Sleep Dirt [Import] [Limited Edition]

Product Description
Japanese exclusive reissue of 1979 album. Limited to 2,000 pieces, it's packaged in a miniature LP sleeve.

Sleep Dirt (Ltd Lp Ed),Frank Zappa,Vido Arts,Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop

Average customer rating: Melodies and orchestral works from Venus Sleep Dirt I could do without the vocals but the music is great. Among FZ's best 70's studio albums A flawed masterpiece

Sleep Dirt Frank Zappa Manufacturer: Zappa Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Experimental Rock | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Comedy Rock | Comedic Music | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Progressive | Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Studio Tan Orchestral Favorites The Man from Utopia Waka/Jawaka Ship Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch ASIN: B0000009SU Release Date: 1995-05-02

Tracks:

1. Filthy Habits
2. Flam Bay
3. Spider Of Destiny
4. Regyptian Strut
5. Time Is Money
6. Sleep Dirt
7. The Ocean Is The Ultimate Solution

Customer Reviews:

Melodies and orchestral works from Venus.......2006-01-24

Don't be fooled by the awful cover or by the fact that it is a cut and paste thing did by Zappa with different materials taken here and there in his production vaults. This album is magnificient, nothing less. This is an album from Zappa where you can really appreciate and enjoy his immense compositional and arranging talents (and even his quite unique guitar style, still "stuck in time" here). I read that in the box set Lather you can find pure instrumental versions of the sunged compositions you will find here. That are three. I haven't yet listened to them but their vocal versions contained here are still stellar. I could easily imagine how they should sound as pure instrumentals. Infact the voice here is used almost as a pure lead instrument. There are words, lyrics, but the melodies are so strong that they rules in a sense. You can imagine the voice from Thana Harris as a sax maybe, playing the melody .. and what melodies! Venusian melodies! This is another album I would suggest to the guys out there who are searching in the wide Zappa's production for his best music, not his lyrics, the freak attitude or the goofy things. This is a serious classical instrumentals album with even some nice Jazz inside ("Flambay", "The ocean is the only solution" which is the most earthly tune .. even the acoustic number "Sleep dirt" is quite unusual .. ). What is really amazing is the amount of creativity and the vision of music Zappa had. Here you can appreciate those things clearly. This is one of his best "instrumentals albums" in my opinion. So good I'll buy the Lather box next time just to have even the unsunged versions of these classics of modern music. Exceptional!

Sleep Dirt.......2005-12-20

I bought the LP way back when, and was quite surprised by the vocals on the CD. It took me a while to warm up to them, but now I like them. Apparently FZ had always intented for those songs to have vocals. It's definitely unique in Zappa's catalog. "Regyptian Strut" is a great tune and there is a nice example of Zappa's rare acoustic guitar playing. "The Ocean is the Ultimate Solution" is a classic showcase of Zappa's guitar playing at its best.

By the way, the vocal-less versions of the 3 songs - "Flambay", "Spider of Destiny", and "Time is Money", can be found on "Lather", which is also worth owning.

I could do without the vocals but the music is great........2005-06-22

"Sleep Dirt" is a collection of instrumental pieces that showcase Frank Zappa's eclectic compositional genius. The kick ass opening track "Filthy Habits" (originally slated for a double album - "Night Of The Iron Sausage" - later to become "Zoot Allures") features a very nasty sounding ostinato over which FZ experiments with very dynamic guitar feedback, (very reminiscent of the composition "Zoot Allures"). The whole piece has a rather Arabian vibe to it modally but ultimately it veers into a psychotic little march toward the very end. A classic Zappa guitar excursion.
Track two, "Flambe", is a parody of the popular standard "Laura". It is a cocktail tour de force with the versatile George Duke doing his best "Art Tatem -ish" imitation. Chester Thomson (drums) and Patrick O'Hearn (bass) add to the drunkenness of the piece while Ruth Underwood on marimba emphasizes the constantly building melody sometimes in tandem with the piano. After a slight variation of the main theme, FZ steers us off into a very cartoonish section that is very regimented and far from the loose drunken feel of the previous passages. There is even a little "yelp" one can hear mid way through this section as if a cartoon character is being put in some uncompromising position. FZ had such a great sense of humor and here his mastery of comedy and serious art is in fine form. After this short excursion into cartoon land we are brought back to the cocktail bar scene again. This time the band is a bit more laid back but the expressive melody in marimba and piano soon build to a beautiful climax and end on a very regimented / stern sounding section that seques nicely into "Spider Of Destiny".
Like "Flambe", "Spider Of Destiny" contains vocals for FZ's unfinished musical "Hunchentoot". And although Thana Harris sings well on these tracks if you can find the original vinyl recording of this album listen to that instead. For me, the vocals are too distracting and the compositions here are so strong they don't need any words to cloud up the brilliance of what's going on below. On "Spider of Destiny" we are treated to a catchy whole tone melody that is almost nursery rhyme like in spots. The form is very clear and very structured in a "German kind of way". where the guitar part works with the ensemble instead of just as a purely solo vehicle. The work ends with a jab of very dynamic guitar outbursts and then a seven note passage (variation on the main theme) repeated and augmented by some twisted sounding chimes. The piece ends on a chime hit and bang! The drums kick into the "Regyptian Strut" a funky brass laden processional that dates back from the "Grand Wazoo" days. This master work features some crackling, low funky bass playing from James "Bird Legs" Youman, a perfectly slow, funked up groove from Chester Thomson, surprising gospel type piano jabs from George Duke, jangling and scraping percussion from Ruth Underwood and of course the brilliant trombone playing of Bruce Fowler who executes all the basic melodies and chords. A recurring five note melody is actually a quote from "Saturn" by Gustav Holtz a work FZ admired. Here he exploits this melody on top of a plodding ostinato, building on it like he was constructing an Egyptian pyramid. The brass parts keeps piling up and the tension mounts until just when you think FZ can go no further he pulls out all the stops and takes us up a half step! The result of which is nothing short of orgasmic. The entire processional exclaims the main majestic melody and proudly ends with the beating of a major chord with a seventh in the bass leaving the listener elated and exhausted.
The next piece, "Time Is Money" is a progressive jazz/ rock work. Again there are words here that do nothing to enhance what is already a lovely melodic piece. Avoid the singing when possible. In fact, you can find a version without vocals on the "Lather" collection. The sweet melody of "Time Is Money",played by FZ on guitar, is constantly being broken up by question mark segments that consist mainly of drum rolls on the bell of cymbals, angular vibes, piano chord clusters and synth bass. These segments go into a very precise mechanical riff (enhanced by an array of cowbells) that is reminiscent of clock gears. Some of it reminds me of a section from the "Roxy and Elsewhere" number "Don't You Ever Wash That Thing". The overall work is very visual in a "Greggery Peccary" sort of way.
Next we are confronted with an FZ rarity: an acoustic guitar number. It's the title track "Sleep Dirt". FZ prepares us for this touching acoustic guitar work by saying "Arf" just so we don't take it too seriously. Here he is solely supported by James "Bird Legs" Youman who plays a somewhat melancholy chord progression while FZ improvises over the top. Frank is in fine form here, constantly inventing new melodic passages with odd rhythmic groupings. There is an almost Eastern European flavor that emerges in the types of scales FZ favors which makes the whole event extremely exotic sounding. Eventually, the piece comes to a fragmented end with FZ asking, "Gettin' tired?" To which Youman replies' "No, uh uhh - my fingers got stuck."
Quick edit right into the the last piece, "The Ocean Is The Ultimate Solution". It begins with a casual rock groove with Terry Bozzio on drums and Patrick O'Hearn on bass. I believe this was O'Hearns actual audition for FZ. In any event, there is a structured melody here with typical FZ melodic jumps and a quick, progressive unison passage that goes into a funky groove emphasized by FZ's chorused drenched strat. This is a progressive rock instrumental with clearly defined sections that ultimately ends up in an eight minute jam that exploits O'Hearn's bass prowess and burns with Zappa's fiery electric guitar chops. Outstanding musical communication.
Overall this is an excellent album (marred in my opinion by unnecessary vocals and awkward Chad Wackerman drum overdubs) that showcases the restless mind of Frank Zappa. Find the original vinyl for best listening results. If you like this CD you will also enjoy it's two siblings, "Studio Tan" and "Orchestral Favorites".
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Among FZ's best 70's studio albums.......2004-01-30

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".

A flawed masterpiece.......2004-01-29

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.

Average customer rating:

Sleep Dirt Frank Zappa Manufacturer: Vido Arts ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Experimental Rock | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Comedy Rock | Comedic Music | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Rock | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Waka/Jawaka Studio Tan Broadway the Hard Way Chunga's Revenge Frank Zappa Meets the Mothers of Prevention ASIN: B000063L3Y Release Date: 2002-04-09

Tracks:

1. Filthy Habits [Instrumental]
2. Flambay
3. Spider of Destiny
4. Regyptian Strut [Instrumental]
5. Time Is Money
6. Sleep Dirt [Instrumental]
7. Ocean Is the Ultimate Solution [Instrumental]

Album Description

Japanese exclusive reissue of 1979 album. Limited to 2,000 pieces, it's packaged in a miniature LP sleeve.

Album Details

Japanese Limited Edition in an LP-STYLE Sleeve.. Limited Pressing of 2000 Pcs.

Average customer rating:

Sleep Dirt Frank Zappa Manufacturer: EMI Distribution ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B00000E79H Release Date: 1991-09-24

Average customer rating:

Dirt 4 $Ale Dirtbag Dan Manufacturer: Counter Productive Productions ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music ASIN: B000CAECJI Release Date: 2005-04-26

Tracks:

1. Intro
2. Dirt 4 $Ale
3. Windy Roads (Feat. Brodhi)
4. Hip Hop Politics
5. Word Before Damnit
6. Just Us
7. Don't Rub My Dick N' Dirt (Feat. Mycon & Exi)
8. Life Is
9. So Hip Hop It Hurts
10. Pirates (Feat. Brodhi)
11. Bills 2 Pay
12. I Used to Love Her

Average customer rating:

Hungarian Musical Mother Tongue Manufacturer: Hungaroton Classic ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | International | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music ASIN: B00009OOJ1 Release Date: 2003-07-29

Tracks:

1. Sa Szemem, Hull Az Kem (My Eyes Weep, I Shed Tears)
2. Haragusznak a Jzd(The Good Farmers Are Angry)
3. SzilvFaluj Vidri a Nevem (My Name Is Vidri from the ...)
4. Nagy Udvara Van a Holdnak (There Is a Circle Round the Moon)
5. Nal HosszulyFolksongon a Long Flute)
6. New Vttem Semmit HazFalujk (I Have Done No Harm to My Village)
7. Olyan Felesm Vagyon (My Wife Is of the Sort)
8. Rott a P MegyehFal (The Peacock Has Flown Onto the Wall
9. Leszott a P Verye Ka (The Peacock Has Settled on the ...)
10. Lovam HajLefela Sz(The Wind Blows Back My Horse's Mane)
11. es Jtenem, Indd Meg vizet (Good Lord, Let the Flood Free) - Gyula Gercuj
12. Egy Kicsi Mada... (A Small Bird)
13. Egy Kicsi Mada... (A Small Bird)
14. Rj, P, Rj (Fly, Peacock, Fly)
15. Dance Melody - Balint Sarosi
16. Kiszdt a T [The Lake Has Dried Up] - Lajos Murguly
17. Lehullott a Js V [Jesus' Blood Has Been Shed]
18. Jaj, Lelkem, Lelkem Jrsam... (Woe, My Dear, My Dearest Good ...)
19. Amhara Epikus ek (Amharic Epic Song) - Balint Sarosi
20. Siralmas Volt Nm Szm (It Is Lamentable That I Was Born ...)
21. T Lja (Chicken and Goose Liver)
22. LCsikL. (Mount the Horse, Horse-Herder)
23. Beli Buba, A Bbe (Sleep Baby in the Craddle)
24. Csordaptorok... (Herdsam...) - Balint Sarosi
25. Ne Hagyj Elesnem (Don Not Let Me Fall)
26. Ne Aludj el, KSzemenek Vil (Do Not Drop Asleep, My Eyes)
27. FelnyAz Mellett KSzMajora (Two Pieces of Marjoram Have
28. VAz Erdei Utat (The Forest Road Is Being Cleared) - Ferenc Ballai
29. Rongyot, Asszonyok! (Rags, Women!) - Balint Sarosi
30. Magyar Asszonyok, Magyar Any (Hungarian Women, Hungarian Mothers!)
31. Hejde, Betett Nm a Gyulai Vr (The Market of Gyula Has Done ...)
32. Az vIstene Azt el Nem Neti (The God of the Orphans Cannot ...)
33. Felja Fes Hold Az K (The Bright Moon Has Risen ...)
34. Ennek a Gazdk SzKocsija Van (This Farmer Has a Nice Cart) - Balint Sarosi
35. Ha a Dunna Sz Tudna (If the Eiderdown Could Speak)
36. DudanDud(Bagpipe Melody Performed on Bagpipe)
37. Magyar Verbunk
38. FordulTurning Dance) - Balint Sarosi

Rock Music:

1. Spacerockmountainrutschquatier
2. Spirit Of The Heart
3. Studio Tan [Import] [Limited Edition]
4. Taking a Chance on Chances
5. The Birth Of Alternative, Vol. 1
6. The Libertines [Import]
7. The War Years: Perdido And Other Hits
8. Tinsel Town Rebellion [Import] [Limited Edition] [Live]
9. Title Tk [Import]
10. Tossing Seeds [Import]

Rock Music