Once in a Lifetime
Talking Heads · 2003
259 min · 68 tracks · new wave · post-punk
A vibrant collage of art rock and worldbeat rhythms underscored by David Byrne's distinct vocal delivery and thought-provoking lyrics.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- dynamic journey with peaks
- vibrant collage of sounds
- engaging late-night exploration
- thought-provoking lyrical themes
- short bursts of energy
Maybe skip if you want
- prefer straightforward listening
- seek instant gratification
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 2003, 'Once in a Lifetime' marks a significant retrospective compilation for Talking Heads, celebrating their influence during the new wave era. This album arrives nearly two decades after their last studio release, offering both longtime fans and newcomers a curated experience of their most impactful tracks. The band had disbanded in 1991, making this collection a nostalgic look back at their eclectic sound.
- Stylistic neighbors
- David Byrne· The B-52's· Devo
- If this clicks, go next to
- Little Creatures — Continues the vibrant sound with a focus on rhythm and catchy melodies.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
Disc 1
- 1 Sugar on My Tongue 2:35
- 2 Love → Building on Fire 2:59
- 3 I Wish You Wouldn’t Say That 2:37
- 4 Don’t Worry About the Government 3:00
- 5 Uh‐Oh, Love Comes to Town (original mix) 2:55
- 6 New Feeling (original mix) 3:03
- 7 Pulled Up 4:30
- 8 Psycho Killer 4:20
- 9 Warning Sign 3:55
- 10 Artists Only 3:35
- 11 Tentative Decisions 3:07
- 12 No Compassion 4:49
- 13 Stay Hungry 2:41
- 14 I’m Not in Love 4:34
- 15 The Book I Read 4:09
- 16 Thank You for Sending Me an Angel 2:13
- 17 Found a Job 5:01
- 18 A Clean Break 4:57
- 19 Take Me to the River 5:04
- 20 The Big Country 5:31
- 21 Heaven 4:01
Disc 2
- 1 I Zimbra 3:07
- 2 Cities (alternate version) 5:27
- 3 Life During Wartime 3:41
- 4 Air 3:32
- 5 Memories Can’t Wait 3:30
- 6 Drugs (alternate version) 3:33
- 7 Once in a Lifetime 4:20
- 8 Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On) 5:47
- 9 Listening Wind 4:41
- 10 Houses in Motion 4:31
- 11 Crosseyed and Painless 4:45
- 12 Burning Down the House 4:01
- 13 Making Flippy Floppy 5:54
- 14 Girlfriend Is Better 5:43
- 15 Slippery People 5:05
- 16 Swamp 5:10
- 17 This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody) 4:56
Disc 3
- 1 And She Was 3:39
- 2 Stay Up Late 3:44
- 3 Creatures of Love 4:15
- 4 The Lady Don’t Mind 4:04
- 5 Road to Nowhere 4:20
- 6 Wild Wild Life 3:41
- 7 Love for Sale 4:31
- 8 People Like Us 4:29
- 9 Puzzlin’ Evidence 5:23
- 10 City of Dreams 5:09
- 11 Blind 5:00
- 12 Mr. Jones 4:21
- 13 The Democratic Circus 5:04
- 14 (Nothing but) Flowers 5:33
- 15 In Asking Land (outtake) 3:58
- 16 Sax and Violins 5:18
- 17 Lifetime Piling Up 3:53
Disc 4
- 1 Once in a Lifetime
- 2 Wild Wild Life 3:27
- 3 Stay Up Late
- 4 Blind
- 5 Crosseyed and Painless
- 6 Burning Down the House 4:10
- 7 And She Was
- 8 Sax and Violins 5:10
- 9 This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody) 4:48
- 10 The Lady Don’t Mind
- 11 Love for Sale 3:38
- 12 (Nothing but) Flowers
- 13 Road to Nowhere 4:10
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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