Talking Heads: "Love Goes To A Building On Fire". Sire 1977. V scarce demo copy

	£		15
	$		20

Talking Heads:

Love Goes To A Building On Fire b/w New Feeling

Sire Records; 6078 604, 1977. Demo.

Here is very scarce record indeed. Love Goes To A Building On Fire was the first single released by Talking Heads – in fact, it was the band’s first release of any kind as it pre-dated their first album Talking Heads 77 (and was not included on that album). It was not a hit in any country. As you might expect therefore, standard copies of the single are not particularly easy to find these days. This listing is of a particularly rare demo copy of the single.

Back in 1977, I worked at weekends with a friend of mine who was a rock DJ. He often received promotional copies of new singles from record companies. With records from new bands – as the Talking Heads then were – he would just give a quick listen to part of the record and make a snap decision about whether he was ever likely to play it or not. Often, if he didn’t like a record, he would just throw it away(!) but sometimes he would save them for me to listen to see if I wanted any of them. That is how I got this copy of Love Goes To A Building On Fire.

I played the record quite a few times at the time I guess but I can honestly say that until I played it to test it for this listing, it hasn’t been on a turntable, probably, for forty years. There are fine lines to the surface on both sides but not greatly more, really, that the marks you get from just taking the record in and out of the sleeve. There is some very light crackling audible here and there but otherwise it plays very well. It comes in its original picture sleeve which is in nice condition apart from the usual rubbing from the label. The reverse side of the sleeve is a bit grubby and there is a little creasing towards to top edge on both sides (see images).

The labels are in nice clean condition. The labels are exactly the same as the standard copy. The only indication that this is a promotional copy comes from the weird label which indicates the A-side by using the word “Alsatian” and has the release date (25th February 1977) rubber-stamped underneath in blue ink. This is quite faint – I guess it has faded – but it is not quite as faint as it appears in the images above. I think probably the record also once had an information sheet introducing this “new band” but my friend would have thrown that away at the time.

I can’t explain the “Alsatian” thing at all. Possibly it was the name of a promotional company and they hit on this idea of enlarging the “A” for use on record labels – or possibly it was some kind of obscure Talking Heads joke. If you’ve got an explanation please let me know and I will add the information to the listing. I did search online for clues and found a second hand record shop listing a demo copy of the 12” single of Psycho Killer with the same “Alsatian” label. That copy had come from a radio station.

Anyway, this is a great chance to own a demo copy of this influential band’s first-ever release. You’ll probably never see another example!

I’m selling other original punk, new wave and indie singles on eBay at the moment, including another Smiths listing. Click on See Other Items above if you would like to view the ones that are there at the moment. The postage price for two is records the same as the price for one.

UK Postage and packing:  £2.70

International postage and packing:  Click on the “Postage and Payments” tab above to see prices to overseas destinations.

All postage prices quoted (UK and international) are maximum charges.  If postage and packing costs less than these estimates, I will refund the difference after posting (subject to the difference being £1.00 or more. Unless otherwise indicated, the postage prices I give in the listing are for a tracked and signed-for service, as required by eBay. If however, winning buyers would prefer cheaper options, I am always happy to help with that if I can. Please contact me for a quote.

I hope this description has given you enough to go on but should you require any further information, or more images, please do e-mail.  Please also look carefully at the hi-res photos – they are part of the description.  Thanks for your interest in this auction and good luck if you decide to bid.

Please note:  I will not respond to requests to close the auction early regardless of the value of the offer made.  Ending early is contrary to both the principle and spirit of an auction. It is also unfair to other eBayers who may be watching the auction intending to bid at a later time.

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