I have a lot of Frank Zappa LPs. And for me, when it comes to Zappa, it all more-or-less started with this record. Or maybe it was Overnight Sensation (another great LP). But this one - I am listening to the latest reissue from the Zappa Trust - sounds absolutely amazing. It highlights the incredible musicianship, humour, imagination and technical prowess of one of the greatest composers that ever graced the planet. Seriously, if Frank had lived a few centuries earlier he’d have given Mozart a run for the money.
He was certainly prolific. Apostrophe ('), released in 1974, is the 18th album by Frank Zappa. Don't Eat the Yellow Snow, the lead-off track, peaked at number 86 on the Billboard chart while the album was certified gold in 1976 and peaked at number 10 on the billboard 200, a career-high for Zappa.
Nanook Rubs It, which follows Don't Eat The Yellow Snow, was inspired by a dream Zappa had where he envisioned himself as an Eskimo named Nanook. St. Alfonzo's Pancake Breakfast follows that, which was inspired by a television commercial for Imperial Margarine that Zappa had seen. Listened to as a whole, the three songs are almost conceptual in design. They're also musically stunning, and hilarious as hell.
This record and Over-Nite Sensation, released a year earlier in 1973, were recorded simultaneously, and as a result the two recordings sort of overlap stylistically. Side two consists of various 1972 sessions with overdubs recorded in 1973-74, except for Excentrifugal Forz. The drum track on that song is said to have come from the Hot Rats sessions in 1969.
The song Apostrophe is an outstanding instrumental with bassist Jack Bruce and drummer Jim Gordon credited on the liner notes. Bruce, who is also credited with co-writing the song, said in an interview with Polish rock magazine Tylko Rock that he did not play any bass guitar parts or do any co-writing and that he simply played the cello intro on the song. "So I turned up in a New York studio with my cello," he said. "I'm listening to Zappa's music, pretty awful, and just don't know what to do with myself, and Frank says to me, 'Listen, I would like you to play a sound, like this ... whaaaaaang!!!' So I did what he asked me to do. Whaaaaaang!!! That was all. That was my input to Frank Zappa's most popular record!"
But Zappa recalled Bruce playing bass on the song in an interview several years later. "Well, that was just a jam thing that happened because he was a friend of Jim Gordon," Zappa said. "I found it very difficult to play with him. He's too busy. He doesn't really want to play the bass in terms of root functions. I think he has other things on his mind. But that's the way jam sessions go."
Most people might be surprised to learn that Jack Bruce can play the cello, but he studied the instrument at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama years earlier. In 2016 the Zappa Family Trust released a CD of Apostrophe (') alternate mixes, different takes and live versions of material from the album. It includes early versions of the song Down in De Dew, which Zappa considered including on Apostrophe but didn't release until later on the LP Läther.
I don’t pull Frank off the shelf anywhere as often as I should, and perhaps I will make it a point to find the time to do it more often. I love this record and the Zappa Trust did a great job with this reissue.
I have a lot of Frank Zappa LPs. And for me, when it comes to Zappa, it all more-or-less started with this record. Or maybe it was Overnight Sensation (another great LP). But this one - I am listening to the latest reissue from the Zappa Trust - sounds absolutely amazing. It highlights the incredible musicianship, humour, imagination and technical prowess of one of the greatest composers that ever graced the planet. Seriously, if Frank had lived a few centuries earlier he’d have given Mozart a run for the money.
He was certainly prolific. Apostrophe ('), released in 1974, is the 18th album by Frank Zappa. Don't Eat the Yellow Snow, the lead-off track, peaked at number 86 on the Billboard chart while the album was certified gold in 1976 and peaked at number 10 on the billboard 200, a career-high for Zappa.
Nanook Rubs It, which follows Don't Eat The Yellow Snow, was inspired by a dream Zappa had where he envisioned himself as an Eskimo named Nanook. St. Alfonzo's Pancake Breakfast follows that, which was inspired by a television commercial for Imperial Margarine that Zappa had seen. Listened to as a whole, the three songs are almost conceptual in design. They're also musically stunning, and hilarious as hell.
This record and Over-Nite Sensation, released a year earlier in 1973, were recorded simultaneously, and as a result the two recordings sort of overlap stylistically. Side two consists of various 1972 sessions with overdubs recorded in 1973-74, except for Excentrifugal Forz. The drum track on that song is said to have come from the Hot Rats sessions in 1969.
The song Apostrophe is an outstanding instrumental with bassist Jack Bruce and drummer Jim Gordon credited on the liner notes. Bruce, who is also credited with co-writing the song, said in an interview with Polish rock magazine Tylko Rock that he did not play any bass guitar parts or do any co-writing and that he simply played the cello intro on the song. "So I turned up in a New York studio with my cello," he said. "I'm listening to Zappa's music, pretty awful, and just don't know what to do with myself, and Frank says to me, 'Listen, I would like you to play a sound, like this ... whaaaaaang!!!' So I did what he asked me to do. Whaaaaaang!!! That was all. That was my input to Frank Zappa's most popular record!"
But Zappa recalled Bruce playing bass on the song in an interview several years later. "Well, that was just a jam thing that happened because he was a friend of Jim Gordon," Zappa said. "I found it very difficult to play with him. He's too busy. He doesn't really want to play the bass in terms of root functions. I think he has other things on his mind. But that's the way jam sessions go."
Most people might be surprised to learn that Jack Bruce can play the cello, but he studied the instrument at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama years earlier. In 2016 the Zappa Family Trust released a CD of Apostrophe (') alternate mixes, different takes and live versions of material from the album. It includes early versions of the song Down in De Dew, which Zappa considered including on Apostrophe but didn't release until later on the LP Läther.
I don’t pull Frank off the shelf anywhere as often as I should, and perhaps I will make it a point to find the time to do it more often. I love this record and the Zappa Trust did a great job with this reissue.
BONUS TRACK
Frank Zappa really was one of rock's true oddballs. He was also a musical genius. He made some of the best music to smoke dope to, but didn't take drugs himself or in any way condone their use. But he was a heavy cigarette smoker.
He was prolific, churning out more music every year than many artists release in an entire lifetime. He unintentionally developed a cult reputation, as well as a lot of respect from fellow musicians.
Born in Baltimore, Zappa grew up in the time of doo-wop and other pop forms, which he eventually included in his music making. By 1965 he'd formed the Mothers of Invention, which would become one of rock music's most influential groups. Many future star musicians apprenticed under Zappa, including Steve Vai, Lowell George (Little Feat) and Aynsley Dunbar (The Bluesbreakers, David Bowie, Lou Reed, Journey).
Zappa's output ranged from instrumental works to rock operas. He also explored jazz and classical forms, releasing several records in each format.
On December 4, 1971, Zappa suffered his first of two serious setbacks. While performing at Casino de Montreux in Switzerland, the Mothers' equipment was destroyed when a flare set off by an audience member started a fire that burned down the casino. This event was immortalized in the Deep Purple song Smoke on the Water.
Then, about a week later when The Mothers were onstage playing at the Rainbow Theatre in London with rented gear, an audience member who was jealous of his girlfriend's infatuation with Zappa leaped onto the stage and pushed Zappa off and into the concrete-floored orchestra pit. The band thought Zappa had been killed, and he almost was. His injuries included head trauma and fractures in his back, leg, and neck, as well as a crushed larynx, which ultimately caused his voice to drop a third of an octave.
This attack resulted in an extended period of wheelchair confinement. After returning to the stage in 1972, Zappa had a noticeable limp and could not stand for very long. He claimed one leg was shorter than the other, which he later referred to in song.
Zappa died of cancer at the age of 52 in 1993.
Frank Zappa really was one of rock's true oddballs. He was also a musical genius. He made some of the best music to smoke dope to, but didn't take drugs himself or in any way condone their use. But he was a heavy cigarette smoker.
He was prolific, churning out more music every year than many artists release in an entire lifetime. He unintentionally developed a cult reputation, as well as a lot of respect from fellow musicians.
Born in Baltimore, Zappa grew up in the time of doo-wop and other pop forms, which he eventually included in his music making. By 1965 he'd formed the Mothers of Invention, which would become one of rock music's most influential groups. Many future star musicians apprenticed under Zappa, including Steve Vai, Lowell George (Little Feat) and Aynsley Dunbar (The Bluesbreakers, David Bowie, Lou Reed, Journey).
Zappa's output ranged from instrumental works to rock operas. He also explored jazz and classical forms, releasing several records in each format.
On December 4, 1971, Zappa suffered his first of two serious setbacks. While performing at Casino de Montreux in Switzerland, the Mothers' equipment was destroyed when a flare set off by an audience member started a fire that burned down the casino. This event was immortalized in the Deep Purple song Smoke on the Water.
Then, about a week later when The Mothers were onstage playing at the Rainbow Theatre in London with rented gear, an audience member who was jealous of his girlfriend's infatuation with Zappa leaped onto the stage and pushed Zappa off and into the concrete-floored orchestra pit. The band thought Zappa had been killed, and he almost was. His injuries included head trauma and fractures in his back, leg, and neck, as well as a crushed larynx, which ultimately caused his voice to drop a third of an octave.
This attack resulted in an extended period of wheelchair confinement. After returning to the stage in 1972, Zappa had a noticeable limp and could not stand for very long. He claimed one leg was shorter than the other, which he later referred to in song.
Zappa died of cancer at the age of 52 in 1993.
