October 8, 1980. After five years and three albums, Talking Heads released what many fans and critics consider to be their masterwork.
Remain in Light was a turning point for the band in a number of ways. After all band members NOT named David Byrne complained about writing credits on their 1979 album Fear of Music, Talking Heads took a more collaborative approach, with all members of the band receiving credits for every song on the album. Producer Brian Eno even got writing credits!
Remain In Light also saw Talking Heads expanding their sonic palate. Bassist Tina Weymouth and drummer Chris Frantz brought Caribbean influences to the sessions; Byrne and Eno were inspired by Afrobeat and hip-hop. The result was an adventurous album that not only stands up 40 years later, but it so timeless it was preserved in the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress in 2017.
Oh, and let’s not forget that the album yielded one of the greatest music videos of the early MTV era in “Once in a Lifetime.”