Talk Talk
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Talktalk.jpg
The band achieved moderate success in the early to mid 1980s with several hit singles, including, "Today" (1982), "Talk Talk" (1982), "Such A Shame" (1984), "Its My Life" (1984) and "Life's What You Make It" (1986).
Though they were identified with the New Romantic movement and bands such as Duran Duran, Talk Talk had a progressive depth their contemporaries lacked. With the addition of unofficial fourth member Tim Friese-Greene in 1983, replacing Simon Brenner on keyboards and becoming producer for the band, each successive Talk Talk release became more sophisticated and original.
They eventually abandoned the New Romantic style completely with Spirit of Eden (1988), an album founded on improvised structures and diverse, natural instruments (violin, harmonica) instead of a synth-driven, pop song mold. The less commercial sound did not go well with their label EMI, so they moved to Verve Records to release Laughing Stock in 1991. Laughing Stock crystallized the experimental sound the band started with Spirit of Eden (which has been retroactively categorized as "post-rock" by some critics) and both are widely regarded as the group's masterpieces.
After Laughing Stock, the band broke up. Paul Webb and Lee Harris went on to form the band .O.rang. In 1998, Mark Hollis released his eponymous debut Mark Hollis. Webb also collaborated under the name of Rustin Man with Beth Gibbons and released Out of Season in 2002. In 2003 No Doubt released a cover version of "It's My Life" which became an international hit.
Discography
Original albums
- The Party's Over (1982) (UK #21) (US #132)
- It's My Life (1984) (UK #35) (US #42)
- The Colour of Spring (1986) (UK #8) (US #58)
- Spirit of Eden (1988) (UK #18)
- Laughing Stock (1991)
- London 1986 (live) (1999)
Compilations
- Natural History (1990)
- The Very Best of Talk Talk (1997)
- Asides Besides (1998)
- The Collection (2000)
- Missing Pieces (2001)
- Essential (2003)
- Introducing (2003)
- Time It's Time (2003)
Remixes
- History Revisited (1991)
- 12X12 Original Remixes (2000)
- Remixed (2001)
Singles
- Mirror Man (1982)
- Talk Talk (1982) (UK #52) (US #75)
- Today (1982) (UK #14)
- Talk Talk (re-issue) (UK #23)
- My Foolish Friend (1983) (UK #57)
- It's My Life (1984) (UK #46, USA #31, Italy #9)
- Such A Shame (1984) (UK #49, USA #89, France #7, Germany #2, Italy #1)
- Dum Dum Girl (1984) (UK #74, Germany #20)
- Life's What You Make It (1986) (UK #16, USA #90)
- Living In Another World (1986) (UK #46, Germany #42)
- Give It Up (1986)
- I Don't Believe In You (1986)
- I Believe In You (1988)
- It's My Life (re-issue) (1990) (UK #13)
- Life's What You Make It (re-issue) (1990) (UK #23)
- Such A Shame (re-issue) (1990)
- Living In Another World '91 (1991)
- After The Flood (1991)
- New Grass (1991)
- Ascension Day (1991)
External links
- Within Without - Comprehensive fan site (http://users.cybercity.dk/~bcc11425/)
- MusicFolio Album Reviews and Ratings (http://www.musicfolio.com/modernrock/talktalk.html)