Our Tired, Our Poor, Our Huddled Masses

Our Tired, Our Poor, Our Huddled Masses is a compilation album by The Residents, released by Rykodisc on June 22nd 1997 to celebrate the group's 25th anniversary. It was issued in two versions, a two-disc edition and an extended four-disc box set. 
The fourth disc of the box set version, subtitled "Roosevelt", was released separately with a slightly altered track listing as Roosevelt 2.0 in 2001.
== History ==
For their 25th anniversary in 1997, The Residents compiled a set entitled Our Tired, Our Poor, Our Huddled Masses, to be released on Rykodisc in two separate editions; a four disc box set, and a truncated two disc edition. Both editions present selections from the group's (then) 25 year history in approximately reverse chronological order. 
The first two discs of the box set edition, "Washington" and "Lincoln", focus on the group's discography of albums. Both discs contain a number of "concentrates"; medleys of approximately 10 minutes in duration combining songs from albums. The "concentrate" concept would later recur throughout The Residents' career and has numerous precedents dating back to their very beginning. 
The third disc, "Jefferson", is predominantly devoted to the group's singles and b-sides, and the fourth, "Roosevelt", is a history of rarities dating back to the group's pre-history. In 2001 Ralph America released the fourth disc on its own, with a slightly rearranged track listing, as Roosevelt 2.0. This was released in a limited edition of 1200 copies housed in branded wooden cigar boxes. 
The two discs of the shorter version are subtitled "Unum" and "Pluribus", and contain a selection of tracks from the first three discs of the box set edition, arranged in two non-chronological groupings of tracks from 1996-1981 and 1980-1972. 
The album art accompanying both versions of the set features the updated eyeball masks originally produced for Freak Show Live in 1995. Images from these photo sessions were used by The Residents in their promotional material for many years, most recently appearing in the cover art and promotional material for The Ghost of Hope in 2017. 
== Reception ==
=== Retrospective ===
Reviewing the box set edition of Our Tired, Our Poor, Our Huddled Masses in September 2005,Mark Prindle, "The Rich Bunnell Honorary 'What's New?' Page", Mark's Record Reviews, September 17th 2005 (archived via archive.org) freelance music reviewer Mark Prindle praised the collection's track listing and concept ("[The Residents'] high points thrown together in a jumbled stew") as "a very original idea in box set creation" which "makes a worthwhile purchase even for huge lifelong fans of the band".Mark Prindle, "Our Tired, Our Poor, Our Huddled Masses", Mark's Record Reviews, September 17th 2005
== Track listing ==
==== Four disc edition ====
Disc One - Washington (Album History 1996-1981)
# Have A Bad Day Concentrate (6:45)
# Hunters Concentrate (3:44)
# The Gingerbread Man Concentrate (9:06)
# Six Amber Things (2:34)
# He Also Serves (Ft. Tony Janssen) (2:46)
# Ship Of Fools (Ft. Tony Janssen) (4:06)
# Freak Show Concentrate (9:17)
# Cube E Concentrate (9:57)
# God In 3 Persons Concentrate (10:15)
# The Mole Trilogy Concentrate (Ft. Penn Jillette) (9:01)
Disc Two - Lincoln (Album History 1980-1972)
# Easter Woman (1:01)
# Amber (Ft. Nessie Lessons) (1:00)
# Red Rider (1:00)
# Floyd (1:00)
# The Nameless Soul (1:00)
# Love Leaks Out (Ft. Don Jackovich) (1:00)
# The Simple Song (1:00)
# Moisture (1:01)
# Loneliness (1:01)
# When We Were Young (1:02)
# Eskimo Concentrate (Ft. Snakefinger) (10:12)
# Constantinople (Ft. Snakefinger) (2:21)
# Blue Rosebuds (Ft. Snakefinger) (3:07)
# Lizard Lady (Ft. Snakefinger) (1:52)
# Hello Skinny (Ft. Snakefinger) (2:40)
# Fingerprince Concentrate (7:51)
# The Third Reich 'N' Roll Concentrate (10:31)
# Not Available Concentrate (Ft. Reed Paulsen) (9:47)
# Meet The Residents Concentrate (6:26)
# Aircraft Damage (3:49)
Disc Three - Jefferson (Singles History 1972-1997)
# Jambalaya (3:53)
# Don't Be Cruel (Ft. Bruce Anderson) (2:57)
# From The Plains To Mexico (3:27)
# Double Shot (Ft. Laurie Amat) (3:50)
# Harry The Head (Ft. Laurie Amat) (2:55)
# Don't (1:54)
# The Gingerbread Man (4:02)
# Kawliga (3:11)
# Where Is She? (Ft. Snakefinger) (2:33)
# Jailhouse Rock (Ft. Snakefinger) (3:08)
# This Is A Man's World (3:41)
# Jingle Bells (2:33)
# Satisfaction (4:33)
# Loser ≅ Weed (2:09)
# Earth Vs Flying Saucers (0:51)
# Beyond The Valley Of A Day In The Life (3:54)
# Flying (3:24)
# For Elsie (Excerpt) (2:09)
# Teddy Bear (3:36)
# Surrender (1:55)
# Hit The Road Jack (Remix) (3:57)
Disc Four - Roosevelt (History Mystery)
# Tryin' To Beat It (1:25)
# Siren Song (Of The Shrunken Head) (6:08)
# Ugly Beauty (4:31)
# Anganok (Excerpt) (5:36)
# Teddy (3:57)
# I Tried To Cry (2:00)
# The Cry Of A Crow (3:19)
# Struggle (2:56)
# Spaghetti Sunda (9:34)
# Love Me (3:10)
# Hallowed Be Thy Ween (14:06)
# America (1:30)
=== Two disc edition ===
Disc One - Unum (History 1996-1981)
# Jambalaya (3:52)
# Six Amber Things (2:34)
# He Also Serves (2:46)
# Ship Of Fools (Ft. Diana Alden) (4:05)
# Teddy Bear (3:36)
# The Gingerbread Man Concentrate (9:05)
# Where Is She? (2:33)
# Kawliga (3:13)
# Freak Show Concentrate (9:17)
# From The Plains To Mexico (3:26)
# Double Shot (Ft. Laurie Amat) (3:52)
# For Elsie (Excerpt) (2:06)
# Harry The Head (Ft. Laurie Amat) (2:55)
# Have A Bad Day Concentrate (6:43)
# Hit The Road Jack (Remix) (3:57)
Disc Two - Pluribus (1980-1972)
# Easter Woman (1:00)
# Amber (Ft. Nessie Lessons) (1:00)
# Red Rider (1:00)
# Floyd (1:00)
# The Nameless Soul (1:00)
# Love Leaks Out (Ft. Don Jackovich) (1:00)
# The Simple Song (1:00)
# Moisture (1:00)
# Loneliness (1:00)
# When We Were Young (1:00)
# Eskimo Concentrate (Ft. Snakefinger) (10:13)
# Constantinople (2:21)
# Blue Rosebuds (3:07)
# Lizard Lady (1:52)
# Hello Skinny (2:40)
# Satisfaction (4:32)
# Loser ≅ Weed (2:10)
# Fingerprince Concentrate (7:50)
# This Is A Man's World (3:41)
# Jailhouse Rock (Ft. Snakefinger) (3:08)
# The Third Reich 'N' Roll Concentrate (10:28)
== Credits ==
==== Main Personnel ====
* The Residents: Arrangement & Musician on all tracks.
* Pore Know Graphics: Box, Sleeve And CD Design & All Photos And Images In The Booklet
* 4=1: Box And Booklet Layout
* Text Booklet: Lynn Ginsburg
*13th Anniversary Show Photography By: Rich Shupe
*Buckaroo Blues And The Residents In Miami Vice Photography by: Henrik Kam
==== Writers ====
* All tracks Written by The Residents except...
** 'Jambalaya' & 'Kawliga' written by: Williams
** 'The Beatles Play The Residents And The Residents Play The Beatles' written by: The Beatles
** 'Don't Be Cruel' Written by: Blackwell
** 'Double Shot' Written by: Vetter/Smith
** 'Jailhouse Rock' Written by: Leiber-Stoller
** 'This Is A Man's World' Written by: Brown
** 'Teddy Bear' Written by: Low/Mann
** 'Hit The Road Jack (Remix)' Written by: P. Mayfield
==== Guests ====
* Snakefinger: Musician on 'Moisture', 'Eskimo Concentrate', 'Constantinople', 'Blue Rosebuds', 'Lizard Lady', 'Hello Skinny', 'Fingerprince Concentrate', 'Where Is She?', 'Jailhouse Rock', 'Satisfaction' & 'Hallowed Be Thy Ween'
* Laurie Amat: Musician on 'The Gingerbead Man Concentrate', 'Freak Show Concentrate', 'CUBE E Concentrate', 'God In 3 Persons Concentrate', 'Double Shot', 'Harry The Head' & 'Hit The Road Jack (Remix)'
* Tony Janssen: Musician on 'Six Amber Things', 'He Also Serves', 'Ship Of Fools' & 'Freak Show Concentrate'
* Diana Alden: Actor on 'Have A Bad Day Concentrate', Musician on 'Six Amber Things' 'He Also Serves' & 'Freak Show Concentrate'
* Don Jackovich: Musician on 'Love Leaks Out', 'Fingerprince Concentrate' & 'Satisfaction'
* Zeibak: Musician on 'The Third Reich 'N' Roll Concentrate', 'Meet The Residents Concentrate' & 'Aircraft Damage'
* Molly Harvey: Actor on 'Have A Bad Day Concentrate' & Musician on 'The Gingerbead Man Concentrate'
* Jeanette Sartain: Musician on 'The Mole Trilogy Concentrate', 'Hit The Road Jack (Remix)'
* Nessie Lessons: Musician on 'The Mole Trilogy Concentrate' & 'Amber'
* Peggy Honeydew: Musician on 'The Third Reich 'N' Roll Concentrate' & 'Hallowed Be Thy Ween'
* John Sanborn: Actor on 'Have A Bad Day Concentrate'
* Isabelle Barbier & Todd Rundgren: Musicians on 'The Gingerbead Man Concentrate'
* J. Raoul Brody: & Mark Salvatore: Musicians on 'CUBE E Concentrate' 
* Janna Flynn & Simon Timony: Actors on 'CUBE E Concentrate'
* Richard Mariott: Musician on 'God In 3 Persons Concentrate'
* Annie Stocking & Joan Cashel: Musicians on 'The Mole Trilogy Concentrate'
* Penn Jillette: Actor on 'The Mole Trilogy Concentrate'
* Chris Cutler & Fred Frith: Musicians on 'Moisture' 
* Tony Logan: Musician on 'Fingerprince Concentrate'
* Gary From Beserkley: Musician on 'The Third Reich 'N' Roll Concentrate'
* Sally Lewis: Musician on 'Not Available Concentrate'
* Reed Paulsen: Narrator on 'Not Available Concentrate'
* Barry Eiland & Wool: Musicians on 'Meet The Residents Concentrate'
* George Ewart, Palmer Eiland, The Singing Lawnchairs, Arf & Omega: Musicians on 'Aircraft Damage'
* The Pointless Sisters: Musicians on 'Satisfaction'
* Olan Jones: Musician on 'Hit The Road Jack (Remix)'
== Cover Art Gallery ==
===== 4-disc box set =====
File:Huddled Masses Box Front.jpg|Front of box
File:Huddled Masses Box Back.jpg|Back of box
File:Huddled Masses Box Side.jpg|End label of box
File:Huddled Masses Booklet Front.jpg|Front of booklet
File:Huddled Masses Booklet Back.jpg|Back of booklet
File:Huddled Masses Washington Front.jpg|Washington front
File:Huddled Masses Washington Back.jpg|Washington back
File:Huddled Masses Washington CD.jpg|Washington disc art
File:Huddled Masses Lincoln Front.jpg
File:Huddled Masses Lincoln Back.jpg|Lincoln back
File:Huddled Masses Lincoln CD.jpg|Lincoln disc art
File:Huddled Masses Jefferson Front.jpg|Jefferson front
File:Huddled Masses Jefferson Back.jpg|Jefferson back
File:Huddled Masses Jefferson CD.jpg|Jefferson disc art
File:Huddled Masses Roosevelt Front.jpg|Roosevelt front
File:Huddled Masses Roosevelt Back.jpg|Roosevelt back
File:Huddled Masses Roosevelt CD.jpg|Roosevelt disc art
== See also ==
* Roosevelt 2.0
== External links and references ==
* Our Tired, Our Poor, Our Huddled Masses at RZWeb
* Our Tired, Our Poor, Our Huddled Masses (4 CD edition) at Discogs
* Our Tired, Our Poor, Our Huddled Masses (2 CD edition) at Discogs
Category:Albums‏‎
Category:Cube-E‏‎
Category:Fingerprince‏‎
Category:Eskimo‏‎
Category:Freak Show‏‎
Category:Fred Frith‏‎
Category:Gingerbread Man‏‎
Category:God In Three Persons‏‎
Category:James Brown‏‎
Category:Molly Harvey
Category:Mark of the Mole‏‎
Category:N. Senada‏‎
Category:Prelude To "The Teds"‏‎
Category:Santa Dog‏‎
Category:Snakefinger‏‎
Category:Stars & Hank Forever‏‎
Category:Compilations
Category:Box sets
Category:Our Tired, Our Poor, Our Huddled Masses