Commercial Album Explained

Commercial Album
Type:studio
Artist:The Residents
Cover:Thecommercialalbum.jpg
Released:October 1980
Recorded:September 1979 – October 1980
Genre:Experimental Rock,[1] Post Punk[2]
Length:42:00
Label:Ralph Records
Producer:The Residents
Prev Title:Eskimo
Prev Year:1979
Next Title:Mark of the Mole
Next Year:1981

Commercial Album is the seventh studio album released by art rock group the Residents in 1980. It is commonly considered a follow-up to their 1978 album Duck Stab/Buster & Glen, in that it retains the former album's pop-oriented song structures. The album contains 40 songs, each lasting exactly one minute - a deliberate allusion to Top 40 mainstream radio. The album's liner notes state that, to form a complete pop song, tracks from the album should be played three times in a row.

The album features a number of guest musicians, notably drummer Chris Cutler and guitarist Fred Frith of the recently disbanded Henry Cow. The credits mention Frith as an "Extra-Hard Working Guest Musician." Frith told author Cole Gagne that he recorded parts for around 25 tracks and was later told by a band member that he appeared on at least 15 of the released cuts, but that he could only identify himself on three tracks where he played bass.[3] Other guests are credited under pseudonyms, such as Andy Partridge of XTC (as "Sandy Sandwich") and Lene Lovich (as "Mud's Sis"); Brian Eno and David Byrne appear on the album uncredited.

As a promotional stunt, the Residents purchased 40 one-minute advertising slots on San Francisco's most popular Top 40 radio station at the time, KFRC, such that the station played each track on the album over the course of three days. This prompted an editorial in Billboard magazine questioning whether the act was art or advertising.[4]

Track listing

All tracks last exactly one minute, but with a three-second pause between songs making each last around 1:03. On the original LP, "Die in Terror" is incorrectly printed as track 14, between "The Nameless Souls" and "Love Leaks Out".

1988 CD bonus tracks

2019 pREServed edition bonus tracks

After a small bit of silence, an unlisted track plays, a "concentrate" mix of the advertisements that were aired in promotion of the album on KFRC.

Personnel

guitar on "Japanese Watercolor",[5] "Moisture",[6] and "The Coming of the Crow",[7] bass

Notes and References

  1. https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-commercial-album-mw0000652383
  2. https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-commercial-album-mw0000652383
  3. Book: Cole Gagne. Sonic Transports. 1990. de Falco Books. 98. 0-9625145-0-0. 17 May 2023.
  4. Book: Jack McDonough. Air Time, Ad Time Fuse In Residents' S.F. Promo. 15 November 1980. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.. Billboard. 22–. 0006-2510. 28 March 2012.
  5. The Residents - Heaven? [<nowiki/>[[Rykodisc|RykoDisc]] RCD 20012] (1986) Track Credits
  6. The Residents - Our Tired, Our Poor, Our Huddled Masses [Euro Ralph CD017] (1997) Track Credits
  7. The Residents - Hell! [<nowiki/>[[Rykodisc|RykoDisc]] RCD 20013] (1986) Track Credits
  8. Web site: Hall . Oliver . 2016-09-23 . That time when XTC’s Andy Partridge sang for the Residents . 2023-08-07 . Dangerous Minds.
  9. The Residents - Commercial Album [Mute, CDSTUMM243] (2004) Track Credits
  10. Book: Knipfel, Jim. The Residents Sell Out [Commercial Album pREServed Liner Notes]. Cherry Red Records, MVD Entertainment Group, New Ralph Too. 2018. 2.