We use cookies on our website to provide you with the best experience. Most of these are essential and already present.
We do require your explicit consent to save your cart and browsing history between visits. Read about cookies we use here.
Your cart and preferences will not be saved if you leave the site.
play

The Residents

Commercial Album (2LP)

Label: New Ralph Too, MVD Audio, Cherry Red

Format: 2LP

Genre: Psych

In stock

€42.00
+
-

Tip! Commercial Album is an 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. 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.

Details
Cat. number: NRTLP009D, NRT009P7
Year: 2023
Notes:
Tracks A1 to B20 from the original LP [r=2044195] (Ralph Records, 1980). All material remastered from the original tapes. ℗ & © 2023 The Cryptic Corporation, Cherry Red Records and MVD Entertainment Initial copies ordered directly from Cherry Red included an additional 7". Tracks E1-F3 are not named on release.