''Sounds from True Stories'', subtitled ''Music for Activities Freaks'', is the soundtrack to David Byrne's 1986 film '' True Stories''. It was initially released on vinyl and cassette, but was given a CD and 2xLP release in 2018. The album is not a complete soundtrack recording, featuring only a couple of the vocal songs heard in the film, with the rest being instrumental music. Byrne's band

Talking Heads Talking Heads were an American rock band formed in 1975 in New York City and active until 1991.Talki ...

released the album '' True Stories'', which contained versions of the other songs in the film.

Track listing

"Glass Operator" is an orchestral rendition of "Dream Operator" featuring a

glass harmonica The glass harmonica, also known as the glass armonica, glass harmonium, bowl organ, hydrocrystalophone, or simply the armonica or harmonica (derived from , ''harmonia'', the Greek word for harmony), is a type of musical instrument that uses a ...

; "City of Steel" is a steel guitar version of "City of Dreams", which, along with "Dream Operator", appears on Talking Heads' '' True Stories''.

Personnel

* David Byrne: lead and bass guitar on "Disco Hits!" and "I Love Metal Buildings" ''Additional musicians'' * Drums –

Prairie Prince Charles Lempriere "Prairie" Prince (born May 7, 1950) is an American drummer and graphic artist. He came to prominence in the 1970s as a member of the San Francisco–based rock group The Tubes, was a member of Jefferson Starship from 1992 to 2 ...

("Disco Hits!" and "I Love Metal Buildings"), Steve Mitchell ("Freeway Son" and "Brownie's Theme"),

Chris Frantz Charton Christopher Frantz (born May 8, 1951) is an American musician and record producer. He is the drummer for both Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club, both of which he co-founded with wife and Talking Heads bassist Tina Weymouth. In 2002, Frant ...

("City of Steel"), Steve Jordan Jr. ("Soy de Tejas") * Bass guitar – Rich Girard ("Freeway Son" and "Brownie's Theme"),

Tina Weymouth Martina Michèle Weymouth (born November 22, 1950) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and a founding member and bassist of the new wave group Talking Heads and its side project Tom Tom Club, which she co-founded with her husband, Tal ...

("City of Steel"), Steve Jordan ("Soy de Tejas") * Guitar – Steve Erquiaga ("Freeway Son" and "Brownie's Theme"), Steve Jordan ("Soy de Tejas") * Piano – Phil Aaberg ("Freeway Son" and "Brownie's Theme"),

Jerry Harrison Jeremiah Griffin Harrison (born February 21, 1949) is an American songwriter, musician, producer, and entrepreneur. He began his professional music career as a member of the cult band the Modern Lovers before becoming keyboardist and guitarist ...

("City of Steel"), Charles Judge ("I Love Metal Buildings") * Pedal steel guitar – Joe Goldmark ("Freeway Son" and "I Love Metal Buildings"), Tommy Morrell ("City Of Steel") * Violin – Dick Bright ("Freeway Son" and "Glass Operator"), David Harrington and John Sherba ("Dinner Music") * Percussion – Michael Spiro ("Freeway Son" and "Disco Hits!") * Cello –

Joan Jeanrenaud Joan Jeanrenaud ( Dutcher; born January 25, 1956) is an American cellist. A native of Memphis, Tennessee, she played with the LLP Kronos Quartet from 1978 until 1999, when, after a sabbatical, she left to pursue a solo career and collaborations ...

("Dinner Music"), Charles Judge ("Glass Operator") * Harp – Marcella De Cray ("Dinner Music" and "Love Theme from True Stories") * Keyboards – Charles Judge ("Disco Hits!"), Michael McClain ("Soy de Tejas") * Accordion –

Carl Finch Carl Finch (born November 29, 1951, in Texarkana, Texas) is a guitarist, keyboard player, accordionist, vocalist, songwriter and record producer who co-founded the Grammy-winning polka/dance band Brave Combo in 1979 in Denton, Texas. Career highl ...

("Buster's Theme"), Steve Jordan ("Soy de Tejas") * Bassoon – Greg Barber ("Road Song") * Clarinet and bass clarinet – Jim Pukey ("Road Song") * Flute, piccolo flute and alto flute – Charlie McCarthy ("Road Song") * Oboe – Robin May ("Road Song") * Viola – Hank Dutt ("Dinner Music") * Concertinas – Paul Groff ("Love Theme from True Stories") * Pan flutes – Fernando Torres ("Love Theme from True Stories") * Glass harmonica – Terry Hinely ("Glass Operator") ''Technical'' * Engineers – Jack Leahy (tracks 2-4, 8-9, 11, 15-16), Michael McClain (tracks 5-7, 10, 12, 14), Don Caldwell ("Cocktail Desperado") and David Rosenblad ("Buster's Theme") * Assistant engineers – Gary Clayton, Jeff Kliment, Mark Roule and Sam Lehmer * Mastered by

Roy Halee Roy Decker Halee (born 1934) is an American record producer and engineer, best known for working with Simon & Garfunkel, both as a group and for their solo projects. Early life He grew up on Long Island, New York. His father, also named Roy ...

and Jack Skinner * Mixed by

''Artwork'' * Art direction – Concept Arts and Lucinda Cowell * Design – David Byrne and Michael Hodgson * Front cover photograph – Annie Liebowitz * Back cover photograph – David Byrne, Christina Patoski, Mark LipsonMike Daly (2 Apr 1987). "The Age: New Notes". Retrieved 3 November 2013.

References

Albums produced by David Byrne David Byrne soundtracks 1986 soundtrack albums Sire Records soundtracks Musical film soundtracks Comedy film soundtracks {{1980s-rock-album-stub