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"Aphids In The Hall" is a 7" EP by Schwump, with musical backing and production by The Residents, released September 12th 1976 on Ralph Records.

It was the first release by an artist other than The Residents on Ralph, and led the way for other unusual or obscure musicians to sign to the label later in the decade.

History[]

Schwump (or Barry Schwam) had come to The Residents' attention earlier in the 1970s, when he was a DJ in Portland, Oregon who was known for his broadcast of an all-toad opera. Schwump had been writing and performing songs on his radio show and recording with only drums and a kazoo in his attic for some time already. He was introduced to the group early in their career by mutual friend, KBOO-FM DJ Bill Reinhardt.

In 1976 The Residents and Schwump recorded a number of tracks which would finally result in the release of "Aphids In The Hall" in September. As well as the B-side "You're A Martian/Home", The Residents recorded several further tracks with Schwump during these sessions, including "Singer Of Sad Songs" and "Devil Makin' Whoopee", which have never seen an official release.

The recording date of the single has been cited as either February 1974[1] or February 1976.[2]

Release[]

The release of the single was limited - Schwump claims that circumstances prevented him from signing the contract, others have said that Schwump was concerned about piracy of the single.

After this point, Schwump promptly fell out of touch with The Residents until the early 1990s when he reached out to the band by sending in the mail card included in his personal copy of "Aphids In The Hall".

The single had long never been available following its original pressing, though the tracks were re-recorded and released by Schwump in 2001. It was finally reissued forty-two years after its initial release, in 2018 as a 7" vinyl pressing on Psychofon Records.

Track listing[]

  1. Aphids In The Hall (3:23)
  2. You're A Martian/Home (2:38)

Credits[]

Release history[]

Year Label Region
1976 Ralph Records USA
2018 Psychofon Records GER

See also[]

External links and references[]

  1. Ralph Records Newsletter (Vol 1, Feb 1977)
  2. W.E.R.I.D Book of The Residents (1979)
Wbrmx-sml-transparent The Delta Nudes / Residents, Uninc.
(1967 - 1974)
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