Talking Heads, 1979
An attempt to tap into city-kid energy amid a late-70s run dominated by smooth vocal acts shading into early disco (as well as doo-wop nostalgia acts and dreadful latter-day Tiger Beat cover boys). But hoo boy, did Dick Clark’s decades of gladhandling label-groomed performers not prepare him for the colossal introversion of young, nerdy David Byrne. “Are you a shy person?” “I guess so.”
(Incidentally, the songs they played were “Take Me To The River” and “Thank You for Sending Me an Angel.”)