Zappa's earliest influences were 1950s pop and rock (such as doo-wop and rhythm and blues), and 20th-century classical composers including Igor Stravinsky and Edgard Varèse. His output was divided between adventurous instrumental compositions and succinct, catchy rock songs with ribald, satirical, or comically absurd lyrics. On stage he demanded virtuosity and spontaneity from his musicians, and employed many performers who would later go on to achieve fame in their own rights. He directed and released a number of films featuring himself, his musicians and entourage, including 200 Motels and Baby Snakes.
His career started in 1955. His earliest recordings date from the mid-1960s, and include collaborations with his school friend Captain Beefheart. In 1965 he joined a bar-band called The Soul Giants, quickly dominating its musical direction and rechristening it The Mothers. Their first release (as The Mothers of Invention; the name alteration requested by their record company) was the 1966 double album Freak Out!. The line-up of the Mothers gradually expanded to accommodate Zappa's increasingly ambitious and avant-garde music, but by 1969 he decided to work outside the band structure, focusing on his solo career, and effectively disbanding the Mothers in 1971.
The beginnings of his solo career in the late sixties and early seventies was characterised by a strong free jazz influence, with albums containing little, if any, lyrical content, such as Hot Rats, Waka/Jawaka and The Grand Wazoo. Towards the mid-seventies his albums became more rock-orientated, with a combination of Jazz Fusion instrumentation and Rock song structures. This more accessible sound bore reasonable mainstream appeal, especially with the release of the well-advertised albums Over-Nite Sensation and Apostrophe (') (which both went Gold), but Zappa's unpredictably eclectic output never led to solid mainstream recognition. He received uniformly lukewarm reviews from popular music publications such as Rolling Stone throughout his career. In his late seventies' output, the gulf between his humorous songs and more lengthy, complex instrumental music widened, and albums, such as Zappa in New York, Joe's Garage: Acts I, II & III, and Sleep Dirt displayed, by track, both sides firmly segregated.
Zappa saw a second run of success in the early eighties with the release of many albums with predominantly comedic rock songs, but later continued to experiment with virtually every style of music through the eighties, and was productive as ever until his death. His output in this later-career period included two albums of strikingly original classical music with the London Symphony Orchestra, an electronic take on 18th-century chamber music (written by the obscure Italian composer 'Francesco Zappa', no relation), an album of Synclavier compositions (misleadingly titled Jazz From Hell which garnered a Grammy award), a double-CD release of electric guitar instrumental music (the laconically titled Guitar) and a plenitude of official live releases, revisiting fan-favourites as well as showcasing Zappa's talent for reinventing the music of others; his version of Stairway to Heaven becoming a word-of-mouth favourite.
Zappa produced almost all of his own albums, spending many hours in the studio recording and manipulating tracks, and was always at the forefront of emerging technologies; from tape editing, collage, multitrack and overdubbing in the sixties to digital recording, electronic instruments and sampling in the eighties. Conversely, Zappa was also a obsessive self-archivist, recording virtually every one of his live performances, and often using live recordings of new material without needing to enter the studio. The archive of tapes at his family home in Los Angeles continues to be a source of posthumous releases for the Zappa Family Trust. He was also noted as a spotter of talent and his shifting line-up of musicians included Lowell George, Jean-Luc Ponty, Terry Bozzio, Chad Wackerman, George Duke, Mike Keneally, Adrian Belew and Steve Vai, as well as giving Alice Cooper his first break in music and working again with his old collaborator Captain Beefheart when his career was in decline.
In the late 1980s he became active in politics, campaigning against the PMRC's music censorship scheme and acting as culture and trade representative for Czechoslovakia in 1989; and considered running as an independent candidate for president of the US.
His death in Los Angeles, California, on 4th December 1993 came three years after he was diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Ancient Armaments
Frank Zappa Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Audient: !!!This is Frank Zappa on Halloween and he's like Guy Lombardo on New Years!!
FZ: Awright. Let me tell you what I'm gonna do tonight. Tonight, since this is the Big One, we're going to play a very long show. I hope... I hope you people aren't in a hurry to get home.
Wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute.
Keep it. Ok.
What I am supposed to do with this?
Here. Here. I'll tell ya.
Whose was this?
Hey! Don't mash each other. Move back.
Now look. Hi!
What we're going to do
For those of you who have been here before Stop! Stop! Stop! Silence! Listen! Here. An important announcement: For those of you who have been here before John.
We are going to play a whole We're gonna play a whole collection of stuff that we don't normally do But before we do that We're going to play our normal show For those of you who haven't seen any of the other shows.
So. If you already know the songs to the normal show, sing along.
And if you don't Hope you enjoy it.
Let me... Let me introduce ya to the members of our rocking teenage combo. This is Vince Colaiuta on drums. Arthur Barrow on bass. Patrick O'Hearn on bass. Tommy Mars on keyboards. Denny Walley on guitar. Peter Wolf on keyboards. Ed Mann on percussion. And a little bit later on, L. Shankar on violin.
Ok. The name of this song is Dancin' Fool. One, two, three, four...
The above lyrics are the opening lines of Frank Zappa's Halloween 1981 concert, where he introduces the audience to his big plans for the night. He starts by telling them that they are going to play a very long show and hope the audience is not in a hurry to get home. He then interrupts himself, asking what he is supposed to do with something he was handed, and proceeds to joke around with the audience.
He then announces that for those who have been to his shows before, they are going to play a whole collection of stuff they don't normally do. He encourages the audience to sing along if they know the songs and if not, to enjoy it anyway. He then introduces the members of his band and proceeds to play "Dancin' Fool."
This intro to the concert sets the tone for what the audience is about to experience - a wild and unpredictable show full of unexpected twists and turns. It also showcases Frank Zappa's humor, wit, and unique style of performance.
Line by Line Meaning
Awright. This is it. This is the Big One. Happy Halloween Everybody! Hi Debbie.
Frank Zappa greets the audience and announces that it is Halloween. He takes the opportunity to build hype by claiming that this is going to be a major event. He even greets a member of the audience by name.
Awright. Let me tell you what I'm gonna do tonight. Tonight, since this is the Big One, we're going to play a very long show. I hope... I hope you people aren't in a hurry to get home.
Wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute.
Keep it. Ok.
What I am supposed to do with this?
Write on it? Alright. Look. Look.
Here. Here. I'll tell ya.
Whose was this?
Hey! Don't mash each other. Move back.
Now look. Hi!
Frank starts outlining his plans for the show, it will be lengthy and he hopes the audience has no immediate plans after the event. He then interrupts himself to make some adjustments to a prop. After getting distracted, he introduces himself to the audience again.
What we're going to do
For those of you who have been here before Stop! Stop! Stop! Silence! Listen! Here. An important announcement: For those of you who have been here before John.
We are going to play a whole We're gonna play a whole collection of stuff that we don't normally do But before we do that We're going to play our normal show For those of you who haven't seen any of the other shows.
So. If you already know the songs to the normal show, sing along.
And if you don't Hope you enjoy it.
Frank explains that the show will consist of a mix of old and new material. He instructs previous attendees to pay attention as there will be a change in the collection of music played. However, he assures first-timers of a good time and encourages everyone to participate in singing along.
Let me... Let me introduce ya to the members of our rocking teenage combo. This is Vince Colaiuta on drums. Arthur Barrow on bass. Patrick O'Hearn on bass. Tommy Mars on keyboards. Denny Walley on guitar. Peter Wolf on keyboards. Ed Mann on percussion. And a little bit later on, L. Shankar on violin.
Frank introduces members of his band who are going to be performing. He lists each musician and their respective instrument.
Ok. The name of this song is Dancin' Fool. One, two, three, four...
Frank announces the name of the first song in their set, Dancin' Fool, and instructs the band to start playing.
Contributed by Jason A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Neil Madden
Wow, I had this tagged on the end of a cassette tape of the Detroit Conceptual Continuity concert. That has since been cleaned up and published on CD, but this brilliant track was left off. Thought I'd never hear it again. Millions thanks for posting
Flowood Piano
One of my favorite pieces of music ever.
gogogo stopstop
Ditto.
Gary Geddes
finally found it.i love this piece.i have a very old scratchy single and no longer have a turntable to play this.so much to listen to.it's just beautiful music.play with headphones on and soak it up.
jacques parpaing
The lost status surely helps, but this track is lovely
Alexander 'Sascha' Tukatsch
Sounds great at 33 1/3 rpm too...
Alexander 'Sascha' Tukatsch
When I first put this record on I too listened to it at half speed - I almost like it better at that speed...so emotive
o p
It’s f*cking awesome...
bozotheklein
flip side of i don't wanna' get drafted.....the 12 inch single released in Canada, because, the USA (would you go all the way?) had a problem with it....happy halloween everybody!
bozotheklein
sold my copy for a buck....was moving..needed the money.....i used to cut the grass.....