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The Official W.E.I.R.D. Book of The Residents

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The Official W.E.I.R.D. Book of The Residents is a book by W.E.I.R.D. (We Endorse Immediate Residents Deification), the official fan club of The Residents from 1978 to 1981. The first published book about the group, it was compiled in collaboration with The Residents' management company The Cryptic Corporation, and was designed, compiled and edited by the club's co-founders Philip Culp and Mimi King.

The book was released in 1979, with a red and black cover illustrated by Gary Panter, in a limited run of 500 copies. A second edition was released in 1981, now in a run of 750 copies, featuring the same cover art but in yellow and black.

History

Included in the introductory package for members of the Residents fan club W.E.I.R.D.,[1] the purpose of The Official W.E.I.R.D. Book of The Residents was to introduce new members to all information available about The Residents at that time. While some of the presented facts have since been proven inaccurate or exaggerated, it was the first time many noteworthy events from the group's early years were detailed by an authorized source.

Centerfold of the Book, showing exclusive photos of the Vileness Fats filming sessions.

The original version of Matt Groening's essay "The True Story of The Residents" was first published in this guide. It is noted that there are blanks in the story that The Residents did not want to fill, leaving Groening to theorize about what could have happened in those gaps; therefore, this is not a completely "true" biography of the band, but rather an insight into their work. Some information about the cancelled film project Vileness Fats is also included, with a couple of previously unseen set photos from the production.

The most comprehensive discography of the group's releases published up to that date is featured, including details about the group's (then) unavailable early recordings. In the first edition of the book, the discography covers everything up until the 1979 album Eskimo (which at the time of publication, did not even have finalized cover art). The second edition expands the discography to include everything up to the 1981 W.E.I.R.D. release of the Babyfingers EP.[2] Although some of the dates have since proven inaccurate, the list still provides many recording and release dates which are unavailable elsewhere.

Contents (1979 Edition)

The W.E.I.R.D. Complete Discography & Recording History

Unreleased Tapes (1970 - 1971)

Rusty Coathangers For The Doctor
  • Recorded: July 1970
  • Song Titles: Rusty Coathangers For The Doctor, Bo Diddley, (Song titles for remainder of music cannot be documented)
  • Data: Approx 40 minutes of material on 1/4 inch reel tape @7 1/2 in A painting (current where-abouts unknown) was to serve as cover art. Not released in any form.
The Ballad of Stuffed Trigger
The Warner Bros. Album
  • Recorded: September 1970 - May 1971
  • Song Titles: Thirty-nine song titles (side one 22 - side two 17) included as liner notes
  • Data: A 'demo' conceived in an effort to gain a recording contract with the Warner Bros. Label. Approx 40 minutes of materiel on 1/4 inch reel tape @ 71/2 ips. Complete front and back artwork designed for tape box. Not released in any form.
Baby Sex

Pre-Cryptic Corp (1972 - 1976)

Santa Dog
  • Label/Number.Ralph RR1972
  • Release Dates: December 20 1972
  • Recorded: October - November 1972
  • Song Titles:
  • Data: A double record set of two 45 rpm singles with signed and (intentionally) miss-numbered hand printed covers. Originally 500 sets were pressed of which 100 were lost in transit prior to packaging. A additional 100 were damaged and discarded with the remaining 300 going into circulation. Each of the four sides is credited to various fictitious artists (Side One- Ivory and The Braineaters, Side Two-Delta Nudes, Side Three- The College Walters, Side Four - Arf & Omega featuring the Singing Lawn Chairs) which were apparently inside jokes.
  • Status: Edition sold out.
Meet The Residents
The Third Reich 'N Roll
  • Label/Number: Ralph RR1075
  • Release Date: February 1, 1976
  • Recorded: October 1974-October 1975
  • Song Titles:
  • Data: A 'concept' album of cover versions of pop songs from the early & mid sixties. Original pressing o 1000 discs are distinguished by a green and orange colored carrot on the front cover, a large black on red emblem on the back cover, an insert with liner notes folded into jacket opening, and a black on red label design. Subsequent printings were done using glossy paper stock with reduced liner notes on the center back surrounded by repeating red on black emblems, the Ralph logo in white on the lower right corner, and a redesigned red on black label.
  • Status: First edition sold out. Revised version currently available.
Aphids In The Hall
  • Label/Nnumber Ralph RRx0776
  • Release Date: September 1976
  • Recorded: February 1976
  • Song Titles: Aphids In The Hall, You're A Martain, Home
  • Data: A limited edition 45 rpm single by a Residents associate, Schwump. Material featured o this released culled from a 'demo' of eight songs done with THe Residents who assisted on various instruments who also served as producers of the sessions. Fabricated at the same time of original Satisfaction. 200 signed and numbered copies with hand printed (2 color) sleeves.
  • Status: Edition Sold Out
Satisfaction
  • Label/Number: Ralph RR0776
  • Release Date: September 1976
  • Recorded: April-June 1976
  • Song Titles: Satisfaction, Loser ≅ Weed
  • Data: A limited edition pressing of 200 45 rpm singles with hand printed 3 color covers. All copies signed and numbered. "B" side was a loose track recorded at about the time though not specifically intended for this project. Satisfaction features Snakefinger (Philip Lithman) on guitar.
  • Status: Edition sold out.
Fingerprince
  • Label/Number: Ralph RR1276
  • Release Date: February 1977
  • Recorded: 1974-November 1976
  • Song Titles:
  • Data: A hybrid album which was the outgrowth of the NOT AVAILABLE sessions with some material dating back as far as 1972. Originally titled TOURNIQUET OF ROSES until just before jackets were to be printed (note that FINGERPRINCE is written in where the original title was removed in liner notes on back-cover) Album was also originally planned to be a 3 sided release but this action was overturned by The Cryptic Corp, as economically unfeasible. Original pressing copies are easily identified by the phrase - First pressing December 1976 of one-thousand disc - on the back cover, and by the dark charcoal brown ink which was only used on this printing. Subsequent copies are printed in sienna and do not have the above quote.
  • Status: First edition sold out. Revised version currently available.
At the end of 1973, 4,000 clear 8 inch square 33 1/3 rpm flexi disc with 7 minutes of 
music condensed from the original MEET THE RESIDENTS album were produced as a 
promotional tool. Approx 3,000 were combined with a full page ad on the inside back 
cover of the february 1974 issue of FILE magazine, a contemporary art publication out 
of Toronto. Even though the ad offered copies of the original MEET THE RESIDENTS for 
the patty sum of $2, the magazine did not produce a single response due to the 
magazine's failure to distribute even a fraction of the agreed number of issues. The 
remaining 1,000 flexi disc were staple bound in paper folders featuring a black and 
white reproduction of the cover of MEET THE RESIDENTS and were offered to mail order 
customers at about the time of the first Ralph Records catalog.


Current Era (1977 - 1979)

Babyfingers
  • Label/Number: Ralph RR0377
  • Recorded: November 1976 - January 1977
  • Song Titles
  • Data: A 7 inch 33 1/2 rpm EP containing the 'missing' third side of the FINGERPRINCE album. Disc is made up of new and leftover material from FINGERPRINCE sessions which were compiled and pressed in an edition of 30 copies for eventual inclusion in the FINGERPRINCE COLLECTORS BOX (Cancelled). No accompanying artwork. Copies of this EP were hand decorated and sent to those persons who had secured copies of the FINGERPRINCE box when this project was suddenly called off.
  • Status: Remaining copies in Cryptic Corp archives.  
The Residents Radio Special
Blorp Essette
  • Label/Number: L.A.F.M.S 005
  • Released: April 1977
  • Recorded: August 1975
  • Song Title: Whoopy Snorp
  • Data: An album of various artists compiled by the Los Angeles Free Music Society, a small group of 'avant gardists' who provide occasional recordings of dubious quality, the album sports only one cut by The Residents, a musical montage with a spoken poem, which was recorded especially for this project and was donated to L.A.F.M.S. A limited edition of 500 copies. Cover and label art by Don Van Villet (Captain Beefheart)
  • Status: Edition sold out
The Beatles Play The Residents / The Residents Play The Beatles
  • Label/Number: RR0577
  • Release Date: August 1977
  • Recorded: May 1977
  • Song Titles: Beyond The Valley Of A Day In The Life, Flying
  • Data: A limited edition of 500 numbered 45 rpm singles with hand printed 3 color covers. 'A' side is actually a composition made up of portions of songs recorded by The Beatles which were treated and edited by The Residents. Flying is a Beatles composition performed by The Residents.
  • Status: Edition sold out
Duck Stab
  • Label/Number: Ralph RR1177
  • Release Date: February 1978
  • Recorded: October-November 1977
  • Song Titles:
  • Data: A 7 Inch 33 1/2 rpm EP of material recorded in a lull of new material and as a break from routine during the ESKIMO sessions. Original pressings (distinguishable by shiny coated stock used on labels) were of inferior quality. Copies of this release were marked alone and in sealed packages with a folded 2 color poster & matching t-shirt with font & back designs. 20,000 copies pressed.
  • Status: EP edition currently being phased out in favor of DUCK STAB/BUSTER & GLEN LP.
The Spot
  • Label/Number: Ralph RR7805
  • Released: August 1978
  • Recorded: June-July 1978
  • Song Titles:
  • Data: A 45 rpm single by long time Residents associate, Phillip 'Snakefinger' Lithman. Snakefinger, who has played on nearly every Residents release was also a founding member of an English band, Chilli Willi (disbanded) who recorded two albums (both deleted). 'A' Side is co-written by Snakefinger & The Residents, Smelly Tongues is a Residents composition from MEET THE RESIDENTS. Entire pressing of 10,000 discs in transparent blue vinyl with a 4 color picture sleeve. All instruments (except percussion) by Snakefinger. Produced by The Residents.
  • STATUS: Currently available (edition to be exhausted)
Satisfaction
  • Label/Number: Ralph, RR7803
  • Recorded: April-June 1978
  • Song Titles:
  • DATA: A 45 rpm single re-release of The Residents limited edition version of the same recording. (RR0776) with a re-designed 2 color cover. Pressing of 10,000 disc in transparent yellow vinyl.
  • Status: Currently available (edition to be exhausted)
Not Available
  • Label/Number: Ralph RR1174
  • Release Date: October 1978
  • Recorded: 1974
  • Song Titles:
  • Data: An album which is a work in four parts, recorded during 1974 up to the time when THE THIRD REICH 'N' ROLL sessions had begun. Originally not intended for release as per The Residents theory of obscurity. The album was released by The Cryptic Corp, when the ESKIMO album failed to meet it's deadline, thus serving as some sort of replacement. Original pressings of this (identifiable by a maroon/purple label and matrix #1174 B Re 1) suffered from an audible blemish in the mastering process on side two (Ship's A 'Going Down). This defect affected several hundred copies, which Ralph Records attempted to recall, and was immediately replaced with an improved pressing (yellow/orange label and matrix #1174 B Re 3). No change was made in cover art.
  • Status: Improved version currently available.
Duck Stab / Buster & Glen
Santa Dog '78
  • Label/Number: Ralph/RR7812
  • Recorded: November 1978, October-November 1972
  • Song Titles: Santa Dog '78/Santa Dog
  • DATA: A special 45 rpm single release which was sent as a Christmas gift to Ralph Records mailing list recipients in appreciation of support. One side features a version of Santa Dog recorded especially for this release, and the original version, taken from side on ('Fire') of the first Ralph release of 1972, on the reverse. Edition of 3,000 copies, with heavy cardboard covers supporting 2 color artwork.
  • Status: Remaining copies property of Ralph Records.
Please Do Not Steal It!
Note: Though this LP was not made available to the general public, versions of this same selection of material are to be released in England (on Ralph/Virgin records), and in Holland (on Ralph/Ariola records), as NIBBLES, with a full cover design by Pore No Graphics. Set for early fall release in both countries. No US release is planned.
ESKIMO

Legacy

W.E.I.R.D. ceased operations in 1981 and the book has been out of print ever since.

Later literary guides to the works of The Residents, such as The Cryptic Guide to The Residents and Uncle Willie's Highly Opinionated Guide to The Residents by Uncle Willie (head of the successor fan club UWEB), have corrected and expanded upon the information presented in The Official W.E.I.R.D. Book, effectively supplanting the earlier guide.

Credits

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ The liner notes of the Meet The Residents pREServed edition state that the album was recorded between February and October 1973.
  1. ↑ "The club's membership package was very elaborate: in addition to a member's card, you received a copy of The Official W.E.I.R.D. Book Of The Residents with cover art by Gary Panter and containing The True Story of The Residents by music journalist Matt Groening (later famous for his Life in Hell comix and The Simpsons)." "The Fan Clubs", The Residents Historical (archived via archive.org), 2007
  2. ↑ "Sooo, the 79 print goes up to the Eskimo info..the 81 goes up to to Babyfingers ...hope that helps.." - Andreas Mathews, comment in The Residents unofficial Facebook group, December 11, 2020
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