Frank Zappa

1-22-09 Frank Zappa: the ‘difficult’ years

After leaving Warner Brothers, Frank Zappa released no less than 7 entirely new albums in a very short span of time. Some of these albums are very highly regarded, while others are reviled. Roughly in order:

SHEIK YERBOUTI EMI UK CDP 790076.2 1979 18 TRKS (1st CD issue)

SHEIK YERBOUTI ZAPPA US SRZ-2-1501 1979 18 TRKS

His first post-WB album of new material was rather well received; distributed via Mercury / Phonogram; sound trouble on any non-EMI CD issue

JOE'S GARAGE ZAPPA US SRZ-1-1603 1979 8 TRKS

JOE'S GARAGE ACTS II & III ZAPPA US SRZ-2-1502 1979 10 TRKS

JOE'S GARAGE ACTS I, II & III RYKODISC US RCD 10530/1 1979 19 TRKS 2nd Ryko issue

Originally issued separately (Act I and Acts II & II); distributed via Mercury / Phonogram

TINSELTOWN REBELLION EMI UK CDP 790077.2 1981 15 TRKS (1st CD issue)

TINSELTOWN REBELLION BARKING PUM PW2 37336 1981 15 TRKS

This was his first album distributed via Columbia / CBS; sound trouble on any non-EMI CD issue

SHUT UP & PLAY YOUR GUITAR RYKODISC US RCD 10028/9 1981 20 TRKS (1st CD issue)

SHUT UP & PLAY YOUR GUITAR CBS/SONY JPN 60AP 2268/70 1981 20 TRKS

These originally started life as 3 separate records that could be mail-ordered directly from Zappa

YOU ARE WHAT YOU IS EMI UK CDP 790075.2 1981 20 TRKS (1st CD issue)

YOU ARE WHAT YOU IS BARKING PUM PW2 37537 1981 20 TRKS

This was his second album distributed via Columbia / CBS; sound trouble on any non-EMI CD issue

SHIP ARRIVING TOO LATE RYKODISC US RCD 10537 1982 6 TRKS 2nd Ryko issue

SHIP ARRIVING TOO LATE BARKING PUM FW 38066 1982 6 TRKS

Containing the infamous “Valley Girl” single; distributed via Columbia / CBS

MAN FROM UTOPIA BARKING PUM FW 38403 1983 10 TRKS

MAN FROM UTOPIA RYKODISC US RCD 10538 1983 11 TRKS (1 x bonus track) 2nd Ryko issue; His final album distributed via Columbia / CBS

Can you believe that Mr. Zappa released this much material in only about 4 years? These albums came out so fast and furious that it was difficult to keep up with all of them! 5 double LP’s in a row! And the video clip for “You Are What You Is” is one of the ‘earlier’ US music videos, pre-dating MTV, even!

It’s true that some of “Sheik Yerbouti” was culled from his then-abandoned work “Lather” (1977) – some other “Lather” material came on the un-approved Warner albums “Studio Tan”, “Sleep Dirt” and “Orchestral Favorites”. Fortunately, a proper CD issue of “Lather” came along in ’96, 20+ years after it’s original intended release.

After these albums, there were soundtracks, stage shows, classical albums…and a few more ‘rock’ albums – before his new ‘initial works’ came to a grinding halt (with “The Yellow Shark”).

It is very entertaining to consider these albums in the context of the years they were released: ’79 – ’83. Not ‘typical’ releases, by any means. But also neither punk or new wave, nor classic rock nor other fads and fashions of the day (“Valley Girl” notwithstanding).