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Rating: It all began at the end of 1978 when Mr. Frank Zappa went to Warner, the label he had signed his recording contract with, proposing the release of a quadruple vinyl titled "Läther". Warner, already having a lot of material to release and fearing market inflation, gave a firm refusal. In retaliation, Zappa fed all that material to local radio stations, expressly asking listeners to record everything and bootleg the content. In retaliation to the retaliation, Warner released three volumes without Zappa's authorization, each a few months apart. These three volumes, very different in intentions, content, and purpose, were called "Studio Tan", "Orchestral Favorites", and, indeed, "Sleep Dirt". This last one contains material recorded on different occasions and dating back to the period 1974 - 1976. Although this was the era of jazz rock in its most pronounced form and considering the thematic upheaval typical of the author, this album presents particular and very personal sounds. The epic symphonic flavor that pervades the themes, with a mix of spaciousness, serenity, and seriousness, is hard to find elsewhere. The lineup is equally variable and often reduces, another extremely unusual thing in the Zappa panorama, to a guitar, bass, drum trio, with the incredible Terry Bozzio/Patrik O'Hearn rhythm section. And this is the case of the album's (and beyond) masterpiece track titled "The Ocean Is The Ultimate Solution", a stunning sequence of complex and changing episodes with a double bass solo rarely heard. Another notable track for sound and overall success is "Regyptian Strut", with its chivalrous and slightly Lawrence of Arabia flavor and the splendid Chester Thompson on drums.
Another particularity of the work is the significant difference between the original vinyl version and the more recent CD release: besides the very modest variation in listening times, slightly shortened for the digital version, there are three tracks that in the first version were entirely instrumental and on the CD have had vocals added by Thana Harris. These three tracks, "Flambay", "Spider of Destiny", and "Time Is Money", have radically changed their sound approach. Harris's voice has a lyrical imprint and, although endowed with enviable range and power, often appears lacking in grace and lightness. This fact decisively impacts, and if on the one hand, it helps create a positive and intriguing disparity, on the other, it diverts the ear from what were the predominant instrumental parts, for a listening experience that is, in conclusion, different. Also on the CD, some drum parts were overdubbed by the phenomenal Chad Wackerman. Personally, I prefer the original instrumental version, but I've found more than one person who prefers the CD's sung version.
Peculiar is also the short track that gives the album its title (although Zappa would have wanted to call it "Hot Rats III"). Sleep Dirt is an exercise in acoustic guitar mastery, one of those pieces that makes us understand how great that man was not only in composition but also in exquisite technique.
Highly recommended album and, as I repeat, especially the vinyl version. I give it 5 stars because it’s a must, but the exact rating would be 4.5.
Everyone stand up for applause.
P.S. Just for the sake of history, the mentioned "Läther" was released posthumously in 1996 as a triple CD, obviously wonderful, with the instrumental versions of the Sleep Dirt tracks, but still somewhat different from the vinyl.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Filthy Habits (07:33)
Frank Zapppa--guitars, keyboards
Dave Parlato--bass
Terry Bozzio--drums
02 Flambay (04:54)
George Duke (keyboards)
Dave Parlato (bass)
Patrick O'Hearn (bass)
James "Bird Legs" Youman (bass, guitar)
Terry Bozzio (drums)
Chester Thompson (drums)
Chad Wackerman (drums)
Ruth Underwood (percussion)
Thana Harris (vocals)
Bruce Fowler (brass)
He used to be very kind in his own crude way
He wasn't always like I wanted him to be
He wasn't smart, he wasn't handsome either
But he thrilled me when he drilled me
and I never loved a monster quite like he...
Because his love was so flambay
His kisses burned me so, his kisses turned me
from a queen on a throne to a shriveling spool
Here I stand all alone, a spider's fool
When it's me he needs to fondle his tool
I guess some bugs are just that way
He don't really need your love
He don't really need you
to be there when his hair gets matted and grey
With a broom cleaning his room from the mess he made that day
All those earthling worms he nibbled away
Oh Hunchentoot my love, how could you desert me now?
Oh Hunchentoot you brute, can't you see I want you?
Stay with me flagrantly
and we'll have ecstasy for all eternity
Because your love is so flambay
You kisses burn me so, your kisses turn me
from a queen on a throne to a shriveling spool
I don't mind if you're unkind 'cause spiders rule
Yes you are real cool
with those little webs you spool
and all your spider drool
oh let me float in your pool
03 Spider of Destiny (02:33)
George Duke (keyboards)
Dave Parlato (bass)
Patrick O'Hearn (bass)
James "Bird Legs" Youman (bass, guitar)
Terry Bozzio (drums)
Chester Thompson (drums)
Chad Wackerman (drums)
Ruth Underwood (percussion)
Thana Harris (vocals)
Bruce Fowler (brass)
Listen carefully, spider of destiny
You must heed the call of cosmo-biology
Listen to me
If you eat the earthlings now
things will all be fine and then
we'll repair our love somehow
and resume the busy schedule of our ruthless conquest once again
Listen carefully, spider of destiny
I will not allow this marvelous opportunity to be taken from me
Taken from me...
Eat the earth people, eat them and chew them and brutally
stomp on the rest of what's left and then report to me
for the conquest of earth and the moon and the stars
and the space in between, all the comets and stars will be ours
Eat the earth people, eat them and chew them and brutally
stomp on the rest of what's left...
04 Regyptian Strut (04:13)
Frank Zappa--percussion
George Duke--keyboards
Bruce Fowler--all brass
James "Bird Legs" Youmans--bass
Ruth Underwood--percussion
Chester Thompson--drums (LP & original CD)
Chad Wackerman--drums (1995 CD)
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