Apostrophe (’) is an album by Frank Zappa, his eighteenth, released on April 22, 1974 in both stereo and quadraphonic formats. An edited version of its lead-off track, “Don’t Eat the Yellow Snow”, was Zappa’s first chart single, reaching position 86. Apostrophe (’) was Zappa’s biggest commercial success, reaching number 10 on the Billboard charts and going gold on March 7, 1976.[1]
Continuing from the commercial breakthrough of Over-Nite Sensation (1973), this album is a similar mix of short songs showcasing Zappa’s humor and musical arrangements. The record’s lyrical themes are often bizarre or obscure, with the exception of “Uncle Remus” which is an extension of Zappa’s feelings on racial disharmony featured on his earlier song "Trouble Every Day".
Music
The first half of the album loosely follows a continuing theme. “Don’t Eat the Yellow Snow” tells of a dream the singer had where he saw himself as an eskimo named Nanook. A fur trapper comes up from behind Nanook’s igloo and begins to assault a baby seal. Nanook responds by rubbing yellow snow (that is, snow which had been urinated on by huskies) in his eyes, blinding him. The fur trapper remembers an ancient eskimo legend (“Wherein it is written—on whatever it is that they write it on up there”) and travels to “the parish of St. Alfonzo”. At this point the album takes an unexpected turn and instead tells of rambunctious antics (“wheedled on the bingo cards in lieu of the latrine”) and follows with a scenario in which a leprechaun “stroked it;” another line talks of "abused the sausage patty" followed by a short musical interlude that includes high-pitched orgasmic screaming. However, the complete suite is not available, missing the final movement, "Rollo", which however wasn't probably lyrically written at the time (the music had been written earlier, as a version of it appears on the "Imaginary Diseases" album).
As the album reaches “Cosmik Debris”, there are several references to earlier albums and songs. The “dust of the Grand Wazoo” is mentioned, as well as “the toads of the short forest” (featured previously on 1970’s Weasels Ripped My Flesh and on Over-Nite Sensation, specifically “Camarillo Brillo”). The title track is an instrumental featuring Cream bassist Jack Bruce and drummer Jim Gordon.
Bruce is credited with bass guitar on the album cover and in most sources. However, in his interview for Polish rock magazine "Tylko Rock" he told journalist Weiss Wiesław that he had not played any bass guitar parts on Apostrophe (') (despite them sounding at times very much like the bass lines he played in Cream), only the cello parts: (Tylko Rock, Oct. 1992, pp. 17)
- "WW: Can you tell me something about your cooperation with Frank Zappa?
- JB: Sure, what do you happen to know? (laughs)
- WW: You appeared on his Apostrophe album...
- JB: Yes, as you know, at the time I was recording an album with Carla Bley, far more interesting one... you heard that?
- WW: Yes, Escalator over the Hill...
- JB: Right. So Frank, whom I met earlier, appeared one day in the studio and asked me: "Can you take your cello and go to my session?" So I turned up in a NY studio with my cello, I'm listening to his music, pretty awful, and just don't know what to do with myself, and Frank says to me: "Listen, I would like you to play a sound, like this... whaaaaaang!!!" So I did what he asked me to do. Whaaaaaang!!! That was all. That was my input to Frank Zappa's most popular record! (laughs) "
However, in an interview in Guitar Player Magazine from January 1977, Zappa talks about his experience with Jack Bruce's bass playing on the song:
"Q: What about playing with (bass guitarist) Jack Bruce on Apostrophe?
FZ: Well, that was just a jam thing that happened because he was a friend of (drummer) Jim Gordon. I found it very difficult to play with him; he's too busy. He doesn't really want to play the bass in terms of root functions; I think he has other things on his mind. But that's the way jam sessions go."
Apostrophe (') and the preceding release Over-Nite Sensation, recorded with the same group of musicians, are the subject of a Classic Albums series documentary from Eagle Rock Entertainment, released on DVD May 1, 2007.
Track listing
Side one
- “Don’t Eat the Yellow Snow" – 2:07
- “Nanook Rubs It” – 4:38
- “St. Alfonzo’s Pancake Breakfast” – 1:50
- “Father O’Blivion” – 2:18
- “Cosmik Debris” – 4:14
Side two
- “Excentrifugal Forz” – 1:33
- “Apostrophe'” – 5:50 (Zappa, Jim Gordon, Jack Bruce)
- “Uncle Remus” – 2:44 (Zappa, George Duke)
- “Stink-Foot” - 6:33
Album credits
- Frank Zappa – vocals, guitar, bass, bouzouki
- Lynn – vocals, backing vocals
- Kerry McNabb – backing vocals, engineer, remixing
- Ian Underwood – saxophone
- Ruth Underwood – percussion
- Sal Marquez – trumpet
- Sue Glover – backing vocals
- Jim Gordon – drums
- Aynsley Dunbar – drums
- Tom Fowler – bass guitar
- Napoleon Murphy Brock – saxophone, backing vocals
- Robert “Frog” Camarena – vocals, backing vocals
- Ruben Ladron de Guevara – vocals, backing vocals
- Debbie – vocals, backing vocals
- Tony Duran – rhythm guitar
- Erroneous (Alex Dmochowksi) – bass guitar
- Johnny Guerin – drums
- Don “Sugarcane” Harris – violin
- Ralph Humphrey – drums
- Bob Ludwig – Technician
- Jack Bruce – bass on “Apostrophe” (see controversy presented above)
- George Duke – keyboards, backing vocals
- Bruce Fowler – trombone
- Jean-Luc Ponty – violin
- Cal Schenkel – artwork, graphic design
- Barry Keene – engineer
- Ferenc Dobronyl – cover design
- Paul Hof – technician
- Oscar Kergaives – technician
- Brian Krokus – technician
- Mark Aalyson – photography
- Bob Stone – transfers, digital remastering
- Steve Desper – engineer
- Terry Dunavan – engineer
- Zach Glickman – marketing
- Bob Hughes – engineer
Charts
Album
Billboard (North America)
| Year |
Chart |
Position |
| 1974 |
Pop Albums |
10[1] |
Singles
| Song |
Chart |
Peak
position |
| "Don't Eat the Yellow Snow" |
Pop Singles |
86[1] |
References
External links
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