Monday 25 August 2014

Various Artists - "Frank Johnson's Favorites" (Ralph Records RR8110) 1981


As selected by the Ralph records computer, a certain mr Frank Johnson(Oh those Zany chaps!). Here are his/her/its favourite Ralph Records recordings. Mostly obscure B-sides, and unreleased compositions from Ralph's band of weirdo's from around 1977 to 81. No Chrome on this one, but this is compensated for by a hefty number of Englishmen. San Francisco must have ran out of weirdo's!?

Great tracks by UK pub Rocker, Phillip Lithman, aka Snakefinger; unreleased gibberish from the medical men of Renaldo and the Loaf; a couple of Henry Cow connected numbers from Fred Frith and Art Bears; Swiss art pop from Yello; more MX-80 Sound avant rock riffage; and two decent singles from Tuxedo Moon (when they were still good).

Of course we also get a couple of excellent Residents B-Sides,which, naturally are the best, and weirdest ,of the bunch.

A great compilation to alienate your conformist friends,and to prove that you are an intellectual who can appreciate things from outside of outside the box.

Sleeve Notes:

Compilation of single B-sides and non-LP tracks selected by Frank Johnson, the Ralph Records computer (at that time):

Track A1: released as a single in 1980, never before on any LP,
Track A2: released as the B side to "Dancing In The Street" single (1980),
Track A3: never before released. Thanks to Melvyn for sitting still,
Track A4: released as a single in 1980, never before on any LP,
Track A5: released as the B side of "Satisfaction" single (1976), never before on any LP,
Track A6: released as the B side of "The Spot" single in 1978, never before on any LP,
Track B1: released as the B side of "Bimbo" single (1980), never before on any LP,
Track B2: released as the B side of "Someday You'll Be King" (1980), never before on any LP,
Track B3: released as the B side of "Man In The Dark Sedan" single (1980), never before on any LP,
Track B4: released as the second side of "The Beatles Play The Residents - The Residents Play The Beatles" single (1977), never before on any LP,
Track B5: released as the B side of "Rats And Monkeys" single (1979), never before on any LP,
Track B6: released as the B side of "What Use?" single (1980), never before on any LP.

Tracklist :

A1 –Tuxedomoon Dark Companion 4:10
A2 –Fred Frith What A Dilemma 3:12
A3 –Renaldo And The Loaf Melvyn's Repose 2:05
A4 –MX-80 Sound O Type 3:36
A5 –Residents, The Loser = Weed 2:09
A6 –Snakefinger Smelly Tongues 2:24
B1 –Yello I.T. Splash 2:37
B2 –MX-80 Sound White Night 4:17
B3 –Snakefinger Womb To Worm 3:13
B4 –Residents, The Flying 3:22
B5 –Art Bears Collapse (Edited Version) 3:00
B6 –Tuxedomoon Crash 5:26




5 comments:

rev.b said...

Sweet!! You Sir/Madam are a blogger of great tastes and distinction. Thx agn.

Sean said...

Really great stuff. Thanks for posting. I had much of this on a tape from a friend some 30 years ago but didn't know the original source. Amazing to finally hear this again. Very grateful ! - s

Jonny Zchivago said...

Cheers sean.

Anonymous said...

thanks for Frank Johnson's favourites

Paul said...

I had forgotten how great this was. In fact, I'm not sure I appreciated all the tracks when this came out as I do now. Thanks for posting it!