“Take Me to The River” (1978 – original from 1974)

Released in 1978 on Talking Heads’ 2nd album, this version reached Billboard’s Top 30, gaining the band its first widespread exposure beyond the punk / new wave scene in New York City.

“Take Me to The River” was written and recorded in 1974 by soul singer Al Green. The following year, it was covered by blues / soul singer Sly Johnson, whose version reached Number 7 on the R&B charts.

A New-Wave-Soul-Jazz-Rock-Blues-Disco-Funk Hit

While essentially a soul song, “Take Me to The River” has been covered by a wide and diverse range of musicians, from the rock band Foghat to art rocker Bryan Ferry, from blues rocker Delbert McClinton to Annie Lennox and the Grateful Dead.

Most of those other versions are interesting and some of them are quite good. But few of them compare to this pulsating, rhythmic, funky, idiosyncratic rendition by Talking Heads. _{(Image source)}

Talking Heads

Talking Heads were one of the seminal bands of the NYC punk / new wave scene in the mid to late 1970s. The original members met at art school. By the time of their first album in 1977, they were making some of the most artistically creative music of the era.

Creative Wizardry

The band’s following 3 albums (released yearly in 1978, 1979, and 1980) were all produced by Brian Eno. The combination of Eno’s wizardry and the Heads’ boundless creativity resulted in a series of groundbreaking albums full of fine songs that even today sound fresh, original, and innovative.

Talking Heads disbanded in 1991, although they have occasionally reunited to play together.

Four Great Heads

On “Rolling Stone” magazine’s list of “500 Greatest Albums of All Time,” four of the Talking Heads albums appear.

Talking Heads were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002. _{(Image source)}

I don't know why I love her like I do
All the changes you put me through
Take my money, my cigarettes
I haven't seen the worst of it yet
I wanna know that you'll tell me
I love to stay

Take me to the river, drop me in the water
Take me to the river, dip me in the water
Washing me down, washing me down

I don't know why you treat me so bad
Think of all the things we could have had
Love is an ocean that I can't forget
My sweet sixteen I would never regret
I wanna know that you'll tell me
I love to stay

Take me to the river, drop me in the water
Push me in the river, dip me in the water
Washing me down, washing me

Hug me, squeeze me, love me, tease me
Till I can't, till I can't, till I can't take no more of it
Take me to the water, drop me in the river
Push me in the water, drop me in the river
Washing me down, washing me down
I don't know why I love you like I do
All the troubles you put me through
Sixteen candles there on my wall
And here am I the biggest fool of them all
I wanna know that you'll tell me
I love to stay
Take me to the river and drop me in the water
Dip me in the river, drop me in the water
Washing me down, washing me down.
_{(Image source)}

Al Green – “Take Me to The River”
_{_{(Right-click to hear on YouTube)}}

Lyrics by Al Green, Mabon Hodges, courtesy of – AZLyrics.com

Reference – Wikipedia

Reference – Wikipedia

Reference – Wikipedia

Into your ears … through 5 channels

The various posts are categorized into 5 channels _{(Right-Click to see details)}

         1 – “Music to Your Ears” (MTYE)

         2 – “Cover Versions”

         3 – “Honor Roll”

         4 – “Documentaries”

         5 – “Mock’n’Roll”