# In 1977, Talking Heads were just emerging from CBGB. Some people were already accusing them of selling out

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/in-1977-talking-heads-were-just-emerging-from-cbgb-some-people-were-already-accusing-them-of-selling-out/
- Published: 2026-11-05T02:00:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-05T02:21:30+00:00
- Original publisher: Far Out
- Original article: https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/in-1977-talking-heads-emerged-from-the-cbgb-and-were-instantly-accused-of-selling-out/
- Topics: Music

## Key points

- CBGB listeners criticised Talking Heads for adding horns.
- ‘New Feeling’ appeared as a single B-side.
- The experiment hinted at the band’s distinctive sound.

## Summary

Talking Heads were accused of “selling out” after adding horns to ‘New Feeling’, a song recorded before their 1977 debut album was released. The criticism came from listeners at CBGB, where the New York band had built a following, and reflects the tensions around what punk was supposed to sound like.

The band had developed a sizeable catalogue while regularly introducing new songs at the club. Jerry Harrison said they hoped the horns would bring to mind Al Green or a Stax Records sound; ‘New Feeling’ became the B-side to ‘Love→Building on Fire’. The article argues that this experimentation was an early sign of the individuality that later helped the band’s music find new audiences.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.