In 1973, Rhode Island School of Design students David Byrne (guitar and vocals) and Chris Frantz (drums), formed a band, The Artistics. Fellow student Tina Weymouth, Frantz's girlfriend, often provided transportation. The Artistics dissolved the following year, and the three moved to New York City, eventually sharing a communal loft. After they were unable to find a bassist, Weymouth took up the role. Frantz encouraged Weymouth to learn to play bass by listening to Suzi Quatro albums. Byrne asked Weymouth to audition three times before she joined the band.
The band played their first gig as Talking Heads opening for the Ramones at CBGBs on June 5, 1975. According to Weymouth, the name Talking Heads came from an issue of TV Guide, which "explained the term used by TV studios to describe a head-and-shoulder shot of a person talking as 'all content, no action'”. Later that year, the band recorded a series of demos for CBS, but, surprisingly, did not receive a record contract.
However, they drew a following and signed to Sire Records in November 1976. They released their first single in February the following year, "Love → Building on Fire". In March 1977, they added Jerry Harrison, formerly of Jonathan Richman's band the Modern Lovers, on keyboards, guitar, and backing vocals. Gary Kurfirst started managing Talking Heads in 1977.
1 Psycho Killer 3:31
2 Sugar On My Tongue 2:36
3 Thank You for Sending Me An Angel 2:04
4 I Want To Live 3:24
5 I Wish You Wouldn’t Say That 2:08
6 The Girls Want To Be With The Girls 3:04
7 Who Is It 2:19
8 With Our Love 4:09
9 Stay Hungry 4:29
10 Tentative Decisions 2:42
11 Warning Sign 3:33
12 I’m Not In Love 3:52
13 The Book I Read 2:55
14 Love→Building On Fire 3:36
15 No Compassion 3:40
16 I Feel It In My Heart 3:06
17 Uh-Oh Loves Comes To Town 3:07
18 These Boots Are Made For Walking 1:05
19 I Walk The Line 0:57
20 Can’t You Hear My Heartbeat 1:50
21 The Big Country 5:01
22 Warning Sign 4:12
23 Life During Wartime (with Robert Fripp) 3:57
24 Dancing For Money 2:40
25 Unison 4:55
26 Double Groove 4:42