Joe's Garage: Acts I, II & III Frank Zappa

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CD - Remastered

  • Release Date: 05/02/1995
  • Original Release: 1979
  • 2 Disc Set
  • Sales Rank: 5,821
  • Label: ZAPPA RECORDS
  • UPC: 014431053023

Listener Rating: (9 ratings)

Detailed Rating: "Essential" See All

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  • Overview
  • Tracks
  • Editorial Reviews
  • Customer Reviews
  • Details & Credits
Track List
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Joe's Garage: Acts I, II & III

Disc 1
1LISTENCentral Scrutinizer 3:28
2LISTENJoe's Garage 6:10
3LISTENCatholic Girls 4:26
4LISTENCrew Slut 6:31
5LISTENFembot in a Wet T-Shirt 4:45
6LISTENOn the Bus 4:19
7LISTENWhy Does It Hurt When I Pee? 2:36
8LISTENLucille Has Messed My Mind Up 5:43
9LISTENScrutinizer Postlude 1:35
10LISTENA Token of My Extreme 5:30
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Disc 2
1LISTENDong Work for Yuda 5:03
2LISTENKeep It Greasey 8:22
3LISTENOutside Now 5:50
4LISTENHe Used to Cut the Grass 8:35
5LISTENPackard Goose 11:34
6LISTENWatermelon in Easter Hay 9:09
7LISTENA Little Green Rosetta 8:15

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About this Artist

Editorial Reviews

Joe's Garage was originally released in 1979 in two separate parts; Act I came first, followed by a two-record set containing Acts II & III. Rykodisc's reissue puts all three acts together on two CDs. Joe's Garage is generally regarded as one of Zappa's finest post-'60s conceptual works, a sprawling, satirical rock opera about a totalitarian future in which music is outlawed to control the population. The narrative is long, winding, and occasionally loses focus; it was improvised in a weekend, some of it around previously existing songs, but Zappa manages to make most of it hang together. Acts II & III give off much the same feel, as Zappa relies heavily on what he termed "xenochrony" -- previously recorded guitar solos transferred onto new, rhythmically different backing tracks to produce random musical coincidences. Such an approach is guaranteed to produce some slow moments as well, but critics latched onto the work more for its conceptual substance. Joe's Garage satirizes social control mechanisms, consumerism, corporate abuses, gender politics, religion, and the rock & roll lifestyle; all these forces conspire against the title protagonist, an average young man who simply wants to play guitar and enjoy himself. Even though Zappa himself hated punk rock and even says so on the album, his ideas seemed to support punk's do-it-yourself challenge to the record industry and to social norms in general. Since this is 1979-era Zappa, there are liberal applications of his trademark scatological humor (the titles of "Catholic Girls," "Crew Slut," "Why Does It Hurt When I Pee?," and "Keep It Greasey" are self-explanatory). Still, in spite of its flaws, Joe's Garage has enough substance to make it one of Zappa's most important '70s works and overall political statements, even if it's not focused enough to rank with his earliest Mothers of Invention masterpieces. Steve Huey, All Music Guide

Customer Reviews

Zappa's vacuum cleanerby JohnQ

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April 27, 2009: Zappa shows us what might happen (now that the New World Order has taken control) if you make the mistake of choosing a career in the Music Industry. Music, the police, religion, sex, politics, small to medium sized household appliances; all are open to comment in this glorious set.

Are YOU a latent appliantologist?by Anonymous

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July 27, 2008: This was the first Zappa album that I had heard all the way through. Indeed, the album almost insists upon giving it all a listen, rather than piece by piece. Prior to this, all my experience with Zappa revolved around snippets that I had heard - Willy the Pimp, Don't Eat the Yellow Snow, Peaches en Regalia, and Titties &amp Beer. All great songs, but the interesting tangle of a plot connecting Joe's Garage makes it a heck of an experience. Zappa displays his songwriting and musical prowess in equal measure with his talent for lampooning the musical styles of the era. Lyrically I find it hard to imagine that he could be any funnier than on such songs as Catholic Girls, or the rowdy Crew Slut. And there's something strangely powerful in Why Does it Hurt When I Pee, and it's not hard to see yourself elevated on a stage in all the glory of rock opera. Song eleven, Stick it Out, is a joy to German and English speakers alike, and I confess to being surprised to the point of laughing with tears when the second part of that song started up, revealing exactly what was being said in the first part. Acts II &amp III feature some outstanding songs, with the same hilarity and creativeness in the lyrics to say nothing of the seriously wonderful music. Though it might be against what Zappa was trying to create, if I had one wish as regards musical theater, which I almost uniformly hate, it would be to create a stage production of Joe's Garage. I've pictured so much of it in my head that I feel I could present a very good pitch for it! Buy Joe's Garage and enjoy!


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