Talking Heads discography

For individual discographies, see main entries on David Byrne, Jerry Harrison, and the joint project by Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth, Tom Tom Club.

The discography of American new wave band Talking Heads consists of eight studio albums, two live albums, eight compilation albums, one remix album, four video albums, 31 singles, and 15 music videos.

Talking Heads discography
Talking Heads performing at the Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on May 13, 1978
Studio albums	8
Live albums	2
Compilation albums	8
Singles	31
Video albums	4
Music videos	15
Remix albums	1

Albums

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected chart positions and certifications

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions										Certifications
		US [1]	AUS [2]	AUT [3]	CAN [4]	NLD [5]	NOR [6]	NZ [7]	SWE [8]	SWI [9]	UK [10]
Talking Heads: 77	Released: September 16, 1977 (US)[11] Label: Sire Formats: LP	97	—	—	—	—	—	21	—	—	60	BPI: Silver[12]
More Songs About Buildings and Food	Released: July 14, 1978 (US)[13] Label: Sire Formats: LP, 8-track	29	46	—	42	—	—	4	—	—	21	RIAA: Gold[14] BPI: Gold[12]
Fear of Music	Released: August 3, 1979 (US)[15] Label: Sire Formats: Cassette, LP	21	35	—	27	—	—	11	—	—	33	RIAA: Gold[14] BPI: Silver[12]
Remain in Light	Released: October 8, 1980 (US)[16] Label: Sire Formats: Cassette, LP	19	25	—	6	22	26	8	28	—	21	RIAA: Gold[14] BPI: Gold[12] MC: Gold[17]
Speaking in Tongues	Released: June 1, 1983 (US)[18] Label: Sire Formats: CD, cassette, LP	15	15	20	7	14	11	3	12	—	21	RIAA: Platinum[14] BPI: Silver[12] MC: Platinum[17]
Little Creatures	Released: June 10, 1985 (US)[19] Label: Sire, EMI Formats: CD, cassette, LP	20	2	4	18	4	16	1	10	12	10	RIAA: 2× Platinum[14] BPI: Gold[12]
True Stories	Released: September 15, 1986 (US)[20] Label: Sire, EMI Formats: CD, cassette, LP	17	2	10	16	16	13	1	5	11	7	RIAA: Gold[14] BPI: Gold[12]
Naked	Released: March 15, 1988 (US)[21] Label: Sire, EMI Formats: CD, cassette, LP	19	8	8	13	13	7	7	9	6	3	RIAA: Gold[14] BPI: Gold[12]
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Live albums

List of live albums, with selected chart positions and certifications

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions									Certifications
		US [1]	AUS [2]	AUT [3]	CAN [4]	NLD [5]	NZ [7]	SWE [8]	SWI [9]	UK [10]
The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads	Released: March 24, 1982 (US)[22] Label: Sire Formats: LP box set	31	41	—	—	38	7	32	—	22
Stop Making Sense	Released: September 12, 1984 (US)[23] Label: Sire, EMI Formats: CD, cassette, LP	41	9	12	33	2	2	26	13	24	RIAA: 2× Platinum[14] BPI: Gold[12]
Live at WCOZ 77	Released: April 20, 2024 (US)[24] Label: Sire, Rhino Formats: LP	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Compilation albums

List of compilation albums, with selected chart positions and certifications

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions							Certifications
		US [1]	AUS [2]	BEL [25]	CAN [4]	NLD [5]	NZ [7]	UK [10]
Once in a Lifetime: The Best of Talking Heads	Released: October 12, 1992 (UK)[26] Label: EMI Formats: CD, LP	—	35	—	—	66	3	7[A]	BPI: Gold[12]
Sand in the Vaseline: Popular Favorites	Released: October 13, 1992 (US)[27] Label: Sire, EMI Formats: CD box set, LP box set	158	—	—	52	—	37		BPI: Gold[12]
Once in a Lifetime	Released: November 11, 2003 (US)[28] Label: Sire, Warner Bros. Formats: CD box set	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
The Best of Talking Heads	Released: August 17, 2004 (US)[29] Label: Sire, Warner Bros., Rhino Formats: CD, 2LP, digital download	—	87	96	—	—	—	30	BPI: Platinum[12]
Talking Heads	Released: October 4, 2005 (US)[30] Label: Sire, Warner Bros., Rhino Formats: DualDisc	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Bonus Rarities and Outtakes	Released: February 28, 2006 (US)[31] Label: Sire, Warner Bros., Rhino Formats: Digital download	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
The Collection	Released: January 15, 2007 (US)[32] Label: EMI Formats: CD	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Same as It Ever Was	Released: 2009 (US)[33] Label: Rhino Formats: CD, digital download	73	—	—	—	—	—	—
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Remix albums

List of remix albums

Title	Album details
12 × 12 Original Remixes	Released: August 2, 1999 (UK)[34] Label: EMI Formats: CD

Video albums

List of video albums, with selected chart positions

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions
		US Video [35]
Stop Making Sense	Released: 1984 Label: RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video Formats: VHS, Laserdisc, DVD (1999), Blu-ray (2009)
True Stories	Released: 1987 Label: Warner Home Video, The Criterion Collection Formats: VHS, Laserdisc, DVD (1999), Blu-ray (2018)
Storytelling Giant	Released: 1988 (US)[36] Label: Warner Reprise Video, Picture Music International Formats: VHS, Laserdisc, DVD (2003)	7
Chronology	Released: 2011 Label: Eagle Vision Formats: DVD, Deluxe Edition DVD

Singles

List of singles, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name

Title	Year	Peak chart positions										Certifications	Album
		US [37]	US Dance [38]	US Main. Rock [38]	AUS [2]	CAN [39]	GER [40]	IRL [41]	NLD [5]	NZ [7]	UK [42]
"Love → Building on Fire"[43]	1977	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		Non-album single
"Uh-Oh, Love Comes to Town"[44]		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		Talking Heads: 77
"Psycho Killer"		92	—	—	—	—	—	—	13	—	—	BPI: Silver[12]
"Pulled Up"[45]	1978	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"Take Me to the River"		26	—	—	58	34	—	—	—	20	—		More Songs About Buildings and Food
"Life During Wartime"	1979	80	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		Fear of Music
"I Zimbra"	1980	—	28	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"Cities"[46]		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"Crosseyed and Painless"		—	20[B]	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		Remain in Light
"Once in a Lifetime"	1981	—[C]		—	23	28	—	16	24	—	14	BPI: Gold[12]
"Houses in Motion"		—	—	—	—	—	—	26	—	—	50
"Life During Wartime" (live)[48]	1982	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads
"Burning Down the House"	1983	9	2[D]	6	94	8	—	—	—	5	—		Speaking in Tongues
"This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)"		62		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	51	BPI: Gold[12]
"Slippery People" (live)	1984	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	4	—	68		Stop Making Sense
"Girlfriend Is Better" (live)		—	—	—	59	—	—	—	—	21	99
"The Lady Don't Mind"	1985	—	—	—	24	—	42	24	15	8	81		Little Creatures
"Road to Nowhere"		—[E]	—	25	16	51	6	6	10	5	6	BPI: Silver[12]
"And She Was"		54	33[F]	11	10	—	53	9	31	16	17
"Stay Up Late"		—	—	24	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"Once in a Lifetime" (live)		91	—	—	—	—	—	—	22	15	—		Stop Making Sense
"This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)" (live)	1986	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	100
"Wild Wild Life"		25	—	4	13	66	40	9	42	2	43		True Stories
"Love for Sale"[49]		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"Hey Now"		—	—	—	65	—	—	—	—	45	—
"Puzzlin' Evidence"		—	—	19	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"Radio Head"	1987	—	—	—	—	—	—	23	—	—	52
"Blind"	1988	—	—	39	—	—	—	—	—	—	59		Naked
"(Nothing But) Flowers"		—	—	5	—	—	—	—	—	—	79
"Sax and Violins"	1991	—	—	49	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		Until the End of the World soundtrack
"Lifetime Piling Up"[50]	1992	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	50		Sand in the Vaseline: Popular Favorites
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Music videos

List of music videos, showing year released and directors

Title	Year	Director(s)
"Once in a Lifetime"	1981	Toni Basil, David Byrne[51]
"Crosseyed and Painless"		Toni Basil[51]
"Burning Down the House"	1983	David Byrne[51]
"This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)"		David Byrne[51]
"Slippery People"	1984	Jonathan Demme[52]
"Road to Nowhere"	1985	David Byrne, Stephen R. Johnson[51]
"The Lady Don't Mind"		Jim Jarmusch[51]
"And She Was"		Jim Blashfield[51]
"Stay Up Late"	1986	Ted Bafaloukos[51]
"Wild Wild Life"		David Byrne[51]
"Love for Sale"		David Byrne, Melvin Sokolsky[51]
"(Nothing But) Flowers"	1988	Tibor Kalman, Sandy MacLeod[53]
"Blind"		Annabel Jankel, Rocky Morton[53]
"Sax and Violins"	1991	Wim Wenders[53]
"Lifetime Piling Up"	1992	—[54]

Notes

1. Once in a Lifetime – The Best of Talking Heads and Sand in the Vaseline: Popular Favorites charted as a double album set in the United Kingdom.
2. "Crosseyed and Painless", "Once in a Lifetime" and the album cut "Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On)" charted together on the Hot Dance Club Play chart.
3. "Once in a Lifetime" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 3 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.^[47]
4. All tracks from Speaking in Tongues charted jointly on the Hot Dance Club Play chart.
5. "Road to Nowhere" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 5 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.^[47]
6. "And She Was" and the album cut "Television Man" charted together on the Hot Dance Club Play chart.

References

1. "Talking Heads – Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
2. Peak chart positions for albums and singles in Australia:

   • Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives: Australian Chart Book. p. 304. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
   • "Discography Talking Heads". australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
   • The Best of Talking Heads: Ryan, Gavin (April 11, 2015). "ARIA Albums: Spirit Of The Anzacs Is No 1". Noise11. Retrieved April 11, 2015.
3. "Discographie Talking Heads". austriancharts.at (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
4. Peak chart positions for albums in Canada:

   • More Songs About Buildings and Food: "RPM 100 Albums". RPM. 30 (9). November 25, 1978. Archived from the original on March 14, 2016. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
   • Fear of Music: "RPM 100 Albums". RPM. 32 (12). December 15, 1979. Archived from the original on March 17, 2016. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
   • Remain in Light: "RPM 50 Albums". RPM. 30 (11). December 9, 1981. Archived from the original on March 15, 2016. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
   • Speaking in Tongues: "RPM 100 Albums". RPM. 38 (21). July 23, 1983. Archived from the original on December 28, 2012. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
   • Little Creatures: "RPM 100 Albums". RPM. 42 (24). August 24, 1985. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
   • True Stories: "RPM 100 Albums". RPM. 45 (9). November 22, 1986. Archived from the original on December 28, 2012. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
   • Naked: "RPM 100 Albums". RPM. 48 (1). April 23, 1988. Archived from the original on December 28, 2012. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
   • Stop Making Sense: "RPM 100 Albums". RPM. 41 (5). October 6, 1984. Archived from the original on December 28, 2012. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
   • Sand in the Vaseline: Popular Favorites: "RPM 100 Albums (CD's & Cassettes)". RPM. 56 (22). November 28, 1992. Archived from the original on November 9, 2012. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
5. "Discografie Talking Heads". dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
6. "Discography Talking Heads". norwegiancharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
7. "Discography Talking Heads". charts.nz. Hung Medien. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
8. "Discography Talking Heads". swedishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
9. "Discographie Talking Heads". hitparade.ch (in Swiss German). Hung Medien. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
10. "Talking Heads" (select "Albums" tab). Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
11. Ruhlmann, William. "Talking Heads 77 – Talking Heads". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
12. "Certified Awards Search" (To access, enter the keywords "Talking Heads"). British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
13. Ruhlmann, William. "More Songs About Buildings and Food – Talking Heads". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
14. "Gold & Platinum Search "Talking Heads"". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
15. Ruhlmann, William. "Fear of Music – Talking Heads". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
16. Ruhlmann, William. "Remain in Light – Talking Heads". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
17. "Canadian certifications – Talking Heads". Music Canada. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
18. Ruhlmann, William. "Speaking in Tongues – Talking Heads". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
19. Ruhlmann, William. "Little Creatures – Talking Heads". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
20. "September Hot Album Releases" (PDF). Billboard Newspaper. Billboard (magazine). September 6, 1986. p. 88. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
21. "Naked: Talking Heads". Amazon. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
22. Westergaard, Sean. "The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads – Talking Heads". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
23. "Stop Making Sense: Talking Heads". Amazon. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
24. "Talking Heads - Live at WCOZ 77". Record Store Day. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
25. "Discografie Talking Heads". ultratop.be (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
26. "Once In A Lifetime: The Best Of Talking Heads". Amazon UK. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
27. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Popular Favorites 1976-1992: Sand in the Vaseline – Talking Heads". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
28. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Once in a Lifetime – Talking Heads". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
29. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "The Best of Talking Heads – Talking Heads". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
30. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Talking Heads [DualDisc] – Talking Heads". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
31. "Bonus Rarities & Outtakes: Talking Heads". Amazon. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
32. Monger, James Christopher. "The Collection [EMI] – Talking Heads". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
33. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Same as It Ever Was – Talking Heads". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
34. Westergaard, Sean. "12 X 12 Original Remixes – Talking Heads". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
35. "Top Music Videos". Billboard. Vol. 100, no. 28. Nielsen Business Media. July 9, 1988.
36. Ruhlmann, William. "Storytelling Giant – Talking Heads". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
37. "Talking Heads – Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
38. "Talking Heads – Awards (Billboard Singles)". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
39. Peak chart positions for singles in Canada:

    • "Take Me to the River": "Top Singles". RPM. 30 (20). February 10, 1979. Archived from the original on December 28, 2012. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
    • "Once in a Lifetime": "Top Singles". RPM. 34 (15). March 21, 1981. Archived from the original on March 15, 2016. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
    • "Burning Down the House": "Top Singles". RPM. 39 (10). November 5, 1983. Archived from the original on December 28, 2012. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
    • "Road to Nowhere": "Top Singles". RPM. 42 (19). July 20, 1985. Archived from the original on December 28, 2012. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
    • "Wild Wild Life": "Top Singles". RPM. 45 (11). December 6, 1986. Archived from the original on December 28, 2012. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
40. "Chartverfolgung / Talking Heads / Single". musicline.de (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
41. "Irish singles positions". Irish Recorded Music Association. Archived from the original (To access, enter the search parameter "Talking Heads" in the "Search by Artist" field and select "search") on June 30, 2006. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
42. Peak chart positions for singles in the United Kingdom:

    • All except "Girlfriend Is Better" (live), "The Lady Don't Mind", "This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)" (live) and "(Nothing But) Flowers": "Talking Heads – Official Charts Company". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
    • "Girlfriend Is Better" (live), "The Lady Don't Mind", "This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)" (live) and "(Nothing But) Flowers": "The Official Charts Company - Talking Heads discography". The Official Charts Company. 26 July 2013.
43. Love → Building on Fire (track listing). Talking Heads. Sire Records. 1977. SAA737.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
44. Uh-Oh, Love Comes to Town (track listing). Talking Heads. Sire Records. 1977. SRE 1002.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
45. Pulled Up (track listing). Talking Heads. Sire Records. 1978. 6078 620.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
46. Cities (track listing). Talking Heads. Sire Records. 1980. SIR 4040.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
47. Whitburn, Joel. Billboard's Top Pop Singles 1955–2010. Record Research. ISBN 978-0-89820-190-1.
48. Life During Wartime (live) (track listing). Talking Heads. Sire Records. 1982. SIR 4055.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
49. Love for Sale (track listing). Talking Heads. Sire Records. 1986. 7-28497.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
50. "Talking Heads - Lifetime Piling Up, Part 2 by Talking Heads (0100-01-01) - Amazon.com Music". Amazon. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
51. Storytelling Giant (album). Talking Heads. Picture Music International. 1988. CMV1099.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
52. Jonathan Demme (director); Talking Heads (performer) (1984). Stop Making Sense (motion picture).
53. Once in a Lifetime (disc four – Storytelling Giant, expanded edition). Talking Heads. Sire Records. 2003. R2 73934.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
54. Talking Heads (performer) (1992). Lifetime Piling Up (music video).

External links

• Official website
• Talking Heads at AllMusic
• Talking Heads discography at Discogs
• Talking Heads discography at MusicBrainz
• Entry at 45cat.com