Songs for Swinging Larvae is the second album, and first LP by Renaldo & The Loaf.
The Residents covered three songs from the album in a concentrate for their Icky Flix project.
Background[]
Sessions for the album began after the completion of their first album, Struve & Sneff, which had been released through the duos personal label, Rotcod Productions.
During the sessions the group also produced a demo album, and an EP, which they sent to Do It & Ralph Records. These demo albums impressed the labels, and both agreed to release their then unfinished next album.
By November 1980, the album was completed and sent to both labels, with Do It releasing the album in the UK, June 1981, and Ralph releasing it in the US shortly afterwards.
Representatives at Ralph Records became interested in producing a video for the album, directed by Residents director Graeme Whifler. The duo considered creating a video for the song 'Is Guava A Donut?', but eventually decided on a combination of Lime Jelly Grass, Spratt’s Medium, and the unreleased track 'Melvyn’s Repose'.
Ralph paid for the duo to fly from Portsmouth to San Francisco to meet and film the video. During this visit, RATL met with The Residents, and they recorded the '4 Daze' demo tape together.
The Larvae video appeared on The Residents video compilation 'Video Voodoo' in 1987, and then later appeared on the Icky Flix DVD, with a newly recorded soundtrack by The Residents. This cover of Lime Jelly Grass, Spratt's Medium & Melvyn's Repose appeared on the DVD's soundtrack album, and was performed on the following tour.
Track Listing[]
Side One (20:00)
- Uncredited Interlude (0:15)
- Lime Jelly Grass (2:14)
- A Medical Man (1:14)
- Bali Whine (2:25)
- Kimbolton Gnome Song (3:15)
- Frass (1:34)
- N2O (Going Under) (1:48)
- B.P.M. (2:31)
- Spratts Medium (1:15)
- Honest Joe's Indian Gets The Goat On The Way To The Cowboys' Conga (3:29)
Side Two (19:39)
- Ow! Stew The Red Shoe (3:23)
- Bustle The Burgoo (2:33)
- Is Guava A Donut? (4:19)
- A Sob Story (3:25)
- Hats Off, Gentlemen! (3:31)
- Renaldo's Trip To Venice (0:30)
- Ted's Reverie (1:43)
- Uncredited Outerlude (0:15)
Bonus Tracks (1990 Expanded Edition)
- Melvyn's Repose (2:08)
- Metro Stomp (3:08)
- The Bathroom Song (2:00)
Bonus Tracks (2013 Expanded Edition)
- Henri Lies (2:00)
- LDI - 1 (0:43)
- The Wheelchair Song (Sketch) (1:10)
- LDI - 2 + Untitled Voice & Guitar Piece (2:34)
- Moths On Sloths Version 1 (1:46)
- A Medical Man (Early Version) (1:29)
- LDI - 3 (4:42)
- Honest Joe's Indian (Early Version) (3:04)
- LDI - 4 (2:30)
- Fat Man's Visit (3:08)
- Melvyn's Repose (2:02)
- Moths On Sloths Version 2 (1:59)
- Bustle The Burgoo (Early Version) (2:16)
- Acoustic Guitar Sketch (1:02)
- The Hydrophile (4:15)
- LDI - 5 (1:54)
- Gone To Gondwana (Original Version) (4:29)
- Token Nudity (0:38)
- N2O (Going Under) (Alternative Mix) (1:57)
- It Is What It Is (Really) (1:53)
- Father Always Kept His Hand Closed (5:23)
Credits[]
Renaldo M: Guitar, Mandolin, Bouzouki, Flocdrum, Drums, Glockenspiel, Bamboo, Diverse, Percussives, Ted's Medal Comb, Loop To 'Sob Story' & Voice
Ted The Loaf: Guitar, Clarinet, Loops, Scalpel Wielding, Prepared Guitar, Hacksaw Blade, Bass on 'Gnome Song' & Additional Percussives on 'Ow! Stew The Red Shoe'
All tracks written & Produced By: Renaldo & The Loaf
Cover Design: Renaldo And The Loaf
Original Album Artwork: Gary Panter
Release History[]
| Year | Label | Format | Region | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Do It Records | LP | UK | |
| Ralph Records | US | |||
| 1989 | ||||
| 1990 | T.E.C. Tones | CD | ||
| 2013 | Klanggalerie | AT | ||
| 2019 | Editions Mego | LP |