Taking a break from releasing any new CD entries, New Ralph Records and Cherry Red Records have been releasing vinyl editions of the Residents’ pREServed Editions. The latest one is on the the groups 1977 effort Fingerprince. As top be expected with Cherry Red releases, this is yet anther impressive release.
The Album Review
Taken from the Fingerprince + Duck Stab review from March 2018
For their next album, the Residents considered making a three-sided album. The idea, while intriguing, was too expensive for the record label. Besides, comedy troupe Monty Python had already released a three-sided album of their own with their 1973 album Matching Tie and Handkerchief. As a result, the group reluctantly made a standard two-sided album. Released in 1977, Fingerprince was fairly different from its predecessors. While it’s usually considered the lesser of the group’s work from the 1970s, Fingerprince is still a strong album.
With nine songs to offer, it’s another weird and wacky album from the group. The songs range from the delightfully demented (“You Yesyesyes”, “Godsong”) to simply eerie (“March de la Winni”, “Tourniquet of Roses”). Of the nine tracks, it’s the 17 minute “Six Thing to a Cycle” that stands out the most . Within its 17 minutes, it’s a whole collage of madness- with the group running through variations of the “chew, chew, gum, chew” rhythm/structure in several different styles. Listening to the album, it does sound like this wasn’t an entirely completed album. Given what the group had to work with, Fingerprince is a solid album.
The Vinyl Packaging and Sound + Bonus Tracks
Fingerprince comes with two 180 gram vinyl LPs. There’s also a booklet included, with some liner notes. These are not the same liner notes found on the 2018 CD release. Even then, this is a nice addition. The records are housed in spiffy look Residents at 50 inner sleeves, with the pREServed logo on the opposite side. The vinyl labels look old school master tape reels and rightfully so: according to the liner notes and press release, this reissue of Fingerprince is taken from master tapes. While some fans have not been happy with the remastering job on the pREServed edition series CDs, the album itself sound very strong. It doesn’t sound too quiet nor is it too loud. Whether it sounds better than earlier pressings is another story. As it is, it sounds good.
Along with the original album, this vinyl reissue of Fingerprince comes with a second record with two bonus tracks: “Leapmus” and “Tournament of Roses RDX Suite.” The former was first released on the 2018 CD release while the latter seems to be a new addition to the Residents catalogue.
Conclusion
This vinyl reissue of Fingerprince is a strong release. The sound is strong and the packaging is top notch as always. Whether this is worth getting as a replacement over other vinyl copies of the album, that’s a matter of opinion. For what it is, Cherry Red have done it again.
I'm a writer/journalist with a passion for music and pop culture. Having graduated from King's College in Wilkes-Barre, PA in 2014, I've been looking for a platform in which I can share my passions. Since 2009, I've been posting to my own blog- The Walrus' Music Blog- via Blogger. I'm also the author of two self-published books, "The Camp: Stories from the Summer" and "The College: Stories from King's." Together, the two books cover the story of my life from 2004 to 2014. I've been lucky enough to interview several of my favorite musicians over the years and go to concerts from time to time. I'm also very devoted to the CBS reality TV show Survivor, which I started watching in 2002 when its fourth season started. I currently live in New Jersey.