Rusty Coathangers for the Doctor

Rusty Coathangers for the Doctor is a demo tape recorded in 1970, before The Residents had decided on a name for themselves. It is considered to be their earliest project (although the group insists that it not be considered part of their discography). It is extremely rare, has not been officially released and is very unlikely to ever be. Bootlegs of the proto-album have circulated - the most complete recording of it lasts about 12 minutes and can be found on YouTube.

This album, as well as three other proto-albums recorded between 1970 and 1971 (The Ballad of Stuffed Trigger, The Warner Bros. Album and Baby Sex), is not considered by The Residents to be part of their legacy, mostly due to its poor quality and lack of any direction or artistic value.

No excerpts from this album have ever appeared in any of The Residents' releases. That includes the ERA B4-74 and Delta Nudes' Greatest Hiss compilations.

Track listing

There is no definitive track listing for the album. What follows is a brief summary of the longest known recording:

1. A bluesy acoustic instrumental accompanied by a moody electric guitar solo.
2. Studio banter, interpolated by female singing and sampled old-timey music.
3. "Rusty Coathangers for the Doctor," an acoustic folk number.
4. A continuation of "Rusty Coathangers for the Doctor," played on an unknown instrument.
5. Chaotic percussion and instrumental foolery.

Trivia

• A sample of the tape was used in a trailer for the documentary Theory of Obscurity, in which Hardy Fox can be heard saying, "OK, it should be recording now. I hope it is..."

See also

• ERA B4-74
• The Delta Nudes' Greatest Hiss