Satisfaction
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This article is about the 1976 single. You may be looking for the song of the same name. |
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"Satisfaction" is a 7" single by The Residents, first released in a limited edition of 200 copies on Ralph Records on September 12th 1976.
The group's first major 7" single, "Satisfaction" was intended as a short distillation of the satirical concept behind their album The Third Reich 'n Roll, released earlier in the year. It features a cover of the Rolling Stones song of the same title on the A-side, backed by a Residents original, "Loser ≅ Weed", on the B-side.
In 1978, "Satisfaction" was reissued by The Residents' management company The Cryptic Corporation (apparently against the objections of the group) in a much larger pressing of 30,000 copies; this pressing became The Residents' biggest success up to that time, helping the group to gain their first notable attention in the New Wave music press.
In more recent years, the single's two tracks have been featured on reissues of The Third Reich 'n Roll, most notably the Classic Series and pREServed expanded CD editions in 1987 and 2018 respectively.
History
Concept
When The Residents conceived of their Third Reich N Roll album in the mid-1970s, the group felt that the album needed a single, in order to accurately reflect the content which they were parodying.
Instead of taking two 3 minute selections from the album, the group instead wanted to make a new recording, one which encapsulated the entire album into one song. They picked "Satisfaction" to cover, seeing it as the 60s song.[1]
Recording
Dates on when exactly The Residents began working on Satisfaction are somewhat contradictory. The February 1977 Ralph Records mail catalogue states that the entire single was recorded in June of 1976, but The W.E.I.R.D. Complete Discography & Recording History, published in 1979, states that recording started two months earlier in April. The Cryptic Guide to The Residents (1986), seems to corroborate this date.
The 2021 outtakes compilation, Leftovers Again?! gives a vastly different run of dates, stating that the B-Side, Loser ≅ Weed, was recorded in January of 1976, and that they worked on the A-Side between June - October of that same year. (Which is odd, since the single was apparently released in September.)
Due to The Residents premiering the song at their June 7th Oh Mummy live performance, it is likely that the song was at least close to completion by that point.
Release
After being delayed six months, to find the right shade of pink for the sleeve,[2] "Satisfaction" was first released in September of 1976 in a run of only 200 copies with hand-screened, three color covers (which were then hand-inked with three more colors). The single includes a cover of The Rolling Stones' "Satisfaction", backed with a Residents original, "Loser ≅ Weed". The single was released alongside Aphids in he Hall, A Residents produced EP by emerging artist Schwump.
The single was reissued in 1978 to take advantage of the group's newfound popularity following the release of the Duck Stab! EP, in an edition of 30,000 copies pressed on transparent yellow vinyl in a slightly re-designed two color sleeve.
This reissue caused a disagreement between The Residents and The Cryptic Corporation as it was issued without their consent; this disagreement would lead to The Residents taking the master tapes of Eskimo and fleeing to England, forcing the release of Not Available in the interim. Despite this, the re-issue was fairly successful in its own terms, topping the Record World New Wave Top 20 of June 17th 1978. The re-issue also featured a longer version of its A-Side. The original 3:54 version of Satisfaction has never been re-released.
However it is possible, that the 3:54 track length was incorrect. Early on in their career, The Residents' releases would contain incorrect track lengths, such as the original pressings of Meet The Residents or Fingerprince.
Track listing
Original release
Side A
- Satisfaction (Jagger/Richards) (3:54)
Side B
- Loser ≅ Weed (Residents) (2:07)
1978 reissue
Side A
- Satisfaction (Jagger/Richards) (4:30)
Side B
- Loser ≅ Weed (Residents) (2:09)
Credits
- Cover Art: Porno/Graphics
- Produced By: Residents Uninc
- Snakefinger: On Lead Guitar on "Satisfaction"
- D. Jackovich: Percussion on "Loser ≅ Weed"
- Backing Stylists: The Pointless Sisters on "Satisfaction"
Release history
| Year | Label | Format | Region | Note | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Ralph Records | 7" | US | 6:01 | |
| 1978 | 6:39 | ||||
| 1984 | 17x7 The Ralph Singles | ||||
| 1987 | East Side Digital |
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Third Reich n Roll CD | 6:50 | |
| Torso | NL | 6:39 | |||
| 1994 | Euro Ralph | EU | In Memoriam Torso | ||
| 1997 | RykoDisc | US | Our Poor, Our Tired, Our Huddled Masses | 6:43 | |
| Euro Ralph | EU | 6:42 | |||
| Bomba Records | JP | ||||
| 2009 | Birdsong & Hayabusa Landings | Third Reich n Roll CD | 6:47 | ||
| 2015 | Superior Viaduct | 7" | US | 6:01 | |
| 2018 | New Ralph Too, Cherry Red Records, MVD | CD | US, EU |
Third Reich n Roll pREServed | 6:45 |
See also
The Third Reich 'n Roll The Beatles Play The Residents And The Residents Play The Beatles
Resources
External links and references
- ↑ Ralph Records Newsletter Vol 1 [Feb 77]
- ↑ Jay Clem, Sounds Magazine, 1978
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Satisfaction (1976) Side A: "Satisfaction" |
