Even More Odds and Ends in Music

1952: Composer John Cage's piece "4'33" is first performed by pianist David Tudor. It is unique in that, through the length of its performance (four minutes and thirty-three seconds), not one note is played. Cage insisted that the piece was not intended as an insult or practical joke, but rather to showcase the sound made by those who would normally be listening to the performance onstage. This first performance is given in Woodstock, New York.

1978: Two variations are pressed for the debut album Another Music In A Different Kitchen by Manchester group Buzzcocks. On one, the song "I Need" appears on the first side of the record, and on the other (far more common) version, on the second side. At some point during the printing process, the plates get mixed up; Side 1 of the second version is paired with Side 2 of the first. This results in copies of the album being made that don't contain "I Need" at all!

1979: For the first time, the anonymous members of The Residents don their eyeball masks for the cover of the album Eskimo. The original idea was for them to wear shiny metal spheres over their heads, reflecting the Arctic landscape surrounding them. From this release on, the eyeball look defines their appearance, and soon their masks are replaced with new versions, each having a different color iris: brown, blue, green, and red. In 1985, the "red eye" is stolen from backstage after a performance. Though it is soon returned, The Residents claim this mask is cursed. It is never worn again, and "Mr. Red Eye" becomes "Mr. Skull", wearing a skull mask from that point on.

1981: San Francisco-based punk group Dead Kennedys releases an EP on their newly-formed independent label Alternative Tentacles. The record, titled In God We Trust, Inc., is made up of eight songs altogether clocking in at less than 14 minutes. At the time, the record industry's "Home Taping Is Killing Music" campaign to deter taping songs from the radio and other records is in full swing. Due to the short running time of the EP, all eight songs fit onto Side 1 of a cassette tape. Side 2 is left empty, and marked with the message from Dead Kennedys: "Home taping is killing record industry profits! We left this side blank so you can help".

1982: At their final concert before being scheduled to return to the United Kingdom, XTC performs in Paris. During their first song, guitarist and vocalist Andy Partridge decides to just leave the stage and not play anymore, later citing his hatred for concerts and touring. Though they continue recording, and perform on radio and television, the band never performs a proper concert again from that point.

1985: After a mere two-and-a-half years apart, the band Squeeze reforms after convincing Jools Holland to rejoin the lineup. Following the single "Last Time Forever", the band commissions paintings to be made for the covers of the next three singles they plan on releasing from the same album: "By Your Side", "Heartbreaking World", and "King George Street". Their label, A&M Records, rejects "By Your Side" as a single and wants the song "No Place Like Home" in its place, feeling it's more in line with Squeeze's traditional sound. Thus, a song about domestic abuse is released with accompanying artwork of a happy couple consisting of a sailor and a native island girl. The painting does appear on a German single release of "By Your Side", however.

Measurements of Liquid and Wine