Ralph Records press release, August 1st 1981
Ralph Records issued a press release on August 1st 1981 to promote the label's releases planned for the fall of that year; Mark of the Mole by The Residents and Claro Que Si by Yello.
Copies of this press release were included in "special media person advance Mark of the Mole packages" issued by Ralph to certain contacts in the media and music press in mid-August; these packages (of which at least one is known to exist) also included a personalized note from Ralph managing director Jay Clem including further information about Mark of the Mole and The Mole Trilogy, a cassette copy of Mark of the Mole, and a set of the album's lyrics.
The below text has been transcribed to this wiki by a Mysterious Spanish Lady from a photograph of a copy of the Mark of the Mole promotional material kept by former Heavy Metal magazine editor Lou Stathis (September 29th 1952 – May 4th 1997) which was being auctioned on eBay in mid-2022.
Letter from Jay Clem
8/13/81
Yo, Lou! Hi!
As discussed, here is your "special media person advance Mark of the Mole package".
Enclosed:
1) cassette
2) lyrics
3) pertinant press release (again)*
4) additional info, below.
.....'mark' is the first of a planned trilogy, and deals w/ the plot of a primitive culture impacting first w/ uncontrolled nature and then w/ a very different, more technologically advanced culture.
the 2nd lp will be documentory in nature as it will explore the musical heritage of each of the 2 cultures.
the 3rd lp will pick up the story following the merging of the 2 cultures, and will explore the impact of the new single culture, especially the new music it will create.
the 2nd & 3rd lps will not necessarily be the next RZ lps released, but instead will remain works in progress with a predicted completion in 1985.
* please feel free to allude to the 'more'. the 'more' is of course a secret. I'll filll you in in person.
! A new RZ photo will accompany the official promo LP that you will receive. Please reserve space, and please hold all reviews until you recieve the promo copy. that will mean that records are available for sell.
I'll talk to you soon. Thanks billions.
Regards,
The press release
PRESS RELEASE PRESS RELEASE
AUGUST 1, 1981
SUBJECT: RALPH RECORDS FALL 1981 RELEASES
GOD! THERE IS SUCH A MOOD OF FITFUL DEPRESSION FLOATING AROUND RECORD COMPANIES THESE DAYS. PERHAPS THOSE INDUSTRY TYPES SHOULD RETHINK SOME OF THE UNINSPIRED MUSIC THEY KEEP TRYING TO DUMP ON US.
OH WELL...WHO REALLY CARES? THERE IS STILL RALPH.
RALPH RELEASE #1.
MARK OF THE MOLE - THE RESIDENTS RZ-8152
RELEASE DATE: SEPT. 11
THE EYEBALLS ARE GONE. THE RESIDENTS SAY THEY'VE SEEN TOO MUCH ALREADY. "NOW IS THE TIME TO BE SEEN", THEY ADD. AND MARK OF THE MOLE IS HARD TO SEE AS ANYTHING BUT MUSICAL DRAMA. IF THE RESIDENTS PULL IT OFF, EXPECT MUCH MORE FROM MARK OF THE MOLE THAN JUST ANOTHER ALBUM.
RALPH RELEASE #2.
CLARO QUE SI - YELLO YL-8159
RELEASE DATE: OCT. 15
YELLO CONTINUES THE DIRECTION SET BY THEIR EXTREMELY POPULAR LP, SOLID PLEASURE. ONCE MORE THEY PROVE THAT PLAYING SYNTHESIZERS AND DEPRESSION DO NOT NECESSARILY GO HAND IN HAND.