Talking Heads - Naked (LP)

Product specifications

Details

Album

Naked

Artist

Talking Heads

LP release year

2023

Album release date

March 15, 1988

Label

Sire

EAN

603497830879

Available

Yes

Product information

Format

LP

Quantity

1 piece(s)

Type

Reissue

Mono or stereo

Stereo

Duration

58 min

Tracks

12 tracks

EAN

EAN

603497830879

Other

Limited Edition

No

Country

US

Genre

New wave

Box set

No

Remastered

No

Reissue

Yes

• LP Sounds Decent, Bright

  5 out of 5 stars
  IswRiqyxJanuary 6, 2026United States🇺🇸

  Sounds pretty decent for an LP, though it's a tad bright & upfront. Guess that might be the intention, though...

• Talking Heads' Chaotic Farewell

  2 out of 5 stars
  ztseukriayaOctober 23, 2025United States🇺🇸

  Naked left me feeling cold throughout, with nothing to warm my spirit as the tracks played. I wasn't a fan of the album cover at all, and it seemed like even the band knew this release marked their end, especially with David Byrne's prophetic lyrics, “And as things fell apart, Nobody paid much attention.” Naked is a political album, and while politics had appeared on other releases, the Talking Heads were too focused on the details of a world gone awry, a world in chaos, torn between primal instincts and an urgent need to both civilize and divide ourselves into tribes of madness and twisted politics, at a time when we stood on the edge of a potential apocalypse. More than any other Talking Heads recording, this one was almost overwhelmingly intellectual, bold and provocative, often ominous, with brief sections of delight and cheerfulness that felt hesitant at best, moments that quickly turn back into the thick of things. Considering all that, one could argue that the heart of this record was about the band's internal struggles, Byrne’s desire to go solo, and the fact that the band would break up, yet not announce it for another three years. As for the music, the groove-oriented style that the Talking Heads had been crafting is still present, though it flows with a completely different attitude, with songs that are entirely open-ended and feature a host of collaborating musicians who continue to explore Afro pop, funk, soul, with more ventures into avant-garde and even Latin influences, all while creating a sound that’s increasingly reliant on big band power. Yet, at the core, there's a theme of emotion versus reason and whether our nature defines us, or if we have the power to reshape that nature. Yes, the album, for all its abstract concepts, is entirely explorative, still possessing a bit of dreaminess, yet those soothing dreams float through an undercurrent of menace, where a restful night’s sleep was just out of reach. All that said, if one knows that the music was recorded before Byrne added the lyrics, one realizes that, for the most part, Naked is entirely a David Byrne project, where the Heads are hired musicians, supporting David’s visions, predictions, and attitudes, suggesting that this, the final Talking Heads album, was actually a foray into the first solo David Byrne album.*** The Fun Facts: What emerged from this album was the band Blind Mr. Jones, who created their name by combining the titles of the first two tracks. The Chinese proverb “If there is no tiger in the mountains, the monkey will be king” is printed on the jacket of Naked, along with a framed portrait of a monkey adorning the album’s jacket. The human race consists of some pretty cool people, Naked seems to be saying, but it’s got a very destructive monkey on its back. Human survival is not guaranteed. With humor and good-heartedness, hope and fear, Talking Heads contemplate a world on the eve of destruction while leaving wide open the question of what the dawn will bring.

• Enjoyable Career Closer

  4 out of 5 stars
  HobaybuaySeptember 17, 2025United States🇺🇸

  Many people seem to dislike this album, but I'm not one of them. It had a few chart-toppers, but I enjoy listening to the entire thing. It's definitely not their finest work, but it was a pretty good way to end their career.

• Japanese Pressing Sounds Amazing

  5 out of 5 stars
  3309takqvSeptember 1, 2025United States🇺🇸

  This Japanese version is fantastic. It's not that the original Sire US releases are terrible, and if you're looking to cut costs, go for those. But wow, this Japanese pressing sounds *amazing* on its own. The bass is solid, clear and crisp without being overly 'bright.' And it's not *much* pricier than a decent original.

• Vinyl Audio Excellence

  5 out of 5 stars
  giwjkpMay 29, 2025United States🇺🇸

  The audio quality on this vinyl is absolutely fantastic. I strongly suggest trying to find a pristine copy!