Check Out the Unreleased Full Version of Talking Heads’ “Heaven” by Q Lazzarus.

Release of Q Lazzarus’ Classic Cover

The complete version of Q Lazzarus’ iconic rendition of Talking Heads’ song “Heaven” has finally been unveiled – listen below.

The enigmatic cult artist, widely recognized for the 1988 track “Goodbye Horses,” initially recorded her cover for a performance in the 1993 Jonathan Demme film, Philadelphia, but the full version never saw the light of day.

Lazzarus, whose real name was Diane Luckey, made a rare public appearance in the film while performing the song. She sadly passed away in 2022 at the age of 61.

Collection and Documentary Release

Now, the complete track has been released as a teaser for “Goodbye Horses: The Many Lives Of Q Lazzarus,” a compilation of songs recorded by the artist from 1985 to 1995. This album is scheduled for release on February 21st via Sacred Bones, coinciding with what would have been Lazzarus’ 64th birthday.

Experience Q Lazzarus’ rendition of “Heaven” and a clip of her performance from Philadelphia below:

“Heaven” was originally featured on Talking Heads’ third album, Fear Of Music, released in 1979, and was famously performed by David Byrne and Tina Weymouth in the iconic concert film, Stop Making Sense, which was also directed by Demme.

In addition to the upcoming collection, a documentary film about Lazzarus’ life and music, which she contributed to during her final years, is set for release. Directed by Arigis Fuentes, this documentary will also be named Goodbye Horses: Many Lives of Q Lazzarus and is anticipated to premiere in the coming months.

The album will encompass all 21 tracks sourced from Lazzarus’ personal digital tapes and cassettes, including a new wave version of “Goodbye Horses,” which was the only commercial single released during her lifetime. This track was also featured in Demme’s Silence of the Lambs in 1991.

Numerous artists, including Bloc Party’s Kele Okereke, Chino Moreno’s side project ††† (Crosses), MGMT, John Hopkins, and Wild Beasts’ Hayden Thorpe, have since covered “Goodbye Horses.”

Lazzarus faded from the public eye in the mid-1990s, and upon being approached in 2019, she revealed that she had retired from music and was working as a bus driver in Staten Island.