# Fingerprince > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Fingerprince > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Fingerprince.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fingerprince > Source revision: 1318316139 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}} {{Infobox album | name = Fingerprince | type = studio | artist = [the Residents](/source/the_Residents) | cover = Fingerprince.jpg | alt = | released = February 1977 | recorded = 1974–1976 | venue = | studio = | genre = [Experimental music](/source/Experimental_music) | length = 36:32 (LP)
49:43 (CD) | label = [Ralph](/source/Ralph_Records) | producer = | prev_title = [The Third Reich 'n' Roll](/source/The_Third_Reich_'n'_Roll) | prev_year = 1976 | next_title = [Radio Special](/source/The_Residents_Radio_Special) | next_year = 1977 }} '''''Fingerprince''''' is the third studio album by American [experimental rock](/source/experimental_rock) band [the Residents](/source/the_Residents), released in 1977.{{cite magazine |last1=Neely |first1=Tim |title=The Residents' U.S. discography |magazine=Goldmine |date=Jan 24, 2003 |volume=29 |issue=2 |page=17}} It was allegedly intended to be a three-sided record titled ''Tourniquet of Roses,'' but due to financial difficulties in fulfilling such a project, the record was instead cut down to a regular two-sided album. The album is considered a transitional period for the Residents, between the early avant-garde stylings of ''[Meet the Residents](/source/Meet_the_Residents)'' and ''[The Third Reich 'n Roll](/source/The_Third_Reich_'n_Roll)'' and the minimalist song structures of [''Duck Stab''](/source/Duck_Stab%2FBuster_%26_Glen) and ''[Commercial Album](/source/Commercial_Album)''. == Music == ''Fingerprince's'' first side consists of short, minimalist songs featuring skeletal drum machines, emphasized horn and percussion sections, murky atmospherics (except for the upbeat "You Yesyesyes") and a bigger focus on vocals and lyrics. The second side consists of one 17-minute track titled "Six Things to a Cycle", originally written as a ballet.Original ''Fingerprince'' sleeve notes. It is an instrumental suite composed of six movements, with a strong focus on percussion and repetition of a single motif. Eventually the improvised percussion is joined by wordless vocals, keyboards, horns and violins. A third side of music was planned for the album before the decision to release it as a standard single LP. This third side was eventually released in 1979 as an EP titled ''[Babyfingers](/source/Babyfingers),'' which mirrors the standard LP – short songs on one side, a single long composition on the other side. == Release history == For the CD release of ''Fingerprince,'' all of the songs from ''Babyfingers,'' which were originally supposed to be part of the record, were included in their original running order. The 1995 Euro Ralph CD reissue of ''Fingerprince'' kept the original track order from the original LP but included the complete ''Babyfingers'' as a bonus 3" CD with the album. All subsequent reissues of the album include all three sides, with slight alterations in the track order. == Reception == {{Music ratings | rev1 = [AllMusic](/source/AllMusic) | rev1Score ={{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web |title=Fingerprince (Tourniquet of Roses) Review by Ted Mills |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/fingerprince-tourniquet-of-roses-mw0000194012 |website=AllMusic |access-date=21 March 2024}} |rev2 = ''[Christgau's Record Guide](/source/Christgau's_Record_Guide%3A_Rock_Albums_of_the_Seventies)'' |rev2Score = B{{cite book|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|year=1981|title=[Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies](/source/Christgau's_Record_Guide%3A_Rock_Albums_of_the_Seventies)|publisher=[Ticknor & Fields](/source/Ticknor_%26_Fields)|isbn=089919026X|chapter=Consumer Guide '70s: R|chapter-url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_chap.php?k=R&bk=70|access-date=March 10, 2019|via=robertchristgau.com}} |rev3 = ''[The Encyclopedia of Popular Music](/source/The_Encyclopedia_of_Popular_Music)'' |rev3score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite book|first=Colin|last=Larkin|author-link=Colin Larkin|chapter=Residents|title=[The Encyclopedia of Popular Music](/source/The_Encyclopedia_of_Popular_Music)|publisher=[Omnibus Press](/source/Omnibus_Press)|year=2007|edition=5th|volume=6|page=[https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofpo0006unse/page/859/mode/1up 859]|isbn=978-1-84609-856-7}} |rev4 = ''[The Great Rock Discography](/source/The_Great_Rock_Discography)'' |rev4score = 6/10{{cite book|last=Strong|first=Martin C.|author-link=Martin C. Strong|title=[The Great Rock Discography](/source/The_Great_Rock_Discography)|chapter=Residents|date=2004|edition=7th|publisher=[Canongate Books](/source/Canongate_Books)|page=[https://archive.org/details/greatrockdiscogr0000stro_r9o1/page/1281/mode/1up 1281]|isbn=1-84195-615-5}} |rev5 = ''[MusicHound Rock](/source/MusicHound_Rock)'' |rev5score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite book|last=Faubert|first=Shane|editor1-last=Graff|editor1-first=Gary|editor2-last=Durchholz|editor2-first=Daniel|editor1-link=Gary Graff|title=MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide |publisher=Visible Ink Press|year=1999|isbn=1-57859-061-2|chapter=Residents|pages=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781578590612/page/937/mode/1up 937–38]}} |rev6 = ''[The Rolling Stone Album Guide](/source/The_Rolling_Stone_Album_Guide)'' |rev6score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite book|chapter=The Residents|last=Coleman|first=Mark|title=The Rolling Stone Album Guide|title-link=The Rolling Stone Album Guide |editor1-last=DeCurtis|editor1-first=Anthony|editor1-link=Anthony DeCurtis|editor2-last=Henke|editor2-first=James|editor3-last=George-Warren|editor3-first=Holly|publisher=[Random House](/source/Random_House)|edition=3rd|year=1992|isbn=0-679-73729-4|pages=[https://archive.org/details/rollingstonealbu0000unse/page/587/mode/1up 587–88]}} |rev7 = ''[Sounds](/source/Sounds_(magazine))'' |rev7score = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite magazine|last=Savage|first=Jon|date=December 31, 1977|title=Residents: Meet the Residents *****; Third Reich 'N' Roll *****; Finger Prince *****|url=https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/residents-imeet-the-residents--third-reich-n-roll--finger-prince-i|access-date=October 7, 2025|magazine=[Sounds](/source/Sounds_(magazine))}} |rev8 = ''[Spin Alternative Record Guide](/source/Spin_Alternative_Record_Guide)'' |rev8score = 6/10{{cite book|last=Salamon|first=Jeff|editor1-last=Weisbard|editor1-first=Eric|editor1-link=Eric Weisbard|editor2-last=Marks|editor2-first=Craig|chapter=The Residents|title=Spin Alternative Record Guide|title-link=Spin Alternative Record Guide|publisher=[Vintage Books](/source/Vintage_Books)|year=1995|isbn=0-679-75574-8|pages=[https://archive.org/details/spinalternativer0000unse/page/332/mode/2up 332–34]}} }} In the December 31, 1977, issue of ''[Sounds](/source/Sounds_(magazine))'', [Jon Savage](/source/Jon_Savage) notes that this album is more accessible than the band's first two albums, comparing it to [Steely Dan](/source/Steely_Dan) and [Frank Zappa](/source/Frank_Zappa) "put through 10 years and a considerable warp." He also compares the Residents' integrity and outrage to the first [punk](/source/Punk_rock) "explosion." Andy Gill of ''[New Musical Express](/source/NME)'' compared the second side of the album to [Harry Partch](/source/Harry_Partch).{{Cite web|url=https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/meet-the-legendary-residents-alias-the-cryptic-corporation|title=Meet the Legendary Residents, Alias the Cryptic Corporation. By Andy Gill : Articles, reviews and interviews from Rock's Backpages.|website=www.rocksbackpages.com|access-date=2019-07-28}} == Track listing == {{Track listing | all_writing = the Residents | title1 = You Yesyesyes | length1 = 3:00 | title2 = Home Age Conversation | length2 = 2:03 | title3 = Godsong | length3 = 3:41 | title4 = March de la Winni | length4 = 0:58 | title5 = Bossy | length5 = 1:00 | title6 = Boo Who? | length6 = 2:48 | title7 = Tourniquet of Roses | length7 = 3:15 | title8 = You Yesyesyes Again | length8 = 2:35 | title9 = | length9 = | total_length = 20:32 | headline = Side one }} {{Track listing | title1 = Six Things to a Cycle | length1 = 18:33 | total_length = 18:33 | headline = Side two }} === CD releases === {{Track listing | all_writing = | title1 = You Yesyesyes | length1 = 3:00 | title2 = Home Age Conversation | length2 = 2:03 | title3 = Godsong | length3 = 3:41 | title4 = March de la Winni | length4 = 0:58 | title5 = Bossy | length5 = 1:00 | title6 = Boo Who? | length6 = 2:48 | title7 = Tourniquet of Roses | length7 = 3:15 | title8 = Death in Barstow | length8 = 2:05 | title9 = Melon Collie Lassie | length9 = 2:51 | title10 = Flight of the Bumble Roach | length10 = 2:55 | title11 = Walter Westinghouse | length11 = 8:02 | title12 = Six Things to a Cycle: Part 1 | length12 = 2:47 | title13 = Six Things to a Cycle: Part 2 | length13 = 1:38 | title14 = Six Things to a Cycle: Part 3 | length14 = 2:26 | title15 = Six Things to a Cycle: Part 4 | length15 = 3:49 | title16 = Six Things to a Cycle: Part 5 | length16 = 4:50 | title17 = Six Things to a Cycle: Part 6 | length17 = 2:17 | title18 = You Yesyesyes Again | length18 = 2:38 | total_length = 49:43 }} === 2018 pREServed Edition === {{Track listing | all_writing = | title1 = You Yesyesyes | length1 = 2:59 | title2 = Home Age Conversation | length2 = 2:05 | title3 = Godsong | length3 = 3:42 | title4 = March de la Winni | length4 = 1:00 | title5 = Bossy | length5 = 1:03 | title6 = Boo Who? | length6 = 2:51 | title7 = Tourniquet of Roses | length7 = 3:16 | title8 = You Yesyesyes Again | length8 = 2:46 | title9 = Six Things to a Cycle | length9 = 17:44 | title10 = Monstrous Intro | length10 = 0:41 | title11 = Death in Barstow | length11 = 2:03 | title12 = Melon Collie Lassie | length12 = 2:53 | title13 = Flight of the Bumble Roach | length13 = 2:14 | title14 = Walter Westinghouse | length14 = 8:05 | total_length = 53:00 | headline = Disc One }} {{Track listing | all_writing = | title1 = Leapmus {{small|(February 1976)}} | length1 = 14:37 | title2 = Entrance to Crypt | length2 = 1:10 | title3 = Clumsy Climb | length3 = 1:55 | title4 = Piano Dittie | length4 = 1:21 | title5 = You Yesyesyes {{small|("Oh Mummy" mix)}} | length5 = 1:53 | title6 = Whoopy Snorp | length6 = 3:44 | title7 = Godsong {{small|(1982 rehearsal)}} | length7 = 1:34 | title8 = Walter Westinghouse {{small|(1982 rehearsal)}} | length8 = 6:45 | title9 = Godsong {{small|(studio rehearsal)}} | length9 = 1:32 | title10 = Tourniquet of Roses {{small|(Tromsø, inconvenienced, 1986)}} | length10 = 2:44 | title11 = Walter Westinghouse {{small|(live 1997)}} | length11 = 6:24 | title12 = Once I Went to Barstow {{small|(live 2011)}} | length12 = 4:48 | title13 = Melon Collie Lassie {{small|(live 2014)}} | length13 = 3:34 | title14 = Fingerprince Concentrate | length14 = 7:53 | total_length = 59:00 | headline = Disc Two }} ==Personnel== * The Residents – vocals, guitars, horns, synthesizers, keyboards, percussion * [Snakefinger](/source/Snakefinger) – vocals, guitars * Don Jackovich – percussion * Adrian Dekbar – violin * Tony Logan – percussion * Pamela Zeibak – vocals ==References== {{The Residents}} {{Authority control}} Category:The Residents albums Category:Ralph Records albums Category:1977 albums --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Fingerprince](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fingerprince) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fingerprince?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.