Number of Residents albums

The number of albums by The Residents is something that has been a source of controversy, confusion and obfuscation since the 1976 release of their second (or third?) studio album The Third Reich 'n Roll.
== Specific albums ==
=== Meet The Residents (1974) ===
Meet The Residents is, almost undeniably, The Residents' first studio album, as made obvious by its subtitle, "The First Album by North Louisiana's Phenomenal Pop Combo". The album was the first release credited to The Residents, although members of the group had recorded a number of demo tapes before this (including the long-unreleased 1971 demos The W***** B*** Album and B.S.), and issued a limited edition EP, Santa Dog (credited to "Residents, Uninc.") in 1972.
=== The Third Reich 'n Roll (1976) ===
The Third Reich 'n Roll is the second album released by The Residents,https://www.truthdig.com/articles/keeping-a-watchful-eye-a-half-century-of-the-residents/https://www.popmatters.com/residents-third-reich-and-roll-2525424987.htmlhttps://48hills.org/2021/09/on-50th-anniversary-the-residents-provoke-n-roll-at-castro-theatre/https://louderthanwar.com/the-residents-a-sight-for-sore-eyes-vol-1-by-aaron-tanner-book-review/https://www.kqed.org/arts/13907873/the-residents-new-book-illustrates-50-years-of-art-rock-weirdness although the liner notes accompanying the original release refer to it as the group's third album, among vague references to an unreleased second album, later issued in 1978 as Not Available. Within The Residents' canon, The Third Reich 'n Roll has often since been considered their third album (although this has varied among official sources).https://www.cherryred.co.uk/product/the-third-reich-n-roll-2cd-preserved-edition/
=== Fingerprince (1977) ===
Despite being The Residents' third studio album in order of release, Fingerprince has been referred to as their fourth album (with reference to the ostensibly shelved Not Available),Fingerprince Classic Series CD reissue liner notes, 1987Fingerprince at The Residents Historical even as early as the year of its release.Ralph Records Catalogue No. 1, February 1977 LouderThanWar also refers to Fingerprince as The Residents' fourth album.https://louderthanwar.com/the-residents-fingerprince-album-review/ 
=== Not Available (1978) ===
According to the album's promotional campaign, Not Available was recorded between Meet The Residents and The Third Reich 'n Roll. As a result, it is often referred to as The Residents' second album;https://www.residents.com/historical/?page=notavailableUncle Willie, Uncle Willie's Highly Opinionated Guide to The Residents, 1993 despite being The Residents' fourth album in order of release, it has never been referred to as such in official materials. 
=== Duck Stab!/Buster & Glen (1978) ===
The Cherry Red Records website page for Duck Stab!/Buster & Glen refers to it as The Residents' fourth album;https://www.cherryred.co.uk/product/the-residents-duck-stab-buster-glen-preserved-2lp-vinyl-edition/ this may be an error, as it was in fact their fifth album in order of release, following Not Available.
=== Eskimo (1979) ===
The October 1980 Ralph Records catalogue refers to Eskimo as The Residents' sixth album.
=== Commercial Album (1980) ===
The October 1980 Ralph Records catalogue refers to Commercial Album as "number seven".
=== Mark of the Mole (1981) ===
Issue #3 of The Comix of Two Cities refers to Mark of the Mole as The Residents' eighth album.
=== The Tunes of Two Cities (1982) ===
Issue #3 of The Comix of Two Cities refers to The Tunes of Two Cities as The Residents' ninth album.
=== The Big Bubble (1985) ===
A Ralph Records press release dated April 11th 1986 announced that the Heaven? and Hell! CD compilations would feature music from The Residents' "some twenty albums". The latest album with material featured on the two compilations is The Big Bubble. 
=== Freak Show (1990) ===
An April 1991 Cryptic Corporation newsletter refers to Freak Show as The Residents' twentieth album.
=== Icky Flix (2001) ===
The liner notes of the 2002 compilation album Petting Zoo, which collects material dating from Meet The Residents to the then-unreleased Demons Dance Alone, states that the group had released 34 studio albums.
=== Petting Zoo (2002) ===
The first fact of the "Thirteen things you may not know about The Residents" liner notes states, "In 30 years, The Residents have released 34 albums, plus a wide assortment of shorter works".
=== Demons Dance Alone (2002) ===
The liner notes to Demons Dance Alone state that "The Residents have recorded over 30 albums".
=== Mush-Room (2013) ===
In September 2013, shortly after the release of their Mush-Room album, The Residents updated their Twitter description to state that they had "released over 60 albums".
== External links and references ==
Category:Lists
Category:The Residents