Words and Music of Frank Zappa

Kelly Fisher Lowe (1966-2007) was the director of the learning resource networks at the University of Wyoming and is the author of 100 Years of Caring: The Centennial History of Alliance Community Hospital.

"One of the strengths of Lowe's treatment is his contextualization of pop-culture references in the lyrics, explications that result in a clearer reading of Zappa's texts. Also useful are the discography of Zappa recordings and a critical bibliographic essay on the major contributions on the life and works of Frank Zappa. Students of popular or American music will appreciate this title."—Choice "The first book to move beyond the details of Zappa's biography toward a focused treatment of his rock and pop songs. Author Kelly Lowe has left no aspect of Zappa's work unexamined, from his role as a satirist, to his place within the genre of "progressive rock" and his importance as one of the foremost critics of American culture and society. This title also features a bibliographic essay that discusses the current state of Zappa scholarship."—Library Media Collection "Author Kelly Lowe has left no aspect of Zappa's work unexamined, from his role as a satirist of the highest order, to his place within the genre of 'progressive rock' and his importance as one of the foremost critics of American culture and society. . . . [A] surprisingly clear perspective of his personal views is also provided, shedding light on his treatment of such topics as the falsified notion of love in popular culture, the compromising influence of money on popular music, and the concept of freedom in a systematized society."—Free Bird Times

• Introduction to the Bison Books EditionAcknowledgmentsIntroduction: Why Study Frank Zappa?1. You Call That Music?2. Satire and the Art of Frank Zappa3. The Mothers of InventionFreak Out!Absolutely FreeWe're Only in It for the MoneyLumpy GravyCruising with Ruben and the JetsUncle MeatMothermania4. Hot Rats, the Last Two Mothers Albums, Flo & Eddie, and the Jazz-Rock AlbumsHot RatsBurnt Weeny Sandwich and Weasels Ripped My FleshChunga's Revenge; Fillmore East, June 1971; 200 Motels; and Just Another Band from L.A.Waka/Jawaka and The Grand Wazoo5. The Duke-Brock / Progressive Rock Bands, Läther, and the Terry Bozzio AlbumsOver-Nite Sensation and Apostrophy (')Roxy & Elsewhere,mso-bidi-font-style: normal"One Size Fits All, and Bongo FuryZoot AlluresZappa in New York, Studio Tan, and Sleep DirtSheik Yerbouti6. Politics: 1979-88Joe's Garage, Acts I, II, & IIITinsel Town RebellionYou Are What You IsShip Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowning WitchThe Man from Utopia and Them or UsThing-FishFrank Zappa Meets the Mothers of PreventionBroadway the Hard WayConclusionDiscography of Available Zappa RecordingsNotesBibliographic EssayBibliographyIndex