Tom Tom Club [Deluxe Edition] (2-CD)

Tom Tom Club: Tina Weymouth, Chris Frantz, Steven Stanley, Benjamin Arbrister, Adrian Belew, Loric Weymouth, Laura Weymouth, Monte Brown, Tyrone Dowrie, James Rizzi, Kendall Stubbs, Lani Weymouth.

Producers: Steven Stanley, Tina Weymouth, Chris Frantz.

Liner Note Author: Ian Gilchrist.

Photographers: Adrian Boot; Alison Jarvis.

Following the release of the Talking Heads' fourth album, REMAIN IN LIGHT, the band's husband-and-wife rhythm section, drummer Chris Frantz and bassist Tina Weymouth, opted to record tracks in the Caribbean on the invitation of Islands Records founder Chris Blackwell, thus the Tom Tom Club was born. Joined by Talking Heads touring guitarist Adrian Belew, guitarist Monte Brown, percussionist Steven Stanley, and Weymouth's sisters, Laura and Lani, on background vocals, Frantz and Weymouth crafted a highly rhythmic, groove-laden album that incorporated world music (most obviously on the buoyant, African-tinged "L'Elephant") and hip-hop (the playful "Wordy Rappinghood," a kindred spirit to Blondie's "Rapture"). Of course, the 1981 album's most shining moment proved to be the hit single, "Genius of Love," a vibrant dance-floor classic that has been sampled ad infinitum. Issued the same year as David Byrne and Brian Eno's MY LIFE IN THE BUSH OF GHOSTS, TOM TOM CLUB was the fun and free-spirited counterpart to that experimental and cerebral outing, revealing that the Taking Heads could making fascinating music even when fragmented.

Genre:

• CD Pop / Rock

Music Categories:

• CD Rock & Pop: New Wave