1979 for The Residents was marked by the release of Eskimo after 3 years of production. Another important event for the group was the debut of their Eyeball costumes, which would become their most recognizable desguise.
Timeline[]
February[]
- The Buy or Die catalog no.4 is issued. Curiously, plans are announced for a 30-minute edit of the abandoned Vileness Fats with a new soundtrack[1]; this project would not see light of day for the next five years, surfacing as Whatever Happened to Vileness Fats in 1984.
- The W.E.I.R.D. fan club is formed.[1]
- Cryptic announces The Residents' interest in a touring live show for 1980[1], however it does not come to fruition; this is probably due to difficulties in translating their music into performable material.
March[]
- In an effort to get The Residents some radio airplay, Ralph Records produces a compilation of the group's music from 1973-1978 titled Please Do Not Steal It!.
April[]
- The Residents begin work on The Replacement.
May[]
- The Residents finish recording Eskimo. It is scheduled for release the following month.
- W.E.I.R.D. publishes The Official W.E.I.R.D. Book of The Residents, the first ever book published about the group. Done in collaboration with The Cryptic Corporation, it's the first time many events from the early years of The Residents are detailed by an authorized source.
June[]
The cover of the iconic "Eskimo" album.
- Eskimo is re-scheduled (again) for the 26th of September as The Residents add final touches to the album.
- The Residents also finish work on The Replacement, their contribution to the upcoming Subterranean Modern album.
- Fred Frith is signed to Ralph Records.
July[]
- 13th: Please Do Not Steal It! is released internationally under the title Nibbles. Distribution is handled by Virgin Records in the UK, Ariola in The Netherlands and RTC / Missing Link in Australia. It is the first collection of Residents material to be released worldwide.
- Snakefinger's "What Wilbur?" single, produced by The Residents, is released on Ralph (US), and Virgin (UK).
- The master tapes for The Replacement are compiled.
August[]
- 28th: Ralph Records releases Subterranean Modern, a record showcasing the work of fellow San Francisco groups Chrome, Tuxedomoon, and MX-80 Sound (who are actually from Indiana), as well as The Residents. All artists contributing to the album were eventually signed to Ralph, aside from Chrome.
September[]
- 26th: Ralph Records release The Residents' Eskimo and Snakefinger's Chewing Hides the Sound (co-produced by The Residents). Eskimo proves to be the group's most popular release to date, with it ending up on a list of potential nominees for the 1980 Grammy's. Following the album's release, The Residents begin recording its follow up, The Commercial Album.
- The Residents send copies of the Babyfingers EP as compensation to fans who had pre-ordered The Third Reich n' Roll Collector's Box, which still was not finished after two years in production. This EP was the "missing third side" of Fingerprince and was meant to be included in its cancelled Collector's Box. In reality, these were leftover test pressings, sent in "Santa Dog '78" sleeves that were hand-modified with pens.
October[]
- 17th: The Residents record "Birds in the Trees". Also possibly recorded on this date was "The Coming of the Crow", and a cover of The Ramones' "We're a Happy Family".
- 18th: The Residents record "Margaret Freeman".
- The Residents record material that will eventually be shaped into Mark of the Mole.[2]
September[]
- 7th: Snakefinger makes his debut performance in the USA, at The Boarding House. A Resident joins him for a song.
November[]
- 7th: "Cosmetics for Reality" is recorded. It is the third to last song recorded during the Commercial Album sessions.
December[]
- 3rd: The Ralph Records Music Festival takes place. It features a performance by Snakefinger, with A Resident performing lead vocals on "Picnic in the Jungle".
Releases[]
- Eskimo (LP, Ralph Records, ESK7906, 55,000+ copies pressed)
- Nibbles (LP, Virgin, Ariola, RTC/Missing Link, 9,000 copies pressed)
- Babyfingers (EP, Ralph Records, RR0377, 35-40 copies pressed, free compensation for delayed The Third Reich n' Roll Collector's Box pre-orders.)
- No accompanying artwork or graphics.
- Please Do Not Steal It! (LP, Compilation, Ralph Records, DJ7901, 975 copies pressed, promotional release sent to radio stations)
- Later sold internationally as Nibbles.
Re-Releases[]
- Fingerprince (LP, Ralph Records, RR0677, 15,000 copies pressed)
- Third pressing. Artwork colored differently from its original release
Collaborations[]
- Subterranean Modern (LP, Ralph Records, SM7908, 25,000 copies pressed)
- Split album featuring Chrome, MX-80 Sound, The Residents and Tuxedomoon.
- The Residents contributed the following tracks:
- "I Left My Heart in San Francisco"
- "Dumbo the Clown (Who Loved Christmas)"
- "ls He Really Bringing Roses (The Replacement)"
- "Time's Up".
- Chewing Hides the Sound (LP, Ralph Records, SNK 7909, 20,000 copies pressed)
- Studio album by Snakefinger.
- Co-written and co-produced with The Residents.
- "What Wilbur?" (7'' single, 45RPM, Ralph Records, WIL7909, 10,000 copies)
- Single by Snakefinger.
- Co-written and co-produced with The Residents.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Buy or Die catalog #4
- ↑ Uncle Willie's Highly Opinionated Guide to The Residents, page 101.