1982
1982 for The Residents was centered around The Mole Trilogy. The second entry in the series, The Tunes of Two Cities, released on the first half of the year. Months later, the group presented a series of live performances based on Mark of the Mole and Tunes of Two Cities, named The Mole Show. While this was not the first time The Residents had performed in front of an audience, none of their performances so far had been of this magnitude.
The year was also marked by the 10th anniversary of The Residents' label, Ralph Records, and by the internal reestructuring of The Cryptic Corporation after two of its founding members, Jay Clem and John Kennedy, retired from the company. This would have financial and logistical consequences not only for Ralph's operations, but also for The Residents, who were forced to relocate after several years in their 444 Grove Street studio.
Timeline
January
- The Residents finish recording The Tunes of Two Cities.[1]
February
- At some point during Mole Show rehearsals, The Residents record a cover of "Jailhouse Rock", later released on Residue.
March
- 1st: A clueless Penn Jillette begins recording the Ralph Records 10th Anniversary Radio Special!
- 7th: A deeply traumatized Penn Jillette finishes recording the Ralph Records 10th Anniversary Radio Special!
- 10th: Ralph Records releases The Tunes of Two Cities, the ninth studio album of The Residents and part two of the Mole Trilogy.
April
- Ralph Records sends out copies of Ralph Records 10th Anniversary Radio Special! to radio stations and friends.
- Ralph releases Snakefinger's Manual of Errors, his third studio album. Unlike his previous two efforts, The Residents were not available to help with production on this record; however, they did co-write two of its tracks.
- 10th: The Residents perform a trial version of The Mole Show at The House in Santa Monica, CA. This "pilot" show was rather barebones and was done in front of a private audience. A recording of this show was issued on Assorted Secrets.
- A collector's edition of Mark of the Mole is released on brown vinyl.
May
- 1st: Recommended Records, which was in part owned by Chris Cutler, releases a sampler LP containing various tracks imported to the UK by the label. The Residents, long-time friends of Cutler, submited "Walter Westinghouse" as a personal favor, marking the first time the track was available outside of a fan club exclusive release or a radio special.
July
- Jay Clem retires from his duties at The Cryptic Corporation.[2]
August
- The Residents finish work on the Intermission EP.[3]
September
- 1st: The Mole Show, the first ever Residents tour, is announced on a press release.
- Continuing the celebration of its tenth anniversary, Ralph releases a double-LP compilation called Best of Ralph. The first LP has the favorite songs of Ralph's most loyal fans, as voted on a poll exclusive to mail-order costumers. The second LP has selections picked by Ralph's staff.
October
- The Cryptic Corporation publishes the first issue of The Comix of Two Cities, a mini-comic by Matt Howarth based on The Mole Trilogy. While none of its events are "canon", as The Residents did not have any input on the story, the comic is sold at concession stands during Mole Show performances.
- Sometime before the debut of the Mole Show, The Residents record Res Dance '82, a live-in-the-studio runthrough of the entire performance.
- 10th: Intermission is released to promote the upcoming Mole Show.
- 26th: The official opening of The Mole Show takes place at The Kabuki Theatre in San Francisco, CA. The performance is filmed and released in excerpts on VHS, and later in full on the Mole Bag.
- 27th: The Residents perform The Mole Show at The Kabuki Theatre in San Francisco, CA.
- 28th: John Kennedy retires from The Cryptic Corporation. With Kennedy's retirement, The Residents lose the deed to their Grove Street studio and move into their Minna Street Studio. Hardy Fox becomes President of The Corporation, and creates the TAR project which is only surfaced in the late 2010s.
- 29th: The Residents have two performances of The Mole Show at The Roxy Theatre in Los Angeles, CA.
- 30th: The Residents have two performances of The Mole Show at The Roxy Theatre in Los Angeles, CA. These are recorded and edited for the Mole Show "bootleg" album.
- 31st: The final Mole Show performance of 1982 takes place at Perkins Palace in Pasadena, CA.
November
- 30th: Michael Jackson releases his Thriller album, including the song "Billie Jean", which The Residents would later sample for their cover of "Kaw-Liga".
Releases
- The Tunes of Two Cities (LP, Ralph Records, RZ8202)
- Intermission (EP, Ralph Records, RZ8252, 20,000 copies pressed)
Re-releases
- Mark of the Mole Collector's Edition (LP, Ralph Records, 900 copies pressed)
- Includes the album on a brown vinyl LP, a silk-screened cover and inner sleeve, the signatures of The Residents on the back cover and a 50cm x 70cm promotional poster.
Collaborations
- Manual of Errors (LP, Ralph Records, SN8203, 10,000 copies)
- Studio album by Snakefinger. Two tracks were co-written with The Residents.
Compilation appearances
- Ralph Records 10th Anniversary Radio Special! (2xLP, Ralph Records, RR8205, 800 copies)
- Includes excerpts of the following songs by The Residents:
- Recommended Records Sampler (2xLP, Sampler, Recommended Records, 2,000-3,000 copies pressed)
- The Residents contributed the track "Walter Westinghouse".
- Best of Ralph (2xLP, Compilation, Ralph Records, RR8251, 25,000 copies)
- Includes the following songs by The Residents:
References
- ↑ Uncle Willie's Highly Opinionated Guide to The Residents, page 105.
- ↑ American Composers Series pREServed liner notes.
- ↑ Uncle Willie's Highly Opinionated Guide to The Residents, page 101.