Rodney Gordon

This must be Talking Heads — A song by song, album by album look at their music

Arts EN ↓ 29 episodes

Come on an album by album exploration of Talking Heads, David Byrne, Tom Tom Club and Jerry Harrison. No stone will go unturned as we retrace their path from humble beginnings at New York's infamous CBGB to their induction to the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame.

Author

Rodney Gordon

Category

Arts

Latest episode

Jun 21, 2026

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Episodes

22 | Feelings 21.06.2026

David Byrne's 1997 solo album Feelings is a tour de force and an undeniably powerful statement. More than just a pop release, it's a deeply personal, artistic statement that still balances broad popular appeal and art rock sensibilities. Featuring collaborations with Morcheeba, Devo and more, Feelings was an attempt to reconcile once and for all the duality of artist and entertainer, and luckily D...

SPECIAL | "Who Is The Sky?" album launch listen-along 14.09.2025

I hope you enjoy this special presentation, an off the cuff impression of every song on the album in real time (so you can sync up your copy of the album, Pink Floyd style). Like the organic nature of the album, this is a straight reaction that's as unpolished as it gets, but I hope you've been enjoying the album and make it to the shows if there's a tour stop near you. See omnystudio.com/listener...

21 | David Byrne Grab Bag #1 20.05.2025

Time to break from tradition and abandon the usual deep dive into a single album to cover a random smattering of side projects, collaborations, songs for theater and movie productions and other musical orphans. With the spin of a wheel we'll explore classics like "Don't Fence Me In", "Lazy" and "Pay Attention!" Tracklist: High on a rocky ledge (w. Rufus Wainwright) Si Fulano (w. Perez and Carol C)...

20 | David Byrne (self-titled) 29.01.2025

By 1994 it was more important that ever that David Byrne could prove there was an audience for his unique style of art rock. After a number of high-concept albums, he returned with a more accessible yet eclectic series of tunes that not only build on the grooves on earlier projects but reach a new depth of introspection and emotional reflection. Tracks: A long time ago Angels Crash A self-made man...

Interview | Inside the Talking Heads vault with Jason Jones 11.12.2024

Meet Jason Jones from Rhino Records, he's the guy behind all your favourite Talking Heads reissues from the last few years. I pepper Jason with nerdy questions about how he approaches standard album reissues as well as expanded ultra-deluxe packages full of rarities like the newly released Talking Heads: 77 boxset that he manifested into reality. A condensed version of this interview can also be f...

19 | Uh-oh 01.10.2024

David Byrne's follow up to Rei Momo, the 1992 LP "Uh-oh" co-incided with the official end of Talking Heads. A new producer helped bring a clean, commercial sound to David's oddball instrumentation and left of center lyrics. While the songs were still like children to him, the overall album needed to walk the line of appealing to his previous Talking Heads audience while also showing that he wasn't...

Interview | Michelangelo Carubba on touring "Remain In Light" with Jerry Harrison and Adrian Belew 26.08.2024

For Mikey, the last few years have been a wild ride to say the least. When the opportunity of a lifetime presented itself and his band joined Jerry Harrison and Adrian Belew to tour for the 40th anniversary of Remain In Light it should have been a high point of his career. Instead, it triggered a tailspin that saw his band disintegrate and strained the relationships with the bandmates and collabor...

18 | Rei Momo 06.05.2024

We've finally reached the first pure David Byrne solo album, no theatre soundtrack or main collaborators, David was free to do whatever he wanted and this was it. I hope this gives everyone an insight into not just the album, but a glimpse at David's genuine passion for this music, which critics at the time labelled as passion-less and uninspired. My goal, as always, is to prove that it's anything...

17 | David's 80s Soundtracks and Collaborations 21.11.2023

A series of featurettes outlining David's soundtracks and collaborations throughout the Talking Heads-era. I touch on everything from the beloved The Catherine Wheel, through the esteemed Knee Plays and The Last Emperor, to the surprisingly personal The Forest. The Catherine Wheel His wife refused Cloud Chamber My big hands (Fall through the cracks) Big Business What a day that was Big blue plymou...

UNLOCKED | Stop Making Sense watch-along commentary 10.09.2023

Why watch it alone? Previously released to supporters of the podcast, to mark the theatrical release of the remastered edition of Stop Making Sense, enjoy this bonus episode featuring Rodney's watch-along commentary for the film. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

16 | Byrne & Eno: My Life in the Bush of Ghosts 26.06.2023

Come on a journey through David Byrne and Brian Eno’s collaborative side-project “My Life in the Bush of Ghosts, a ground-breaking album that has only grown in standing over the decades that Eno called the “laboratory” for Remain in Light. Tracklist: America is Waiting Mea Culpa Regiment Help me somebody The Jezebel Spirit Very very hungry / Quran Moonlight in Glory The Carrier A secret life Come...

15 | Meet David Byrne: Fame redeems the oddball 19.04.2023

This episode is dedicated to the life and memory of Ryuichi Sakamoto and Seymour Stein. Launching into season 2, I present a portrait of David Byrne as a young artist, examine the relationship between his artistic work and his music, why he left art school, and whet your appetite for the journey ahead. Songs from this episode: Who (w. St Vincent) Heart's a lonely hunter (w. Thievery Corporation) L...

14 | The Final Chapter (Rarities, Hall of Fame, The Heads, and more) 10.01.2023

Grab your pencil and rewind your cassettes to discover some live covers, drop the needle on some studio rarities, unpack the break-up and The Heads side-project, learn how Stop Making Sense nourished the concept of a reunion, and eagerly log in for the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame induction. Tracks:  Live: "1, 2, 3... Red Light", "96 teardrops", "So much in love", "I wanna be your boyfriend", "I can...

13 | Tom Tom Club (part 2) with guest Chris Frantz 13.07.2022

Featuring special guest Chris Frantz, founding member of Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club. With Talking Heads on permanent hiatus, Tom Tom Club becomes the default vehicle for Chris and Tina's music. Hear exclusive insights into their sounds and influences from their albums "Dark Sneak Love Action", "The good, the bad, and the funky", "Downtown Rockers"  and much more - including a few surprise side...

Special | Talking Heads x Primus (Interview with Primus Tracks) 14.04.2022

Well this is something different! Instead of your usual programming, I offer my discussion with Josh and Frankie from the fabulous Primus Tracks podcast where we deep dive into the Talking Heads influence on the early Primate/Primus sound. You don't need to know anything about either band to enjoy this, but knowing a little might help. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

12 | Naked 19.02.2022

What did it take for Talking Heads to regroup for another album, after indulging David's personal vision for a number of years? With the release of Naked we reach a milestone in the band's history - their final album - and investigate how the world, and the band themselves, have changed along the way. And get a glimpse of what still lies ahead. Tracklist: Blind Mr Jones Totally Nude Ruby Dear Hero...

11 | True Stories 28.09.2021

"It's like 60 Minutes on acid." With a film, book, soundtrack and studio album all related to the one project, True Stories is far more than just another Talking Heads record. Sure it delivers MTV favourites like "Wild Wild Life", but are all the songs really based on Tabloid news stories? Tracks:  Love For Sale Puzzlin' Evidence Hey Now Papa Legba Wild Wild Life (Hero Track) Radio Head Dream...

10 | Modern Lovers & Casual Gods with guest Jerry Harrison 12.07.2021

How did Jerry Harrison end up recording his smash hit “Rev it up” in a bomb shelter? Which song has a connection to a Presidential candidate? To find out, I’m joined by none other than Jerry himself for an in-depth career retrospective. Covering five decades we reflect on the birth of punk music with the Modern Lovers, to his groundbreaking solo albums like “The Red and The...

09 | Little Creatures with guest Jerry Harrison 28.04.2021

Featuring Modern Lover, Talking Head and Casual God himself... Jerry Harrison. Capitalising on the success of Stop Making Sense, the band release their best-selling album Little Creatures which features their smash hits "And she was", "Lady don't mind" and this album's hero track "Road to nowhere". In this episode Jerry discusses what he's been up to lately and shares some insights about the recor...

08 | Tonight Live: Stop Making Sense (and more) 15.03.2021

With a reputation as one of the world’s best live bands, we embark on a detailed illumination of Talking Heads’ live albums, TV profiles and notable concerts. Learn about the inspiration and impact of the greatest concert film of all time, Stop Making Sense, including an insiders perspective from Jon Braun, frontman for Talking Heads tribute band Start Making Sense, along with details...

07 | Speaking in Tongues 05.01.2021

A few years after their critically acclaimed album “Remain in Light”, the band return with their most approachable and radio-friendly record to date, “Speaking in Tongues”. Fuelled by the success of their highest charting single “Burning Down the House” and crowd-pleasers like "Slippery People", "Girlfriend is Better" and “This must be the place” the...

06 | Tom Tom Club (Part 1) with guest Chris Frantz 08.10.2020

With Talking Heads on hiatus, Chris Blackwell from Island Records gambles on Chris and Tina's side project Tom Tom Club — a risk that pays off big time. Exploring a selection of tracks from their first three albums "Tom Tom Club", "Close to the bone" and "Boom boom chi boom boom", this is my first look at the side projects of the band members. Tracks: Wordy Rappinghood Genius of Love L'Eleph...

05 | Remain In Light with guest Chris Frantz 05.08.2020

Featuring special guest Chris Franz, founding member of Talking Heads. In their final collaboration with producer and song-writer Brian Eno, Talking Heads carefully sculpt their musical ideas into their most critically acclaimed album. Featuring a deep dive into the hero track "Once In A Lifetime" we breakdown the groove and lyrical inspiration, and learn how it was released to mixed reaction, som...

Interview | Talking with Chris Frantz about his book "Remain in Love" 13.07.2020

Chris Frantz, founding member of Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club, joins me to discuss his life and career in music. In this episode we cover his experience writing his first book, an autobiography called "Remain in Love", and in upcoming episodes I'll be sharing his insights into the seminal Talking Heads album Remain In Light, the full Tom Tom Club discography and he even helps me solve a mystery...

04 | Fear of Music 29.06.2020

On the back of their commercially successful sophomore album, Talking Heads start fresh searching for new inspiration and sounds. The result? The darkly comedic Fear of Music, their second record under the tutelage of producer Brian Eno that resulted in entirely new song-writing methods, and spawned the uber-catchy hit "Life During Wartime". Tracklist: I Zimbra Mind Paper Cities Life During Wartim...

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