David Byrne Appears On First Season Of ‘Sessions At West 54th’ On This Date In 1997

From 1997 – 2000 television stations across the U.S. and beyond aired the live music performance series Sessions At West 54th. The program took its name from the New York City location where it was filmed. Former Talking Heads frontman David Byrne delivered a fantastic performance for the show’s first season that aired on this date in 1997.

Byrne and his talented backing band, which included a DJ, worked through a series of Talking Heads classic and material from his 1997 solo effort Feelings. Interview footage with host Chris Douridas of KCRW was interspersed with the performance clips. David re-imagined the songs from his Talking Heads days he played for the episode, namely “Making Flippy Floppy,” Al Green’s “Take Me To The River,” “Psycho Killer” and “I Zimbra.” He also showed off his flair for wild fashions. Byrne would host Sessions At West 54th for its second season.

Watch David Byrne’s 1997 performance on Sessions At West 54th:

• 0:30 Fuzzy Freaky
• 5:49 Making Flippy Floppy
• 11:59 Take Me to The River
• 17:52 Help Me Somebody
• 21:59 Dance on Vaseline
• 27:02 Back in The Box
• 33:28 Miss America
• 39:50 Psycho Killer
• 44:15 I Zimbra