Stars & Hank Forever: The American Composers Series

Last updated
Stars & Hank Forever
Residents stars and hank.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedOctober 21, 1986
Recorded1986
Length42:58
Label Ralph
Producer The Cryptic Corporation
The Residents chronology
The Big Bubble
(1985)
Stars & Hank Forever
(1986)
God in Three Persons
(1988)
Singles from Stars & Hank Forever
  1. "Kaw-Liga / Stars and Stripes Forever"
    Released: 1986
  2. "Kaw-Liga / Jambalaya"
    Released: 1986
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]

Stars & Hank Forever is an album by American art rock group the Residents. Released in 1986, it is the second and last album in the American Composer series before its cancellation due to increasing difficulties in maintaining the project. [2]

Contents

The track "Kaw-Liga", later issued as a single, samples the rhythm and bassline of Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" (a reference to country singer Billie Jean Horton, who was married to Williams before his death) and did well in the emerging European club scene, spawning several remixes; it is as close as the Residents ever got to a bona fide commercial hit. [3]

The "Sousaside" features sound effects recorded by Philip Perkins to create the effect of a marching band on a happy occasion; a mix of "Stars and Stripes Forever" without sound effects was released as a B-side to the "Kaw-Liga" single.

Stars & Hank Forever is also the last studio album to feature guitarist Snakefinger, before his early death in July 1987. The Williams song "Six More Miles" has since become a sort of ceremonial number for the Residents, being performed in tribute to Snakefinger in 1987, and recently as an encore in 2018 in tribute to the death of Hardy Fox, one of the founding members of the group.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Hank Williams, except "Kaw-Liga" by Williams and Fred Rose

Side one – Hank Williams
No.TitleLength
1."Hey Good Lookin'"2:47
2."Six More Miles (To the Graveyard)"4:15
3."Kaw-Liga"4:52
4."Ramblin' Man"3:13
5."Jambalaya"4:43
Total length:19:50
Side two – John Philip Sousa
No.TitleLength
6."Sousaside 23:10
Torso CD bonus track
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
7."Kaw-Liga (Prairie mix)"Williams / Rose9:28
Total length:52:28

Personnel

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Residents</span> American art rock band

The Residents are an American art collective and art rock band best known for their avant-garde music and multimedia works. Since their first official release, Meet the Residents (1974), they have released over 60 albums, numerous music videos and short films, three CD-ROM projects, and ten DVDs. They have undertaken seven major world tours and scored multiple films. Pioneers in exploring the potential of CD-ROM and similar technologies, the Residents have won several awards for their multimedia projects. They founded Ralph Records, a record label focusing on avant-garde music, in 1972.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hank Williams</span> American singer, songwriter, and musician (1923–1953)

Hiram "Hank" Williams was an American singer-songwriter. He is regarded as one of the most significant and influential American singers and songwriters of the 20th century. Williams recorded 55 singles that reached the top 10 of the Billboard Country & Western Best Sellers chart, five of which were released posthumously, and 12 of which reached No.1.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Snakefinger</span> English musician, singer and songwriter

Philip Charles Lithman, who performed under the stage name Snakefinger, was an English musician, singer and songwriter. A multi-instrumentalist, he was best known for his guitar and violin work and his collaborations with The Residents.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billie Jean</span> 1983 single by Michael Jackson

"Billie Jean" is a song by American singer Michael Jackson, released by Epic Records on January 2, 1983, as the second single from his sixth studio album, Thriller (1982). It was written and composed by Jackson and produced by Jackson and Quincy Jones. "Billie Jean" blends post-disco, R&B, funk, and dance-pop. The lyrics describe a woman, Billie Jean, who claims that the narrator is the father of her newborn son, which he denies. Jackson said the lyrics were based on groupies' claims about his older brothers when he toured with them as the Jackson 5.

Ralph Records was an independent record label active between 1972 and 1989, best known for being initially run by avant-garde art collective, The Residents. The name coming from the slang phrase for vomiting, "calling Ralph on the porcelain telephone".

<i>The Third Reich n Roll</i> 1976 studio album by The Residents

The Third Reich 'n Roll is the second studio album by the American art rock group The Residents, released on Ralph Records in 1976. The album consists of two side-long suites of "'semi-phonetic' interpretations of Top 40 rock and roll from the Sixties."

<i>Eskimo</i> (album) 1979 studio album by the Residents

Eskimo is an album by American art rock group the Residents. The album was originally supposed to follow 1977's Fingerprince; however, due to many delays and arguments with management, it was not released until 1979. Upon release it was hailed as the group's best record to date.

<i>George & James</i> 1984 studio album by The Residents

George & James is an album released by American art rock group the Residents in 1984, subtitled American Composer Series – Volume 1. Side one of the album consists of George Gershwin covers, while side two is a studio rendition of James Brown's 1963 album Live at the Apollo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Your Cheatin' Heart</span> 1952 song by Hank Williams

"Your Cheatin' Heart" is a song written and recorded by country music singer-songwriter Hank Williams in 1952. It is regarded as one of country's most important standards. Williams was inspired to write the song while driving with his fiancée from Nashville, Tennessee, to Shreveport, Louisiana. After describing his first wife Audrey Sheppard as a "cheatin' heart", in minutes he dictated the lyrics to Billie Jean Jones. Produced by Fred Rose, Williams recorded the song at his last session at Castle Studio in Nashville, Tennessee, on September 23.

<i>Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever</i> 1983 television special

Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever is a 1983 television special, produced by Suzanne de Passe for Motown Records, to commemorate Motown's 25th year. The program was taped before a live audience at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California on March 25, 1983, and broadcast on NBC on May 16. Among its highlights were Michael Jackson's performance of "Billie Jean", Smokey Robinson's reunion with the Miracles, a Temptations / Four Tops "battle of the bands", Marvin Gaye's inspired speech about black music history and his memorable performance of "What's Going On", a Jackson 5 reunion, and an abbreviated reunion of Diana Ross & the Supremes, who performed their final #1 hit, "Someday We'll Be Together" from 1969. The show was co-written by de Passe with Ruth Adkins Robinson, who would go on to write shows with de Passe for the next 25 years, including the follow-up label tributes—through "Motown 40", Buz Kohan was the head writer.

<i>Hank Williams the Roy Orbison Way</i> 1970 studio album by Roy Orbison

Hank Williams The Roy Orbison Way is the fourteenth album recorded by Roy Orbison, and the eighth for MGM Records, released in August 1970. It is a tribute album to the songs of Country Music Hall of Fame honky tonk singer Hank Williams, whom Orbison listed among his influences. The album was recorded in just three sessions in early 1969, and none of its tracks were released as singles.

"I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive" is a song written by Fred Rose and American country music singer-songwriter Hank Williams, released by Williams in 1952.

<i>Tribute to My Father</i> 1993 album

Tribute to My Father is an album by American country music artist Hank Williams Jr. It was released on September 21, 1993 by Curb Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kaw-Liga</span> 1952 song by Hank Williams and Fred Rose

"Kaw-Liga" is a country music song written by Hank Williams and Fred Rose.

<i>Your Cheatin Heart</i> (Hank Williams Jr. album) 1964 studio album by Hank Williams Jr.

Your Cheatin' Heart is the second studio album by American musician Hank Williams Jr. The full title is: The MGM Sound Track Album Hank Williams' Life Story – The MGM Film Your Cheatin' Heart Sung by Hank Williams Jr. The album number is E/SE-4260.

<i>Habits Old and New</i> 1980 album by Hank Williams Jr.

Habits Old and New is the thirty-first studio album by American musician Hank Williams Jr. and was released under Elektra Records/Curb Records in June 1980. Habits Old and New was Williams' third full-length album in a fourteen-month span, following Family Tradition and Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound that were released in April and November 1979. It was also his fifth album on the Elektra/Curb label.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hank Williams discography</span>

Hank Williams' discography is composed of 31 singles and 2 ten-inch LPs released during his six-year career; as well as posthumous work including: singles, compilation albums and previously unreleased material. During his lifetime, Williams placed 30 songs on Billboard's Top C&W Records, while he had eleven number one hits.

Six More Miles (To the Graveyard) is a song written by Hank Williams for MGM Records. It appeared as the B-side to "I Saw the Light" in 1948.

"I Could Never Be Ashamed of You" is a song written and recorded by Hank Williams. It was released as the B-side of "I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive" on MGM Records in November 1952.

References

  1. Stars & Hank Forever: The American Composers Series at AllMusic
  2. "The Residents' Historical - American Composers Series".
  3. Shirley, Ian (2016). Never Known Questions: Five Decades of the Residents. UK: Cherry Red Books. ISBN   978-1909454262.