Waka/Jawaka (also known as Waka/Jawaka — Hot Rats) is the fourth solo album… Read Full Bio ↴Waka/Jawaka (also known as Waka/Jawaka — Hot Rats) is the fourth solo album by Frank Zappa, released in July 1972. The album is the jazz-influenced precursor to The Grand Wazoo (November 1972), and, as the front cover indicates, a sequel of sorts to 1969's Hot Rats. According to Zappa, the title "is something that showed up on a ouija board at one time."
Songs
"Big Swifty" is a jazz-fusion tune, similar to many of Zappa's pieces from the jazz period of his compositional time line. It features many horns to achieve a thick brassy sound as well as room for improvisation and use of multiple time signatures. The tune initially alternates between 7/8 and 3/4 time signatures, soon settling on a 4/4 swing feel for several extended solos. Known recorded live versions expanded rhythmic diversification to 11/8 and rubato parts (e.g. live in Texas, 1973).
The track "It Just Might Be a One-Shot Deal" is a strange tale of hallucinations sung by Sal Marquez and Janet Ferguson (the "tough-minded" groupie in 200 Motels). Jeff Simmons' Hawaiian guitar sets up a dream-like, smooth quality, but with the words but you should be diggin' it while it's happening cause it just might be a one-shot deal, though played in real time rather than achieved with a splice, it again sounds as if the music has started to run backwards.
Reissues
It was reissued in a digitally remastered version on CD by Rykodisc in 1986 (with much digital reverb added and missing the back cover artwork) and in 1995 (restoring the rear cover, but with identical sound). In 2012, Universal Music released a CD containing a remastered version of the original vinyl mix.
Track listing
All songs written, composed and arranged by Frank Zappa.
Side one
No. Title Length
1. "Big Swifty" 17:22
Side two
No. Title Length
2. "Your Mouth" 3:12
3. "It Just Might Be a One-Shot Deal" 4:16
4. "Waka/Jawaka" 11:18
Personnel
Musicians on the album
Frank Zappa – guitar (all tracks, including acoustic guitar on track 3), percussion (1), electric bed springs (3), uncredited vocals (3)
Sal Marquez – trumpets (all tracks), vocals (2, 3, 4), chimes (1, 4), flugelhorn (4)
Erroneous (Alex Dmochowski) – electric bass (all tracks), vocals (3), fuzz bass (4)
Aynsley Dunbar – drums (all tracks), washboard (3), tambourine (3)
Tony Duran – slide guitar (1, 2, 3), vocals (3)
George Duke – ring-modulated & echoplexed electric piano (1), tack piano (2)
Mike Altschul – baritone saxophone (2, 4), piccolo (2, 4), bass flute (4), bass clarinet (4), tenor sax (4)
Kris Peterson – vocals (2, 4)
Joel Peskin – tenor sax (2)
Jeff Simmons – Hawaiian guitar (3), vocals (3)
Sneaky Pete Kleinow – pedal steel guitar solo (3)
Janet Ferguson – vocals (3)
Don Preston – piano (4), Minimoog (4)
Billy Byers – trombone (4), baritone horn (4)
Ken Shroyer – trombone (4), baritone horn (4)
Production
Producer: Frank Zappa
Engineers: Marshall Brevitz, Kerry McNabb
Mastering: Frank Zappa
Supervisor: Marshall Brevitz
Concept: Sal Marquez
Creative consultant: Sal Marquez
Design: Cal Schenkel
Cover Design: Cal Schenkel
Cover illustration: Marvin Mattelson
Illustrations: Marvin Mattelson
Photography: Philip Schartz
Back cover: Philip Schwartz
Packaging: Cal Schenkel
Repackaging: Ferenc Dobronyi
Songs
"Big Swifty" is a jazz-fusion tune, similar to many of Zappa's pieces from the jazz period of his compositional time line. It features many horns to achieve a thick brassy sound as well as room for improvisation and use of multiple time signatures. The tune initially alternates between 7/8 and 3/4 time signatures, soon settling on a 4/4 swing feel for several extended solos. Known recorded live versions expanded rhythmic diversification to 11/8 and rubato parts (e.g. live in Texas, 1973).
The track "It Just Might Be a One-Shot Deal" is a strange tale of hallucinations sung by Sal Marquez and Janet Ferguson (the "tough-minded" groupie in 200 Motels). Jeff Simmons' Hawaiian guitar sets up a dream-like, smooth quality, but with the words but you should be diggin' it while it's happening cause it just might be a one-shot deal, though played in real time rather than achieved with a splice, it again sounds as if the music has started to run backwards.
Reissues
It was reissued in a digitally remastered version on CD by Rykodisc in 1986 (with much digital reverb added and missing the back cover artwork) and in 1995 (restoring the rear cover, but with identical sound). In 2012, Universal Music released a CD containing a remastered version of the original vinyl mix.
Track listing
All songs written, composed and arranged by Frank Zappa.
Side one
No. Title Length
1. "Big Swifty" 17:22
Side two
No. Title Length
2. "Your Mouth" 3:12
3. "It Just Might Be a One-Shot Deal" 4:16
4. "Waka/Jawaka" 11:18
Personnel
Musicians on the album
Frank Zappa – guitar (all tracks, including acoustic guitar on track 3), percussion (1), electric bed springs (3), uncredited vocals (3)
Sal Marquez – trumpets (all tracks), vocals (2, 3, 4), chimes (1, 4), flugelhorn (4)
Erroneous (Alex Dmochowski) – electric bass (all tracks), vocals (3), fuzz bass (4)
Aynsley Dunbar – drums (all tracks), washboard (3), tambourine (3)
Tony Duran – slide guitar (1, 2, 3), vocals (3)
George Duke – ring-modulated & echoplexed electric piano (1), tack piano (2)
Mike Altschul – baritone saxophone (2, 4), piccolo (2, 4), bass flute (4), bass clarinet (4), tenor sax (4)
Kris Peterson – vocals (2, 4)
Joel Peskin – tenor sax (2)
Jeff Simmons – Hawaiian guitar (3), vocals (3)
Sneaky Pete Kleinow – pedal steel guitar solo (3)
Janet Ferguson – vocals (3)
Don Preston – piano (4), Minimoog (4)
Billy Byers – trombone (4), baritone horn (4)
Ken Shroyer – trombone (4), baritone horn (4)
Production
Producer: Frank Zappa
Engineers: Marshall Brevitz, Kerry McNabb
Mastering: Frank Zappa
Supervisor: Marshall Brevitz
Concept: Sal Marquez
Creative consultant: Sal Marquez
Design: Cal Schenkel
Cover Design: Cal Schenkel
Cover illustration: Marvin Mattelson
Illustrations: Marvin Mattelson
Photography: Philip Schartz
Back cover: Philip Schwartz
Packaging: Cal Schenkel
Repackaging: Ferenc Dobronyi
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Waka/Jawaka
Frank Zappa Lyrics
Big Swifty (Instrumental)…
It Just Might Be A One-Shot Deal If the froggy come up A--with his satchel in his hand, Then…
Your Mouth Your mouth is your religion You put your faith in a…