On this day in music history: May 31, 1983 - “Speaking In Tongues”, the fifth studio album by Talking Heads is released. Produced by Talking Heads, it is recorded at Blank Tapes Studios, Sigma Sound Studios in New York City and Compass Point Studios in Nassau, The Bahamas from July 1982 - February 1983. Their first album of new studio material since “Remain In Light” three years earlier, the band create their most accessible and commercially successful album. It spins off two singles including their biggest hit “Burning Down The House” (#9 Pop) and “This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)” (#62 Pop). “Tongues” is also supported by their largest tour to date, which also produces the live concert film and album “Stop Making Sense” in 1984. Pop Artist Robert Rauschenberg wins a Grammy Award (for Best Album Package) for the limited edition LP package which includes a clear vinyl LP (with three additional clear plastic discs with collages printed on each) housed in a clear plastic cover. The original cassette version of the album contains longer versions of the tracks “I Get Wild/Wild Gravity”, “Slippery People”, “Girlfriend Is Better”, “Moon Rocks” and “Making Flippy Floppy” that were edited for time to fit on a single LP. In 2006, a remastered DualDisc CD of the album is issued including the longer versions of the songs from the cassette release, along two additional bonus tracks. The second side of the disc is a DVD-A featuring high resolution stereo and 5.1 surround mixes of the album and the music videos for “Burning Down The House” and “This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)”. In 2009, the album is also issued as a limited edition SHM-CD, replicating the Rauschenberg designed packaging in mini-LP form. “Speaking In Tongues” peaks at number fifteen on the Billboard Top 200, and is certified Platinum in the US by the RIAA.

Again bought when it came out and how could I now? I still think of Talking Heads as the soundtrack to my life and certainly around this time but still do actually. I never tire of listening to them and miss them . . . . . . 

Jeff Harris' wonderful music blog