Once in a Lifetime
Talking Heads · 2003
259 min · 68 tracks · new wave
An eclectic fusion of art rock and dance grooves that challenges conventional pop structures and lyrical themes.
Top tracks — play these first
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Once in a Lifetime Start here — This track exemplifies the band's unique blend of funk rhythms and existential lyrics, making it one of their most recognizable songs. Its innovative structure and hypnotic groove have influenced many artists across genres.
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Psycho Killer — As one of their earliest hits, this track showcases David Byrne's distinctive vocal delivery and the band's signature blend of art rock and punk influences. Its dark narrative and catchy hook make it a quintessential Talking Heads song.
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Burning Down the House — This energetic anthem features a driving beat and memorable chorus, symbolizing the band's crossover appeal into mainstream pop while maintaining their avant-garde roots. It captures the essence of their live performances.
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This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody) — A departure from their more complex arrangements, this track offers a warm, reflective perspective on love and belonging, showcasing the band's softer side. Its simplicity contrasts with their usual complexity yet resonates deeply.
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
- prefer straightforward listening
- seek instant gratification
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Starting Point — This compilation serves as an essential introduction to the band's work.
- Themes
- New York art scene· post-punk nostalgia
- Career context
- Once in a Lifetime, released in 2003, serves as a retrospective compilation for Talking Heads, highlighting their evolution from the late 1970s through the 1990s. This album arrives after the band had disbanded in 1991 and showcases their most significant tracks while celebrating their influence on the new wave genre. The collection bridges their innovative sound with a new generation of listeners.
- Stylistic neighbors
- David Byrne· The B-52's· Devo
Tracklist
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 Start here 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 Start here
- 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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