Considering how little they toured their best songs it is remarkable how strong a chokehold Talking Heads have on the live community. We shall never see their likes again and the flashes of glorious work they hold are immortalised on Stop Making Sense. But go further back, away from their grand finale and into the performances they had just after the release of their debut record. Psycho Killer was the main draw but in there was a progressive and world-beating sound which kicked the band on from strength to strength. Where Record Store Day may make the most of elusive materials and the limited run, Live at WCOZ ‘77 has thankfully made its way to YouTube for all to enjoy. This is a rare slice of history which needs to be heard – a steady series of warm realisations for a deserving band.
David Byrne is in fine form for this recording. There are slim slices of their best work later on, but for now, enjoy the debut offerings. They were interesting pieces, a little tapped but fluid and holding firm with an inspiring look at the world. Everyday objects are seen as surreal and momentous items to lay with and find hope in. Chris Frantz is given a dominant moment on the opening track Love → Building on Fire. So too is Jerry Harrison, with his guitar work rising and rising through a warm sound benefitted by the warbling tones Byrne brings to the table. What Live at WCOZ 77 provides is a warmer run-through of album songs from their debut. And yet the best moments are from the songs which would feature later and define their careers. Something like Take Me to the River, a cover of the classic Al Green track, has more of a weight to it than the likes of The Book I Read or New Feeling.
A little dip in form more in the interest of lyrical quality and meaning comes through as we drift into Side-C, a slower and slight country twang to the electric guitar brings about the beginning of The Big Country. But it is Stay Hungry which wins over listeners, a groovy and dark piece with a sound which propelled Talking Heads to the next level. Such a change is heard by the motions of the band later on, with the obvious high of Psycho Killer a rewarding listen. Another collection of wild and weird interjections from Byrne, whose voice is an instrument and a mighty cry for change in the strangest pockets of the world. An early run of Thank You for Sending Me an Angel is very similar to the Stop Making Sense edition, with the same rumbling flow of acoustic quality heard within.
Live recordings of Talking Heads are always a treat because of the intensity they hold. It bubbles up, almost randomly at times. The live wires working away on stage are a great opportunity to listen to their timeless works, and Live at WCOZ 77 is a great collection of their earliest bits. Psycho Killer is inevitably the best of the bunch, not for the catchy bass hook or the switch into French but for the group work and scratchy vocals which bring the song to such a monumental, fulfilling finale. Live at WCOZ 77 is a must-listen for fans of the band, for fans of live music. Just for fans of music, really. An incredible release and an emotion-crammed performance.
