Third Reich & Roll
Encyclopedia
The Third Reich 'n Roll is a 1976 album by the U.S.
avant-garde rock group The Residents
. Their second (officially) released album, it is a parody
and satire
of pop music
and commercials from the 1960s. The work consists of two side-long pastiches of various songs from the period. The liner notes state that approximately 30 songs have been utilised. Some are obvious, while others are almost unrecognizable. It has been suggested that the following is the album's "true" track listing (none of these songs are listed on the album cover):
Swastikas on Parade (recorded 1974):
Hitler Was A Vegetarian (recorded 1975):
Some of these songs are played simultaneously. America's "A Horse With No Name
" is slightly newer than the rest of the hits on the album, but matches The Swinging Medallions' "Double Shot of my Baby's Love" exactly. Vocals from The Rolling Stones
' "Sympathy for the Devil
" are performed during a guitar solo to the tune of The Beatles
' Hey Jude
, and "Telstar
" is played simultaneously with "Wipe Out
."
The album generated controversy due to its cover art which featured television entertainer Dick Clark
in a Nazi
uniform holding a carrot
while surrounded by swastikas and pictures of a dancing Adolf Hitler
in both male and female dress. A version was marketed in the 1980s for German
consumption which heavily censored much of the cover art by stamping the word "censored" over every Nazi reference.
The album was originally released on Ralph Records
.
In 1980 a Third Reich 'N' Roll Collectors Box was produced in a limited edition of 30 copies of which 25 were released. These came with a hand pressed red marbled vinyl edition of the record with silk screened sleeve and labels, in a velvet-lined black wooden box with a sliding panel featuring hand-screened version of the cover art. Also enclosed are two signed and numbered lithographs by Irene Dogmatic. The entire box was enclosed in a drawstring bag made from a piece of Christo's work "Running Fence." Residents History
An ultimate special edition hardbook containing all the original artwork and the full photo-session was released on MUTE RECORDS in September 2005.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
avant-garde rock group The Residents
The Residents
The Residents is an American art collective best known for avant-garde music and multimedia works. The first official release under the name of The Residents was in 1972, and the group has since released over sixty albums, numerous music videos and short films, three CD-ROM projects and ten DVDs....
. Their second (officially) released album, it is a parody
Parody
A parody , in current usage, is an imitative work created to mock, comment on, or trivialise an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation...
and satire
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
of pop music
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
and commercials from the 1960s. The work consists of two side-long pastiches of various songs from the period. The liner notes state that approximately 30 songs have been utilised. Some are obvious, while others are almost unrecognizable. It has been suggested that the following is the album's "true" track listing (none of these songs are listed on the album cover):
Swastikas on Parade (recorded 1974):
- Let's Twist AgainLet's Twist Again"Let's Twist Again" is a song written by Kal Mann and Dave Appell, and released as a single by Chubby Checker. One of the biggest hit singles of 1961, it reached number two in the UK and number eight on the U.S. Billboard pop chart. It refers to the Twist dance craze and his 1960 and 1961...
(German version—sampled) - Land of a Thousand DancesLand of a Thousand Dances"Land of a Thousand Dances" is a song written and first recorded by Chris Kenner in 1962. The song is famous for its "na na na na na" hook, which was added by Cannibal & the Headhunters in their version of the song in 1965, whose version peaked at number thirty...
- Hanky Panky
- A Horse with No NameA Horse with No Name“A Horse with No Name” is a song written by Dewey Bunnell and originally recorded by the band America. It was the band's first and most successful single, released in early 1972, topping the charts in several countries...
- Double Shot Of My Baby's Love
- The Letter
- Psychotic ReactionPsychotic Reaction"Psychotic Reaction" is an early garage rock song released by the American rock band Count Five in 1966, and also the title of their only album. The song Psychotic Reaction was written by the five members of the Count Five, Craig "Butch" Atkinson, John Byrne, Roy Chaney, Kenn Ellner and John...
- Little GirlLittle Girl (Syndicate of Sound song)"Little Girl" is a popular song recorded by the California group Syndicate of Sound, and written by Don Baskin and Bob Gonzalez of the band. It reached the US national pop charts in June 1966, peaking at # 8....
- Papa's Got a Brand New BagPapa's Got a Brand New Bag"Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" is a song written and recorded by James Brown. It was released as a two-part single in 1965, and is considered seminal in the musical genre of funk.-The hit single:...
(German version) - Talk TalkTalk Talk (song)"Talk Talk" is a 1982 song by the British New Wave band Talk Talk. The second single from their debut album, The Party's Over , it topped at #52 in the United Kingdom upon initial release. It was reissued later in the same year where it peaked at #23 in the UK and #75 in the United States. The...
(The Music MachineThe Music MachineThe Music Machine was an American garage rock and psychedelic band from the late 1960s, headed by singer-songwriter Sean Bonniwell and based in Los Angeles. The band sound was often defined by fuzzy guitars and a Farfisa organ...
) - TelstarTelstar (song)"Telstar" is a 1962 instrumental record performed by The Tornados. It was the first single by a British band to reach number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, and was also a number one hit in the UK. The record was named after the AT&T communications satellite Telstar, which went into orbit in...
/Wipe OutWipe Out (Surfaris song)"Wipe Out" is a Twelve-bar blues written by Bob Berryhill, Pat Connolly, Jim Fuller and Ron Wilson. The tune was first performed and recorded by The Surfaris, who were elevated to international status with the release of the "Surfer Joe" and "Wipe Out" single in 1963.The song – both the Surfaris'...
Hitler Was A Vegetarian (recorded 1975):
- Judy In Disguise (With Glasses)Judy in Disguise (With Glasses)"Judy in Disguise " is a song that was a hit for the Louisiana-based John Fred and his Playboy Band in early 1968. The song was co-written with bandmate Andrew Bernard. According to The Billboard Book of Number One Hits by Fred Bronson, the song was inspired by Fred's listening to The Beatles' hit,...
- 96 Tears96 Tears"96 Tears" is a popular song recorded by ? in 1966. It hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S. and on the RPM 100 in Canada and is ranked #210 on the Rolling Stone list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.-History:...
- It's My PartyIt's My Party (song)"It's My Party" is a song most famously sung by American singer Lesley Gore in 1963. This song hit #1 on the pop and rhythm and blues charts in the United States. "It's My Party", peaked at #9 in the United Kingdom, becoming Gore's only major hit there...
- Light My FireLight My Fire"Light My Fire" is a song by The Doors which was recorded in August 1966 and released the first week of January 1967 on the Doors' debut album. Released as a single in April, it spent three weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and one week on the Cash Box Top 100, nearly a year after...
- Ballad of the Green BeretsBallad of the Green Berets"The Ballad Of The Green Berets" is a patriotic song in the ballad style about the Green Berets, an elite special force in the U.S. Army. It is one of the very few songs of the 1960s to cast the military in a positive light, yet it became a major hit, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard charts for five...
- Yummy Yummy YummyYummy Yummy Yummy"Yummy Yummy Yummy" is a bubblegum pop song by Arthur Resnick and Joey Levine, first recorded by Ohio Express in 1968. Their version reached #4 in the U.S. Pop Singles chart and #5 in the UK Singles Chart. It has since been covered by many artists. Ohio Express was a studio concoction and none of...
- Rock Around the ClockRock Around the Clock"Rock Around the Clock" is a 12-bar-blues-based song written by Max C. Freedman and James E. Myers in 1952. The best-known and most successful rendition was recorded by Bill Haley and His Comets in 1954...
/Pushing Too Hard - Good Lovin'
- Gloria
- In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida
- Sunshine of Your LoveSunshine of Your Love"Sunshine of Your Love" is a 1967 song by the British supergroup Cream. The song was originally released on the album Disraeli Gears in November 1967, and was later released as a single in January 1968. It is Cream's only gold-selling single in the United States. It features a distinctive...
- Hey JudeHey Jude"Hey Jude" is a song by the English rock band The Beatles, written by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney. The ballad evolved from "Hey Jules", a song widely accepted as being written to comfort John Lennon's son, Julian, during his parents' divorce—although this explanation is not...
/Sympathy for the DevilSympathy for the Devil"Sympathy for the Devil" is a song by The Rolling Stones which first appeared as the opening track on the band's 1968 album Beggars Banquet. It was written by Mick Jagger credited to Jagger/Richards...
Some of these songs are played simultaneously. America's "A Horse With No Name
A Horse with No Name
“A Horse with No Name” is a song written by Dewey Bunnell and originally recorded by the band America. It was the band's first and most successful single, released in early 1972, topping the charts in several countries...
" is slightly newer than the rest of the hits on the album, but matches The Swinging Medallions' "Double Shot of my Baby's Love" exactly. Vocals from The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
' "Sympathy for the Devil
Sympathy for the Devil
"Sympathy for the Devil" is a song by The Rolling Stones which first appeared as the opening track on the band's 1968 album Beggars Banquet. It was written by Mick Jagger credited to Jagger/Richards...
" are performed during a guitar solo to the tune of The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
' Hey Jude
Hey Jude
"Hey Jude" is a song by the English rock band The Beatles, written by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney. The ballad evolved from "Hey Jules", a song widely accepted as being written to comfort John Lennon's son, Julian, during his parents' divorce—although this explanation is not...
, and "Telstar
Telstar (song)
"Telstar" is a 1962 instrumental record performed by The Tornados. It was the first single by a British band to reach number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, and was also a number one hit in the UK. The record was named after the AT&T communications satellite Telstar, which went into orbit in...
" is played simultaneously with "Wipe Out
Wipe Out (Surfaris song)
"Wipe Out" is a Twelve-bar blues written by Bob Berryhill, Pat Connolly, Jim Fuller and Ron Wilson. The tune was first performed and recorded by The Surfaris, who were elevated to international status with the release of the "Surfer Joe" and "Wipe Out" single in 1963.The song – both the Surfaris'...
."
The album generated controversy due to its cover art which featured television entertainer Dick Clark
Dick Clark (entertainer)
Richard Wagstaff "Dick" Clark is an American businessman; game-show host; and radio and television personality. He served as chairman and chief executive officer of Dick Clark Productions, which he has sold part of in recent years...
in a Nazi
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
uniform holding a carrot
Carrot
The carrot is a root vegetable, usually orange in colour, though purple, red, white, and yellow varieties exist. It has a crisp texture when fresh...
while surrounded by swastikas and pictures of a dancing Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
in both male and female dress. A version was marketed in the 1980s for German
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
consumption which heavily censored much of the cover art by stamping the word "censored" over every Nazi reference.
The album was originally released on Ralph Records
Ralph Records
Ralph Records was The Residents' original record label, the name coming from the somewhat colorful phrase "calling Ralph on the porcelain telephone."...
.
In 1980 a Third Reich 'N' Roll Collectors Box was produced in a limited edition of 30 copies of which 25 were released. These came with a hand pressed red marbled vinyl edition of the record with silk screened sleeve and labels, in a velvet-lined black wooden box with a sliding panel featuring hand-screened version of the cover art. Also enclosed are two signed and numbered lithographs by Irene Dogmatic. The entire box was enclosed in a drawstring bag made from a piece of Christo's work "Running Fence." Residents History
An ultimate special edition hardbook containing all the original artwork and the full photo-session was released on MUTE RECORDS in September 2005.
Track listing
- "Swastikas on Parade" – 17:30
- "Hitler Was a Vegetarian" – 18:27
- Bonus Tracks (1988 CD release only)
- "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" - 4:30 (mono)
- "Loser = Weed" - 2:09 (mono)
- "Beyond the Valley of a Day in the LifeThe Beatles play The Residents and The Residents play The BeatlesThe Beatles Play the Residents and the Residents Play the Beatles is a 1977 single by the Residents. The A-side, "Beyond the Valley of a Day in the Life", is an audio collage of recordings by The Beatles and John Lennon, with a looped clip from The Beatles Third Christmas Record, in which Paul...
" - 3:56 - "FlyingThe Beatles play The Residents and The Residents play The BeatlesThe Beatles Play the Residents and the Residents Play the Beatles is a 1977 single by the Residents. The A-side, "Beyond the Valley of a Day in the Life", is an audio collage of recordings by The Beatles and John Lennon, with a looped clip from The Beatles Third Christmas Record, in which Paul...
" - 3:22