In order to finance his artier excursions, which increasingly required more expensive technology, Frank Zappa recorded several collections of guitar- and song-oriented material in the late '70s and early '80s, which generally concentrated on the bawdy lyrical themes many fans had come to expect and enjoy in concert. Sheik Yerbouti (two LPs, one CD) was one of the first and most successful of these albums, garnering attention for such tracks as the Grammy-nominated disco satire "Dancin' Fool," the controversial "Jewish Princess," and the equally controversial "Bobby Brown Goes Down," a song about gay S&M that became a substantial hit in European clubs. While Zappa's attitude on the latter two tracks was even more politically incorrect than usual for him, it didn't stop the album from becoming his second-highest charting ever. Social satire, leering sexual preoccupations, and tight, melodic songs dominated the rest of the record as well, as Zappa stuck to what had been commercially successful for him in the past. The "dumb entertainment" (as Zappa liked to describe this style) on Sheik Yerbouti was some of his dumbest, for better or worse, and the music was undeniably good – easily some of his best since Apostrophe, and certainly the most accessible. Even if it sometimes drifts a bit, fans of Zappa's '70s work will find Sheik Yerbouti on nearly an equal level with Apostrophe and Over-Nite Sensation, both in terms of humor and musical quality.
01. I Have Been In You
02. Flakes
03. Broken Hearts Are For Assholes
04. I'm So Cute
05. Jones Crusher
06. What Ever Happened To All The Fun In The World
07. Rat Tomago
08. Wait A Minute
09. Bobby Brown (Goes Down)
10. Rubber Shirt
11. The Sheik Yerbouti Tango
12. Baby Snakes
13. Tryin' To Grow A Chin
14. City Of Tiny Lites
15. Dancin' Fool
16. Jewish Princess
17. Wild Love
18. Yo' Mama
*1995 Rykodisc / The Zappa Family Trust | RCD 10528
Personnel:
Frank Zappa – lead guitar, lead (1-3, 9, 12, 15–18) and backing vocals, arranger, composer, producer, remixing
Davey Moire – lead (6, 8) and backing vocals, engineer
Napoleon Murphy Brock – lead (17) and backing vocals
Andre Lewis – backing vocals
Randy Thornton – lead (17) and backing vocals
Adrian Belew – rhythm guitar, lead (5, 14) and backing vocals, Bob Dylan impersonation (2)
Tommy Mars – keyboards, backing and lead (17) vocals
Peter Wolf – keyboards, butter, Flora margarine
Patrick O'Hearn – bass, lead (3, 6, 8) and backing vocals
Terry Bozzio – drums, lead (3, 4, 6, 8, 13, 17) and backing vocals
Ed Mann – percussion, backing vocals
David Ocker – clarinet
Comments need intelligible text (not only emojis or meaningless drivel). No upload requests, visit the forum or message the uploader for this. Use common sense and try to stay on topic.