Remain In Light released 40 yrs ago today and my sneak preview

40 years ago today I was waiting at my local Sam Goody's to open so I could be among the first on my block to purchase Talking Heads' Remain In Light. At that point of time, very few people had any idea what a monster album it was since there was a radio embargo on it until 10/08. I was smiling to myself because I already had heard a good portion of the album's songs but not from an advance copy...I had heard the songs live a few weeks previous in what will forever be burned into my memory as one of the top concerts of my life. 

Back in late Sept of that year, I had been comped a few tickets to a concert that has been known as the Punk Woodstock...the Heatwave Festival at Mosport Raceway in Canada.. I could write about so many things starting with a late Friday night start of the road trip from Montclair, NJ, not really knowing where we were going once we got into Canada, and a day that included sets by The B-52s, The Pretenders, Elvis Costello and The Attractions, Rockpile (who wasn't even listed as a band that was going to play), The Rumour (without Graham Parker...boo) and a band that was listed on the bill but never showed up due to problems at the border, The Clash. We rolled into parking at Mosport around 9am and because of our comp tickets were allowed to go in before everyone else. That was a big bonus and we rolled out our blanket on the top of a small rise in the field and settled in. The music actually started on time and the acts came and went on schedule the whole day. 

Finally, as the sun was setting, Talking Heads took the stage as their normal 4 piece band. In short order more and more musicians joined the core 4. Adrian Belew, Bernie Worell, Nona Hendryx and more soon swelled the band and they started playing songs from Remain In Light with all those amazing polyrhythmic explorations. Not only was this the first time anyone had heard any of those new songs, it was also the first time Talking Heads performed with an expanded lineup. As the 100,000 attendees turned into a shamanistic tribal dance party, a full moon rose directly above the stage. Talk about minds being blown. I don't think anyone was even close to expecting anything like what happened...not even the band. The band had, literally, just left the studio and flew to Canada for this gig.  My words can't even come close to describing it. If you were there, you knew. I've met a few others that were and they also have their eyes glass over and speak in hushed tones about what they were a part of. 

I made it home the next day and would tell anyone who would listen that they HAD to get the new Talking Heads album...it will change your world. Some listened and it did. Others came to the party a bit later and most people agree that Remain In Light is the top Talking Heads album. Of course the expanded performing  band and how they came on stage is immortalized in film Stop Making Sense. The whole thing was a lot more polished then but seeing the raw genesis of the concept come to life for the first time could never be topped in my head.