Where to Start With Television: A Beginner's Guide to Marquee Moon and Beyond
After the death of guitarist Richard Lloyd, here is how to approach Television's short, influential catalogue, from the essential debut to the songs worth hearing next.
Television never sold records the way their CBGB neighbours eventually did, yet few bands from New York's 1970s scene have been cited as often by the guitarists who came after them. With the death of co-founder Richard Lloyd on November 7, 2026, many people are looking for a way into the catalogue. This guide explains who the band were, what to play first and how to hear the thing that makes them special: two guitars that talk to each other instead of simply stacking riffs.
Who Television were
Television formed in New York in 1973 around Tom Verlaine and Richard Hell, with Richard Lloyd and drummer Billy Ficca completing the first lineup. Hell left in 1975 and Fred Smith took over on bass. The group built its following at CBGB, a Bowery club that became the home of the city's new rock scene, but their sound was never the three-chord rush people usually mean by punk. It was spacious, angular and improvisational, closer in spirit to jazz-minded rock than to speed.
Their early single "Little Johnny Jewel" appeared in 1975 on a small independent label and is worth hearing as a snapshot of the band before the major-label sheen. They then signed to Elektra, which led to their landmark debut.
Start here: Marquee Moon (1977)
If you only hear one Television record, make it Marquee Moon, released in February 1977 in the United States. Verlaine produced it with engineer Andy Johns, and much of the album was captured with the band playing together in the room, which gives it a tight but unforced feel. It was a modest chart presence at first, but in the UK it reached number 28, and its reputation has only grown since.
The title track runs around ten minutes and is the best single argument for the band. Listen for how one guitar holds a pattern while the other climbs away from it, then how the roles swap. "See No Evil" is the quicker, more compact entry point, and "Venus" shows their melodic side. "Torn Curtain" is the album's quiet, eerie closer and a good test of whether the mood suits you.
Then try: Adventure (1978)
Adventure followed in April 1978 and is often treated as the lesser sibling, which is unfair. It is warmer, a little more song-oriented and easier to love on a first pass. "Days" is the standout, a gentle track co-written by Verlaine and Lloyd that shows how well the two could blend when the material was plainer. The band split later that year, so this record also works as a farewell.
How to hear the two guitars
Television is easiest to appreciate on headphones, or on speakers where the left and right sides are clearly separated. Verlaine's tone is thin, bright and nervy; Lloyd's is often rounder and more conventional, which is exactly why the pairing works. Rather than one lead and one rhythm player, you hear two melodic voices weaving through each other. Pick one guitar for a whole song and follow it only, then replay and follow the other. You will notice parts you missed the first time.
Where to go next
After the first two albums, the live recordings are the natural next step, because the band stretched songs out far more on stage. The compilations and reissues that gather the Elektra recordings and alternate versions are useful for completists. The band reunited in the early 1990s and made a self-titled album in 1992, which is a fair listen but not the place to begin.
Lloyd also released solo albums over the following decades and worked as a session guitarist. Verlaine, who died in January 2023, had a long solo catalogue too, so fans who want more of either player have plenty to explore. Prices and availability of reissues vary by region, so check your preferred store or streaming service before buying.
Why the band still matters
Television's influence shows up less in imitation than in attitude. Guitar bands that treat a solo as a conversation, that prefer tension to volume, or that value atmosphere alongside hooks owe something to this lineage. Because the studio catalogue is short, the whole thing can be absorbed in an afternoon, and it rewards repeated listening in a way few records from that era do.
The bottom line
Start with Marquee Moon, front to back, ideally on headphones. If the title track grabs you, move on to Adventure and then to the live material. Three or four hours of listening is enough to understand why so many guitarists still point to this band, and why Richard Lloyd's playing deserves to be remembered alongside Verlaine's.
