Indiana Artist to Co-Release Cover of The Residents’ ‘Mahogany Wood’ on Vinyl
Indiana graphic designer, musician, and underground music archivist, Aaron Tanner is one of many bringing to life a reimagined cover of The Residents' "Mahogany Wood" to be released as a limited-run, 10-inch vinyl pressing.
Graphic Designer, Musician, and More
Tanner has done artwork for a number of notable underground artists including Ween and the Pixies. Through his publishing company, Melodic Virtue, he has released coffee table books based on the works of the Butthole Surfers, The Residents, Ministry, and more.
From Coffee Table Books to Cover Songs
This is not Tanner's first time contributing to the cover of a song from The Residents. After the release of the coffee table book, The Residents: A Sight for Sore Eyes Vol. 1, by Melodic Virtue he partnered with Rob Crow of Pinback, and several other talents including Zach Hill of Death Grips, Sam Coomes of Quasi, Mike Morasky of Steel Pole Bath Tub and Ego Plum.
<p> </p><p><span class="x_ContentPasted0" data-ogsc="rgb(0, 0, 0)" data-ogsb="rgb(255, 255, 255)">After releasing<span class="x_ContentPasted0"> </span></span><i class="x_ContentPasted0" data-ogsc="rgb(0, 0, 0)" data-ogsb="rgb(255, 255, 255)">The Residents: A Sight for Sore Eyes, Vol 1</i><span class="x_ContentPasted0" data-ogsc="rgb(0, 0, 0)" data-ogsb="rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span class="x_ContentPasted0"> </span>coffee table book, Rob Crow and I decided to enlist a few of the people that contributed testimonials to help honor the group by recording a song by The Residents from the same time period covered.</span></p>
The Residents: A Sight for Sore Eyes Vol. 2 Available Now
In celebration of the release of the follow-up, The Residents: A Sight for Sore Eyes Vol. 2, which is "a fully authorized visual history of that era, with rare and unseen photos, artwork, and other ephemera." The new book is available now for purchase through the Melodic Virtue website and will also come with a black vinyl 7-inch record of the unreleased American Composer Series-era track from The Residents, "That'll Be the Day (Baby Baby).”
Featuring an introduction by famed musician Penn Jillette, The Residents: A Sight for Sore Eyes, Vol. 2 will also includes exclusive quotes from Nick Rhodes, Henry Selick, Moby, Mark Mothersbaugh and Gerald V. Casale (Devo), Alex Winter, David J (Bauhaus), Dave McKean, Zach Hill (Death Grips), Cedric Bixler-Zavala (The Mars Volta), Alex Paterson (The Orb), Roy Mayorga (Ministry), Stuart Shapiro (Night Flight), Rob Crow (Pinback), Stan Ridgway, Craig Wedren (Shudder to Think), Mouse on Mars, Jack Dangers (Meat Beat Manifesto), Ego Plum, Brian Chippendale (Lightning Bolt), Gary Wilson, Diamanda Galás, Moritz R® (Der Plan), Thor Harris (Swans), JG Thirlwell, and many more.
A Collaborative Effort Brings Another Cover
In celebration of the release of Vol. 2, Tanner has partnered once again with Rob Crow for another Residents' cover. In addition to Rob, Nick Rhodes of Duran Duran, Roy Mayorga of Ministry, Neil Burke from Men's Recovery Project, and producer and composer, Dren McDonald partnered on the project.
Star Stunted II "Mahogany Wood"
Each contributor recorded their contribution to their Star Stunted II "Mahogany Wood" with no knowledge of what the other musicians had created for their parts of the project, according to Tanner. The result: a hauntingly, cacophonous melody that beautifully blends each artist's contribution to the project.
<p>So when Vol. 2 came out, Rob and I thought it would fun to do the same thing for this book. That’s when I reached out to Nick Rhodes, Roy Mayorga, Dren McDonald, and Neil Burke. Rob produced a demo of "Mahogany Wood” that we passed between contributors. However, aside from that, no one was given any sort of direction or was able to hear what the other musicians had done.</p><p> </p>
Limited Run Vinyl Available for Pre-Order Now
The 10-inch vinyl record, which is being released as a limited run of only 500 pressings, also features a mix by Grammy Award-winning producer and engineer, Joshua Blair who's known for his work with artists like Paul McCartney and Bruno Mars. Star Stunted II "Mahogany Wood" will be released on March 8, 2024, and is available now for pre-order at Melodic Virtue.
Strangest Things Pressed Into Vinyl Records
Gallery Credit: Lauryn Schaffner