Talk Talk (The Music Machine song)

"Talk Talk" is the debut single of the American garage rock band, The Music Machine. The song was released in November 1966, and produced the band's only Top 20 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.[3] It was then included on their debut album, (Turn On) The Music Machine.

"Talk Talk"
Cover of the 1966 Italian single
Single by The Music Machine
from the album (Turn On) The Music Machine
B-side"Come on In"
ReleasedNovember 1966 (1966-11)
Recorded
  • August 1966
  • RCA Recording Studios, Los Angeles, California
Genre
Length1:56
LabelOriginal Sound
Songwriter(s)Sean Bonniwell
Producer(s)Brian Ross
The Music Machine singles chronology
"Talk Talk"
(1966)		 "The People in Me"
(1967)

Background

The Music Machine was practicing the song before any interest from record producers. Sean Bonniwell strived to perfect the sound he had been experimenting with in preparation for a record deal. The band regularly played at an American Legion bowling alley in Los Angeles. Bonniwell was originally involved in the folk rock scene, but he wanted to create a harder sound or as he stated "something completely unique".[4] To create his designed sound, Bonniwell had the band tune their instruments from the typical E to Eb, creating a heavy effect (a technique later used by such Heavy Metal bands as Metallica). Bassist, Keith Olsen, utilized a fuzz box to produce the song's signature bassline, which was backed by Mark Landon's wiry guitar playing. This new way of playing caught the attention of record producer, Brian Ross, who brought them into studios to record a single.[5]

Recording in RCA Recording Studios took only three hours at the expense of $150. The song took two takes and the planned A-side, "Come On In", in only one. "Come On In" was later replaced by "Talk Talk" when record producers deemed it suitable for an A-side release. The "Talk Talk" track clocked at one minute and 56 seconds, yet still compiled four distinctive rhythm changes.[6] Engineer, Paul Ruff, innovated the recording by using a ten-track recording machine when most recording artists only had a four-track. Keyboardist, Doug Rhodes, played the farfisa organ, which had its sound sliced and separated numerous times. The Music Machine was soon signed to the Original Sound label to release the single. "Talk Talk" became a hit upon its release when it eventually charted at number 15 on the national charts, remaining on the charts for 12 weeks, and also reached top ten in several L.A. charts. A.M. Radio constantly played the song due to its short track length, giving it added exposure. While touring, the song became a favorite among the band's fans, so the composition was regularly extended. The track was subsequently released on December 31, 1966 as the opening to the group's debut album, (Turn On) The Music Machine.[4][7]

Releases

"Talk Talk" has been circulated through several albums, compilations, and reissues since its initial release.[8]

Singles/EPs
  • "Talk Talk" b/w "Come on In" - Original Sound, #OS-61, 1966
  • "Talk Talk" / "The People In Me" / "Come on In" / "Wrong" EP - Disques Voque, #INT. 18121, 1966
  • "Come on In" b/w "Talk Talk" - Alvorada International, #IEP 79017, 1967
  • "Talk Talk" b/w "Hot Smoke and Sassafras" - Original Sound, #OBG 4534, 1985

Albums/Compilations
  • (Turn On) The Music Machine - Original Sound, #OSR LPM 5015, 1966 (1st track)
  • Best of the Music Machine - Rhino, #RNC 119, 1984 (1st track)
  • Beyond the Garage - Sundazed, #SC 11030, 1995 (1st track)
  • The Very Best of the Music Machine - Collectables, #COL-CD-6044, 1999 (1st track)
  • The Ultimate Turn On - Big Beat, #CDWIK2 271, 2006 (1st track)

Reception

Aside from the initial chart success of the song, "Talk Talk" is still praised as a garage rock classic. Richie Unterberger praised Bonniwell's composition for its experimentation and raw sound. Unterberger described the song as "...the most radical single to be heard on Top 40 radio in late 1966. Against a succession of grinding two-note fuzz riffs and key changes that rose and Rose until it hit the ceiling, Bonniwell sprewed and growled a rally cry to social alienation with a mixture of sarcasm, self-pity, and paranoia".[6]

David Fricke of Rolling Stone was equally satisfied with the band's song. He declared the band "created a breathlessly compact garage rock: hog-snort guitar distortion, machine gun drumming and paranoid growling despair, shaved and hardened by geometric precision. And although he was in his mid-twenties, Bonniwell nailed in his lyrics the hapless rage of white high school males with similar rigor".[9]

Personnel

Cover versions

The Residents recorded a parody of the song in 1974, for their Third Reich N Roll album.

Prong's 1992 release Whose Fist Is this Anyway? includes a cover of the song.

Webb Wilder released this song on his 1995 album of cover songs Town & Country.

The Demics released a completely punk version of the song on their 1996 album, New York City.

Boss Hog covered the song on the Psychopticotic Vol. One EP released by Amphetamine Reptile Records in 2016.

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See also

References
  1. Larkin, Colin (1995). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music: Lincoln, Abe-Primettes. Guinness Pub. p. 2970. ISBN 978-1-56159-176-3.
  2. Unterberger, Richie; Hicks, Samb (1999). Music USA: The Rough Guide. Rough Guides. p. 391. ISBN 978-1-85828-421-7.
  3. "The Music Machine - Billboard Charts". billboard.com. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
  4. Richie Unterberger. "Unknown Legends of Rock 'N' Roll (Page 58)". google.com. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
  5. Lindsay Planer. "Talk Talk - Song Review". allmusic.com. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
  6. Richie Unterberger. "Sean Bonniwell". richieunterberger.com. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
  7. "Bonniwell Music Machine - Turn On". bonniwellmusicmachine.com. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
  8. "The Music Machine - Discography". discogs.com. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
  9. David Fricke. "Tribute to Sean Bonniwell". rollingstone.com. Retrieved February 24, 2015.
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