Talking Heads, a NYC band that gained its notice by way of a small, overpacked but highly popularized Bowery club known as CBGBs, left behind an unmovable st of albums. For many, there are favorites, but for me, its Fear Of Music. Issued in 1979, the music found on Fear Of Music helped to change the musical direction of Talking Heads leading to their 1980 classic, Remain In Light. It sold respectfully worldwide, and is probably not as welcomed to the Heads overall library to the masses that like the band. But Fear Of Music took the arty style heard on both earlier sets and gave some of them a decided cultural change. For me, there is no Talking Heads album better than Fear Of Music. But it now is 50 years old and is to be remembered and celebrated for what it is – pure brilliance that challenged listeners upon its release.
On November 13, Rhino and Sire Records will reissue the Fear Of Music album with a brand new 2026 remaster, a new Atmos remix, 5.1 Surround, and a High Resolution stereo remix. But even better, this new 3CD/BD set will provide additional bonus tracks that will present alternate versions of four of the tracks, an outtake from the sessions, and a 12″ version of “I Zimbra”. The other two CDs will feature two live sets, mostly previously unreleased, with 15 performance tracks from the Berklee Performance Center in Boston on August 24, 1979, and 14 performance tracks from the Capitol Theatre in Passaic, NJ on November 17, 1979. The BD will provide for the remixed tracks mentioned above, and will include two Old Grey Whistle Test clips from 1979.
Fear Of Music will celebrate its 50th Anniversary on the 3CD/BD set, a 6LP (pressed on black vinyl) box, and a 2LP Black Vinyl LP set. Bonus inclusion on TAP: a Fear Of Music slipmat for your turntable will be offered via the Talking Heads website (here), which I have also pre-ordered myself!
Fear Of Music (50th Anniversary 2026 Remaster and Remixes) – Talking Heads
CD1 (Original Album – Remastered/Bonus Tracks)
01 I Zimbra
02 Mind
03 Paper
04 Cities
05 Life During Wartime
06 Memories Can’t Wait
07 Air
08 Heaven
09 Animals
10 Electric Guitar
11 Drugs
Bonus Tracks
12 Mind (Alternate Version)
13 Life During Wartime (Alternate Version)
14 Dancing for Money (Unfinished Outtake)
15 Cities (Alternate Version)
16 Drugs (Alternate Version)
17 I Zimbra (12″ Version)
CD2 (Live at Berklee Performance Center – Boston, MA – August 24, 1979)
01 Artists Only
02 Stay Hungry
03 Cities
04 Paper
05 Mind
06 Heaven
07 The Book I Read
08 Electric Guitar
09 Air
10 Warning Sign
11 Love Goes to a Building on Fire
12 Memories Can’t Wait
13 Psycho Killer
14 Life During Wartime
15 Take Me to the River
CD3 (Live at Capitol Theatre – Passiac, NJ – November 17, 1979)
01 Artists Only
02 Stay Hungry
03 Cities
04 Paper
05 Mind
06 Heaven
07 Electric Guitar
08 Air
09 Animals
10 Love Goes to a Building on Fire
11 Found a Job
12 Memories Can’t Wait
13 Psycho Killer
14 Life During Wartime
BD (Original Album 2026 Hi-Res Stereo Remaster/Atmos/5.1 Surround/Videos)
01 I Zimbra
02 Mind
03 Paper
04 Cities
05 Life During Wartime
06 Memories Can’t Wait
07 Air
08 Heaven
09 Animals
10 Electric Guitar
11 Drugs
Videos (Live at The Old Grey Whistle Test – 1979)
Life During Wartime
Air