Untitled (Mole song)
"Untitled" is an outtake by The Residents, released on their Mole Box 6xCD compilation in 2019; it was initially premiered on the Dutch radio programme Beautiful Extremes in 1987 and has consistently been associated with The Big Bubble. It is one of several untitled tracks within The Residents' discography, although it is the only one to be referred to as such in packaging.
Background
Prior to its official release, "Untitled" was a heavily bootlegged Residents demo, often labelled as "Untitled Big Bubble Demo." Like most Residents bootlegs, it was initially made available by Hardy Fox, who premiered it on the Beautiful Extremes radio programme in June of 1987. For his appearance, Fox compiled a cassette from a number of demos The Residents had given to this purpose, all of which had been created "since the tour."
Before playing the demo, Fox stated that it sounded like it was "somewhat coming off The Big Bubble period," prompting the DJ to ask if it was older material, to which Fox to re-iterates "everything I have is 87." The song features The Singing Resident singing in an improvised language, not dissimilar from the Mole tongue heard on The Big Bubble album, although some stylistic differences are noticeable in the arrangement, for example the percussion, which is notably absent from most of the aforementioned album. The song ends with a bassline reminiscent of "Six Things to a Cycle" and a quotation of "Entrance of the Gladiators," which is a recurring motif in Residents recordings from the 1980s.
The track was officially released in 2019 on the Mole Box 6xCD set, as a bonus track for The Big Bubble disc; the liner notes describe it as "an unfinished outtake, I gather, from the 'Big Bubble' sessions." The Mysterious Archivist, who wrote the liner notes, states they "implored The Residents to search the vaults for another version," hoping for a better mix, but teased "it seems this is all there is. For now" An alternative, abridged, mix was eventually released on the 2024 outtakes compilation Leftovers Again?! AGAIN?!, within the "Making of a Mole (1979-1985)" suite. The suite was also featured on the 2025 rarities CD Leftovers (1970-1988).
Credits
(Adapted from Mole Box liner notes)
- Written and performed by The Residents
- Curated, edited and compiled by The Residents
- Enabled by RA
- Tape transfer, restoration and mastering by Scott Colburn
Release History
- Mole Box (2019) [Version 1]
- Leftovers Again?! AGAIN?! (2024) [Version 2]
- Leftovers (1970-1988) (2025) [Version 2]
