*updated* A Literalist Reaction to Cosmik Debris by Frank Zappa

[@Ninang363]

The female voices are The Ikettes. Frank hired them for this album and Overnight Sensation

[@IDriveAnAudi]

Yes! You can really hear Tina Turner clearly on Dinah Moe Hum!

[@markphillips1824]

Ike told Frank to pay them $20, but Frank paid them union scale. I believe they each received $120 for the gig

[@Yesquire0]

Zappa was the Spike Jones of the hippie music era. Very smart, a very talented guitarist, and an extremely quirky composer often trying to produce humorous oddities for your musical enjoyment. He'd rather kill himself that produce an ordinary pop radio song. He's much beloved by musical rebels all over the world. I've previously maintained that Zappa was the first rapper, talking rather than singing verse after verse of rhyming lines, starting with "Trouble Every Day".

[@erikahlander3489]

And I claim there is a Swedish rap predating trouble every day: m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/qmLapHujprKppKc

[@antidote7]

Zappa was just being creative. He didn't see a difference between popular and si called serious music. Its just that his creativity often took him outside the mainstream.

[@jimhollerman8176]

Yes! Frank Zappa, the godfather of rap. (Along with Johnny Cash.)

[@Frankincensedjb123]

To describe what Frank Zappa was about would be to sit down for a few hours to pontificate. First and foremost, he was a composer. That's all he did the first seven years of his life, from 14 to 21. He didn't get into a band until then. But he's written in a wide variety of genres: rock, jazz, musicqe concrete, found music, orchestrated, funk, punk, ballad, drunk, you name it. I'm a personal fan of his instrumental music. His greatest albums being Uncle Meat, Burnt Weeny Sandwich, Weasel's Ripped My Flesh, Roxy and Elsewhere, One Size Fits All, You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore (1-6), The Yellow Shark, Lather, Road Tapes Venues 1-3. Just to name a few. Zappa isn't so much an acquired taste as he is "alternative entertainment," as the master himself describes it.

[@LiteralistReactions]

well-stated - JD

[@IDriveAnAudi]

Great reaction!!! I first started listening to Zappa in 1980 with this album and went off from there. LIsten to the rest of Apostrophe and then dive into Joe's Garage and get your mind totally blown. To this day the best concert I've ever seen was the Joe's Garage tour with Vinnie Colaiuta and Steve Vai on I believe their first tour as professional touring musicians. Zappa!

[@shawnbittle2696]

Amen you got that right!!!! 🤜🏻🤘😎🎸🎙

[@coils4foil537]

Time for Yes’ Gates of Delirium so Dave can fill that vase with a Manhattan vs the hops.

[@LiteralistReactions]

Still a little early for Gates, but suggestion added, thanks! - JD

[@gramps6334]

His live work is incredible. Freak musicians!

[@leddygee1896]

Zappa reading the Phone book would be entertaining!! He was a true musical savant…

[@GoodCorporateRobot]

If you can get past the lyrics and listen to the music you’ll find some of the best composition combined with the highest level of talent anywhere. Great reaction and keep the Zappa coming!

[@iRenegade164]

THANK YOU for doin' some Zappa!!! He's one of my favorites, and along with my parents, Neil Peart, and George Carlin has had a huge impact on who I am. (you guys should do Joe's Garage, maybe two songs at a time, because it sort of mirrors a terrestrial 2112 dystopia). ALSO, I remember Dr. Demento with great fondness! When I was in 7th and 8th grades around '76, '77, one of my friends and I would listen to his show every Sunday night via (ROTARY) telephone! LMFAO

[@LiteralistReactions]

Zappa request added, thanks! - JD

[@leddygee1896]

“The price of Meat has just gone up, and your old lady has just gone down” this refers to oral favors the fortune tellers wife is giving our storyteller… If you’re gonna really do Zappa, Then please do justice to his legacy. I also heard this song on Demento’s show back in the day so I’m thinking John’s about my age and well versed in the Zappa Universe, hold on, It’s about to get weird in here… Subbed.

[@antidote7]

Don't Eat The Yellow Snow Suite would be an awesome piece to review. Always gets responses of amazement.

[@LiteralistReactions]

Agreed. Suggestion added, thanks! - JD

[@theAsterisk]

@@LiteralistReactions Do the whole 'suite' if you can, though?

[@antidote7]

@@theAsterisk Which includes Dont Eat The Yellow Snow, St. Alphonso's Pancake Breakfast, and Father Oblivion.

[@shawnbittle2696]

I’d love to see and hear your reaction to many many of his great licks!! But I suggest “Trouble comin everyday” He was soo far ahead of his time imo I can only imagine what he would be givin his fans by now!! R.I.P. Frank

[@LiteralistReactions]

That one will be released very soon. - JD

[@toddparsons9260]

Joe's Garage with the central scrutinizer leading into catholic girls. Baby steps. Lol

[@LiteralistReactions]

Oh, my... suggestions added, thanks! - JD

[@antidote7]

For some reason that's one of my least favorite eras of Zappa.

[@toddparsons9260]

My sister and soon to be brother in law gave me that album for Christmas that year along with in through the outdoor , I was 14. Dirty lol

[@djlaino]

I could see how this was on Dr. Demento. Loved that show. I am a little surprised Dave does not know Dr. Demento, seeing as he loves Weird Al. A song about exposing charlatans brings up so many memories of people I am fond of (James Randi, Penn & Teller). Fun stuff.

[@Bryman1970]

Love Frank! How about some Inca Roads? Cheers!

[@shorty8650]

This is a song that makes fun of the gurus that some bands embraced in the 60s and 70s. Based on what I believe your format is, I suggest Trouble Every Day about the Watts Riots in the 60s. Then you can move into the eternal question from his song, Why Does it Hurt when I Pee? Originally posed by a band member, it delves into an area not many have journeyed into music. Enjoy!

[@LiteralistReactions]

Suggestions added, thanks! - JD

[@stefanandersson2402]

The song " Why does it hurt when I pee" was said to be about a bandmember, but I have always thought that it really was about mr. Zappa himself and those common problems that people with prostate cancer gets.

[@erikahlander3489]

Lyric analysis of Zappa can only go wrong 😁. Looking forward to "penguin in bondage"! Of course John must research the background! Also I who has listened to Zappa since the early 70s was surprised.

[@LiteralistReactions]

Suggestion added, thanks! - JD

[@antidote7]

Even so, the references always mean something, even when they are inside band jokes and references.

[@fords_nothere_100]

Another very enjoyable reaction. But I might argue that Zappa really only sounds like "novelty" music out of context. If this song is heard with the rest of the album it sounds more experimentally playful and less Weird Al. Regardless, wonderful to see you guys doing Frank. I'd recommend another "fun" tune like Inca Roads or Dyna Moe Hum.

[@LiteralistReactions]

Added to the list, thanks! - JD

[@jonasolsson2256]

If you want lyrics that say someting about society try I’m the slime, Trouble every day, Dumb all over, to name a few. Great reaction👍

[@LiteralistReactions]

Suggestions/Votes added, thanks! - JD

[@antidote7]

Brown Shoes Don't Make it, biting social commentary. He had quite a bit to say. And even his seemingly absurd story telling songs had value because he viewed them as sociology, reporting, often reporting the unreported oddities he felt deserved to be documented.

[@LiteralistReactions]

added - JD

[@TimWright623]

You MUST let Dave know that Frank should NOT be defined by his quirky works, which are just a small part of his immense library of music. He has done hard rock, psychedelic, pop, jazz, and has also composed serious orchestra music. I think Frank's main claim t fame should be his composing skills and his desire to have artists perform with him that are at the top of their game musically. That is also why he did not do drugs or allow them during his recordings and shows. Also, his son Dweezil did a Zappa Plays Zappa tour for years honoring his dad by playing his music to old and new generations with the same focus on great musicality.

[@LiteralistReactions]

Tim, Certainly. I have seen Dweezil do the Zappa Plays Zappa Tour on two occasions and own the DVD... great stuff. Frank always wanted to push the envelope of traditional music. Certainly, anybody who could successfully do so for so many years is quite capable of writing more traditional works. Cosmik Debris is, at times, a straight forward blues tune. We will explore all manner of Frank Zappa. - JD

[@TimWright623]

@@LiteralistReactions I've seen Dweezil's show twice, the last time with my grandson. I think we have very similar music tastes. Rush and Zappa, and lots between!

[@dianak7368]

His youngest daughter Diva is a tarot reader (currently active and she is taking bookings), and she learned it from her mother. This piece has nothing to do with them however.

[@ronlasbury6891]

Bought a ball in the 80's. $90

[@HakanTunaMuzik]

Zappa never made music for the record company, he had 100% freedom, he used lyrics as he knew he needed to grow his audience, but it had nothing to do with any labels telling him what to do.

[@antidote7]

I think The idea that Frank didn't care about lyrics is overvalued and misunderstood. He was actually very creative with it and offered important social commentary and documentation of the times.

[@HakanTunaMuzik]

@@antidote7 I 100% agree, he was very creative and his lyrics are as amazing as his music.

[@PalimpsestProd]

in the same vein frank zappa: zombie woof I'm The Slime Fifty-Fifty (EDIT bcuz the last bit disappeared) Don't Eat The Yellow Snow, Nanook Rubs It, and St. Alfonzo's Pancake Breakfast all together because album "Information is not knowledge. Knowledge is not wisdom. Wisdom is not truth. Truth is not beauty. Beauty is not love. Love is not music. Music is THE BEST." Frank Zappa

[@LiteralistReactions]

Suggestions added, thanks! - JD

[@antidote7]

All great tunes, but I'd love to see them review Zomby Woof from the Overnite Sensation album.

[@timfeeley714-25]

Go for the jugular, jump straight into Bobby Brown, or Broken Hearts Are For Assholes!

[@LiteralistReactions]

Suggestions added, thanks! - JD

[@lucasroth7922]

I'm partial to Hot Rats! Particularly Son of Mr. Greengeans🔥✌🤘

[@LiteralistReactions]

Suggestion added, thanks! - JD

[@antidote7]

Ruth is not singing. Its Tina Turner and the Ikettes. Zappa is actually an advanced modernist composer and very interesting guitarist. Much of of his music is incredibly complex and ground breaking.. His bands were always full of some of the greatest musicians. He certainly wasn't a hippie, who he often made fun of, and was against drugs. His lyrics were often satire, social commentary, like this song which attacked the " gurus" who were popular in the 69s and 70s.

[@bzbzob]

The New Age situation was coming on strong around this time, he is just laughing at it, like he does about everything, at least up until the 80's, the Reagan era, which really pissed him off, and the music changed from *mostly silly* to something else... My opinion, of course. Thanks for the reaction, ZAPPA FAN here, watch out, ha ha... Ponty played with Mahavishnu too. Ever hear any of their stuff? You are entering a whole new world of musical art, keep then coming. By the way, how would a literalist react to instrumental music? Hmmm....

[@LiteralistReactions]

Oh, we've done instrumentals. And Dave seems to come up with a literal interpretation anyway. That's our Davey. - JD

[@dhfenske]

Please do a reaction to Flakes from Sheik Yerbouti.

[@LiteralistReactions]

Suggestion added, thanks! - JD

[@ronlasbury6891]

The majority of Frank's lyrics are an actual individual or a group of people. The Meek shall Inherit the Earth is a good example of this.

[@bwana-ma-coo-bah425]

somebody out there in that audience knows what we are doing, and that person is getting off on it, beyond his/her wildest comprehension. Frank Zappa. too much Zappa not enough time. never wrote a love song either.

[@jeffgoings3239]

I think it's about Scientology

[@robertvien5693]

Snake oil salesmen

[@marlon-jl4ge]

Zappa boring clown

[@LiteralistReactions]

added! thanks- JD

[@marlon-jl4ge]

A recognized composer? Hahahaha Thanks for the laugh