Customer Reviews

Sleep Dirt

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Sleep Dirt was released in 1979, but recorded on different occasions between 1974 and 1976. It's all studio material, with
drummer Chad Wackerman's first contribution to Zappa's music on three tracks (of drum overdubs). Two tracks feature Terry Bozzio on drums, and one features Chester Thompson (+ Ruth Underwood on percussion). This is NOT a run-of-the-mill 70's rock/blues Zappa album. At times, it's even "jazzy". All (three) vocal tracks are sung by Thana Harris, who does an excellent job with her wide-range (at times "dirty") voice, and gives Zappa's music a new, never-before-introduced fresh flavour, as does the double bass (heard on three tracks as well) played by Patrick O'Hearn, and the acoustic piano of George Duke. The album is a bit short (around 38 minutes), but the intense material saves it. Shorter FZ albums have indeed been released, so at this price, it isn't really a problem.
The three-plus minute title track, featuring a less professional recording technique than the other tracks (therefore giving the tune a certain charm), is an acoustic guitar duet by Frank Zappa (on lead) and James "Bird Legs" Youman - an unusually emotional ballad.
Most of the album brings out a side of Zappa's compositional technique that can't be heard anywhere else, so if you are a collector of his albums - GET THIS ONE TOO!
Sleep Dirt is among my top ten favorites. To give you an idea of my judgment, other favorites include "Apostrophe'", "Joe's Garage", "The Yellow Shark" and "Civilization Phaze III".

Mrs. Thana Harris gets a real unfair treatment in most of these reviews IMO. That Zappa had asked her to overdub new vocals on 3 of the tracks when he got around to remix this album should not come so much as a surprise since these had always been meant as part of an opera of his called "Hunchentooth". Now she did a fantastic job at it! Even if I do still miss the more familiar instrumental versions of the vinyl album (which are available in part on the "Läther" box set anyway), and hope for a future remastering of the original mix as an alternate version, Harris' range and grasp of these hard compositions is simply masterful and was for me after all a consolation of that loss of familiar grounds. On "Time is Money", she brings tears to my eyes!...
And since "The Ocean is the Ultimate Solution", another tour-de-force from "Sleep Dirt", had been drastically edited on the aforementioned box set, one just got to have this CD if only for the more complete version it features and a not so common chance to hear FZ improvise on chord changes (instead of vamps or modes) here, in one of his absolute peaks as a guitarist.
An album of fascinating, timeless compositions, played by fantastic musicians and singer, and featuring red-hot guitar playing!

Originally released as an instrumental album, Sleep Dirt was reissued & remixed with new vocal tracks on 3 of the 7 cuts. The vocals are distracting but thankfully this short album is heavy on Zappa's blistering guitar playing. The album opens with the menacing Filthy Habits - a classic piece of Zappa phrasing and feedback. The title cut is a short stinging acoustic gem. The result is a cluster of notes that attack the listener like a swarm of wasps. The centerpiece of the album is The Ocean is the Ultimate Solution - an amazing composition. A shorter version is available on the 3 disc Lather set but this piece needs to be heard in its entirety. It is some of Zappa's most orgasmic guitar playing - building higher & higher, reaching peak after peak, sending chills up the spine of the listener. Sleep Dirt will keep you wide awake and hungry for more.

i am eighteen years old and i am listening to fz now propably since i was five yaes old (no joke) and i have to say that i love this album . it has some unique guitar playing in it (fz was one of the best guitar players anyway) and it is alway great to hear how frank changes the rythem and structure of his songs .
frank was probably one of the most inovative composers of all time .
thanks to his music he will never be forgotten .
thanks a lot for the grat rock n' roll frank

The tunes on this cd are consistent with studio tan, considering that they were to be released together as a three disc set with another album of which i dont know the name. The material herein is very well recorded, with the drums sounding wet and high up in the mix. FZ's guitar is, as always, immaculately recorded and his signature attitude and tone are apparent. George Duke's virtuosity shines through on most tracks, especially on Filthy Habits, Regyptian Strut and Time is Money. Chester Thompson, Chad Wackerman and Terry Bozzio share the drum duties and all support the soloists and ensembles well. Wackerman is especially great on The ocean is the ultimate solution, where is comes out of his shell and follows FZ's guitar plucking note for note. A few last thoughts: The use of the acoustic bass and bow on this instrument add a jazzy twist. FZ's duet on Sleep Dirt is awesome considering I haven't heard FZ play an acoustic let alone on a duet with another guitarist before. The acoustic allows his notes to sing out and breath in a new, exciting way. Long live ZAPPA!!!

nope, sorry, the vocals destroyed a great album. they are distracting and annoying as .... btw, it was supposedly fz's choice to remaster it this way. got to love that 'uhura' comparison ....

Just have to toss in my 2 pennies. This was one of my favorite records growing up-- I loved it. I was happy to learn it was coming out on CD, but the horrible, warbling, operatic vocals are terrible. ... Ruined...ruined. Give it two stars only because of the memories of its former glory...

What a GREAT album, and VOCALS are added? I would like SOMEONE to EXPLAIN to me why they thought this was a good idea. Maybe we should paint THE STATUE OF LIBERTY optic orange so we can all SEE IT better from a distance! Frank would surely have his fingers up somebody's nose over this one.

My favorite Zappa LP, ruined by stupid lyrics and out-of-place singing. It is nice to hear the instrumental cuts in digital CD splendor. PLEASE somebody re-issue this CD sans vocals like the LP!!!

I loved the vinyl version of Sleep Dirt. I bought the CD version hoping for a cleaned up version. Unfortunately, Frank decided to add vocals to some of the tracks. A big mistake in my opinion. This would have been a five star CD if it had stayed instrumental. Still, the last track, The Sea is The Ultimate Solution, is simply fantastic. Great playing by everyone. We all know of Zappa's guitar playing ability, but the bass playing on this track (Patrick O'Hearn I believe) is beautiful. Time is Money, was a great track as an instrumental, but with the vocals added on, it just doesn't cut it.

If you can find the vinyl copy, I'd recommend buying it. If not, there is still some very strong material here. I just wish Zappa hadn't of screwed around with some of his CD releases.