On this day June 1, 1983, Talking Heads released their fifth studio album Speaking in Tongues. Marking a return to a more accessible, funk infused sound, the album was both a commercial and artistic success. It featured the band’s biggest hit, Burning Down the House, which became their first top ten single in the United States.
The album reached number 15 on the US Billboard 200 and helped expand the band’s audience beyond the college rock scene. With its danceable rhythms, abstract lyrics, and vibrant production, Speaking in Tongues bridged the gap between art rock and mainstream pop during a time of major experimentation in music.
Fun fact: The tour supporting this album was captured in the critically acclaimed concert film Stop Making Sense, directed by Jonathan Demme and now considered one of the greatest concert films ever made.
The album reached number 15 on the US Billboard 200 and helped expand the band’s audience beyond the college rock scene. With its danceable rhythms, abstract lyrics, and vibrant production, Speaking in Tongues bridged the gap between art rock and mainstream pop during a time of major experimentation in music.
Fun fact: The tour supporting this album was captured in the critically acclaimed concert film Stop Making Sense, directed by Jonathan Demme and now considered one of the greatest concert films ever made.
