Talk Talk in concert from the Hammersmith Odeon on May 7, 1986 and broadcast by BBC Radio as part of their In Concert series.
Talk Talk began as a quartet consisting of Mark Hollis, formerly from The Reaction (vocals/main songwriter), Lee Harris (drums), Paul Webb (bass guitar), and Simon Brenner (keyboards). In their early years they were often compared with Duran Duran. In addition to a band name consisting of a repeated word, the two shared a Roxy Music-inspired musical direction, as well as the same record label (EMI) and producer (Colin Thurston). The band also supported Duran Duran on tour in 1982.
The band released their first single, “Mirror Man”, on EMI in February 1982. The single was not a great success, but was quickly followed by their self-titled single in April 1982 (a rerecording of a track by The Reaction) which reached No. 52 in the UK. The band’s first album, titled The Party’s Over, was released in July 1982. The band had their first UK Top 40 hits with the singles “Today” (UK No. 14) and a re-release of “Talk Talk” (UK No. 23).
Although major success eluded them in the UK, Talk Talk achieved considerable international success in 1984/85, particularly in continental Europe, North America and New Zealand, with the album It’s My Life. The accompanying single “Such a Shame” (inspired by the book The Dice Man) became a Top 10 hit in Austria, Italy, France, Germany, Netherlands and Switzerland during this period. The title track of the album entered the U.S., Canadian, French, German, New Zealand and Netherlands Top 40.
By 1990, the band had essentially morphed into a vehicle for the studio recordings of Hollis and long-term collaborator Friese-Greene, along with session musicians, including long-term Talk Talk drummer Harris. The group signed a two-album contract with Polydor Records and released Laughing Stock on Polydor’s Verve Records imprint in 1991. Laughing Stock crystallized the experimental sound the band started with Spirit of Eden, which has been retroactively categorized as “post-rock” by some critics. Even more minimalist than its predecessor, Laughing Stock reached just No. 26 on the UK Albums Chart.
Mark Hollis died from cancer on 25 February 2019, aged 64.
And thanks to Wikipedia, now you know. Hit the Play button and turn Friday off.
