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One of Frank Zappa's most commercially successful albums, APOSTROPHE is also among his goofiest. The album found its way to the semi-mainstream chiefly on the strength of "Don't Eat the Yellow Snow." As the title of that single indicates, the scatological humor and cheap jokes that are part of Zappa's stock in trade abound here (see also the self-explanatory "Stink-Foot"). Part of Zappa's genius, though, much like that of Gong's Daevid Allen, was to deflate his sophisticated instrumental excursions and conceptual work with lowbrow humor and downright silliness. Nowhere is that process more apparent than on APOSTROPHE.
The typically large band (including violin and horns) that accompanies Zappa here follows him through daunting twists and turns as tempos get turned around and counterpoint riffs bounce off each other at breakneck speed. In the midst of all this instrumental facility, Zappa's satirical side blazes forth, as on "Uncle Remus," which addresses racial strife, and the bluesy "Cosmik Debris," where he casts aspersions on the idea of gurus. APOSTROPHE finds Zappa at a peak: successfully mingling humor with harmonic exploration, yet succumbing to the excesses of neither.
All songs have been digitally remastered.
Personnel: Frank Zappa (vocals, guitar, keyboards); Frank Zappa; Ray Collins (vocals, guitar, background vocals); Lynn, Robert Camarena, Debbie, Kerry McNabb, Ruben Guevara, Sue Glover (vocals, background vocals); Tony Duran (guitar); Napoleon Murphy Brock (saxophone, background vocals); Jack Bruce, Tom Fowler (bass instrument); John Guerin (drums); Susie Glover (background vocals); Don "Sugarcane" Harris (vocals, violin); George Duke (vocals, keyboards, background vocals); Ian Underwood (guitar, saxophone, keyboards, wind); Aynsley Dunbar (guitar, drums); Jean-Luc Ponty (violin, keyboards); Sal Marquez (trumpet); Bruce Fowler (trombone); Ruth Underwood (keyboards, percussion); Jim Gordon , Ralph Humphrey (drums).
Audio Remasterer: Bob Stone.
Audio Remixer: Kerry McNabb.
Recording information: Bolic, Inglewood; Electric Lady, N.Y.C; Electric Studios, New York, NY; Paramount, Hollywood, CA.
Editor: Frank Zappa.
Photographer: Mark Aalyson.
Unknown Contributor Role: Bob Ludwig.
Arranger: Frank Zappa.
Personnel: Frank Zappa (vocals, guitar, bass); Tony Duran (guitar); Sugar Cane Harris, Jean-Luc Ponty (violin); Ian Underwood (saxophone); Napoleon Murphy Brock (saxophone, background vocals); George Duke (keyboards); Jack Bruce, Erroneous, Tom Fowler (bass); Jim Gordon, Johnny Guerin, Ralph Humphrey, Aynsley Dunbar (drums); Ruth Underwood (percussion); Ray Collins, Kerry McNabb, Susie Glover, Debbie, Lynn, Ruben Ladron De Guevara, Robert "Frog" Camarena (background vocals).
Engineers include: Steve Desper, Terry Dunavan, Barry Keene.
Q (8/95, pp.150-151) - 3 Stars - Good - "...More songs about Eskimos, religious deceit, poodles, pancakes and imaginary diseases." Mojo (Publisher) (7/95, p.102) - "...After six tracks of intricate whimsy, the title piece bursts through, a blues rock 'tour de force' underpinned by Jack Bruce's slithering bass, showing that Zappa could effortlessly play the power trio card if he chose to..." Uncut (magazine) (p.70) - "[W]ith his tightest, most sympathetic band playing at the peak of their powers."
(*) MP3 for this song is from a different CD. Listen to the sound sample to be sure this is the version you're looking for.
Apostrophe (') Music Review
Customer Apostrophe (') Reviews
Average Rating: (4.8 out of 5 stars)
Bruce/Zappa heaven I relistened to this after a gap of 20+ years.Although much of it has been reproduced elsewhere or ignored, the title track, Apostrophe, is the most brilliant collaboration between FZ and Jack Bruce. I have never heard a better bass solo, and can't remember another track where FZ played so well but with so much deference to another band member.
Worth it just for those 5 miutes. Submitted by a reviewer (London UK) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo 1 of 2 found this helpful.
Amazing Great for a first time Zappa listener Submitted by Russell (Joshua, TX, USA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
this is the crux of the biscuit! the first zappa lp played for me and i've been hooked ever since!wanna break someone into zappa start off with this cd!theyll thank you later for it!a perfect cd,where his lyrics and his musical ideas met head on! Submitted by johnny_vip (las vegas,nv) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
Musical vocabulary extension pleasure From this record, I learned not to eat the yellow snow and why, to be careful of overenthusiastic poodles, to watch out for gurus selling cosmic debris scams, and how jazz fusion jams can be ecstatic. I also learned that Uncle Remus Zappa understood the fatal sociopolitical economic equations of our times, and that Stink Foot is the funniest song about foot odor of all time, although Paul McCartney's Smile Away on Ram is a good companion piece. This is Frank's masterpice, one of several. Musically and lyrically top notch. Submitted by Andrew M. (Santa Rosa, CA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo 0 of 1 found this helpful.
Probably Zappa's Best Apostrophe has everything that makes Frank Zappa great: funny lyrics and stories, interesting and catchy melodies, and superb songwriting and guitar work. "Nanook Rubs It" is a highlight, as are "Uncle Remus" and the title track. The best way to listen to this album is straight through, and the more you listen to it, the more it will grow on you. Submitted by Cory (Albany, NY, USA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo 0 of 1 found this helpful.
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