Apostrophe was released in 1974 on the 'Zappa' label.
Track One - Don't Eat the Yellow Snow
''
Quite a famous track for Zappa, but at 2mins 7secs it doesn't really provide much of an insight into what the album is going to be like. Also, as you probably have already understood, the 'yellow ... Read review
This new addition to Eagle Vision's acclaimed Classic Albums series focuses on Frank ... more
Zappa's early seventies albums Over-nite Sensation (1973) and Apostrophe(') (1974). Together they encapsulate Zappa's extraordinary musical diversity and were also the two most commercially successful albums that he released in his prolific career. As ever the programme uses interviews, musical demonstrations, rare archive and home movie footage plus live performances to tell the story behind the conception and recording of these groundbreaking albums.
Advantages: An insight into the great mind that was - Frank Zappa Disadvantages: May be a little to wild for some people.
Apostrophe was released in 1974 on the 'Zappa' label.
Track One - Don't Eat the Yellow Snow
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
Quite a famous track for Zappa, but at 2mins 7secs it doesn't really provide much of an insight into what the album is going to be like. Also, as you probably have already understood, the 'yellow snow' meaning.
Track Two ... ...from Zappa, but once again doesn't really show his great creativity.
Track Three - St. Alfonzo's pancake breakfast
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
From the title you can probably grasp that this track is going to be quite interesting... and you wouldn't be wrong. Very tight musicianship is shown with weird time sigs and a nice use of brass.
Apostrophe was released in 1974 on the 'Zappa' label.
Track One - Don't Eat the Yellow Snow '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' Quite a famous track for Zappa, but at 2mins 7secs it doesn't really provide much of an insight into what the album is going to be like. Also, as you probably have already understood, the 'yellow snow' meaning.
Track Two - Nanook Rubs It ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' Another funny track from Zappa, but once again doesn't really show his great creativity.
Track Three - St. Alfonzo's pancake breakfast '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' From the title you can probably grasp that this track is going to be quite interesting... and you wouldn't be wrong. Very tight musicianship is shown with weird time sigs and a nice use of brass.
Track Four - Father O'Blivion ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' This is one of my favorites on the album; the musical composition is excellent and it also has a funny story, which I won't spoil for you here. This is a great track you'll have to put on again and again to get a 'good listen' out of it.
Track Five - Cosmik Debris ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' Humorous undertones of the use of drugs here, funny nonetheless, Ruth Underwood on percussion provides more humor also but also displays her fantastic musical talent and how she gels with Zappa. 'But I've got a crystal ball!' is the funniest line in the song - you'll know why.
Track Six - Excentrifugal Forz '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' Some nice solo work on the guitar from Zappa in the track. Funny narrative to it also.
Track Seven - Apostrophe' ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' You'd expect the title track of the album to be good. This was. Great tempo for a great sound, also allowing Zappa's real creativity to shine through. 5mins 50secs of great flat-out 70's rock!
Track Eight - Uncle Remus ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' Not Zippity-doo-dah, but really rather good and my favorite track on the album! A+ for this one, and I don't know why I like it so much. Amazing backing vocals give it a kinda soul-feel. But seriously listen to it; it ends with another great solo from Zappa.
Track Nine - Stink-Foot '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' You must have heard of this track already. This is Zappa at his funniest; very, very funny. I dare you not to laugh after he first mentions 'STINKFOOT'. More great solos from Zappa make this a fantastic track!
The album was well received by Zappa fans, with the album going gold. I'd go out and get this album now!
Product Information for "Apostrophe - Frank Zappa" »
Product details
Title
Apostrophe
Performer
Frank Zappa
Genre
Rock & Pop
Sub Genre
Experimental Rock
Release Date
24/06/2002, 25/10/1999
Original Release Year
1974
Label / Distributor
Rykodisc Japan / F-Minor, Rykodisc / ADA/Cinram Logistics
Stereo
Stereo
Producer
Frank Zappa
Recomended Retail Price
14.99 GBP
Pieces in Set
1
Studio / Live
Studio
Catalogue Number
RCD 10519
Format
Performer
EAN
4988112412743, 14431051920
Additional notes
Album Notes
Also available on cassette on Rykodisc (40025). NOTES: Personnel: Frank Zappa (vocals, guitar, bass); Tony Duran (guitar); Sugar Cane Harris, Jean-Luc Ponty (violin); Napoleon Murphy Brock (saxophone, background vocals); Ian Underwood (saxophone); 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. Digitally remastered by Bob Stone. One of 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"'s scatological humor, and the cheap jokes that were part of Zappa's stock in trade abound here, on tracks like 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 is well-represented, as on the bluesy "Cosmik Debris," where he casts aspersions on the guru concept. APOSTROPHE finds Zappa at a peak, where he was still successfully mingling humor with harmonic exploration and yet succumbed to the excesses of neither.
Album Reviews
Q (8/95, pp.150-151) - 3 Stars - Good - "...More songs about Eskimos, religious deceit, poodles, pancakes and imaginary diseases." Mojo (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..."
Titles on disc 1
1.
Don't Eat The Yellow Snow
2.
Nanook Rubs It
3.
St Alfonzo's Pancake Breakfast
4.
Father O'Blivion
5.
Cosmik Debris
6.
Excentrifugal Forz
7.
Apostrophe
8.
Uncle Remus
9.
Stinkfoot
Ciao
Listed on Ciao since
29/05/2002
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