45 years ago today, Snakefinger (Philip Lithman) released
"Chewing Hides the Sound." Though this was the 30-year-old London-born guitarist's solo debut, about a decade prior he had moved to San Francisco and met the anonymous group that soon became avant-rock / art-pop pioneers The Residents, with whom he would record many albums, plus they co-wrote most of the tracks on this LP, which earned critical acclaim for its distinctive style. Also notable is his cover of Kraftwerk's then-recent single "The Model."