Basically a play by zappa that spans the gamut of most of his concept and story albums. Under exclusive license to universal music enterprises, a division of umg recordings, inc. In 1984 fz selfpublished them or us, a 351 page book created with a dot matrix printer. The current distributor of zappa s recorded output is universal music enterprises. This is zappa family archival matter in living ylem. Frank zappa fans are an obsessive sort, and to be into zappa feels like being in on a big secret. Them or us the book by frank zappa, contains the lyrics to flam bay, spider of destiny and time is money, from sleep dirt these were all part of the unproduced hunchentoot stage play. If you want an album zappas early 80s period with mostly vocals, go for tinseltown rebellion and you are what you is. This time, the backing track is all performed at the same time, and it is also a lot more complex than most of the backing music for.
The closer you are earl lewis, morgan bobby robinson 2. The closer you are earl lewis, morgan bobby robinson. Not lyrically thematic like sheikyerbouti but musically conceptual with some of the best zappa solos marquesons chicken, whipping post some highly avant garde psychedelic jams ya hozna, sinister footwear some of the usual zappa comedy rock antics baby take your teeth out, stevies spanking. Released in october 1984, them or us is frank zappas last studio rock album unless one counts thingfish. The official website of frank zappa and the zappa family trust. Zappa ha anche pubblicato piu di trenta singoli e tre colonne sonore di film da lui diretti. Five zappa songs for people who dont get zappa paste. Sometime around 1957, as he tells us in the real frank zappa book, frank happened across the infamous edgar varese album that marked the beginning of franks exploration into the works of modernist composers. Its sad because the only reason why he stopped doing rock was because he was getting sick. The front cover is that photo from true glove with fz and his.
Frank vincent zappa december 21, 1940 december 4, 1993 was an american musician and composer. A frank zappa this and the real frank zappa book, published in 1989. His book is a good primer for those wishing to learn the steps zappa, who died in 1993, took to create himself he never was much for school. I think theres a possibility lynch is crazy enough to go for them or us if someone offers an insane amount of money for the production. Cover painting by donald roller wilson graphics by gabrielle raumberger, new age art photo by steve schapiro. Not lyrically thematic like sheikyerbouti but musically conceptual with some of the best zappa solos marquesons chicken, whipping post some highly avant garde psychedelic jams ya hozna, sinister footwear some of the usual zappa comedy rock antics baby take. The front cover is that photo from true glove with fz and his oven mitten.
Following problems with the album thingfish, which mca records refused to distribute, zappa made a deal with emi records, which would allow them or us and thingfish to be distributed by capitol records in the united states. Books by frank zappa author of the real frank zappa book. Francesco zappa, them or us, thingfish and the old masters. The complete works of frank zappa the best american poetry. His initial attraction to that album was based on his observation of the albums cover photo of varese. I finally got around to finding a copy of the them or us book, and am currently enjoying it. The genius of this book is lost on most of us as is the sad case with manymost of this albums and songs as well, because zappa requires a great deal of attention and immersion to really get to the meat of his language musical and otherwise, but when you do, i can assure you, it is most definitely worth it. The thing that stands out most to me and to a lot of other people is that the album is almost defiantly conservative by zappas standards. Frank zappa continues to be the most misunderstood person in rock music, and his album sleep dirt continues to be one of the most misunderstood albums in his discography. Frank zappa discography wikipedia republished wiki 2. The albums shown on the back cover contain some of these songs. Instead you have insights into the way his mind works and some profound truths about the music business in. If you want an album zappa s early 80s period with mostly vocals, go for tinseltown rebellion and you are what you is. Them or us is pretty much a frank zappa guitar solo that was taken from a performance of black page 2 in bolzano, italy in july of 1982.
Other songs derive from joes garage and ship arriving too late to save. Franks legitimate recorded output arranged as i see it. He was known for his strange style of music, which was often weird and funny. Released in october 1984, them or us is frank zappa s last studio rock album unless one counts thingfish. This book used to be called christmas in new jersey.
This time, the backing track is all performed at the same time, and it is also a lot more complex than most of the backing music for franks other solos, especially the wild drums. A facsimile paperback edition was released in 2010. This writing has the setup of a screenplay, revisiting the earlier pieces and thingfish the whole hunchentoot libretto is included. Watch the video for them or us from frank zappas them or us for free, and see the artwork, lyrics and similar artists. Zappa worked with many other musicans, most notably his 1960s group the mothers of invention and his friend and blues singer captain beefheart.
Them or us the book by frank zappa, contains the lyrics to flam bay, spider of. The perfect stranger zappa records t zappa 49 cass sealed them or us emi 164y2402343 lp them or us rykodisc rcd 40027 cd them or us rykodisc rcd 10543 cd them or us rykodisc vack 1255 cd sealed them or us rykodisc vack 5266 cd sealed them or us zappa records t zappa 30 cass sealed. Frank vincent zappa was born on december 21, 1940 birthdayhappy birthday in baltimore, maryland, u. Foreword this cheesy little homemade book was prepared for the amusement of people who already enjoy zappa music. The thing that stands out most to me and to a lot of other people is that the album is almost defiantly conservative by zappa s standards. The creator of radical rock during the 60s who later pursued even more adventurous avenues, ranging from jazzrock to classical composition. Them or us by frank zappa meet your next favorite book. It contains a little of everything for everyone, but most of all it has that cold and dry early80s feel that made this and other albums like the man from utopia and frank zappa meets the mothers of prevention sound dated pretty quickly. My favourites to this day are the closer you are, sharleena, truck driver divorce,sinister footwear ii, marquesons chicken and them or us not zappas best album by a long shot, but it still holds a special place in my heart. Zappa wrote a warning which appeared on the inner sleeves of these albums, as well as frank zappa meets the mothers of.
Frank zappa death, wiki, kids, children, house, wife, son. Them or us double vinyl original barking pumpkin release 1984 them or us double vinyl original barking pumpkin release 1984 sku. The book is written in quasiscreenplay style and contains tons of conceptual continuity stuff. In addition to the 94 lps and cds, zappa directed two amazing fulllength films 200 motels 1971 and baby snakes 1979. This book is dedicated to all of the fans who have made the last 20 years of largescale absurdities possible. A list of albums of zappas music by other artists is also included.
Frank zappa albums, songs discography album of the year. This cheesy little homemade book was prepared for the amusement of people who already enjoy zappa music. This is a list of albums by frank zappa, including all those credited to the mothers of invention. While not everyone gets it, these five songs should serve as introductory tracks to the man, myth. Them or us is an album by american musician frank zappa, released in october 1984 by barking pumpkin records. All tracks written by frank zappa, except where noted. In 1984 frank zappa selfpublished them or us, created with a dot matrix. Dec 17, 2010 this book is dedicated to all of the fans who have made the last 20 years of largescale absurdities possible.
Original release on barking pumpkin records double vinyl. And it could turn out great, like a bloated comic book inland empire and possibly the worst box office disaster in the history of cinema. The first question i have to ask, and this is for people who havent read the book either, is the opening section of the book is a play about francesco zappa. Them or us double vinyl original barking pumpkin release 1984.
His initial attraction to that album was based on his observation of the albums. I absolutely love these 2 albums and theyre as good as and up there with weasels, money, lumpy, joes garage and one size. Watch the video for them or us from frank zappa s them or us for free, and see the artwork, lyrics and similar artists. Since 1994, the zappa family trust has released 49 posthumous albums, making a total of 111 albums. The current distributor of zappas recorded output is universal music enterprises. From them or us to broadway the hard way zappa tangles with the senate in the infamous pmrc hearings, dives into synths, and hits new thresholds of nsfw. Frank zappa simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Resting place is westwood village memorial park cemetery.
Since 1994, the zappa family trust has released 50 posthumous albums, making a total of 112 albums. In the case of thingfish zappa typed out the blueprint during the christmas days of 1982. Them or us double vinyl original barking pumpkin release. This facsimile edition brings this seminal work on conceptual continuity to a new generation of fans who have outgrown the ordinary. Since 1994, the zappa family trust has released 38 posthumous albums, making a total of 101 albums.