Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention- Can't Afford No Shoes & Sofa No. 1 (REACTION//DISCUSSION)

[@parshakamarsh]

I've been listening to this album for nearly 50 years now, and I still get as much joy from it as the first time I heard it. Love every track on it, an absolute masterpiece

[@pilesovinyl]

The album is one of my favorite albums ever, by anyone. On Sofa, the fabulous late George Duke (RIP). His work on this with Chester Thompson...beautiful!!! I'm glad you enjoyed it. I'm reminded of your first listens to Zappa and how you weren't sure how you felt about it. I'm certain now that you, like many of us, understand the brilliance and creativity of the man who never put a piece of music together in quite the same way as anyone else ever did. And that expectation of the new listening experience is what led people like me to have bought 37 of his albums (would have more but life started to happen).

[@manualboyca]

In Sofa, Chester Thompson on drums really ties everything together beautifully.

[@markspooner1224]

Such a good album, one of his very best.

[@j.8804]

How come no one ever hits one of their first 3 albums, Freak Out, Absolutely Free, & We're Only In It For The Money

[@jimhardiman3836]

Sofa on Zappa In New York is fantastic with the addition of the SNL horns and the Brecker Bros. Sublime.

[@hansvandermeulen5515]

The leadguitar in Can't Afford No Shoes is a fretless guitar that was sold to Zappa at a discount because it was incomplete without the frets. The store was also required by the manufacturer Acoustic to file off the brandname on the headstock.

[@twelvemonkeys8786]

The genius of Zappa hits home again. More please..

[@jimbricker4982]

So glad you're back into One Size Fits All - Zappa's best IMO. Hope you continue the journey!

[@jeffmartin1026]

Sofa and Peaches are two of the best Zappa songs. For what it's worth SOFA is an anagram of the first letters of the LP title. There was a fairly deep recession in the USA at that time. Like most of his songs Frank is reflecting on life around him. Pajama People is another great example of this. Once you finish this LP it is likely to become one of your favorite LPs to listen to.

[@nottherealeric1347]

Hey Justin! Great video as always. “Sofa” is one of the most beautiful songs Frank ever wrote & it had a very similar effect on me the first time I heard it. If you like this bluesier side of Zappa then you should definitely check out the Bongo Fury album. It’s the live/studio follow up to One Size Fits All & features Captain Beefheart on vocals & harmonica on many of the tracks. It would also be a great way to help ease yourself into the world of Beefheart as well. Haha

[@cat-o-matic]

Frank Zappa was a master of music and had a sense of humor that I dig. I think there will never be another FZ.

[@sonicart1808]

Great reaction JP thanks! Frank was a genius and as with all genius he walked the fine line between insanity and absolute brilliance.

[@coolguitarchannel]

One Size Fits All is an absolute masterpiece of prog. Nearly flawless in my opinion.

[@coolguitarchannel]

@@Katehowe3010 idk songs like Inca Roads, Florentine Pogen, and Andy are the definition of prog imo

[@coolguitarchannel]

@@Katehowe3010 I mean regarding Tull, I'd argue that Aqualung is prog (mixed with hard rock, folk, blues), and albums like Minstrel and the Gallery and Songs for the Wood are absolutely prog. Sure, an album like Benefit for example isn't prog but that doesn't mean those other albums aren't. A band doesn't have to be categorized by one genre. Every album has its own unique sound and character that fit into different genres. And Zappa is the epitome of that argument. He stepped foot into, mixed up, and pioneered, so many different genres. I just happen to think that One Size fits All fits very nicely into the genre of 70s progressive rock.

[@coolguitarchannel]

@@Katehowe3010 With the kind of complicated harmony, odd mixed meter changes, and symphonic arrangements that Songs from the Wood has, it is most certainly prog in my eyes. Heavily folk injected, yes, but still prog.

[@BaldJean]

In "Sofa No. 2" Frank actually sings in German. The lyrics are really silly, like "Ich bin der Dreck unter deinen Walzen, ich bin dein geheimer Schmutz"" ("I am the dirt under your rollers, I am your secret filth"). His German pronunciation is actually quite good; there is an accent, but his pronunciation is definitely better than the pronunciation of Peter Gabriel when he sings in German (there is a German version of his third album). Peter Hammill's German pronunciation on his German album "Offensichtlich Goldfisch" ("Evidently Goldfish") which contains German versions of twelve songs from several of his solo albums is slightly better than Zappa's.

[@fostercathead]

Ich bin der Chrom Dinette!

[@chazblitz]

Justin, if you haven't seen Alex Winters Zappa movie, please make time for it. It's only two hours but I promise you won't want your two hours back. Plus Ruth is in it.🤣The world is a better place because of Ruth Underwood!

[@EmptyGlass99]

@@Katehowe3010 I think Frank loved Ruth too. It was very emotional hearing her tell the story of taking that letter to a dying Frank.

[@fostercathead]

Love it, love it, love it! Who are you? Where did you come from? There are tears coming from my eyes!

[@erikahlander3489]

There are a number of more Sofa versions (+covers). One "official" instrumental version released in 1978 (Zappa in New York). (Live versions back to 1971 and Flo & Eddie!). Since those years I have collected "sofas": when I found an odd park bench or anything aimed sitting on, I took a photo! One day I will use them to honor Mr Zappa. To me "Sofa" and "Peaches" are the ultimate essence of his music.

[@AndyMmusic]

I think the line about chump hare rama is about it's no use relying on spiritual stuff if you are really hurting financially.

[@frankpentangeli7945]

I hope you're systematically going through this album ... it's my absolute favourite from Zappa. If not, then you should at least definitely check out the song "Andy" from this record, which may well be Zappa's least ironic or sarcastic track having vocals on it, and has some of the most beautiful and creative drumming I know from Chester Thompson. Astounding music!

[@ithaliem]

You should listen to George Dukes solo stuff. His 1974 album Feel is incredible. Zappa plays on the album and Leon Ndugu Chancler is on drums. The second song Love is one of the best jazz-fusion songs ever written. Highly recommended.

[@mrfranksan]

There’s the sofa. Right there on the cover. It’s a cosmic sofa. Thanks Cal!

[@hpb5495]

Freakin' genius. Saw them in Kent State in 1973 opening for Mahavishnu Orchestra! I'm still a little numb, lol.

[@jaybird4093]

Sofa #1 is a jazz waltz; it’s in 3/4 time with a swing or 9/8 depending on how you interpret it. It’s not common outside of jazz. There are some good polyrhythms, too. When Ruth comes in, she’s playing duplets over the triplets (along with the guitar). The middle of the song is in duplet time (3/4) but then goes back to the swing. Finally, there are some quadruplets drum fills at the end over the triplets. Interesting track and fun to listen to!

[@RayRay-ot5xd]

Other then Gentle Giant, I can’t think of many artists using a xylophone. SO Zappa! Love it!

[@jamespaivapaiva4460]

If you watch Frank live the conductor analogy is very appropriate. More from the Master please? Times are so hard, so I cant afford to listen unless you play it!!! Haha-Peace.

[@Phlakaton88]

Love Frank and all those cats - superb music by a superb composer/guitarist - Legend. Always will be my favorite guitarist. What tone and solas!

[@stevedotwood]

Sofa #2 is a mini opera "Und Du bist mein Sofaaaa" I looove your reaction on instrumental Sofa

[@pianocovers4227]

Hi Justin ! ( you secretly listen to " Then" at 2:17 ! We share a deep passion for Yes Music ! ) FZ is a killer/composer ! Many albums to visit !

[@alldayadventures5418]

Sleep Dirt is an entire album full of that slow zazz... (zappa-jazz)

[@bobholtzmann]

The waltz time of "Sofa No. 1" used in a grand style. I'm pretty sure this was used as the backing tape for the dubbed vocals in "Sofa No. 2". Both sofas hold up really well on their own.

[@ulgn1964]

Sofa is one of my favourite Zappa songs.

[@mrbrad4566]

Steve Vai does an amazing cover of Sofa. Well worth checking out.

[@toda304]

Great reaction JP ,Thanks for sharing the Genius that is Zappa ...RIP Frank

[@maruad7577]

I never wanted to get out of my sofa until I got a Lazyboy. Now I don't want to get out of my Lazyboy! J/K though it is one of the cat's two favourite sleeping places. Two great songs in one download. Gratz.

[@brucepieroni9102]

Who knew that "Can't afford no shoes" would be your new theme song? Good one!

[@fastnbulbouss]

The hare rama is a reference to the Hare Krishnas that were all over north america, and europe, dancing and begging in the streets of New York , Paris ; LA, London....even in the airports you would bump into them.

[@GoodCorporateRobot]

The fact that you are giving Ruth props tells me you are a Zappa fan. This is a great reaction. Thank you.

[@JustJP]

Shes absolutely amazing! Ty Thomas

[@jameswarner5809]

This is the last album in my collection, alphabetically. Po-jama People next. That's a fun one.

[@AndyMmusic]

Ruth Underwood has suggested that. Sofa could be a national anthem!

[@tonyt6481]

This is a fun song 👍👍Heard of Frank Zappa before never heard this song Really like this song

[@jameswilson-vd5qc]

This is usually my favourite offering (there's a moveable feast) from Zappa, Frank's band playing this material is stellar (not that he ever played with anyone that wasn't) they also play on "Roxy and Elsewhere" which is probably my favourite live album. I think you might really enjoy "Hot Rats" which, unbelievably, is from 1969, rather than the future, and is predominantly instrumental with the exception of "Willie the Pimp" where Captain Beefheart makes a joyous appearance on vocals and Sugarcane Harris on violin.

[@raytrusty8618]

Im not sure one lifetime is enough to listen to everything Zappa did.....

[@JustJP]

Thats for sure!

[@-R.Gray-]

Since there are no other people playing slide guitar listed in the credits, I always thought that this was the period that Zappa was experimenting with a fretless electric guitar that he had made. He later gave it to Adrian Belew, who I think used it on the song "Model Man" on the King Crimson album Three Of A Perfect Pair.

[@ivanhenriqueroberto1970]

Nice information

[@mauricestevenson5740]

Now go and watch Mr Zappa and his band play "Sofa #2". There are lyrics! They might explain what it is all about! Or, possibly, not. I mean, you are right. The richness of the instrumental "#1" is fantastic. And it is beautifully recorded so the different sounds are not fighting one another - each instrument can be distinctly heard - all of them at the same time. Man, could ole Frankie-boy throw dots at a piece of paper.

[@bobcorbin3294]

One of two songs this album that features the fretless guitar the other is San Berdino

[@1matrix9]

Well said; Sofa~1 is just a perfect composition.

[@MisterWondrous]

"Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna Krishna, Krishna, Hare, Hare Hare Rama, Hare Rama Rama, Rama, Hare, Hare" Also...Steppenwolf did a song called "Hey Lawdy Mama".

[@jerkedevries]

Xylophone adds to the track. Love the guitar

[@trondsatre8615]

Zappa always excelled at goregous instrumentals

[@O_Towne_Bear]

I'm always here for some more Zappa/Mothers.

[@DropAnchor1978]

Very astute, JP, regsrding the recession and depression tone painting.

[@dana_brooke_27]

This album was the first music of Frank Zappa I heard from older brother of a friend. I was 13. It sounded very different of course but I loved it. I loved the way it was recorded that you could hear each and every instrument played. I wanna hear what I'm listening to clearly along with the lyrics. And you get that with Zappa. The music is incredible. I was listening to Yes Floyd Zeppelin Hoople ELP Steely Dan etc. It was summer of 74. That summer molded the music of my life.

[@dalt992]

“Hare Rama” is a mantra, associated with the Hare Krishna Movement, a Hindu cult/religion founded in 1966. Rama himself is an ancient Hindu king, worshiped as a deity by Hindus. Zappa was saying Rama was a chump and his religious cult followers were "no good to try"

[@raideurng2508]

It almost feels like Frank saying "Yea, we can play some filthy guitar shit too. Doesn't mean we have to, but we sure can."

[@BrianR.]

Loved this, it's my personal favorite Zappa album. If you keep it going 2 songs at a time, you're in for a real musical treat.

[@johnroberts5637]

If I ever start my own country, Sofa #1 will be it's National Anthem.

[@090nj2]

8:13 *That was exactly my reaction to that sub bass*

[@periurban]

Can't Afford No Shoes is written mostly in something like 7/8, but you can still tap your foot. Hare Rama comes from the Hare Krishna movement and is a mantra.

[@martinstarnes2237]

As has been said, I think, but just to reiterate, Sofa is a waltz. One two three, one two three. And there are numerous versions of it (including big band versions, one with Steve Vai on it, etc etc).

[@SpaceCattttt]

I suppose he meant that, even with recession and depression, things still aren't bad enough to turn to religion for comfort? I'd certainly agree with that! As for "Sofa No.2"...it's a beautiful composition, but it probably makes more sense to a newcomer to listen to the vocal version first.

[@EmptyGlass99]

I really enjoyed your analysis.

[@Jimsbo]

Glad to see you may be going through the whole album. Very good choice, this was always a favorite Zappa album. Since you speak about the particular musicians on it, maybe you’re aware that Zappa changed it up a lot from album to album, but this is a strong unit at this time. You see them in the “Ince Roads” video, which is the actual performance used to make that track (same with “Florentine Pogen”). Also, not to spoil too much, but “Sofa No. 2” isn’t really much different instrumentally. It just adds vocals, about half of which are Zappa singing in German. It kind of changes the vibe a bit, giving it some of the more comical Zappa feel. I’ve never looked into what the German lyrics are actually saying, though.

[@timkaufhold4739]

You will love Frank Zappa's BBC 1969 recording king Kong.

[@dannylgriffin]

I have this on vinyl (as I do your old good stuff). Those were the days. Listening to it for the first time fifty years later isn't the same for FZ. IMO.

[@kevtruth]

How can you beat the 1st 3 songs to lead off this gem of an album. 1. Inca Roads 2. Can't Afford No Shoes 3. Sofa #1

[@jfergs.3302]

A couple of good tracks from FZ here. CanS, the better, more fun track of the two. A bit of a southern rock vibe going on here, and it's all the better for it. SN1, not bad, maybe a little staid for Frank, but decent. And as always, I particularly liked Ruth's small contribution to this nice instrumental piece.

[@wowwhywow]

you hit paydirt with Sofa... the bad news is you might be disappointed with Sofa 2 (maybe not, but prepare yourself) the GOOD news is ... beleive it or not... there is an EVEN BETTER version of this song on Zappa Live in New York. Now... if you listen carefully to the first couple of seasons of the outro music of Saturday Night Live.. you know the cute little piano music as the Specialguest says goodnight? Well after the appearance of Frank Zappa in '76... and after he used the horn players from SNL on the Zappa Live in NY album... the outro music of Saturday Night Live started to sound suspiciously similar to Sofa, and has remained that way until today... if you listen to the outro music when some Guest is saying thank you with the cast, just think Sofa in your head as you listen to it.

[@manualboyca]

Justin! You told us how you feel about shoes, but how do you feel about sofas? More importantly....how do you feel about pajamas? LOL But seriously, I've never heard this album before, though I've heard a few of the tracks on live albums/compilations. I'm looking forward to hearing the rest of it with you. Cheers!

[@JustJP]

A pair of comfy pajamas go a long way! :D

[@manualboyca]

@@JustJP I expect you’ll be wearing pajamas while reviewing the next track. 😆

[@Alix777.]

Great choice Justin. It's Zappa best album of the early 70's trilogy.

[@JustJP]

Thank you Alix!

[@timfeeley714-25]

Went to buy some cheap detergent, some emergent nation got my load ! I am the heaven, I am the waters lyric from sofa #2 is one of the most beautiful passages in all music, IMHO. Would love to see you react to Captain Beefheart "Candle Mambo". Thanx JP

[@steveconnor746]

With the passing of Ian McDonald today, who performed with King Crimson and Foreigner, it might be a good time to react to the album McDonald and Giles. A very much underrated record in my view. Especially for the track "Birdman" which took up a whole side of the album. Definitely worth a listen. It's an album I've loved for years.

[@martinstarnes2237]

Well said. Wonderful album for its time, still gets played occasionally (Tomorrow's People). Had the pleasure of chatting with both McDonald & Mike Giles twenty years ago at a 20th Century Schizoid Band gig. I am also rather fond of Ian's solo album Driver's Eyes.

[@32ndBrother]

The album was released in 1975 When the United States went through a major economic downturn after the prosperity of the post WWIII era there was a massive oil embargo which lead to skyrocketing gas prices and lines at the filling station. I had just got my license and no gas to go anywhere, bummer dude. The Mother’s best album

[@commentingonly7337]

Love some Zappa. Have you done any of The Turtles? Once they broke up the 2 main members made an album then joined Zappa.

[@commentingonly7337]

Wait. Got the timelines mixed up They joined Zappa then released a solo thing

[@swirll360]

JP: (yeah you knew I would chime in here,lol) All I'm going to say is Sofa No.1 is an example of what I've been saying about Franks music, it needs to be listened to in 2 separate ways, musically and then lyrically. When you strip the great humorous lyrics away from the music, the music is better appreciated. I enjoy Franks lyrics but thats what hits most people first before the music and thats a shame. Sofa N.1 (and The Ocean Is The Ultimate Solution) lets the listener actually hear the incredible music without the distraction of the often crazy lyrics. What would your thoughts of Sofa No.1 have been if it had crazy lyrics? Would you have the same strong feeling for the music or would the lyrics havebeen distracting? (discuss lol). Po-jama People which comes up next on the album is a great piece of music and the lyrics crack me up everytime. But most people refer back to the lyrics when talking about that song when it's the music thats the stand out as well. It's something that continually frustrates me. I think you know now what I've been saying from these 2 reactions. You've been on the slow Frank journey now for a while and have honed your ability to compartmentalize his lyrics from the music and I really appreciate that and I can see your really warming up now to him as well. Keep up the great work!

[@masterofparsnips5327]

Sofa No. 1 is beautiful ... Sofa No. 2 is magnificent !!

[@forrest_lump]

Sofa: I like the dance around that 3/4 time that keeps leading you on the wrong track. 😲🤔

[@sicko_the_ew]

I have the same attitude to shoes. Even went over to taking my long walk barefoot until quite recently, but stood on something eventually, and realised I need to take a bit more care. (Broken bottles everywhere, here, but I'm pretty good at dodging them. What got me was a sneaky bit of metal of unknown origin.) (Although something got me through the shoes the other day. Wasn't a big gash, so not a broken bottle. Was so sharp and sudden I had a look to see if there was a snake there. I tried to compromise with thin shoes.) (If you want to try going barefoot without going barefoot, Vibram 5 Fingers is the way to go, BTW. Worn mine out, and still need to replace them. Obviously they're paying me to say that, but never mind, my word is good as gold.) As for the Rama and the Hare, I think I can almost help out there. That's from the Hare Krishna movement (a modern Hindu cult that doesn't just allow non-Indians to join, but even proselytizes). Those were in their incantations or whatever. (My cousin in Germany's best mate from school days ended up for a few years as a Hare Krishna priest in Kazakhstan, of all places. Haven't heard news of him lately. My cousin used to go and eat the food they prepare for the poor, because it tastes nice, and they don't tell you can't have it when you've got meat waiting at home later on. I'm guessing that when they were in fashion in the USA, they would've made food for the poor as one of their practices. The recession here would probably be the Oil Crisis of the early 70's - the recession that killed the "Yank tank" - the enormous American cars they used to make. I once bought a Bhagavad Gita off a Hare Krishna priest who was passing through my town. Quite an entertaining story on the right day. Go Arjuna! One final note: I heard a few things that tell me Tim Smith loved Frank Zappa's music in both songs. (It's no secret that he did.) I doubt that he'd have lifted the phrases (or what have yous) intentionally, but they must've stuck in his musical memory. Can't tell you precisely where he used them, though.

[@sicko_the_ew]

Tim ... So today KZbin reminded me that *Bodysbad* is good. Stripped down to just piano (with some improvisations) just how good becomes clear. (I suppose that would mainly be for those who don't like too much noise and mischief and boisterousness mixed in. It's kind of like the piano "explains things" or something less pretentious but similar in meaning. If you're already indoctrinated, you can manage without the help of a piano, because you have been programmed.) Really. Hallelujah. What a Saviour. (I suppose one thing the piano does is save anyone trying to receive too much sagacity from the lyrics.) Oh, the song? (Just doing a good job of burying it today, that's all.) Here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d2rae5qrfpeAes0 (Now tell me that's not beautiful.) (For no particular reason I now remember that one of the last things they did as a band was all travel together to Paris to watch Magma. And then head straight back home, I think.)

[@sicko_the_ew]

If you'd like an entire album to sample or to play some, close, come back later to your place that KZbin remembers (or sit down to for some full immersion - as I hope you're doing with e.g. Yes) the Zappa influence on that musical family maybe shows more clearly with the band *Ad Nauseum - 4 Little Boys* . kzbin.info/www/bejne/gYnGiad5pqx-prM (Jon Poole on guitars, and tiny Bob Leith - pretty as a picture - on drums - which reference you'll have to finish Sing to God, to understand.)

[@shemanic1]

I buy all my shoes in charity shops, that way I get good quality at a more affordable price. "One Size Fits All" is in my all time top ten albums, I have been listening to Zappa's music for about 50 years & it NEVER tires. Wait till you get to tracks like "Bobby Brown" & Don't eat the Yellow snow"

[@JustJP]

Ty Shemanic! Love the Yellow Snow Suite!

[@aarongonzalez7482]

As to Hare Rama... some commentors have tried to explain it, but it seems their explanations mostly operate on some assumption that you have some knowledge or cultural context to what they are talking about..... Aside from the literal meaning, which is what you looked up, and indeed would have a deep meaning for practitioners of Hinduism or Krishna Consciousness, just know that the words Hare Rama are part of a mantra used by followers of the Krishna Consciousness movement (popularly known as Hare Krishnas). In the 70s, the Hare Krishnas recruited alot of American countercultural people (i.e. hippies) to their cause. The Hare Krishnas would cause big public spectacles, dressing in their garb, singing songs and reciting their mantras. A major part of this, relevant to the song herr, is that they would beg for money, ostensibly to go towards the furthering of Krishna Consciousness. Many people were, of course, anooyed with this mass of hippies begging for money on behalf of a trendy spiritual movement. Zappa, ever the atheist, skeptic, and social critic, is presumably using the words, from the (first person) standpoint of the impoverished main character of this song as just another thing to say to beg for money

[@eximusic]

Sofa No 1 is a beautiful piece. I was never that into Can't Afford No Shoes. Great album though, his best in my opinion. Esp Andy and Inca Roads.

[@HippoYnYrEira]

What year was this then.? I heard a snippet of a Brian May riff (ironically from Now I’m Here) and now i know where Tich Gwilym from Geraint Jarman’s legendary Cynhaneddwyr band got the riff for “ Taxi i’r Tywyllwch “ I’ve also learnt recently that Zappa rated Max Webster (along with Gentle Giant) . So wot can we do to address this reaction imbalance eh? That’s right, time to watch the 1980 Max Webster rebooted Barrie gig for starters (linked below hopefully) I liked these two songs - the sofa reminded me of Prince meeting weather Report in the Meta Verse. Yeah, absurdity intensified. Ta!

[@josdurkstraful]

The Hare Rama remark is about hippies and Indian filosofy which FZ didn't believe in.

[@BugsLivesmatter66613]

After his second (I think) appearance on SNL Frank was put on a list of people not to have back on the show for being "difficult" to work with !

[@bryanhale5254]

Oh yeah the other couch is pretty good too

[@RichieG]

You've never heard Sofa until you've heard it in German (yes, there are lyrics).

[@Tribblepuppy]

I got this album when it was first released, and wore it out. Saran Wrap (Susie Creamcheese what's got into you?) was my favorite song. Even though I was only a young teen, I understood the songs meaning. Exceptional album.

[@conziderz1091]

Captain Beefheart plays harmonica on this record

[@goldenboy140]

Dude if you think this version of Sofa is great wait till you hear the live version from Zappa In New York

[@bryanhale5254]

Back then you had a lot of the Krishna so they do the Hari Krishna Krishna Krishna Hari Rama Rama Rama I used to run around with these orange cloth that they wore and they shaved their heads it was really a trip

[@-davidolivares]

Ruthie Ruthie Ruthie… Such a great addition to Frank’s music. I prefer the instrumentals of FZ, I know that puts me in a minority, but so be it. Sometimes the goofy songs are just too busy for me, always has been. My favorite albums are an exception, humor wise, Studio Tan and Sleep Dirt which some of came from Läther a multi disc album the record company wouldn’t put out as is. That would be a great choice for an album listen. I started buying better shoes because one, my feet feel better and two, they last. Going on three years with some gell inserts, they’re still going strong. Peace and shoe Music Peace and sofa Music

[@timfeeley714-25]

During a lawsuit with Warner Bros. Frank was in possession of the master tapes for Lather and when he went to Australia played them over an FM radio station, advising people to get a cassette deck and record it for free, which resulted in the double album bootleg "Leatherette" on clear gold vinyl. Van Morrison did the vocals on Dead Girls Of London. The album can be found on Discogs for forty or fifty dollars.

[@thehotyounggrandpas8207]

Frank plays the solo on a fretless guitar.

[@davidhenry101]

You're cool.

[@JustJP]

No YOU'RE cool! :D

[@raytrusty8618]

Ok JP...im going to suggest music that will blow your head off......Its a video called "Mares Nest!" by the Cardiacs............The Cardiacs are even more Zappa than Zappa......Please dont ignore this! Love from Scotland.

[@chrisogburn8240]

FZ always.

[@kozlorf]

Hare Rama who lost his spectacles

[@jayburdification]

Now you can see why Zappa fans always point to this album as the perfect jumping off point. What an amazing arrangement Sofa #1 is. Wait till you hear the lyrics. Better brush up on your German. That’s the language God uses when he means heavy business.

[@stueyapstuey4235]

The 'Hare Rama' but is about renouncing yr earthly possessions for mystical enlightenment. The Hare Krishna stuff (which Zappa didn't really go for)...!

[@tonyt6481]

Sounds like he’s talking about he can’t afford toilet paper to wipe his butt or a newspaper to do the same thing

[@pentagrammaton6793]

I'm not often in the mood for Zappa's particular brand of meandering musical pointlessness, and today is no exception. Seriously, I think I fancy putting one of his albums on about once every couple of years...I don't hate his stuff, it's just a weird mood that I have to be in to appreciate it.