Classic Rock Bottom

     On the scale of intelligence, Spinal Tap and Frank Zappa are considered to reside at the opposite spectrum of the equation, yet listening to their songs I can't help but wonder where does the idiot end and the genius commence? Of course, there are some crossing points between the two acts and the most obvious ones are Steve Vai and Dweezil Zappa, for both of them have played each sides. However, there are few discrepancies as well. Frank's music is complex, to say the least, and while hunting second hand stores "Break Like The Wind" was mandatory on every inventory list, Frank Zappa CD's were rare finds among the tiered selection. In fact, Them Or Us is the only Frank Zappa release in my collection and it was bought brand new, off the shelf. Apparently, parting with a Frank Zappa CD is not a common practice.

     Perhaps it should be noted that Them Or Us was originally released in 1984, but MCA Records refused to distribute it in the States. Eventually, it was EMI Records who recognized the brilliance and stepped up to the plate. The 1990 version I bought is also a re-mixed version closed by the "Whippin' Post". If you gonna have only one cover version of the Allman Brothers classic, then this should be it. Frank's children, Dweezil, Ahmet and Moon Zappa were also involved in the process of making this album together with then still largely unknown guitarist, Steve Vai.

     For someone who asked the question in the title of another album: Does Humor Belong In Music?, Frank Zappa provides an instant answer beyond the click on the album cover. He used to put warnings inside his records stating that the album contained content "which a truly free society would neither fear nor suppress", and a "guarantee" which stated that the lyrics would not "cause eternal torment in the place where the guy with the horns and pointed stick conducts his business." Which loosely translates to: Do NOT Listen To These Songs At Work!

FRANK ZAPPA - Them Or Us (U.M.R.K. Digital Remix)

CD ℗ 1984/1990

1. The Closer You Are
2. In France
3. Ya Hozna
4. Sharleena
5. Sinister Footwear II
6. Truck Driver Divorce
7. Stevie's Spanking
8. Baby, Take Your Teeth Out
9. Marque-Son's Chicken
10. Planet Of My Dreams
11. Be In My Video
12. Them Or Us
13. Frogs With Dirty Little Lips
14. Whippin' Post

Coming Next Week: Ladies First

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That's weird. There's some weird stuff here. Totally unexpected.

Truck Driver Divorce gets stuck in your head. Well, mine at least. 

I think the first time I heard Steve Vai was off of "Disturbing The Peace" from Alcatrazz. Don't care what anyone else says, it blows away the Yngwie Alcatrazz album. Then came the movie "Crossroads" and I became a Britney Spears fan.

Wait.....no. Thinking of the wrong movie. It's the OTHER "Crossroads". You know, the one with the lovely Jamie Gertz and Steve Vai. No kung-fu even though the karate kid was in it. 

Weird, I watched a Frank Zappa doc last week.

What's even weirder is watching a Frank Zappa video on Night Flight. 

Now I miss Night Flight.

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