Description
Fear of Music is the third studio album by American rock band Talking Heads, released on August 3, 1979, by Sire Records. It was recorded at locations in New York City during April and May 1979 and was produced by Brian Eno and Talking Heads. The album reached number 21 on the Billboard 200 and number 33 on the UK Albums Chart. It spawned the singles “Life During Wartime“, “I Zimbra“, and “Cities“.
Fear of Music received favorable reviews from critics. Praise centered on its unconventional rhythms and frontman David Byrne‘s lyrical performances. The album is often considered one of Talking Heads’ best releases and has been featured in several publications’ lists of the best albums of all time.
Background
Talking Heads’ second album More Songs About Buildings and Food, released in 1978, expanded the band’s sonic palette. The record included a hit single, a cover of Al Green‘s “Take Me to the River“, which gained the quartet commercial exposure. In March 1979, the band members played the song on nationwide U.S. music show American Bandstand. In the days after the performance, they decided they did not want to be regarded simply as “a singles machine”.
Talking Heads entered a New York City studio without a producer in the spring of 1979 and rehearsed demo tracks. Musically, the band wanted to expand on the “subtly disguised” disco rhythms present in More Songs About Buildings and Food by making them more prominent in the mixes of new songs. The recording plans were shelved after the quartet was not pleased with the results during the sessions. A decision was taken to rehearse in drummer Chris Frantz‘s and bassist Tina Weymouth‘s loft, where the band members had played before they signed to a record label in the mid-1970s. Brian Eno, who had produced their previous full-length release, was called in to help.
