Wednesday, July 13, 2011

1986-11-12 Ralph Records



If you think the Residents are strange, wait until you see the other groups on this label. 


Here is the story: 


RALPH RECORDS (1972- )Ralph was officially launched by The Residents in 1972 with the release of the "Santa Dog" double 7-inch. At that time, the newly formed The Cryptic Corpration took over the label with visions of running it as a legit record company and not just a vehicle for Residents recordings.  During the following years Ralph Records became the home of Snakefinger, Tuxedomoon, Fred Frith, Renaldo & the Loaf, MX-80 Sound, Yello, Art Bears, Rhythm & Noise, Hajime Tachibana, Nash the Slash, Clubfoot Orchestra and, of course, The Residents.In 1986, The Cryptic Corporation, having undergone management shakeup, felt the label business was no longer working as a business model and that it was important to find better distribution for their star act, The Residents.  So all artists were released from their contracts and the label was shut down.  The Residents were moved onto the higher profile RYKO label for the USA, Torso for Europe, and Wave for Japan.So the Ralph Records office was permanently closed.  
Or so The Cryptic Corporation thought. 
In 2010, the interest in physical product had become very weak in a culture now obsessed with the availability of music via download. Instant gratification was a difficult monster to fight. But The Cryptic Corporation felt there was still a reason to have items that one could hold in sweaty hands. In the fall of 2010 they unlocked the long bolted door of RALPH RECORDS with the resolve of once again making vinyl LP's with 12" covers one can hold. CD / DVD and downloads would also be available.
Late in the summer of 2010, Ralph Records was again launched as a record company. 
http://www.residents.com/historical/page85/page90/page91/page91.html
Music included:
The Residents, Renaldo and the Loaf, Snakefinger, Tuxedomoon, and more. 


Download or listen right away:
http://www.uvm.edu/~asnider/listen/cmk861112_ralph_records.mp3


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