Last Updated on 27 January 2026 by Massimo M.

Stop making sense, soundtrack of the film of the same name, published by Talking Heads in 1984

Rainy Sunday afternoon, yesterday to be precise. What to do? A nice walk in the center of Florence also to dispose of a decidedly abundant lunch. There’s a nice record store with a very inviting look that’s open, of course I’ll take a tour of it.

They really have a mountain of vinyl, used but in excellent condition and, in fact, I propose to go back often because I feel that it will give me satisfaction.

However, I took away Stop making sense by Talking Heads. This record was missing from my collection, but I don’t know why since I’ve always loved Talking Heads.

Dunno… they are the cases of life.

For those three or four distracted who don’t know anything about talking heads or Stop making sense, let’s do some history.

First of all it is a live album from 1984 that is also the soundtrack of the film of the same name . The original setlist of the film contained these songs:

“Psycho Killer” (Byrne, Frantz, Weymouth)
“Heaven” (Byrne, Harrison)
“Thank You for Sending Me an Angel” (Byrne)
“Found a Job” (Byrne)
“Slippery People”
“Burning Down the House“
“Life During Wartime“
“Making Flippy Floppy”
“Swamp”
“What a Day That Was” (Byrne)
“This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)“
“Once in a Lifetime” (Byrne, Brian Eno,Frantz, Harrison, Weymouth)
“Genius of Love” (as Tom Tom Club)(Weymouth, Frantz, Adrian Belew, Steven Stanley)
“Girlfriend is Better“
“Take Me to the River” ( AlGreen, Mabon “Teenie” Hodges)
“Crosseyed and Painless” (Byrne, Eno, Frantz, Harrison, Weymouth)

In this concert the main lineup consisted of:

David Byrne – guitar, vocals

Chris Frantz – drums and vocals Jerry Harrison – guitar, keyboards and vocals Tina Weymouth – bass, guitar, keyboards and vocals

The original version of the album contains only nine of the songs from the film (even the vinyl I bought myself yesterday, do you want to see that it’s a good record?) this is because David Byrne did not want to give birth to a traditional OST.

His intention was to create a record that, despite being linked to the film, could live its own life.

Obviously he succeeded since Stop making sense spent more than two years (118 weeks) on the Billboard 200 chart.

In 1999, at the same time as the film’s reissue, the album was expanded and remastered, with all the songs in the film having minor modifications.

In 2003, Rolling Stone magazine ranked Stop Making Sense number 345 on its list of the 500 greatest albums ever.

The songs, to listen to and listen again and listen again and listen again. 1984 version :

Side A

Psycho killer
Swamp
Slippery people
Burning down the house
Girlfriend is better

Side B

Once in a lifetime
What a day that was
Life during wartime
Take me to the river

Stop making sense – Talking heads

Stop making sense, soundtrack of the film of the same name, published by Talking Heads in 1984

Massimo M.

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