Talking Heads' Early Demo of 'Psycho Killer' to Make Record Store Day Debut
A previously unreleased demo of the Talking Heads' iconic hit "Psycho Killer" will be released on Record Store Day Black Friday. The 1974 recording, made by David Byrne and Chris Frantz during their time at the Rhode Island School of Design, marks an early milestone in the band's development.
According to drummer Chris Frantz, who co-wrote and co-recorded "Psycho Killer" with bassist Tina Weymouth, the demo was recorded in March 1974 alongside tracks "Warnin' Sign" and "Spin Spin." The three-song reel-to-reel was initially shared with their teacher Alan Sondheim, who had a radio show on WBAI in New York City. Although Sondheim may never have played the tape on his show, he did keep it.
The demo has since been preserved at the RISD Museum, where it was purchased as part of Sondheim's collection in 2005. In 2023, the tape was transferred to the RISD Archives, and it is now set to be released for Record Store Day Black Friday under the title "Tentative Decisions: Demos and Live."
The release includes not only the original demo but also 11 additional demos and live recordings from the early years of the Talking Heads. According to Frantz, who has expressed his excitement about re-releasing the demo, fans will appreciate the raw energy and spirit of these early tracks. "It's got an excitement to it... it's got a real rock 'n' spirit," he said.
The demo is set to be released on Record Store Day Black Friday as part of a comprehensive release from the Talking Heads' archives.
A previously unreleased demo of the Talking Heads' iconic hit "Psycho Killer" will be released on Record Store Day Black Friday. The 1974 recording, made by David Byrne and Chris Frantz during their time at the Rhode Island School of Design, marks an early milestone in the band's development.
According to drummer Chris Frantz, who co-wrote and co-recorded "Psycho Killer" with bassist Tina Weymouth, the demo was recorded in March 1974 alongside tracks "Warnin' Sign" and "Spin Spin." The three-song reel-to-reel was initially shared with their teacher Alan Sondheim, who had a radio show on WBAI in New York City. Although Sondheim may never have played the tape on his show, he did keep it.
The demo has since been preserved at the RISD Museum, where it was purchased as part of Sondheim's collection in 2005. In 2023, the tape was transferred to the RISD Archives, and it is now set to be released for Record Store Day Black Friday under the title "Tentative Decisions: Demos and Live."
The release includes not only the original demo but also 11 additional demos and live recordings from the early years of the Talking Heads. According to Frantz, who has expressed his excitement about re-releasing the demo, fans will appreciate the raw energy and spirit of these early tracks. "It's got an excitement to it... it's got a real rock 'n' spirit," he said.
The demo is set to be released on Record Store Day Black Friday as part of a comprehensive release from the Talking Heads' archives.
record store day is always a highlight for me and now we get to hear an unreleased demo of psycho killer? that's like, ultimate fan stuff. i mean, can you imagine what it must have sounded like back in 1974 when they first recorded it? I'm imagining all these young musicians just jamming out and trying to figure out their sound. Chris Frantz is right, it does have this raw energy and spirit to it. the fact that it's been preserved at the RISD Museum for so long is a testament to how lucky we are as fans. i wonder what other hidden gems they'll be releasing from their archives in the future? 
. And what's with all the demos and live recordings? Can't they just stick to the original tracks that people actually know and love? I mean, I'm sure it'll be some kind of collector's item for die-hard fans, but for everyone else, it's just gonna collect dust on the shelf... 
. And Record Store Day Black Friday is just an excuse for overpriced CDs and vinyls, if you ask me... 
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A previously unreleased demo of "Psycho Killer" by the iconic band Talking Heads is going to be released on Record Store Day Black Friday? That's like, music history in the making! The fact that it was recorded back in 1974 and shared with their teacher Alan Sondheim (who kept it safe for all these years) is just mind-blowing. I'm sure fans are gonna freak out when they hear this raw energy and spirit come to life again 
gotta support Record Store Day and get my hands on this release 
! I mean, who wouldn't want to hear an unreleased demo of "Psycho Killer" by one of the most iconic bands ever? It's like getting a peek into the band's early days and seeing how they came up with that infectious beat. I love that it was recorded in 1974, too - can you imagine what other crazy stuff they must have been creating back then? The fact that it's being released on Record Store Day Black Friday makes it feel like a real treat for music fans 
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The possibility of hearing "Psycho Killer" in its earliest form, with maybe some different arrangements or instrumentation... it's like we're getting a glimpse into the Talking Heads' creative process 
. It's gonna be so cool to dive into these demos and live recordings and see what other surprises are waiting for us 
. Like we need more excuses to break the bank and clutter up our shelves with unnecessary swag. I mean, who really cares about a demo from 1974? It's just gonna be some out-of-touch nostalgic junk for die-hard fans who think they're getting some exclusive insight into the band's "early days". And what's with the title? "Tentative Decisions" sounds like something a pretentious art school grad would come up with. I'll believe it when I see it... and even then, I'll probably just listen to the original album 10 times instead of shelling out $20 for this watered-down rehash.