In the mid 1980s, The Residents began recording a series of albums called "The American Composer Series." Each album consisted of an LP with songs by two American composers - one on each side of the LP.

 

After releasing two LPs, George & James (with songs by George Gershwin and James Brown) and Stars & Hank Forever (with songs by John Philip Sousa and Hank Williams).

 

Around 1986, The Residents planned to record a third album in the series - The Trouble with Harry's - with music by two Harrys - Harry Patch and Harry Nilsson. The project was abandoned because development of CDs had increased royalties for the songs and because one "Harry" would have to appear before the other on CD giving a false impression of priorities.[1]