Remain in Light

by Talking Heads

Overview

The musical transition that seemed to have just begun with Fear of Music came to fruition on Talking Heads' fourth album, Remain in Light. "I Zimbra" and "Life During Wartime" from the earlier album served as the blueprints for a disc on which the group explored African polyrhythms on a series of driving groove tracks, over which David Byrne chanted and sang his typically disconnected lyrics. Remain in Light had more words than any previous Heads record, but they counted for less than ever in the sweep of the music. The album's single, "Once in a Lifetime," flopped upon release, but over the years it became an audience favorite due to a striking video, its inclusion in the band's 1984 concert film Stop Making Sense, and its second single release (in the live version) because of its use in the 1986 movie Down and Out in Beverly Hills, when it became a minor chart entry. Byrne sounded typically uncomfortable in the verses ("And you may find yourself in a beautiful house, with a beautiful wife/And you may ask yourself, well, how did I get here?"), which were undercut by the reassuring chorus ("Letting the days go by"). Even without a single, Remain in Light was a hit, indicating that Talking Heads were connecting with an audience ready to follow their musical evolution, and the album was so inventive and influential, it was no wonder. As it turned out, however, it marked the end of one aspect of the group's development and was their last new music for three years. ~ William Ruhlmann

Product Details

Release Date:	10/25/1990
Label:	Sire
UPC:	0075992609524

Tracks

1. Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On)
2. Crosseyed and Painless
3. The Great Curve
4. Once in a Lifetime
5. Houses in Motion
6. Seen and Not Seen
7. Listening Wind
8. The Overload

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Talking Heads   Primary Artist
Jon Hassell   Guest Artist,Horn,Trumpet
Robert Palmer   Guest Artist,Percussion
Nona Hendryx   Guest Artist,Vocals,Voices
Brian Eno   Guest Artist,Bass,Piano,Guitar,Vocals,Voices,Keyboards,Percussion,Synthesizer
Adrian Belew   Guest Artist,Guitar
David Byrne   Bass,Guitar,Vocals,Voices,Keyboards,Percussion
Jose Rossy   Percussion
Jerry Harrison   Bass,Guitar,Vocals,Keyboards,Percussion
Tina Weymouth   Bass,Keyboards,Percussion,Guitar (Bass)
Chris Frantz   Drums,Keyboards,Percussion

Technical Credits

Rhett Davies   Engineer
Talking Heads   Composer,Producer
Jon Hassell   Horn Arrangements,Trumpet Arrangement
Greg Calbi   Mastering,Mastering Engineer
David Byrne   Mixing,Arranger,Composer,Vocal Arrangement
Johnny Potoker   Mixing,Engineer
Jerry Harrison   Composer
Tina Weymouth   Composer
Brian Eno   Mixing,Arranger,Composer,Producer,Vocal Arrangement
Dave Jerden   Mixing,Engineer
Chris Frantz   Composer
Stephen Stanley   Engineer
Jack Nuber   Engineer
Steven Stanley   Engineer
Kendal Stubbs   Engineer