Remain in Light

Remain in Light
Studio album by Talking Heads
Released	October 8, 1980 (1980-10-08)
Recorded	July–August 1980
Studio	Compass Point Studios, Nassau Sigma Sound Studios, Philadelphia, PA
Genre	Post-punk afrofunk worldbeat new wave avant-pop dance-rock
Length	40:10
Label	Sire
Producer	Brian Eno
Talking Heads chronology
Fear of Music (1979) Remain in Light (1980) The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads (1982)
Singles from Remain in Light
"Once in a Lifetime" Released: 2 February 1981 "Houses in Motion" Released: 5 May 1981 (Alternate mix)
Back cover
Art originally created as front cover

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
Chicago Tribune
Christgau's Record Guide	A
Encyclopedia of Popular Music
The Irish Times
Rolling Stone
The Rolling Stone Album Guide
Slant Magazine
Spin Alternative Record Guide	10/10
Uncut

Remain in Light is the fourth studio album by American new wave band Talking Heads, released on October 8, 1980, on Sire Records. It was recorded at Compass Point Studios in the Bahamas and Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia between July and August 1980 and was produced by the quartet's long-time collaborator Brian Eno.

Following the release of Fear of Music in 1979, Talking Heads and Eno sought to make an album that would dispel notions of the group as a mere vehicle for frontman and chief lyricist David Byrne. Drawing on the influence of Nigerian musician Fela Kuti, the group experimented with African polyrhythms, funk, and electronics, recording instrumental tracks as a series of sampled and looped grooves, an innovative technique at the time. Recording sessions also incorporated a variety of side musicians, including guitarist Adrian Belew, singer Nona Hendryx, and trumpet player Jon Hassell.

Byrne initially struggled with writer's block, but soon adopted a scattered stream-of-consciousness lyrical style inspired by early rap and academic literature on Africa. The artwork for Remain in Light was conceived by bassist Tina Weymouth and drummer Chris Frantz, and was crafted with the help of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's computers and design company M&Co. Talking Heads expanded to nine members for a promotional tour, and following its completion the band went on hiatus for several years, leaving the individual members to pursue a variety of side-projects. The album was the last of the band's collaborations with Eno.