Google Groups no longer supports new Usenet posts or subscriptions. Historical content remains viewable.
Dismiss

Which Zappa song w/Bob impersonation?

1,060 views
Skip to first unread message

Groucho

unread,
May 16, 2002, 6:52:48 AM5/16/02
to
A friend was playing a Frank Zappa CD the other day, and there was a
song on it where Frank does a striking Bob impersonation

does anyone know the song, and maybe the album?

cheers

Groucho

Jim Linwood

unread,
May 16, 2002, 7:09:26 AM5/16/02
to

Flakes on the album Sheik Yerbouti...dunno if Zappa is the one doing the
impersonating.

http://starling.rinet.ru/music/frank1.htm

JL

hodah

unread,
May 16, 2002, 8:30:16 AM5/16/02
to
the bob impersonation you hear, is adrian belew, guitarist for king
crimson, as well as many other bands.

Mark Giles

unread,
May 16, 2002, 8:34:17 AM5/16/02
to

Jim Linwood wrote in message
<20020516070926...@mb-mv.aol.com>...

>
>Flakes on the album Sheik Yerbouti...dunno if Zappa is the one doing the
>impersonating.

It's Adrian Belew doing the impression.

Mark
http://www.mlgiles.dircon.co.uk/tapeswap.html


John Howells

unread,
May 16, 2002, 11:47:10 AM5/16/02
to
jlin...@aol.com (Jim Linwood) writes:

<>A friend was playing a Frank Zappa CD the other day, and there was a
<>song on it where Frank does a striking Bob impersonation
<>
<>does anyone know the song, and maybe the album?
<>
<>cheers
<>
<>Groucho
<>

<Flakes on the album Sheik Yerbouti...dunno if Zappa is the one doing the
<impersonating.

I think it's Adrien Belew.

--

John Howells
how...@punkhart.com
http://www.punkhart.com

Bill

unread,
May 16, 2002, 12:54:41 PM5/16/02
to
Groucho <gro...@mockfrog.com> wrote in message news:<3CE38F7D...@mockfrog.com>...


Baby Snakes is the album.

Fabulutz

unread,
May 16, 2002, 1:24:03 PM5/16/02
to
In article <20020516070926...@mb-mv.aol.com>,
jlin...@aol.com (Jim Linwood) wrote:


> Flakes on the album Sheik Yerbouti...dunno if Zappa is the one doing the
> impersonating.
>
> http://starling.rinet.ru/music/frank1.htm

I believe that's Adrian Belew doing the fine Bob impersonation.

-Kevbo

Jeff Jones

unread,
May 16, 2002, 1:29:53 PM5/16/02
to
Groucho <gro...@mockfrog.com> wrote in message news:<3CE38F7D...@mockfrog.com>...
The song is called "Flakes" and is off the Sheik Yerbouti CD. I think
it's actually Adrian Belew doing the impersonation.

Mark Giles

unread,
May 16, 2002, 1:56:28 PM5/16/02
to
>Baby Snakes is the album.

Depends whether it's "Wanna by some Mandies, Bob?" (Sheik Yerbouti) or
"Wanna buy some Acid, Bob?" (Baby Snakes). Mandies or Acid, Groucho? (!)

Mark


Matt Kitchin

unread,
May 17, 2002, 6:47:11 AM5/17/02
to
Don't know about 'Baby Snakes', as I've never heard that album, but
there's a Bob impersonation - harmonica and all - on the second track of
Zappa's 1979 album 'Sheik Yerbouti'.

Jacki Pajas

unread,
May 17, 2002, 7:33:48 PM5/17/02
to
The song is Baby Snakes and the album is Sheik Yerbouti. Also its not Zappa
doing the impersonation, I believe it is Adrian Belew.


"Matt Kitchin" <M.R.K...@ncl.ac.uk> wrote in message
news:Pine.SOL.4.21.02051...@finan.ncl.ac.uk...

Bill Goldman

unread,
May 17, 2002, 10:42:43 PM5/17/02
to
On 16/5/02 10:52 am, in article 3CE38F7D...@mockfrog.com, "Groucho"
<gro...@mockfrog.com> wrote:

I was trying to remember the very same thing. It was hilarious, "Bob" being
utterly spaced out and slowed up. I've searched for it since I heard it but
never yet found it again, so please, Groucho, let me know if you do find
out.
Bill

Fabulutz

unread,
May 18, 2002, 2:03:12 AM5/18/02
to
In article <wrgF8.3761$t%5.93...@newssvr28.news.prodigy.com>, "Jacki
Pajas" <jpa...@ameritech.net> wrote:

> The song is Baby Snakes and the album is Sheik Yerbouti. Also its not
> Zappa
> doing the impersonation, I believe it is Adrian Belew.

This is incorrect. The song is "Flakes"; and Adrian Belew does a very
funny Bob impersonation for a solid 12 bars, complete with harmonica.

Kevbo says: Check it out.

-Kevbo

Jacki Pajas

unread,
May 18, 2002, 4:01:05 PM5/18/02
to
Yeah - Flakes. And it is Adrian Belew, but doesn't Frank do the "Want some
mandies, Bob?" line?


"Fabulutz" <fabu...@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:fabulutz-8064F1...@news.sf.sbcglobal.net...

Fabulutz

unread,
May 18, 2002, 4:26:36 PM5/18/02
to
In article <5qyF8.3817$t%5.99...@newssvr28.news.prodigy.com>, "Jacki
Pajas" <jpa...@ameritech.net> wrote:

> Yeah - Flakes. And it is Adrian Belew, but doesn't Frank do the "Want
> some
> mandies, Bob?" line?
>

Indeed he does, as well as the intro: "Take it away Bob..."

-Kevbo

Arkadyuti Basu

unread,
May 21, 2002, 4:30:27 AM5/21/02
to
Jacki Pajas <jpa...@ameritech.net> wrote:
> The song is Baby Snakes and the album is Sheik Yerbouti.
> Also its not Zappa doing the impersonation, I believe it
> is Adrian Belew.

The album is indeed Sheik Yerbouti. But the song isn't 'Baby Snakes'. It's
'Flakes', which is basically a diatribe against skilled labour/unions.
'Bob' comes on to sing about how (if I remember correctly) his car mechanic
keeps him waiting for days. Not sure who does the impersonation but
definitely not Zappa. It's a remarkable piece of mimicry replete with
harmonica solo. Very very funny.

Cheers,
Orko


--

0 new messages