Frankly a Cappella: The Persuasions Sing Zappa

The Persuasions | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 4, 2000)
• Original Release Date: April 4, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Earthbeat
• ASIN: B00004RJJ1
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #153,027 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Duodenum

2. Any Way the Wind Blows

3. Electric Aunt Jemima

4. The Meek Shall Inherit Nothing

5. Cheap Thrills

6. Hot Plate Heaven at the Green Hotel

7. Love of My Life

8. You Are What You Is

9. Harder Than Your Husband

10. Find Her Finer

11. My Guitar Wants to Kill Your Mama

12. Tears Began to Fall/Mystery Track

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What the heck is this?, April 21, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Frankly a Cappella: The Persuasions Sing Zappa (Audio CD)

Steve Plesa of the Orange County Register writes: "This is a record about which, if you were unfamiliar with the original artist, you would say, if you heard it at a party, 'What the heck is this?'And if you were familiar with the original artist and knew the tunes, you would say, 'WHAT THE HECK IS THIS?'very loudly and demand to see the CD case to prove your ears weren't lying. The Persuasions are among the best a cappella bands ever recorded, and their easy handling of the often complex and challenging Frank Zappa material here is refreshing and reverential, unique and highly amusing. Executive producer Rip Rense, who has written extensively for many publications about both The Persuasions and Zappa, has put together one of those rare combinations where the result is well worth the risk. Voices! Voices rising and falling, careening around corners and harmonizing exquisitely, combining falsetto, tenor and bass in seamless precision, covering diverse FZ tunes such as the brooding 'Any Way The Wind Blows' and the sinister 'My Guitar Wants to Kill Your Mama.' And when this gospel-based group sings 'The Meek Shall Inherit Nothing,' you conjure a picture of them singing it along the sidelines as the masses queue up trying to make it through the Pearly Gates. Zappa the instrumental composer is also represented here, in the album-opening 'Lumpy Gravy,' a stunning piece of work where the voices capture the notes made originally by instruments, resulting in a rather mad moment of very professional and well-executed silliness. This is much like the FZ live version of 'Stairway to Heaven' in which the horn section took Jimmy Page's guitar solo, note for note. WHAT THE HECK IS THIS? It's an equal blend of sincerity and nuttiness you should buy and play at your next party.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Sing-Along, One of the Best FZ Tribute Recordings, February 19, 2002

By 

Sir Charles Panther "Life is hard. It's hard... (Alexandria, Virginny, USandA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Frankly a Cappella: The Persuasions Sing Zappa (Audio CD)

Ah, the ultimate irony, the epitome of unintended consequences. I've been trying subtly and very delicately for a few years now to expose my five-year-old daughter to all manner of music, rock, jazz, classical, pop, world, and she stuns me with her love of the Persuasions singing Frank Zappa.

Such is the lure of this wonderful recording. One of FZ's oldest and most successful proteges, the Persuasions got their start from FZ way back in the 60s. This is their tribute to the man who loved their music and gave them their break.

The choice of "Lumpy Gravy" as the introductory track was truly inspired, expertly voiced and arranged (and it's my daughter's favorite, because it has no words). "Love of My Life" is an absolute delight, a doo-wop lullaby. My other favorites are "Tears Began to Fall," "The Meek Shall Inherit Nothing," and "Any Way The Wind Blows." These three tracks are the more wide-open tracks on the album, with broader, sweeping melodies and harmonies, rather than the tight, technical arrangements of many of the other tracks. This is to take nothing away from any of these; this entire CD is an absolute gem, with all of these covers outstanding. Whether you are a hard-core Zappahead or a novice looking for a point of entry, this recording is a superior addition to your collection.

I only wish the Persuasions could have been persuaded to record a few more tracks, like "Sofa," "Florentine Pogen," "Son of Orange County," "Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance," or "Uncle Remus." "Peaches En Regalia," now that would've been an a capella challenge like no other.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Billboard Magazine Loves it, April 6, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Frankly a Cappella: The Persuasions Sing Zappa (Audio CD)

Here's what Billboard Magazine wrote: "In a work of absurdist inspiration worthy of its subject, a cappella heroes the Persuasions offer up a surprisingly soulful collection of. . .that's right, Frank Zappa covers. The vocal quintet---expanded to a sextet for this outing---pays homage to Zappa, who inked them to their first album deal in 1969. The 12 featured songs are a savvy survey of Zappa's legendary catalog of avant-garde rock and jazz, spanning the years 1963-1989. As a bonus, the album features contributions from former Zappa collaborators like trombonist Bruce Fowler on 'Cheap Thrills' and guitarist Mike Keneally on 'My Guitar Wants to Kill Your Mama.' But The Persuasions, who previously covered Zappa's 'Lucille Has Messed My Mind Up' on 1994's 'Right Around The Corner,' have no problem translating his complex musical arrangements with just six-part harmonies. As evidenced on tracks like 'The Meek Shall Inherit Nothing' and 'Lumpy Gravy' (a Zappa instrumental composition), "Frankly A Cappella" is a novel reworking of a true original. Great Googly-Moogly, indeed."