Commercial Album

Commercial Album is the seventh studio album released by American experimental rock band the Residents in October 1980 by Ralph Records.

Background

The album 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. It contains 40 songs, each lasting exactly one minute - a deliberate allusion and satire of 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.<ref name="Inc.1990">Template:Cite book</ref> 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.<ref name="Inc.1980">Template:Cite book</ref>

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". Template:Track listing Template:Track listing

1988 CD bonus tracks

• Tracks 41 and 42 are outtakes from the album, released separately as the Commercial Single.
• Track 44 was recorded for the 1980 Morgan Fisher project Miniatures.
• Tracks 45–48 were previously released on the 1983 compilation Residue.
• Track 49 was previously released as a single in 1984.
• Track 50 was previously released as a single in 1987.

2019 pREServed edition bonus tracks

Template:Track listingAfter 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. Template:Track listing

Personnel

• Guest musicians:
  • Fred Frith: guitar on "Japanese Watercolor",<ref name=":0">The Residents - Heaven? [RykoDisc RCD 20012] (1986) Track Credits</ref> "Moisture",<ref name=":1">The Residents - Our Tired, Our Poor, Our Huddled Masses [Euro Ralph CD017] (1997) Track Credits</ref> and "The Coming of the Crow",<ref name=":2">The Residents - Hell! [RykoDisc RCD 20013] (1986) Track Credits</ref> bass
• Special Appearances
  • Chris Cutler – drums on "Love Leaks Out",<ref name=":0" /> "Moisture",<ref name=":1" /> and "The Coming of the Crow"<ref name=":2" />
  • Don Jackovich – drums on "Love Leaks Out"<ref name=":1" />
  • Sandy Sandwich (Andy Partridge) – vocals and guitar on "Margaret Freeman"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Mud's Sis (Lene Lovich) – special appearance<ref>The Residents - Commercial Album [Mute, CDSTUMM243] (2004) Track Credits</ref>
  • Snakefinger – "special appearance" on "Moisture",<ref name=":1" /> vocals on "Ups and Downs"
• Secret Special Appearances
  • Nessie Lessons – vocals on "Amber"<ref name=":0" />
  • Brian Eno – synthesizer on "The Coming of the Crow"<ref name=":3">Template:Cite book</ref>
  • David Byrne – backing vocals on "Suburban Bathers"<ref name=":3" />
• Cover design and art direction by Pore Know Graphics