The Talking Heads recorded their second album, More Songs About Buildings and Food, in March 1978 at Compass Point Studios in the Bahamas. For a band whose roots and soul were firmly planted in Manhattan, such a tropical location could have been disorienting. However, the addition of Brian Eno—former Roxy Music keyboardist and a pioneer of ambient music—as co-producer helped sharpen the band's sound rather than dilute it.

The album’s title humorously referenced the band’s offbeat lyrical themes, carried over from their debut. One notable commercial concession was a cover of Al Green’s “Take Me to the River,” which proved to be a perfect match for the band’s subtly R&B-inflected sound. The track became a breakthrough U.S. hit single, peaking at No. 26 on the Billboard chart.

Sonically, More Songs About Buildings and Food presented a harder edge compared to their debut, with Jerry Harrison’s guitar taking a more prominent role. David Byrne’s songwriting remained as idiosyncratic and uncompromising as ever. Although Brian Eno’s production added a richer, more layered texture to the band’s sound, Talking Heads still stood well apart from the prevailing wave of new wave artists emerging at the time.