More Songs About Buildings and Food (Deluxe Edition)

The Talking Heads recorded their second album, More Songs About Buildings and Food, in March 1978 at Compass Point Studios in the Bahamas. For a band whose roots and soul were firmly planted in Manhattan, such a tropical location could have been disorienting. However, the addition of Brian Eno-former Roxy Music keyboardist and a pioneer of ambient music-as co-producer helped sharpen the band’s sound rather than dilute it. The album’s title humorously referenced the band’s offbeat lyrical themes, carried over from their debut. One notable commercial concession was a cover of Al Green’s “Take Me to the River,” which proved to be a perfect match for the band’s subtly R&B-inflected sound. The track became a breakthrough U.S. hit single, peaking at No. 26 on the Billboard chart. Sonically, More Songs About Buildings and Food presented a harder edge compared to their debut, with Jerry Harrison’s guitar taking a more prominent role. David Byrne’s songwriting remained as idiosyncratic and uncompromising as ever. Although Brian Eno’s production added a richer, more layered texture to the band’s sound, Talking Heads still stood well apart from the prevailing wave of new wave artists emerging at the time.