Sleeve Notes1980

Crosseyed and Painless

Talking Heads · 1980

Recording

Recorded during the July–August 1980 Remain in Light sessions at Compass Point Studios in Nassau and Sigma Sound Studios in New York, the track was produced by Brian Eno. Adrian Belew contributed guitar, and Dave Jerden engineered the recording. The track exemplified the band's move toward interlocking rhythms and arrangements built from studio improvisations. It reached number 20 on Billboard's dance chart alongside Once in a Lifetime and Born Under Punches. Its performance closes the 1984 concert film Stop Making Sense, giving the song an enduring place in the band's live repertoire. Toni Basil's music video also connected the recording with emerging street-dance culture.

ArtistTalking Heads

Year1980

StudioCompass Point Studios, Nassau; Sigma Sound Studios, New York

LabelSire Records

ProducersBrian Eno · Talking Heads · Dave Jerden · John Potoker

How curators tag this

No-Wave100%

Sound check

SamplesFig. B

Crosseyed and Painless

Angélique Kidjo · 2018 · sampled-by

Crosseyed and Painless

Chicano Batman feat. Money Mark · 2024 · sampled-by

Year · 1980Fig. C

Coming Up

1980

Reduction

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Same GenreFig. D

The Good Thing

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syrup · 1983

On On On On...

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Psycho Killer (Live)

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Artist · Talking HeadsIn the Sleeve Notes

1970s

1977The Good Thing

1980s

1980Crosseyed and PainlessYou are here

1980Once In A Lifetime

1983This Must Be the Place

1984Psycho Killer (Live)

1990s

1992Gangster of Love

Undated

—First Week / Last Week...Carefree