| Author | Message | ||
| groovelines
Intermediate Member Username: groovelines Post Number: 170 Registered: 4-2003 |
I can’t find the thread that made me think about this, but there was some mention a few weeks back of Tom Fowler’s work on the Frank Zappa album One Size Fits All, particularly Inca Roads… I haven’t listened to Zappa for over twenty years, then a few comments in a thread on this site and a day later an unrelated conversation at work where I find an unlikely source for all of FZ’s material. I turned the conversation to Inca Roads and this guy says he has the CD, it’s in his car right now, now how cool is that? It’s sometimes a small, harmonious world. Anyway, I’ve been listening to it for about a week straight and all I have to say is that I had forgotten how great Zappa and his band were. And Tom Fowler, what a monster on the bass. A number of great tracks on the album, but I think my favorite is Andy, or maybe Pajama People, or maybe San Ber’dino, or the oddball Sofa #2…I can’t decide, you pick just one, I dare you. Mike | ||
| the_mule
Intermediate Member Username: the_mule Post Number: 129 Registered: 1-2004 |
This is the thread: http://alembic.com/club/messages/402/10511.html?1086808442 I bought 'One Size Fits All' because of this and I've enjoyed it numerous times already. Next thing to look for will be 'Overnite Sensation' which also features Tom Fowler... | ||
| smokin_dave
Intermediate Member Username: smokin_dave Post Number: 125 Registered: 10-2002 |
I think I own a copy that has both 'One Size Fits All' and 'Overnite Sensation'.Both are Zappa fave's of mine.A good book to read is Frank's "The Real Frank Zappa Book".A great read and sort of a Zappa freak's bible if you will. | ||
| 811952
Advanced Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 211 Registered: 10-2003 |
I love the Tom's playing and tone on "Dirty Love." Overnight Sensation is simply incredible. John | ||
| dadabass2001
Intermediate Member Username: dadabass2001 Post Number: 181 Registered: 6-2002 |
Tom also played on some tracks from "Apostrophe", all of "Roxy & Elsewhere" and "You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore: The Helsinki Concert". For "Roxy & Elsewhere" Tom's brothers Bruce and Walt were in the horn section. Mike | ||
| keavin
Senior Member Username: keavin Post Number: 412 Registered: 12-2002 |
Any body got any photos?, | ||
| son_of_magni
Member Username: son_of_magni Post Number: 62 Registered: 1-2004 |
Also the bass line on 50-50 from Overnight Sensation is really nice. Actually that album has some of my favorite Zappa licks too. | ||
| bob
Advanced Member Username: bob Post Number: 257 Registered: 11-2002 |
The liner notes on the combined Apostrophe/Overnight Sensation reissue CD are useless... I gather from the discussion here that Tom did all of O.S., but only some of Apostrophe, correct? Anyone have the full list of tracks he played on, on these two albums? | ||
| hollis
Advanced Member Username: hollis Post Number: 251 Registered: 11-2003 |
I'm pretty sure he played bass on everything except: Excentrifugal Forz (Frank Zappa/bass), Apostrophe (Jack Bruce/bass), Uncle Remus(Erroneous..Alex Dmochowski/bass), and Stink Foot (Frank Zappa/bass). | ||
| dadabass2001
Intermediate Member Username: dadabass2001 Post Number: 182 Registered: 6-2002 |
The original LP for One Size Fits All credited Tom as playing bass "...when left hand not broken"  | ||
| 811952
Advanced Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 212 Registered: 10-2003 |
I always thought Jack Bruce played bass on Don't Eat The Yellow Snow as well. Was that someone else? And 50-50 does stand out as having yet another excellent bass track. Overnight Sensation is a great album. John | ||
| zappahead
Member Username: zappahead Post Number: 77 Registered: 10-2002 |
I think the You Cant Do that on Stage Anymore Volumes 1-6 are all really good Zappa albums. The entire set is full of funny stuff and lots of good instrumentals. I dont have them in front of me but Id imagine Fowler appears on some of those tracks. I think its one of the better career retrospective series ever done and it covers Zappa from the Mothers thru to the 1984 band (the Steve Vai band) which Zappa claims is his personal favorite. | ||
| the_mule
Intermediate Member Username: the_mule Post Number: 130 Registered: 1-2004 |
Got 'You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore' Volume 2 (the Helsinki Concert) today. Great live disc that made me wonder why on earth people think you can't do that on stage anymore... | ||
| hollis
Advanced Member Username: hollis Post Number: 252 Registered: 11-2003 |
Hi John, According to: http://www.globalia.net/donlope/fz/lyrics/Apostrophe_%28%27%29.html Don't Eat The Yellow Snow FZ guitar, lead vocals George Duke keyboards, back-up vocals Tom Fowler bass Ralph Humphrey drums And probably: Ray Collins back-up vocals Kerry McNab back-up vocals Susie Glover back-up vocals ? Debbie back-up vocals Lynn back-up vocals Ruben Ladron de Guevara back-up vocals Robert "Frog" Camarena back-up vocals I can't verify this through the official Frank Zappa site and my LP's jackets are a long time gone.... | ||
| hup
Junior Username: hup Post Number: 22 Registered: 1-2003 |
Hey, I just ordered "Overnight Sensation" & "One Size Fits All" after reading what you guys say about them, i look forward to them arriving, thanks for the inspiration to here some more Zappa Cheers Hup "ALEMBICISE THE WORLD" | ||
| 811952
Advanced Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 215 Registered: 10-2003 |
Hey there, Hollis! Thanks for the info. Now that you mention it, there are distinct similarities of approach between Yellow Snow and 50-50. And I never could reconcile the tone with Jack's typical tone... And my album jackets went to Purdue with an ex-girlfriend 23 years ago, never to be seen or heard from again! And now a few links: http://www.fowlerbrothers.com/tom1.htm http://www.united-mutations.com/f/tom_fowler.htm http://www.gandsmusic.com/FowlerBros.htm http://www.science.uva.nl/~robbert/zappa/albums/musicians/Tom_Fowler.html John | ||
| groovelines
Intermediate Member Username: groovelines Post Number: 171 Registered: 4-2003 |
Geez guys, I suddenly feel Zappa-berift, "One Size" is the only Zappa album I own and recently at that. I told my wife that I'm in need of some more, thanks for the leads. (the kids like it, where else can you oink and arf while playing music?) Zappa wasn't one of those bands I could listen to at home without some risk of discovery. It was bad enough finding mom and dad listening to your Cheech n Chong while you're out ofthe house, Dynamo Hum would have put mom over the top. Saw FZ in '78 (Munich) and again in '79 (Zweibrucken). Never gave him a second thought afer returning stateside in '80. I guess it's one of those 'better shared with friends' things. Has anyone listened to his symphonic efforts, are they worth while? | ||
| 811952
Advanced Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 217 Registered: 10-2003 |
My older brother played lots of Zappa in his room right off the kitchen, including Dynamo Hum. Mom and Dad were strangely silent about it all. I had the symphonic album he released in '79 or '80, and I seem to recall liking it, but ultimately it went to Purdue with my then girlfriend in '82 I think, only to be lost to me forever... John | ||
| zappahead
Member Username: zappahead Post Number: 78 Registered: 10-2002 |
I also like Make a Jazz Noise here, Broadway the Hardway (funny album with loads of goodies about Reagan and Bush I) and Joes Garage is an obvious classic. I think "Watermelon in Easter Hay" is his best guitar solo and thats saying a lot since hes probably my favorite guitar player. Hes got a lot of good albums, its a tough thing though to project what people will like or dislike with Frank. For instance Im not a big Mothers fan and probably 90% of his fans would poke me in the eye if I said that to them. I like his 80-90s stuff the best with Joes Garage and some of this and that of the stuff he did in the 70s. I gotta kinda agree with him that his 84-85 period has some great music. The Zappa/Vai guitar tandem to me is the best one-two punch (live)Ive listened too. Theres some good stuff from Vai/Zappa on the YCDTOSA V 1 (Disc 2) and I think its the 5th volume that has a whole side from this band. | ||
| bob
Advanced Member Username: bob Post Number: 260 Registered: 11-2002 |
On the orchestral side, check out The Yellow Shark, performed by Ensemble Modern. Frank himself, sadly as one of his last projects, spent a lot of time working with this group (though not playing), I believe it's all live (various venues), and in my experience everyone from young children to grandparents really like it. I think the London Symphony stuff was a bit weak, but haven't heard that in ages. I've got a recording by the Omnibus Wind Ensemble, 'Music By Frank Zappa', which is a solid performance and beautifully recorded, but I don't pull it out very often... If you want FZ's compositions played by an orchestra, go for the shark. And if you like the compositions, and maybe the perspective on life, but don't necessarily need the guitar playing, Civilization Phaze 3 is pretty intriguing. On the Dynamo Hum side of things, how can you ignore the Mothers Live at the Fillmore in 71? I only listen to it every six months or so, but this one has a permanent slot in the CD changer in my car - sometimes I just need it. We could go on (and probably will)... | ||
| son_of_magni
Member Username: son_of_magni Post Number: 63 Registered: 1-2004 |
Groove, a really cool tune is called something like "Concerto for a Low Budget Orchestra". I think maybe his first 'classical' attempt. The name of the album escapes me, but I know Ponty was involved... | ||
| jagerphan84
Junior Username: jagerphan84 Post Number: 47 Registered: 10-2003 |
I missed out on this thread! I have about 3/4 of the mentioned albums either in my car or sitting next to me on my music rack. The Real Frank Zappa Book has a home on my living room table. Tom Fowler does fantastic work on all his recorded material with Frank, my favorites being Unmitigated Audacity, Roxy & Elsewhere, and Bongo Fury (w/Captain Beefheart). And for extremely reliable credits on Zappa's work, definitely go with Hollis' link (http://globalia.net/donlope/fz/) or John's recommendation (http://www.united-mutations.com). I've spent many hours on both, and have found them to be extremely informative. Adam | ||
| groovelines
Intermediate Member Username: groovelines Post Number: 173 Registered: 4-2003 |
thanks everyone, Tom lays down down some really cool lines throughout One Size Fits All and I'm curious to hear some more. Aside from that, I'd like to get into some choice Zappa. It's amazing what twenty years of not listening to someone can do for your appreciation of missed musical talent. Thanks again for great input. Mike | ||
| 811952
Advanced Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 220 Registered: 10-2003 |
Mike, Amen to that! My problem is I often don't get into peoples' music until they are either dead or the band has broken up for good.  I hated most Zeppelin until about 10 years ago, never listened to the GD until Jerry Garcia passed, never liked John Hartford until about a week after he died, didn't like Soundgarden until a couple of years ago and I still don't like Elvis... John the Old and Busted One | ||
| groovelines
Intermediate Member Username: groovelines Post Number: 174 Registered: 4-2003 |
John, I don't know why, but that seems to be the way I am most of the time. I'm not a fad minded, get-on-the-band-wagon person. I've tended to remain aloof from the mainstream. Don't think I'm a snob, after all I like Monty Python, too. It was long ago when my best friends's older brother turned me on to Zappa, and when I moved away, there went the influence; it appears I missed a lot. I have to agree with you on the Elvis thing. I can't understand the phenomia either... By the same token if people don't share my tastes, I just shrug my shoulders and get on with it. Mike | ||
| s_wood
Member Username: s_wood Post Number: 85 Registered: 5-2002 |
Man, I can go on about Tom Fowler for days. He is an amazing and under-rated player, and he's why I play an Alembic. Here's an in-depth Tom Fowler thread from the club http://alembic.com/club/messages/449/5999.html#POST9826 Besides One Size Fits All (on which Tom plays his Alembic) you can hear Tom on Roxy & Elsewhere (playing a P Bass, sadly). His playing on that live set is so amazingly diverse it just kills me. Tom is also on You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore Vol 2 and Bongo Fury with his Alembic. It's the P-Bass on Overnight Sensation. Tom also did a "live in the studio video" with the '74 version of Zappa and the Mothers called Dub Room Special (in its official and edited version) or Token of His Extreme (in its unedited bootleg version) Great playing, and lots of tasty shots of his Series I. In particular, I love Fowler's comping under Zappa's solos, particularly on the 2 chord vamps that last for 3 or 4 minutes - he never repeats himself, but he never gets in the way. His playing under Zappa's solo in Inca Roads is as good as it gets. |
