THE R FILES
The Trivial Is Out There (1998)

This bootleg collector's CD first appeared around mid-1998. It is compiled in the style of the Dark Refrains collector's bootleg compilation. However, where Dark Refrains compiled mostly rare songs and remixes, this collection features some mega-rare recordings, many of which have never seen legit commercial release. Many tracks are live recordings or tracks taken from filmed performances. This compilation was put together by collectors in an attempt to preserve some of these rare tracks and present them on CD.

The CD opens with the original 20th Century Fox fanfare from TRHPS, and ends with the 'Time Warp Reprise/Jam' from the end of TRHPS, a great way to start and end the collection. It then goes into a couple of the original TRHPS Radio Commercials. All 8 commercials are featured throughout the compilation. Next are highlights from the 1979 RH convention, "RockyCon One." These tracks are true rarities. I've owned and heard several bootlegged cassettes of "RockyCon One," but the highlights featured on this CD are of the best sound quality I've heard yet. Since such tracks were homemade recordings that are now over 20 years old, the sound quality is far from perfect, but the quality here is, in my opinion, quite good.

The disc also features some other live recordings, such as a performance from TRHPS at the 8th Street Playhouse, an interview with Richard O'Brien, and a radio interview with Sal Piro regarding the 10th Anniversary TRHPS Convention in New York.

Also featured are all three songs written by Richard O'Brien and Richard Hartley for the film, The Return Of Captain Invincible, a couple Tim Curry tracks from the film Blue Money, a live Curry performance from "Night Of 100 Stars," and the theme from The Rocky Porno Video Show.

The true highlights (in my opinion, that is) are a few mega-rare tracks that, although commercially released years ago, have been long out-of-print and difficult to find for years now. These tracks include two songs from a single released in Australia in 1974 by "The Life Organisation." ('Time Warp' and the somewhat altered 'Sweet Transvestite,' called 'The Sweet Song') Also featured here is the rare extended remix of 'The Time Warp' by "Just Us Girls" and 'Eddie' by Kimi & Ritz. This CD also features a hidden track at the very end of the disc: the audio of the original TRHPS trailer.

Only 40 copies of this CD were pressed, making this disc another limited item. Each disc is individually numbered. (I own #09.) Personally, I think it is a fabulous compilation that no collection should be without. Since most of the tracks featured will most likely never see commercial re-issue, this may be the best and ultimate source disc for this material. The sound quality varies from track to track, but you must put into consideration the passing of time and how rare said tracks are.

I obtained this CD at the 1998 RockyCon in Las Vegas, and I would guess that the best place to find a copy would be at future cons. I've also heard rumours that the people responsible for this compilation are at work on The R Files II, but I'm not certain on whether this is true or not. In closing, if you're trying to put together a complete RH audio collection, this disc is a must-have.

*****AVAILABILITY*****
Only 40 copies of this CD were pressed, and I believe most of those have been sold. This CD was sold at the 1998 Las Vegas RockyCon, so maybe one could find a copy at a future convention. Supposedly there will be no future pressings other than the initial 40, which makes this disc a pretty difficult item to obtain.

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