Editor’s Note: The Albumism staff has selected what we believe to be the 100 Greatest Soundtracks of All Time, representing a varied cross-section of films and musical genres. Click “Next Soundtrack” below to explore each soundtrack in the list or for easier navigation, view the full introduction & soundtrack index here.
Stop Making Sense
Sire/Warner Bros. (1984)
Selected by Jesse Ducker
Stop Making Sense is not only one of the best concert films of all time, but its companion soundtrack is also one of the best of its kind. Recorded over three days in Los Angles as part of the Talking Heads’ 1984 tour to support their Speaking in Tongues album, the album captures the art-rock group’s quirky energy and creativity. Early versions featured nine selections from the film, but eventually it was reissued with all the performances intact.
The album famously begins with lead singer David Byrne taking to the stage with just an acoustic guitar and drum machine to deliver a stripped-down rendition of “Psycho Killer.” As the soundtrack progresses, the rest of the band and their back-up performers take to the stage one-by-one, adding to the performance’s grandeur and demonstrating their ability to reinterpret material from their catalogue. Even without the visual component of the show, Stop Making Sense is a powerful aural experience.
LISTEN & WATCH: