Talking Heads, "Psycho Killer" (@ Old Grey Whistle Test)

There are two reasons why I’m posting this video: (1) only today did I learn the bassist for the Talking Heads was a woman — Tina Weymouth — and (2) Tina Weymouth is a cutie. Well, at least she was in 1978, when this was recorded for BBC2’s “Old Grey Whistle Test.”

This version of “Psycho Killer” is the best I’ve ever heard, too. In a few parts David Byrne takes the theme seriously.

Now, I’m not a Talking Heads fan. Sure, I like a few of their songs (in high school I recorded “Burning Down the House” and “Road to Nowhere” from the The Reflex, an ‘80s show on KRUI), but I’m mostly indifferent to the rest of their discography. Except, though, the one album I once owned: “Stop Making Sense,” a live recording of their December 1983 concert movie. That shit was horrible. I only bought it because all their good songs were listed on the back cover. (Excuse me for once being 15.) When I played it for the first time and heard applause and cheering in the background I knew it wasn’t what I hoped for. A friend of mine thought differently about it, but I changed his mind when I introduced him to each song’s studio version.

ANYWAY, back to Tina Weymouth. Besides being cute in 1978 (I dig the mop and surfer/hippie sweater), she was married to Talking Heads drummer Chris Frantz. Unable to find a bass player, Frantz encouraged her to learn bass so she could play with the band. Think about it: when this footage was recorded she’d only been playing the instrument for three years. Not bad. She and Frantz formed the core of a splinter group, Tom Tom Club, which is also a blast from my ‘80s music phase.

That funky bassline is driving me wild. Or should I say, psycho.