Talking Heads: David Byrne (vocals, guitar, keyboards); Jerry Harrison (guitar, keyboards, percussion, background vocals); Tina Weymouth (keyboards, bass, background vocals); Chris Frantz (keyboards, drums).
Additional personnel: Alex Haas (whistling); Yves N'Djock, Johnny Marr (guitar); Eric Weissberg (pedal steel guitar, dobro); Arthur Russell (cello); Phil Bodner (cor anglais); Don Brooks (harmonica); Philippe Servain, James Fearnley (accordion); Steve Elfon (soprano & baritone saxophones); Stan Harrison, Bobby Porcelli (alto saxophone); Al Acosta (tenor saxophone); Steve Sachs (baritone saxophone); Lenny Pickett (saxophone); Earl Gardner, Laurie Frink, Steve Gluzband, Jose "Ite" Jerez, Angel Fernandez, Charlie Sepulveda (trumpet); Robyn Eubanks (trombone); Dale Turk (bass trombone); Wally Badarou (keyboards); Abdou M'Boup (talking drums, congas, percussion); Sydney Thiam (congas); Manolo Badrena (congas, percussion); Brice Wassy (maracas, percussion); Nino Gioia, Moussa Cissokoa (percussion); Kirsty MacColl (background vocals).
This is a DualDisc, which contains a CD on one side of the disc and a DVD on the other.
Talking Heads: David Byrne (vocals, guitar); Yves N'Djock (guitar); Stan Harrison (alto saxophone); Lenny Pickett (tenor saxophone); Steve Elfon (baritone saxophone); Laurie Frink, Earl Gardner (trumpet); Robyn Eubanks (trombone); Tina Weymouth (piano); Wally Badarou (keyboard); Chris Frantz (drums); Abdou Mboup (congas, talking drum, cowbells).
Coming at the end of the Talking Heads' discography, NAKED finds the Heads returning to many elements of the complex, polyrhythmic arrangements that marked their work earlier in the decade, prior to the rootsier LITTLE CREATURES. Reflecting a more European influence, NAKED was recorded in Paris and produced by Steve Lillywhite, who brings to bear his gift for making sprawling arrangements sound remarkably down-to-earth and radio-friendly (see U2). The album's truly special guest is former Smith Johnny Marr, who lends his imaginative fretboard work and timeless pop sensibility to tunes such as "Nothing but Flowers," and "Cool Water." Other standouts include "Blind," a bombastic groove that foreshadows Byrne's soon-to-follow solo work. Sparse, spastic, and filled with intellectual social rage, NAKED is at once a return to form and a fitting sendoff for one of music's relentlessly original and truly important forces.
What the critics say...
Rolling Stone - 4 Stars - Excellent
Uncut (p.109) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "[T]heir swan song, NAKED, rekindled former glories with characteristic lyrical playfulness."
CMJ (1/5/04, p.22) - Ranked #20 in CMJ's "Top 20 Most-Played Albums of 1988"
