The project discussion page is the place to talk about technical and editorial issues and exchange ideas. The album opener is a cover of a doowop song by lewis and robinson. I think the fact that he did play with them in a live show says something. I absolutely love these 2 albums and theyre as good as and up there with weasels, money, lumpy, joes garage and one size. The real frank zappa book is frank zappas autobiography, published in 1989. 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. Frank zappa them or us the book by frank zappa 1st edition. Well dance them very much under the megawatt moonlight.
The book is written in quasiscreenplay style and contains tons of conceptual continuity clues. Cover painting by donald roller wilson graphics by gabrielle raumberger, new age art photo by steve schapiro. Bass scott thunes drums chad wackerman harmony vocals ike willis, napoleon murphy brock, ray white other insinuations frank zappa piano brad cole saxophone, vocals falsetto bobby martin 2 3. I knew i would have to smuggle the camera in and that meant flash photography was not an option. Original release on barking pumpkin records double vinyl. Frank zappa died in his sins, an unbeliever having rejected jesus christ as his saviour. Them or us makes me uncomfortable and leaves me cold. Books by frank zappa author of the real frank zappa book. Here is the real story of how he became the state of the art in weirdness, as only he can tell it. 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. Them or us is a really uneven, uneventful, boring album by zappa s standards. The closer you are earl lewis, morgan bobby robinson.
In 1984 frank zappa selfpublished them or us, created with a dot matrix printer. He did have a low opinion of a lot of top 40 pop music but im not so sure he felt that way about all rock musicians though. It reads fairly quickly, but has parts that require a lot of time and thought to wrap your brain around, and requires several. Before she passed, gail and i spent a lot of time discussing the film i wanted to make, and the importance of helping preserve the vault, and she was the one who gave me. Dec 01, 2010 in 1984 frank zappa selfpublished them or us, created with a dot matrix printer. The faq on frank zappa gives it to us quick and dirty popmatters. A facsimile paperback edition was released in 2010. Written by frank zappa, this book formerly called christmas in new jersey presents a play meant to challenge narrowminded thinking and celebrate largescale absurdity. If it was released by any other artist, it wouldve gained huge acclaim. Them or us bass, synthesizer minimoog scott thunes drums chad wackerman guitar solo frank zappa. O ne single incident serves as a perfect illustration of just what an extraordinarily unusual and charismatic person the us musician frank zappa, who died in.
The book is written in quasiscreenplay style and contains tons of conceptual continuity stuff. This book is a good complement to the real frank zappa book read one, then read the other for a more complete insight. Them or us by frank zappa meet your next favorite book. It was written for the percussion and drum kit, but many different versions have been created. Them or us thingfish frank zappa meets the mothers of prevention jazz from hell civilization phaze iii live albums fillmore east june 1971 just another band from l. Frank actually took the time to pen his own work mainly because he was so annoyed with all the other efforts. 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.
This cheesy little homemade book was prepared for the amusement of people who already enjoy zappa music. The official website of frank zappa and the zappa family trust. Oct 03, 2011 o ne single incident serves as a perfect illustration of just what an extraordinarily unusual and charismatic person the us musician frank zappa, who died in 1993, must have been. This book is dedicated to all of the fans who have made the last 20 years of. 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. A workaholic perfectionist rock star who eschewed the hippie culture of the 1960s, deploring its conformism, spurious ideals and drug use, zappa was not only a brilliant rock guitarist but an orchestral composer, innovative filmmaker, music producer, businessman, iconoclast and perceptive. 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. Zappa wrote a warning which appeared on the inner sleeves of these albums, as well as frank zappa meets the mothers of prevention, which stated that the albums contained content which a truly free society would neither fear nor suppress, and a guarantee which. I finally got around to finding a copy of the them or us book, and am currently enjoying it. Move it or park it do not try this at home them or us, 1. The title track is a guitar solo in bb lydian with bb as a pedal note.
Originally journalist peter occhiogrosso was invited to transcribe zappa s actual words to paper, but when zappa read the first draft he felt it was way too serious and dry. The real frank zappa book is frank zappa s autobiography, published in 1989. Book this book does not require a rating on the projects quality scale. Of all the qualities that typified frank zappa, perhaps the most striking is that he was a paradox. You are what you is, thing fish, and them or us are the only three zappa albums from the eighties with at least 95% of studio material on them. Originally journalist peter occhiogrosso was invited to transcribe zappas actual words to paper, but when zappa read the first draft he felt it was way too serious and dry. Before she passed, gail and i spent a lot of time discussing the film i wanted to make, and the importance of helping preserve the vault, and she was the one who. 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.
Zappa was coming through houston in 1984 on his them or us tour and i wanted to get some pics. Frank zappa is an american composer who composed the black page. In 1984 frank zappa selfpublished them or us, created with a dot matrix printe. It is partly narrated by francesco zappa, that obscure 18th century. I would definitely recommend the real frank zappa book. Them or us is the first book written by fz, initially published by. Released in october 1984, them or us is frank zappa s last studio rock album unless one counts thingfish. If you want an album zappas early 80s period with mostly vocals, go for tinseltown rebellion and you are what you is.
Frank zappa is within the scope of the composers wikiproject, a group of editors writing and developing biographical articles about composers of all eras and styles. Zappa recorded a full album with such songs as cruisin with ruben and the jets in the sixties. Zappa wrote a warning which appeared on the inner sleeves of these albums, as well as frank zappa meets the mothers of. Released in october 1984, them or us is frank zappas last studio rock album unless one counts thingfish. There is not a book upon the earth which addresses. Among others, them or us contains the lyrics to flambay. Them or us is an album by american musician frank zappa, released in october 1984 by barking pumpkin records. Them or us zappa, 2lp, barking pumpkin svbo74200, october 18, 1984. But thingfish was released just a month later and it, too, is largely a studio album. The xylophones in the beginning brings back colorful memories of classic zappa, and theyre played in a pretty sophisticated way yet again. 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. According to the word of god, frank zappa went straight to hell when he died. May 03, 2010 some consider them or us zappas last studio album, inasmuch as a typical rock studio album. 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.
Theres doowop, blues, rock, fusion, pop, reggae, countryspoofs, broadwayspoofs, and jazz. The author itself was wellknown journalist, who wrote great articles and books about not only western music at the time. Foreword this cheesy little homemade book was prepared for the amusement of people who already enjoy zappa music. Them or us double vinyl original barking pumpkin release. 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.
Picked up this thing fishthem or us promo copy at my local record store. All tracks written by frank zappa, except where noted. He read books about himself and decided he needed to set the record straight. In 1984 fz selfpublished them or us, a 351 page book created with a dot matrix printer. 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 closer you are in france them or us begins in a manner that you could call oldfashioned in the eighties. Sinister footwear ii is a strange instrumental jam. This is facsimile edition and exactly copies all the content pages of the original edition. Some consider them or us zappas last studio album, inasmuch as a typical rock studio album. Among others, them or us contains the lyrics to flambay, spider of destiny and time is money. All other books attempting to trade on my name are. This facsimile edition brings this seminal work on conceptual continuity to a new generation of fans who have outgrown the ordinary. Buy the real frank zappa book reprinted ed by frank zappa isbn. 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.
The rock band version of sinister footwear iii on you are what you is. 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. Zappa liked it enough for including two more solos of this type on guitar. So, too, does the authors exploration of other books about zappa, a list that should be wider and maybe more comprehensive than it is given.
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