APOSTROPHE (')

"Apostrophe (')" is a studio album by US, California based artist Frank Zappa. The album was released through DiscReet Records in March 1974. After the commercial success of Zappa´s previous studio album "Overnight Sensation (1973)" he followed up that success with another commercially successful album in "Apostrophe (')" and thereby laid the economic foundation that made it possible for him to release some obscure albums in addition to his more popular works.

I´m not sure if "Apostrophe (')" was a deliberate attempt at exploring and expanding the commercial success of "Overnight Sensation (1973)" or if it was just a matter of circumstance, which led to Zappa creating another commercially successful album release, as it´s always hard to know exactly what his intentions were. The fact is it would be a valid statement to call the two albums sibling releases. Subsequent sarcastic comments made by Zappa himself about some of his more comedic tracks like "Don´t Eat The Yellow Snow" and "Titties´n´Beer" (from "Zappa in New York (1978)") could suggest that he actually was a little annoyed that it was his more mainstream oriented output that got the most attention instead of what he thought of as his more serious works.

Either way "Apostrophe (')" is to my ears an excellent display of Zappa´s more accessible (and yes commercial as well) songwriting style. There´s a great emphasis on humour in the lyrics as well which should appeal those who like their rock music with a comedic element. One should not however be fooled to think that this is easy listening music or that the tracks don´t require anything from the listener, as that is far from the truth. This is still very intricate and sophisticated music. It might seem simple at first listen but some of the things that are played on "Apostrophe (')" are really intense and challenging. Just listen to Ruth Underwood´s treatment of the vibes/xylophone/marimba on "St. Alfonzo's Pancake Breakfast". Virtuosic to say the least. The rhythmic foundation on most tracks is jazz rock/fusion influenced, but as always there is also a strong blues rock/r´n´b influence in the music, and occasionally psychadelic elements too.

The first four tracks segue into each to form a suite and lyrically it´s really entertaining and quite silly. Total nonsense about an eskimo boy named Nanook, a horny leprechaun and so on. Great vocal arrangements and instrumental performances make those four tracks some of thehighlights of the album. "Cosmik Debris" is a blues rock based song with (again) some hilarious (but quite clever) lyrics and a great vocal arrangement.

"Excentrifugal Forz" is quite an atypical Frank Zappa composition as it has a psychadelic flavor to it. It´s quite the brilliant track feauturing some great selfbiographical humourous lyrics. "Apostrophe'" is the only fully instrumental track on the album. It´s a great jam with Jack Bruce (Cream) playing some distinct sounding fuzzy distorted basslines, Frank Zappa and Tony Duran playing the guitar and Jim Gordon (Everly Brothers, The Beach Boys, The Byrds, George Harrison, Derek & The Dominos...etc) playing the drums. "Uncle Remus" is a soul/pop song featuring George Duke on lead vocals and The Ikettes doing backing vocals. It´s another rather atypical Frank Zappa composition, and it may not have an immediate impact, like most of the other tracks on the album, but it´s a grower featuring a great melancholic/nostalgic atmosphere and some great vocal arrangements. The album closes with a live favorite. The blues based "Stink-Foot" with it´s extended Zappa guitar solo is just pure class and great fun.

"Apostrophe (')" features no less than 17 different musicians (including Zappa) plus The Ikettes, and the material featured on the album was recorded at different sessions and at different times (most in 1973 and 1974, but some recordings dating as far back af 1969). It does make the album a little less consistent in quality and style compared to its direct predecessor, and some of the sound productions also differ a bit from the remaining material. It was not unusal for Zappa to collect a batch of songs from different recording sessions and make an album out of them, and he did that many times during his career. I wouldn´t say it works perfect here, but it still works pretty well. A 4 star (80%) rating is deserved.