Heaven?

***Heaven?*** is a 1986 compilation album by The Residents, collecting some of their more accessible material from the (then) latter half of the band's career.

## Background

Heaven? is notable for being the first CD released by The Residents, as well as the groups first release through *Rykodisc*. The collection features more 'commercial' material from the groups then-later career. It was released alongside *Hell!* which focused on more experimental tracks, and covered the group's entire career from 1971 inwards. In 2012 these two albums were released together in a box set.

The album is the 4th 'Greatest Hits' album by The Residents, with previous examples being "*Please Do Not Steal It!*", "*Ralph Before '84*" & "*Memorial Hits*"

## Track Listing

*All Songs Written by The Residents Except Where Noted*

1. H.E.L.L. No! (Ft. Nessie Lessons) (2:26)
2. The Importance Of Evergreen (Excerpt) (1:56)
3. It's A Man's Man's Man's World (Brown) (3:41)
4. Japanese Watercolor (Ft. Fred Frith) (1:00)
5. I Got Rhythm (Gerswhin) (3:00)
6. Ups & Downs (3:00)
7. Serenade For Missy (3:08)
8. Easter Woman (1:00)
9. Amber (Ft. Nessie Lessons) (1:00)
10. The Census Taker (3:31)
11. The Moles Are Coming (3:20)
12. Resolution? (2:20)
13. Happy Home [Ft. Nessie Lessons] (4:34)
14. Crashing (Ft. Renaldo & The Loaf) (Residents/Renaldo/Loaf) (1:40)
15. Red Rider (1:00)
16. Floyd (1:00)
17. Mahogany Wood (Residents/Renaldo/Loaf) [Ft. Renaldo & The Loaf] (4:09)
18. Kula Bocca Says So (4:58)
19. Love Leaks Out (Ft. Chris Cutler) (1:00)
20. Simple Song (1:00)
21. New Hymn (4:18)
22. Whatever Happened To Vileness Fats? (4:09)
23. Festival Of Death (Excerpt) (3:25)
24. Twinkle (Ft. Snakefinger) (1:58)

## Credits

* **Produced By**: The Cryptic Corporation
* **All Songs Written By** The Residents

* **Except:**
	+ It's A Man's Man's Man's World by James Brown
	+ I Got Rhythm by George Gershwin
	+ Crashing & Mahogany Wood by The Residents, Renaldo & The Loaf
	+ Twinkle by Traditional

* **All Sounds Made By** The Residents

* **Except**:
	+ Nessie Lessons: Vocals on "*H.E.L.L. No!*" "*Amber*", "*Happy Home*" & "*Crashing*"
	+ Fred Frith: Guitar on "*Japanese Watercolor*"
	+ Snakefinger: Guitar on: "*Serenade For Missy*" & Assorted Sounds On "*Twinkle*"
	+ Norman Salant: Sax on "*Serenade For Missy"*
	+ Renaldo & The Loaf: Assorted Sounds on: "*Crashing*" & "*Mahogany Wood*"
	+ Chris Cutler: Percussion on "*Love Leaks Out*"
	+ Annie Stocking, Jeanette Sartain & Joan Cashel: Backing Vocals on "The Moles Are Coming" & "New Hymn"
	+ Ray Hanna, Brian Seff & Raoul N. Di Seimbote: Backing Vocals on "Kula Bocca Says So"

* ***Backing Vocals on* "The Moles Are Coming", "Kula Bocca Says So" & "New Hymn" arranged by:** *Raoul N. Di Seimbote*
* **Cover Art By:** Poorno Graphics

## Release History

The album was released by Rykodisc in early 1986 alongside the *Hell!* album. Throughout the year five variations were pressed, the first pressing was manufactured in Japan, although later pressings were manufactured in the US and feature slight aesthetic variation. For decades afterwards the compilation was out of print, until it was re-issued by *the Cryptic Corporation* for its 26th anniversary in a 2xCD box set with *Hell!.* The 2012 version was limited to 250 copies, and was sold through The Residents' Bandcamp.

## See Also

* Hell!
* The Big Bubble
* The Census Taker