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What Songs Does _SUNPYG_ Come From?

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David Vincent Halpern

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Sep 28, 1997, 3:00:00 AM9/28/97

Yeah, yeah, yeah...this has been bled to death. But I know for a
fact that I saw a Web site that listed each the sources for each _SUNPYG_
track. Does anyone know the site?

Thanks,
David

|Spider Gecko|

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Sep 28, 1997, 3:00:00 AM9/28/97

Well, I'm sure that site is lame and I know more than it does :-P

Five-Five-FIVE-> Unreleased instrumental called Conehead (not YAWYI)
Hog Heaven-> Easy Meat
SUNPYG-> Inca Roads
While You Were Out-> Studio jam
Treacherous Cretins-> Song of it's own
Heavy Duty Judy-> Part of larger piece by the same name (see TBBYNHIYL)
Soup 'n Old Clothes-> The Illinois Enema Bandit
VOTCSSCP-> City Of Tiny Lites
Gee, I Like Your Pants-> Inca Roads
Canarsie-> Live solo, probably Easy Meat, pasted onto a studio rythym track
Ship Ahoy-> Zoot Allures
Deathless Horsie-> Song of it's own
SUNPYGSM-> Inca Roads
Pink Napkins-> Black Napkins solo with clean tone
Beat It With Your Fist-> The Torture Never Stops
ROTSOSUNPYG-> Inca Roads
Pinocchio's Furniture-> Chunga's Revenge
Why Johnny Can't Read-> Believe it or not, a version of Watermelon In Easter
Hay with a free form jam in middle of the solo
Stucco Homes-> Studio (is the applause overdubbed?) jam
Canard Du Jour-> Zappa and Ponty jam

--
|Spider Gecko|

David Vincent Halpern wrote in article <60klqb$c...@larry.cc.emory.edu>...

Avi Runkel

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Sep 28, 1997, 3:00:00 AM9/28/97

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David Vincent Halpern wrote:

> Does anyone know the site?

Try

http://www.wins.uva.nl/~heederik/zappa/faq/main/main-3.html#ss3.17

although I am not sure that its completely accurate or up to date.

Regards

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<title>Questions regarding lyrics, rumors and conceptual continuity</title>
<h1>3 <a name="s3"> Questions regarding lyrics, rumors and conceptual continuity </h1>
 <a href="main.html#toc3"> Contents of this section</a>

<h2>3.1 <A Name="ss3.1"> I heard that Frank Zappa participated in a ``Gross Out'' contest on stage. Is this true? </h2>

The following is from Frank's autobiography, ``The Real Frank Zappa Book'':
<blockquote>
The other fantasy is that I once `took a shit on stage.' This has
been propounded with many variations, including (but not limited
to):


<ol>
<li> I ate shit on stage.</li>
<li> I had a `gross-out contest' (what the fuck is a `gross-out
contest'?) with Captain Beefheart and we both ate shit on stage,
etc.</li>
<li> I had a `gross-out contest' with Alice Cooper and he stepped on
baby chickens and then I ate shit on stage, etc.</li>
</ol>

I was in a London club called the Speak Easy in 1967 or '68. A
member of a group called the Flock, recording for Columbia at the
time, came over to me and said:
``You're fantastic. When I heard about you eating that shit on stage,
I thought, ``That guy is way,way out there.''''
I said, ``I never ate shit on stage.'' He looked really depressed -
like I had just broken his heart.
For the records, folks: I never took a shit on stage, and the
closest I ever came to eating shit anywhere was at a Holiday Inn
buffet in Fayetteville, North Carolina, in 1973.
</blockquote>

<h2>3.2 <A Name="ss3.2"> What is a ``Florentine Pogen''? </h2>

You might ask yourself why anyone would want to ask the above
question. For those who are scratching your heads, there is a song
called ``Florentine Pogen'' on ``One Size Fits All'', ``The Best Band You
Never Heard In Your Life'', and ``You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore
vol. 4.''
Bjorn Lisper <lis...@sics.se> has the answer:
<blockquote>
``Pogens'' is an anglified spelling of the Swedish bakery ``Pagens''
(where the ``a'' has a ring on top). ``Pagens'' is south Swedish dialect
and means ``the boy's'' (cookies, say). In Sweden, Pagens makes all
sorts of cookies, bread etc. It turns out that these Florentine
Pogens being sold in California are a type of cookie that Pagens
sells in Sweden, but under a different name. So Pagens seems to have
some business in California as well.
</blockquote>

<h2>3.3 <A Name="ss3.3"> Where can I go to get my poodle clipped in Burbank? </h2>

At Ralph's Vegetarian Poodle Clipping.

<h2>3.4 <A Name="ss3.4"> Who is the bass player on The Grand Wazoo and Waka/Jawaka, credited only as ``Erroneous?'' </h2>

Ken Walter <k...@claris.com> looked it up:
<blockquote>
I looked it up in ``Zappalog'' and his real name is Alex Dmochowski.
According to the same source, he also played with:


<ul>
<li> Annette & Victor Brox</li>
<li> Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation</li>
<li> Graham Bond</li>
<li> Heavy Jelly</li>
<li> John Mayall</li>
<li> Michael Chapman</li>
<li> Peter Green</li>
</ul>

</blockquote>

From Dean Alaska <de...@vexcel.com>:
<blockquote>
Erroneous auditioned for the band I was in about 10 years ago. It
was easy to identify him with the picture in one of the records. I
don't remember his real name but he said they used ``Erroneous''
because he was not a member of the musicians union.
</blockquote>

<h2>3.5 <A Name="ss3.5"> What is the cat saying on the Barking Pumpkin logo? </h2>

On the Barking Pumpkin (Frank's record company) logo there is a
pumpkin saying ``arf!'' and a cat saying (in Kanji):

<blockquote><code>
<pre>
______ __\|/__
|__| ____ /|\
|__| | | _______
_|__| |__| |__|__|
| |__|__|
_______ _|___|_
___|___ _|___|_
____|____ / \
</pre>
</code></blockquote>

Someone was nice enough to inquire about this with someone else who
could read this sort of thing. The literal trans- lation was given as
``sacred feces'' or in the current slang, ``holy shit''.
ASCII Kanji characters provided by : Robert F. Casey,
<wa2...@cbnewsb.cb.att.com>
From John Scialli <JOHNS...@delphi.com>:
<blockquote>
The Real Frank Zappa Answer (as opposed to the real answer). When
Tinseltown came out it was the first with the BP logo. I wrote Frank
and he graciously replied within a month. here is the full text of
his letter to me (I asked what's the cat saying & what's the cat's
name)(also I'm an M.D. which explains Frankie's references):

<pre>

June 16, 1981

Dear John:

In becoming a doctor, you probably spent too much time learning to
read Latin, and that is why you can't understand what the cat is
saying. Medical professors in our country would probably be more
advanced if they spent more time reading Chinese and taking
advantage of some of the things the Chinese have learned in the last
three thousand years in the art of healing...but never mind.

I believe the cat is merely saying, ``radio'' and the cat's name is
not ``Mao''; as a matter of fact, I haven't thought of a name for her
yet but I suppose ``Wanda'' would be okay.

Obviously you must be doing your job really well. There probably
aren't any sick people in your area - you must have cured them all,
otherwise you wouldn't have any spare time to write me a letter.
Keep up the good work.

Yours truly,

Frank Zappa

</pre>

</blockquote>

<h2>3.6 <A Name="ss3.6"> What is the Japanese text on the cover of Zoot Allures? </h2>

From Dennis Guertin <ag...@Freenet.carleton.ca>:
<blockquote>
Back when ZOOT ALLLURES came out I was working in an engineering
department, which had a Japanese exchange engineer posted to Canada. I
brought the album in to ask him and the converstaion went something
like this:


<blockquote>
``Yoshi, what's this say?''

``Nothing.''
``What do you mean ``nothing''?''
``I mean it doesn't mean anything?''
``Do you mean you can't read it?''
``No, I can read it.''
``Well, what's it say?''
``Nothing.''
``Yoshi, can you read this or not?''
``I can read it.''
By this point I finally figured out that he meant since the meaning
was not decipherable to him, it meant nothing to him.
``Yoshi, say what this says.''
``I don't know what it means. It says ``Frank Zappa''''.
</blockquote>

Now, I don't know if he was pulling my leg and goddamn he WAS so
polite he wouldn't have said ``Shit'' if his mouth was full of it, but
that's what he said. I assumed his thought processes were going
``What's a frank zappa?''. That reminds me: Anyone know the joke for
which the punchline is ``What's an Ali McGraw?''. Been trying to
remember it for a decade or two.
</blockquote>

From Johannes Labisch <lab...@DBresearch-berlin.de>:
<blockquote>
I have an old interview (from that time) at home (german translated)
where Franks is asked about these signs and he says it's his name, in
two different ways of writing. One of it was ``Fu-ran-ku Zap-pa''.
</blockquote>

From Mark Erdman <rn....@rose.com>:
<blockquote>
Yeah, the five characters on the back cover are just random characters
that can be read as ``Furanku Zappa''. It's not the way the Japanese
people _really_ write his name, though. Actually, the characters for
writing foreign names in Japanese are really simple, maybe 4 lines at
most. The ones on the back cover are Chinese-style characters, which
would usually be used to express ideas instead of sounds like the ones
they write foreign languages or conjugate verbs with. I'm not sure why
he put it on that cover, but I have a suspicion about how it got
there. In the book I mentioned last time, Frank said that when his
son, Dweezil, was a kid he used to have a Japanese friend, and would
try writing things in kanji all the time. So my theory is that Dweezil
did it for the album. About the thing on the front cover - I'm not
skilled enough to read it, but I recognize it as a _hanko_ print.
These are little seals that Japanese people register and use as their
signatures when they sign bank transactions. Usually, they're just the
person's name in stylized form. I have a penfriend living near
Yokohama whose father is a skilled _hanko_ craftsman.
</blockquote>

From Noriyuki Tsunofuri <QGB0...@niftyserve.or.jp>:
<blockquote>
The characters on the back cover can be pronounciated ``fu ran ku za
ppa''. The hanko graphic on the front cover can be ``za ppa''. Those are
kanji characters.

There are three character systems in Japanese language. Two kanas,
Hira-kana and Kata-kana, and Kanji. Kanas are Japanese invention and
has no meaning in each character. You know ``A'' itself doesn't mean
anything. It makes sense when it used with other characters.
Combination. That's the same with kanas.
But kanji is not the case. Kanji was imported from China, VERY LONG
AGO (although usage and pronounciation is very different). And it does
have meaning.
Normally, in Japanese, foreign things and names are described in Kata
kana. Its shape is simpler than kanji. I think that is what Mark
Erdman says.
Sometimes western people use kanji. I understand they want to have an
``oriental feel''. That's good but, as I've said, each Kanji has meaning
so maybe they should be careful about the selection of character.
Otherwise, it might give wrong impression.
For example, the characters on the front cover of ``Zoot Allures'' mean
``miscellaneous leaves''. Some say it's inappropriate word which stands
for ZAPPA because it reminds of drugs. We all know FZ was strictly
against any kind of drugs.
The back cover ones mean ``no-frantic-pain miscellaneous school''. (this
school is not the school of medecine or law. The impressionist school,
the Stoic school. That school.) That's better, I think.
But basically, these character was chosen in accordance with
pronouciation. So it's grammatically incorrect and as a sentence, it
means nothing.
Regarding the origin: the Mothers did concert tour in Japan, early
1976. It was the last tour as ``The Mothers'' and only Japanese tour of
FZ. The Mothers performed once in Kyoto University, and hanko and
name-plate were presented to FZ from student committee. FZ used the
hanko on the front and words of the name-plate on the back cover.
(according to the liner notes of MSI's edition of ``Zoot Allures'')
FZ must be impressed people of Kyoto. They welcomed FZ in various
unusual way. FZ performed superbly and the Kyoto concert became
legendary among Japanese fan.
</blockquote>

<h2>3.7 <A Name="ss3.7"> Who is on the cover of the ``Hot Rats'' album? </h2>

The woman on the cover of ``Hot Rats'' is Christine Frka. She was one of
the baby-sitters for Frank's kids and a member of the GTO's (Girls
Together Outrageously), a group that Frank had produced an album for.
She also recommended that Frank record Alice Cooper. She died of an
overdose sometime in the '70's.
(source: The Real Frank Zappa Book)

<h2>3.8 <A Name="ss3.8"> What is ``vloerbedekking''? </h2>

From Victor Eijkhout <eijk...@sp2.csrd.uiuc.edu>:
<blockquote>
In the Orange County medley on Make a Jazz Noise Here, Frank says
``and you'll never hear vloerbedekking again''. This must have puzzled
more people than just me.
</blockquote>

From Richard K. Fox:
<blockquote>
``On a bootleg I have, at this point in the Orange County medley,
Frank says ``May you never hear surf music again'' and they launch
into the theme to Lumpy Gravy.''

Note: ``And you'll never hear surf music again'' is a line from
Jimi Hendrix' ``Third Stone From the Sun''
</blockquote>

From Cliff Heller <fn...@panix.com>:
<blockquote>
'I have a tape of a zappa bootleg of extremely poor quality. It's
called _Vitamin Deficiency_. It may or may not be the same as the
one called _No Commercial Potential_. In addition to a few good bits
by the Flo & Eddie Mothers, including the original Sofa, (Give me
some floor covering under this fat floatin sofa is sung in Dutch
contrasted to the German on YCDTOSA I)'
</blockquote>

From Victor Eijkhout <eijk...@sp2.csrd.uiuc.edu>:
<blockquote>
And since I'm Dutch I know that 'vloerbedekking' means 'floor
covering'...
</blockquote>

Another mystery dispelled. (Don't you just love this sort of
trivia...)
From PUPP E. DOG:
<blockquote>
I'd like to pass on my own answer (Vluer-bedecking), for what it's worth.

On ``The Orange County Lumber Truck'' (Track 6, Disc 1 of Make A Jazz
Noise Here) what Frank actually seems to be saying is; ``May you
never hear Fluer - Bedecking again!''. To Fluer - Bedeck is literally:
to strew flowers, or in the case of music, to gratutitously
ornament, or embelish the performance of a score with trills,
flourishes, etc. This is one of Mr. Z's many classical - music
in-jokes.
It might be noted that this is also exactly what the band does with
this medley.
So with apologies to Victor, let's leave flooring to Y.C.D.T.O.S.A.
#1 and salute a great Fluer - Strewer, Frank Zappa.
</blockquote>

<h2>3.9 <A Name="ss3.9"> What are the backwards lyrics in ``Ya Hozna''? </h2>

``Ya Hozna'' is a song from the album ``Them Or Us''. The backward lyrics
are from ``Valley Girl'' outtakes, ``Sofa #1'', and ``Lonely Little Girl''.
From Johannes Labisch <lab...@DBresearch-berlin.de>:
<blockquote>
Here is the corrected version of the Ya Hozna lyrics. The credit for
doing this has to be given to to...@cup.hp.com (Todd Poynor), who
listened to all the backward lyrics and checked out the running time
at when they appear. I deleted the english translation of the word to
``Sofa'' and entered the german ones.


<pre>
4:23 [English:] I am the heaven
4:15 I am the water
4:08 [German:] Ich bin deine Ritze
3:54 Ich bin deine Ritze und Schlitze
3:47 [English:] I am the clouds
3:42 [German:] Ich bin der Chrome Dinette [sic!]
Ich bin Eier aller Arten
Ich bin alle Tage und Naechte
3:22 Ich bin alle Tage und Naechte
3:20 (ha-ee-ya)
3:15 [English:] I am embroidered
3:09 [German:] Ich bin der Dreck unter deinen Walzen
3:08 [English:] Oh, no, [whip?] it on me, honey [?]
3:06 (ha-ee-ya)
3:04 (ha-ee-ya)
3:00 [German:] Ich bin hier
2:58 (ha-ee-ya)
2:47 Ich bin der Autor aller Felgen und Damask-Paspeln
2:39 Ich bin der Chrome Dinette

[Radio:] You're a lonely little girl
2:28 But your mommy and your daddy don't care

2:24 [German:] Ich bin hier
2:22 (ha-ee-ya)
2:17 Und du bist mein Sofa

2:12 [Radio:] You're a lonely little girl

[German:] Ich bin hier
2:01 Und du bist mein Sofa
1:57 (cadenza)

[Moon:] I'm, like, [green? grief?]
I'm, like, [squat?]
I'm, like, so
Repeat, like, so
Oh, I'm, like, [?.... appalling...?]
I'm, like, okay, like, so
1:43 Oh, I'm so

1:31 [German:] Ich bin dein geheimer Schmutz und verlorenes Metallgeld
1:27 (Metallgeld)
1:25 (ha-ee-ya)
1:20 Und du bist mein Sofa
1:15 Ich bin hier
1:13 (ha-ee-ya)

[Moon:] You'll never [? she's ... ]
Like, so; like, so; like, so
1:06 Okay, I like it

[German:] Ich bin hier
0:54 And you are my sofa
Und du bist mein Sofa
0:50 (cadenza)

[Moon:] Yeah, like, [...?...], faster, faster
Go, do it, do it [right? great?]
Yeah, I'm feelin' good
I'm lookin' great
Yeah, fer shure
0:38 Like, no way

[German:] Ich bin hier
0:26 Und du bist mein Sofa
0:22 (cadenza)
Ich bin hier
0:10 Und du bist mein Sofa
0:06 (cadenza)
</pre>

</blockquote>

<h2>3.10 <A Name="ss3.10"> What does WPLJ stand for? </h2>

WPLJ is an acronym for a ``wine-cooler'' type drink, that was popular in
the 40's and 50's. It is made with white port wine and lemon juice. It
also inspired the group ``The Four Deuces'' to write a song about it.
This song, ``WPLJ'', was later redone by Zappa, and may have influenced
the choice of call letters for a New York radio station.
From Mark Parisi <mjpa...@ATHENA.MIT.EDU>:
<blockquote>
Here's the complete chronology of WPLJ. White Port and Lemon Juice
was a popular wine cooler. A california R&B group liked the drink,
so they wrote and recorded a song about it. The group was the Four
Deuces, and the song was WPLJ, a big R&B hit on Music City Records
in about 1955. Zappa, as we all know, was a huge R&B fan, liked the
song, and decided to record it, and it showed up on Burnt Weeny
Sandwich (GAWD this is a tasty little sucker!). The studio version
is much closer to the original than the live versions. Any good
oldies record store should have the Four Deuces version in some
format. I think that the WABC-FM people changed their call letters
before Zappa did his version of the song. I remember hearing
comments about ``The R&B classic that became a radio station'' some
time in the late sixties.
</blockquote>

From Diane Reese <re...@watson.ibm.com>:
<blockquote>
In the '70s, a progressive FM station in New York City known as
WABC-FM changed its call letters one day to ``WPLJ'' -- I was
listening to them (cleaning up my bedroom, if my memory serves) the
first day they broadcast under the new call letters, and they were
slyly asking listeners to call in and tell them what we thought
their call letters stood for! The overwhelming response was, as
you'd expect, ``White Port and Lemon Juice'', with Zappa references
abounding. Your chronology is backwards, Zappa came first, and at
least SOMEONE involved in picking the new call letters was a fan.
</blockquote>

<h2>3.11 <A Name="ss3.11"> Who is Francesco Zappa? </h2>

There is a Frank Zappa album called ``Francesco Zappa''. It is music
from an (obscure) Italian composer whose name Frank had seen
somewhere, possibly Grove's Music Dictionary. The modern-day Zappa
decided to record this Baroque music on his Synclavier and it became
one of his first projects to employ the Synclavier exclusively.
From Mats eriksson <etx...@eua.ericsson.se>
<blockquote>
There actually WAS a composer named Francesco Zappa living in Italy
during the Baroque-era. When I bought the album and read the text on
it I thought it was a joke. But I have found the real Francesco
Zappa mentioned in music literature (written before the album was
released). I don't know if the music on the album is composed by the
real Francesco, but if you give me some time I just might be able to
verify this.
</blockquote>

From Dianne Hackborn <hac...@xanth.cs.orst.edu>:
<blockquote>
Yes, it was composed by Francesco:

The music of Francesco Zappa is from the collection of the Music
Library at the University of California, Berkeley.
But I still think the album should be listened to like ``Cruisin'
with...'' :)
</blockquote>

<h2>3.12 <A Name="ss3.12"> Who is Brother A. West? </h2>

``A Few Moments With Brother A. West'' is a song from the album, ``The
Best Band You Never Heard In Your Life'', which features an arrogant
TV evangelist-type person doing a little ``rap''.
From Glenn <ca...@brahms.udel.edu>:
<blockquote>
A West is the artist who did the lil cartoon things in The Real FZ
Book. I saw the show in Philly where that track came from & Frank
announced after the intermission that AW was a friend & was pulling
our legs BUT imagine that there are people out there like that _for
real_!
</blockquote>

<h2>3.13 <A Name="ss3.13"> Did Zappa invent the wah-wah peddle? </h2>

From John Scialli <johns...@delphi.com>:
<blockquote>
I asked Frank this during a radio appearance on Allan Handelman's
East Coast Live Show (Allan's 27th interview of Frank over the
years!) originating on WRFX, Charlotte, NC 11/1/92. FYI I'll type my
question, the form of which cracked Frankie up, since it was asked
with a potentially shit-eating grin:

John Scialli (JS):
I've got a couple of questions....One of these has to do with one of
these stories that's been around for 25 years. I guess it's a myth
or something and I've certainly perpetrated <F>sic</F> it at times.
Something that you did..something...let's see...you put it on the
stage floor...I guess you stepped on it. Let me see how to put this
delicately...<F>Frank starts to protest what he thinks the question
will be</F>...Did you invent the wah-wah peddle?
Frank Zappa (FZ):
Did I what???
JS:
Did you invent the wah-wah peddle?
FZ:
No I did not. I was one of the first people to buy it and use it but
I..eh..The first wah-wah peddle I saw was a Vox wah-wah peddle that
had on the bottom of it ``The Clyde McCoy Wah-Wah Peddle'' 'cause I
think they probably had to...they felt they had to license the idea
of ``wah-wah'' from Clyde McCoy who was a trumpet player who used to
use a wah-wah mute on his trumpet. That was 1967 when I got
that...but I did not invent it.
</blockquote>

<h2>3.14 <A Name="ss3.14"> What is a ``Telefunken U-47''? </h2>

In the song ``Crew Slut'', from ``Joe's Garage Act I'', there is a line
that goes: ``It looks just like a Telefunken U47.'' This is a
not-so-subtle phallic reference.
From <line...@delphi.com>:
<blockquote>
The U47 by Telefunken is a VERY expensive relic from the days of
vacuum tube amplification systems and anyone fortunate enough to own
one MIGHT let you look at it (from a distance) for a price. Actually
touching one is out of the question. Every one I have seen has been
hand carried and kept under lock and key. They are a condenser
microphone with a vacuum tube preamp and have what is subjectively
called a ``warm sound'' compared to modern devices. The U47 is
invaluable when recording a no-talent puke with a ``fingernails on a
chalkboard'' type voice, as it can almost make them sound human. It
can make a talented performer sound superhuman and a quality
instrument sound like angels singing.

Several decades ago, Telefunken was bought out by, or changed their
name to, Neuman (sic) (pronounced Noy_man) and released the U87, a
modern version with squarish edges and a solid state preamp. They
are expensive but very common and are seen in radio stations and in
rock videos, usually with a round, white ``spit-screen'' in front of
them.
If you have a chance to get either one TAKE IT! Even if you are not
a musician.
A U47 would probably get you a lifetime of backstages passes or at
least the first pick of the groupies.

</blockquote>

Note: The other German microphone company spells their name
``Neumann'', and also made U47, U67 tube microphones. I am not sure
what the difference is between a Telefunken U47 and a Neumann U47.

<h2>3.15 <A Name="ss3.15"> What is ``Phydeaux 3''? </h2>

In the song ``Fembot in a Wet T-shirt'', from ``Joe's Garage Act I'',
there is a line that says ``Weren't you the girl who was stuck to the
seat on Phydeaux 3'' ?
From Sam Rouse <sro...@wv.mentorg.com>:
<blockquote>
I think Phydeaux was the name of Frank's tour bus(es) for a number
of years. The first time I saw him (Portland OR Paramount, probably
sometime in 1976) the tour bus behind the hall was painted to look
just like a Greyhound bus, but the word ``Greyhound'' that normally
occupies the entire side of the bus was replaced with ``Phydeaux''
(same lettering style), and the sleek greyhound logo picture was
replaced with a dorky-looking, crosseyed dog saying ``Arf!''. I don't
know whether Phydeaux 3 refers to the third incarnation of the bus,
or the third in the fleet that may have been in existence by the
time of JG.

Tour busses I've seen at subsequent tours didn't have the FZ
graphics, but I guess the name stuck.
In the cityscape on the back cover of the Absolutely Free lp is a
sign showing a dog collar and the caption 'BUY A FYDO fits swell'.
</blockquote>

From PUPP E. DOG <pupp...@delphi.com>:
<blockquote>
The Band's Buses, on one of their West Coast tours were labeled
``Phideaux One'',``Phideaux Two'', etc. Phideaux = Fido, as in Doggy!
This is part of a running gag which concerned Frank's road Manager's
(don't remember his name) supposed *love* of dogs. See
Y.C.D.T.O.S.A.#1, Babbette for more on this.

As several people pointed out Phideaux Three is the bus Mary was on
(Joe's Garage). Fido is also mentioned in the various 'Stinkfoot'
versions, while poodles get mention in 'The Poodle Lecture'
(Y.C.D.T.O.S.A. #6) and the various 'Dirty Love's. Note also, the
*many* barking dog effects in his work.
The obvious conclusion: Frank likes dogs. Well hey, dogs like Frank
too!
</blockquote>

From James McCartney <ja...@astro.as.utexas.edu>:
<blockquote>
At one show I saw, his tour bus had in the little marquee above the
front windshield (usually reserved for the name of the destination
or ``CHARTER'') the word: ``SHOWUSYRTITZ''.
</blockquote>

<h2>3.16 <A Name="ss3.16"> How is the Mudshark dance performed? </h2>

``Mudshark'' is a song that first appeared on the ``Live at the Filmore
East'' album. The song is a folkloric retelling of bizarre events that
occured at a Seattle hotel with members of the rock group ``Vanilla
Fudge'' and their groupies.
From Glenn <ca...@brahms.udel.edu>:
<blockquote>
I have a recording of Frank describing the Mudshark Dance to the
audience. You open your legs, clasp your hands together & squat!
To do it in 4/4 time, step left, step right, squat, rest. All the
time you should have your hands together down by the knees.

The Mud Shark dance was described by FZ in Melbourne 6/29/73.
</blockquote>

<h2>3.17 <A Name="ss3.17"> Where do the guitar solos from ``Guitar'' and ``SUNPYG'' come from? </h2>

From Mikkola Hannu <hm7...@cs.tut.fi> and others:
<blockquote><code>
<pre>
GUITAR

Sexual Harassment In The Workplace > Stinkfoot
Which One Is It > Black Page #2 (YCDTOSA5)
Republicans
Do Not Pass Go > Drowning Witch 2nd Solo
Chalk Pie > Zoot Allures
In-A-Gadda-Stravinsky
That's Not Really Reggae
When No One Was No One > Zoot Allures
Once Again Without The Net > Andy or Lets Move to Cleveland
Outside Now ( Original Solo ) > Joe's Garage II > Broadway Album
Jim And Tammy's Upper Room > Advance Romance (YCDTOSA5)
Were We Ever Really Safe In San Antonio > Drowning Witch 2nd Solo
That Ol' G Minor Thing Again > City Of Tiny Lights
Hotel Atlanta Incidentals > Green Hotel
That's Not Really A Shuffle > Zoot Allures
Move It Or Park It > Them Or Us, Black Page #2 (YCDTOSA5)
Sunrise Redeemer
Variations On Sinister #3 > Tinseltown Rebellion Album & Easy Meat
Orrin Hatch On Ski's > Ride My Face to Chicago
But Who Was Fulcanelli? > Drowning Witch
For Duane > Whipping Post
GOA > Lets Move to Cleveland
Winos Do Not March > Sharleena or Yo Mama (Sheik YerBouti)
Swans? What Swans? > He Used to Cut the Grass ????
Too Ugly For Show Business > Show opener, first set, Berkeley '81
Systems Of Edges > Inca Roads = Shut Up #4
Dont Try This At Home > Them Or Us, Black Page #2 (YCDTOSA5)
Things That Look Like Meat
Watermelon In Easter Hay > Joe's Garage III
Canadian Customs
Is That All There Is
It Aint Necessarily The St James Infirmary > King Kong ( YCDTOSA Vol 3 )
</pre>
</code></blockquote>

From Glenn <ca...@brahms.udel.edu>:
<blockquote>
Republicans is probably from Let's Move to Cleveland.
That's...Reggae is City of Tiny Lites
Sunrise Redeemer is also Cleveland
Things...Meat is City of Tiny Lites
</blockquote>


<blockquote><code>
<pre>
SUNPYG

Five-Five-Five
Hog Heaven
Shut Up N Play Your Guitar Some More > Inca Roads
While You Were Out > A song of its own
Trecherous Cretins
Heavy Duty Judy > ( Best Band )
Soup N Old Clothes > Illinois Enema Bandit 12-11-80
Variations On The Santana Secret Chord Progression > City of tiny lights 12-11-80
Gee, I Like Your Pants
Canarsie
Ship Ahoy > Song of its own but followed straight
after Zoot Allures solo in Osaka
The Deathless Horsie > ( YCDTOSA Vol 1 )
Shut Up N Play Your Guitar > Inca Roads
Pink Napkins
Beat It With Your Fist
Return Of The Son Of Shut Up N Play Your Guitar > Inca Roads
Pinocchio's Furniture > Chunga's Revenge
(performed at the Berkeley Community Theatre, 12-5-80)
Why Johnny Cant Read
Stucco Homes > Studio Jam
Canard Du Jour > Studio Jam
</pre>
</code></blockquote>

From Glenn <ca...@brahms.udel.edu>:
<blockquote>
Gee I Like Your Pants is yet another Inca Roads .
</blockquote>

<h2>3.18 <A Name="ss3.18"> Did Al DiMeola play with Frank Zappa? </h2>

On the song Peaches III, from ``Tinseltown Rebellion'', Warren Cucurullo
played a guitar parody after Frank's introduction, ``Let's hear it for
another great Italian, ladies and gentleman, Al DiMeola''. BUT ...
From Stan Ivester <ive...@utkvx.utk.edu>:
<blockquote>
Al isn't actually on that album. Warren is doing his DiMeola
impression on guitar, & Frank is joking about that on the album.

Al played on ``Clowns on Velvet'' and ``Ride Like the Wind''(!) at the
Ritz, NYC, with Frank's band on 11/17/81. I believe Al requested
that his solo on ``Clowns'' not be released because he was unhappy
with it for some reason. In fact, they didn't even play at the same
time then since Frank can be heard on the tape complaining that they
didn't have enough hookups to plug in 2 guitars simultaneously. As
far as I know, that's the only time these 2 great Italians ever got
together in concert.
</blockquote>

From Pat Buzby <spb...@ocvaxa.cc.oberlin.edu>:
<blockquote>
Al DiMeola sat in with FZ's band at a concert at the Ritz in NYC,
11/17/81, on ``Clownz On Velvet'' and a cover of the Christopher Cross
hit ``Ride Like The Wind.'' FZ wanted to release this performance of
``Clownz'' officially, but DiMeola refused because he didn't think his
solo was good enough. (Having heard this tape thanks to a kind
gentleman in this newsgroup, I agree with DiMeola.)

BTW, if I remember right, ``All You Need Is Glove'' lists ``Clownz'' as
being just over a minute long. If this timing is accurate, then the
cut they released is heavily edited. The full performance is pretty
long.
</blockquote>

<h2>3.19 <A Name="ss3.19"> Who is Suzy Creamcheese? </h2>

Suzy Creamcheese was a longtime groupie/friend of The Mothers and
Zappa. Her real name is Pamela Zarubica. She is often confused with
Pamela Des Barres, another friend of the Zappa family. Maybe they look
alike too ?
From Paul D. Herzog <pdhe...@aud.alcatel.com>:
<blockquote>
If Suzy Creamcheese's real name was Pamela Zurubica (this would be
good FAQ material, but I don't know the whole story), then it wasn't
Miss Pamela from the GTOs. That Pamela was Pamela Miller, later
Pamela Des Barres after marrying the singer/actor....check out the
book ``I'm With the Band'' for some great stories about Frank and
other rock icons from the 60s and 70s....
</blockquote>

From John V. Scialli <johns...@delphi.com>:
<blockquote>
Pam Z was the main Cheese, Pam M, later aka Pam DB was the GTO &
nanny. However in the source interview of Pam Z by David Walley for
Walley's dumb-but-hard-to-find-and-I-got-one book, No Commercial
Potential Pam Z mentions also being a nanny for the kids and as
working on the GTO album.
</blockquote>

<h2>3.20 <A Name="ss3.20"> What was the original cover to ``Best Band You Never Heard in Your Life'' like? Mine is black. Why did they switch covers? What happened to ``Bolero''?</h2>

This album is from the short-lived '88 tour. The tour ended after
personal problems between band members caused Frank to dissolve the
band, even though he believed that it was prob- ably his finest
touring force assembled. This would turn out to be Zappa's last tour.
When the CD was released, it included a version of Ravel's ``Bolero''.
Apparently, those responsible for the publishing rights of Bolero were
not flattered by Zappa's rendition, and new releases of TBBYNHIYL did
not include Bolero.
I recently saw a black covered version with Bolero. So I don't know
what the story is. An ``undosclosed source'' has told me that that the
Ravel people had a change of heart and OK'ed the Bolero version. Who
knows ?
From David Lee <wa...@u.washington.edu>:
<blockquote>
The original cover shows the band on stage. What I heard was that
they neglected to get permission from the guy who took the shot, and
he shows up suddenly and wants all sorts of revenue from the cover
publication, and Frank said no way so he just changed it to black. I
was lucky enough to find an original cover version used at a local
record store.
</blockquote>

See also the '88 Tour FAQ.

<h2>3.21 <A Name="ss3.21"> Is it ``Bobby Brown'' or ``Bobby Brown Goes Down''? </h2>

Sheik Yerbouti contains a track called ``Bobby Brown''. There seem to be
two different CD versions of Sheik Yerbouti. One the latest release
the song is titled ``Bobby Brown Goes Down'', while on the earlier
release it is titled ``Bobby Brown''.
The lyrics in the booklet of the new release indicate that the song is
really titled ``Bobby Brown''.
And before you ask, the song is not about the 'popstar' with the same
name.
Check out the ``Vinyl vs. CD'' FAQ if you are interested in the
differences between Zappa's Vinyls and CDs.

<h2>3.22 <A Name="ss3.22"> Some ``Civilization, Phaze III'' Questions </h2>

<h3> ``Civilization, Phaze III'' or ``Civilization Phase III''? </h3>

From John V. Scialli <johns...@delphi.com>:
<blockquote>
Lemming be the furst to offer some FAQ's having to do with Civilization
Phaze III. OR is it Civilization, Phaze III (with a comma between C and P).
The CD and accompanying text show it both ways. The cover has Phaze III in a
different color, implying a midifier or subtitle role, maybe.
</blockquote>


<h3> What's the phone number? </h3>

From John V. Scialli <johns...@delphi.com>:
<blockquote>
Next, in Act II somebody (I don't have it here but imagine its one of the
Ensemble Modern) says a phone number shown in the booklet as
30 11 03 1 1 4 3 6. This is a Berlin number (Country
code 49). When you call it you get an operator ``intercept'' as we in the US
call the taped message. This one says the German translation/equivalent of
``You have reached a number not in service.'' I tried it although if
someone had actually answered I'm not sure what I would have said. A
universal ``snork'' I suppose.
</blockquote>

According to a German Zappa fan:
<blockquote>
Although I did not try out the mentioned Berlin Phone-Number
personally I think, that the message You got was
``Kein Anschluss unter dieser Nummer''.
This simply means: ``No connections for this number''.
It is in fact a standardized message.
</blockquote>

From Johannes Labisch <j...@cs.tu-berlin.de>:
<blockquote>
The code number begins with 30, which is, in fact, Berlin, if you call from
outside of germany (in germany it 030). The next three numbers are 110,
which is the german code for the police (``Notruf''). You should use this
number only in case of any emergency! Of course, any number starting with
110 is wrong.

So please, Zappa fans in the world:
Believe that you will get the ``Kein Anschluss unter dieser Nummer'' message
if you call. If you want to hear this message, try an endless series of
111111111111, and you get the same message. DON'T TRY TO BLOCK THE EMERGENCY
NUMBER! (I think the computers of the german telekom are smart enough, so
they don't block, but, du you know the *german* telekom? Everything is
possible in that company...)
</blockquote>


<h3> What does ``Waffenspiel'' mean? </h3>

From John V. Scialli <johns...@delphi.com>:
<blockquote>
Waffenspiel ends CPIII. What is all the banging? When Frank's kitchen was
being remodeled, he told some interviewer that he really liked the sound of
the hammering and taped it for future use. As well there are sounds of
semi-automatic weapon fire. I presume this is from the LA riots. Although
there was no shooting around Frank's place, he did run his VCR continuously
for a few days and recorded all of what was on CNN during that time. I have
said this before and I'll say it again that the juxtaposition of the two
types of banging is Frank's way of referencing one of his favorite songs:
The DANGEROUS Kitchen. This is absolutely true or my name ain't Ben Watson
(and it ain't!).
</blockquote>


<h3> What does ``Dio Fa'' mean? </h3>

From Remco Takken:
<blockquote>
Dio Fa goes back to the end of the eighties when FZ was commisioned to
compose an opera to be performed in Italy in 1992. Zappa mentions this in
the end of The Real FZ Book. He considered this project a failure.

The theme of the opera is:
``People believe football is God, but, it is
said (at least in Torino), ``God is a liar'' -- Dio Fa.''
</blockquote>

<h2>3.23 <A Name="ss3.23"> What does ``Confinement Loaf'' mean? </h2>

On ``Broadway the Hard Way'' the song ``Bacon Fat'' contains the lyric:
<blockquote><code>
<pre>
Check out the politics
Practiced by this oaf
And if they ain't just right
Feed him Confinement Loaf.
</pre>
</code></blockquote>

The songs ``Any Kind Of Pain'' and ``Dickie's Such An Asshole'' mention
confinement loaf too.
From Ngo Bach Long <dra...@ee470.ee.mcgill.ca>:
<blockquote>
This is explained in a little bitty on the vinyl version of Broadway the
Hardway (just before Dickie's such an asshole). Zappa explains that
``confinement loaf'' is an invention of the United States prison system.
A diet consisting of a slice of ``confinement loaf''
(made from bean by-products) and a glass of water is supposed to calm
``problem prisoners'' down right away.

Then he says:
``My question is: when will confinement loaf reach United States
high schools?''
</blockquote>

From Gary Worsham <GWOR...@ix.netcom.com>:
<blockquote>
Yo, ho! Once again the answer is offered by a Society Pages Interview
with Ike. The day of the show, he read an article about feeding
prisoners some sort of ``loaf'' containing saltpeter to reduce their sex
drive and generally make them nicer people.

Extrapolate at will!
</blockquote>

<h2>3.24 <A Name="ss3.24"> What's with the credits omissions on ``Roxy & Elsewhere''? </h2>

At the end of Roxy and Elsewhere's Bebop Tango FZ credits the
band members but doesn't mention Don Preston and Jeff Simmons. Not only
are the names listed on the album, but their pictures are also there,
apparently from the same stage as the others, but who can tell. 
From Pat Buzby <spb...@ocvaxa.cc.oberlin.edu>:
<blockquote>
Most of R & E was recorded at the Roxy in December '73. The lineup that FZ introduces at the end of the CD is the one that played these shows, with
Jeff Simmons appearing as a guest on ``Dummy Up.'' (This is verified by footage
in the True Story of 200 Motels video.) Most of these tracks were overdubbed,
and some outside musicians were involved in doing so.

However, ``Son Of Orange County'' and ``More Trouble Every Day'' are from
four-track ``road tapes'' from the Edinboro and Chicago shows in May '74. The
lineup at this point was the same as the above, but minus Ruth Underwood and
plus Jeff Simmons, Walt Fowler and Don Preston. There are no overdubs on these
two cuts. Shortly thereafter, FZ trimmed down the band, reintroduced Ruth, and
he had the lineup that did YCDTOSA 2 a few months later.
</blockquote>

<h2>3.25 <A Name="ss3.25"> What does ``Manny the Camper wants to buy some white'' refer to? </h2>

The song ``Wind Up Workin' In The Gas Station'' from ``Zoot Allures''
contains the lyric:

<blockquote><code>
<pre>
Manny the Camper wants to buy some white
Wind up workin' in a gas station
Manny the Camper wants to buy some white
Wind up workin' in a gas station
</pre>
</code></blockquote>

From Mark H. Weber <ma...@VFL.Paramax.COM>:
<blockquote>
Actually, it's something you use all the time - unleaded gasoline. Back
in the old days (60's and early 70's) almost all gasoline contained lead.
Old Coleman-type camping lanterns and stoves required unleaded gasoline
for fuel - the lead would foul up the ``generator'', which converted the
liquid gasoline into vapor.
</blockquote>

From Society Pages #1 Interview with Frank Zappa pt. 1 12/22/89:
<blockquote><code>
<pre>
Frank Zappa: Hello?! Hello?! Hello?!

Den Simms: Here we go. (To Rob & Eric) So what was the thing you had
said about "Manny the Camper" on the way here?

Frank Zappa: He wants to buy some white. Manny the camper wants to buy
some white. Ya wait long enough, all the songs come true.

Eric Buxton: Who was the original Manny the camper? I know he
wanted white gas, but who was he?

Frank Zappa: Just anybody named Manny who had an RV, y'know.

Eric Buxton: And here he is.

Frank Zappa: Yeah, I'm sure he has an RV too. It's probably bullet
proof. One more thing is maybe he'll return to Managua.
You could go unnoticed in such a place (laughter).
</pre>
</code></blockquote>

<h2>3.26 <A Name="ss3.26"> Why didn't Warner Brothers release ``Laether''? </h2>

From Ulrich:
<blockquote>
According to Watson in The Negative Dialectics of Poodle Play, Zappa
gave Warner Brothers the separate albums all at once. When they
refused to release it as a multi-album set and/or refused to accept
the albums as fulfilling his contractual obligation, he set about
re-editing the material into Laether, to be released on another label.
Warner Brothers blocked that deal and released the original albums
after all, with the ugly covers and no credits.
</blockquote>

Reply from Stan Ivester <ive...@utkvx.utk.edu>:
<blockquote>
I think Watson may have this backwards. I believe Lather was the original
product and not the other way around. Watson's book was the first place I
saw the situation described as being like this, and he may just be
mistaken about it. Other opinions?
</blockquote>

Reply from Bill Lantz to Ivester:
<blockquote>
That's the way Frank has talked about it. Although he has referred to what
became Sleep Dirt as being Hot Rots III (Waka Jawaka being II). Does this
confuse me? Yes it does.
</blockquote>

Ivester again (doesn't this guy have a job?)
<blockquote>
Well, here's what I think happened. (I might be completely wrong, but this
does seem to square with the known facts.) First, Frank delivered the 4
completed Lather disks to Warners. They balked, thinking it was just a
contractual-obligation package. (Mo Ostin or someone was quoted as saying
something like, ``What is it, just Frank and his guitar?'') I don't think
the cretins even listened to it. So, after trying to release the whole package
through Phonogram but being thwarted by interference by Warners, Frank
went back and reedited the material, adding some stuff, and gave Warners
the separate albums (but only finished artwork for Z in NY). Warners
further pissed Frank off by deleting Punky's Whips from Z in NY, and so
Frank gave no further support for preparing the releases of the rest of
the albums, which Warners instead put out in their own ugly cover art/bad
pressings.
</blockquote>

<h2>3.27 <A Name="ss3.27"> What are ``Mandies''? </h2>

On the song ``Flakes'' from ``Sheik Yerbouti'', Adrian Belew says
``Wanna buy some mandies, Bob?''. 
From Marc S. Greenberg <s01...@desire.wright.edu>:
<blockquote>
``Mandies'' is slang for the depressant (barbiturate?) drug mandrax.
It was very big in the 70's just like quaaludes. Zappa gets even more
direct regarding Dylans drug use on the Saarbrucken '78 Boot with
``Wanna buy some acid, Bob?'' Made me laugh.
</blockquote>

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--------------3CCF628870E6--

Avi Runkel

unread,

Sep 28, 1997, 3:00:00 AM9/28/97

Soory about that, hit the wrong button.

Jon Naurin

unread,

Sep 28, 1997, 3:00:00 AM9/28/97

Spider Gecko writes:

>Five-Five-FIVE-> Unreleased instrumental called Conehead (not YAWYI)

I have yet to hear a tape from this show, but I think it's actually from the
vocal-Conehead.

>Heavy Duty Judy-> Part of larger piece by the same name (see TBBYNHIYL)

In 1980, HDJ was just a solo vamp in "Torture never stops", rather than a
piece of its own.

Nitpickingly,

- Jon

Peter ™berg

unread,

Sep 29, 1997, 3:00:00 AM9/29/97

nau...@mbox300.swipnet.se_remove_to_reply (Jon Naurin) skrivningar: > Spider Gecko writes:
>
> >Five-Five-FIVE-> Unreleased instrumental called Conehead (not YAWYI)
>
> I have yet to hear a tape from this show, but I think it's actually from the
> vocal-Conehead.

I think it's from a sound check.
Peter

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