffs will remember it from Wall Street as Charlie Sheen has his apartment decorated.
While it’s initial release drew attention, due in part to a rather cheesy low-budget music video where the band sits around watching home movies, it’s real acclaim in my opinion was it’s inclusion on the bands rather avant-garde full-length concert movie Stop Making Sense.
I’m sure I’ve said this before here on the blog that I’m not particularly a fan of “live versions” unless I’m at the concert myself! But there’s an exception to every rule whereas this version always struck me as the better version for it’s clarity and depth. In fact I would say that for a few songs from this particular concert(s). Who would have thought a live track would offer up better quality than a studio take?
Surprisingly enough this live version of “This Must Be The Place” didn’t make it’s way onto the soundtrack LP, and was floating around on the B-Side of a UK single for years until the soundtrack was re-released with extensive bonus tracks!
Share the music of the Talking Heads today by sharing this post with a friend. With a little luck they’ll even thank you for it!
{ 3 comments }
Have always loved this song and I do think it is because of Wall Street. It wasn’t my favorite Heads song back then, but it may have grown to be over the years.
It’s a very solid song. Check out cover by Shawn Colvin (beautifully slowed down so you can really hear the lyrics and the quality of the songwriting).
I agree that several of the live versions from this album are *the* definitive versions.
The talking heads aren’t the best musicians, but they know that, and they:
1) Really concentrate (the way naturally gifted musicians often don’t).
2) Hire world class side musicians/background singers/etc.
I’ve been going back to them a lot these days. They take various musics (african, latino, rap, funk, gospel, etc) and swirl it through their prism to make a music which is uniquely their own.
Everything they do sounds like the Talking Heads.
And that’s the ultimate compliment.
Trivia: Song is subtitled “(Naive Melody)” because all of the members of the band played instruments other than their usual instrument on this track.
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