Apostrophe (')

Apostrophe (') remains Zappa's most commercially successful album in the United States. It was certified gold by the RIAA on April 7, 1976 and peaked at number 10 (a career-high placement) on the Billboard 200 chart in 1974.{{cite web |url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r53148/charts-awards|pure_url=yes}} |title=Charts and Awards for Apostrophe (') |access-date=2008-08-22 |publisher=Allmusic}} Continuing from the commercial breakthrough of Over-Nite Sensation (1973), this album is a similar mix of short songs showcasing Zappa's humor and musical arrangements. The record's lyrical themes are often bizarre or obscure, with the exception of "Uncle Remus", which is an extension of Zappa's feelings on racism featured on his earlier song "Trouble Every Day".{{cite book|last=Huey|first=Steve|title=All Music Guide: The Definitive Guide To Popular Music, 4th Edition|year=2001|publisher=Hal Leonard Corp./Backbeat Books|page=459|isbn=978-0879306274}}

The first half of the album loosely follows a continuing theme. "Don't Eat the Yellow Snow" and "Nanook Rubs It" tell of a dream the singer had where he saw himself as an Eskimo named Nanook. It continues into "St. Alfonzo's Pancake Breakfast", which Zappa said was inspired by a television commercial for Imperial margarine.{{cite web |url= http://globalia.net/donlope/fz/lyrics/The_Crux_Of_The_Biscuit.html#TheStory |title=The Crux of the Biscuit Lyrics and information |first=Román |last=García Albertos |work=IINK |access-date=21 August 2016}}

As was the case with many of Zappa's albums, Apostrophe (') was a melange of archival and recent recordings; side one of Apostrophe (') and the whole Over-Nite Sensation album (released as the immediate predecessor to Apostrophe (') in 1973) were recorded simultaneously during the spring of 1973. The tracks on side two originate from various 1972 sessions with overdubs recorded in 1973 and 1974, except for "Excentrifugal Forz", where the drum track (played by Johnny Guerin) originally came from the Hot Rats sessions in 1969 (along with the bass and drum tracks for "Lemme Take You to the Beach" on Studio Tan (1978) and Läther (1996), although in the case of "Excentrifugal Forz" this is not actually noted in either the album liner notes or official correspondence),{{cite web |url= http://www.arf.ru/Notes/Apostro/eforz.html |title=ARF: Notes And Comments: APOSTROPHE ('): Excentrifugal Forz |first1=Vladimir |last1=Sovetov |first2=Charles |last2=Ulrich |work=ARF! |access-date=October 23, 2017}}{{cite web |url= http://www.arf.ru/Notes/Hrats/app2.html |title=ARF: Notes And Comments: HOT RATS: Appendix II: Hot Rats Lineup |first1=Vladimir |last1=Sovetov |first2=Charles |last2=Ulrich |work=ARF! |access-date=October 23, 2017}}{{cite web |url= https://groups.google.com/d/topic/alt.fan.frank-zappa/76qiq0RvpbQ |title=Drummers On Apostrophe(') |first=Joe |last=Travers |work=alt.fan.frank-zappa |access-date=October 23, 2017}} and "Stinkfoot", where the basic track, possibly originally known as "The Bass & Drums Song",{{cite web |url= http://globalia.net/donlope/fz/unreleased/index.html#Recordings |title=Unreleased Music: Unidentified and/or Unreleased Recordings |first=Román |last=García Albertos |work=IINK |access-date=21 August 2016}} dates from the Chunga's Revenge sessions in early 1970 as the backing track to a cover of Lightnin' Slim's "I'm A Rolling Stone".{{cite web |url= http://globalia.net/donlope/fz/lyrics/Apostrophe_(').html |title=Apostrophe ' Lyrics and information |first=Román |last=García Albertos |work=IINK |access-date=21 August 2016}}

"Apostrophe'" is an instrumental featuring a very fuzzed bass part by Jack Bruce from Cream, and with session drummer Jim Gordon, who was on tour with Zappa's band at the time of the session in November 1972. Zappa stated of Bruce in one interview, "Well, that was just a jam thing that happened because he was a friend of (drummer) Jim Gordon. I found it very difficult to play with him; he's too busy. He doesn't really want to play the bass in terms of root functions; I think he has other things on his mind. But that's the way jam sessions go."{{cite web |last=Rosen |first=Steve |title=One Size Fits All |url=http://home.online.no/~corneliu/gp77interview.htm |website=Guitar Player |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080929003838/http://home.online.no/~corneliu/gp77interview.htm |archive-date=September 29, 2008 |date=January 1977}}

{{Music ratings

| rev1 = Allmusic

| rev1Score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web |url= http://www.allmusic.com/album/r53148 |title=Apostrophe (') – Frank Zappa | AllMusic |first=S. |last=Huey |work=allmusic.com |access-date=30 August 2011}}

| rev2 = Christgau's Record Guide

| rev2Score = B−{{cite book|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|year=1981|title=Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies|publisher=Ticknor & Fields|isbn=089919026X|chapter=Consumer Guide '70s: Z|chapter-url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_chap.php?k=Z&bk=70|access-date=March 23, 2019|via=robertchristgau.com}}

|rev3 = Džuboks

|rev3score = favorable{{cite journal|last=Vrdoljak|first=Dražen|title=Frank Zappa – Apostrophe|journal=Džuboks|publisher=Dečje novine|location=Gornji Milanovac|issue=11 (second series)|page=22|language=sr}}

| rev4 = Rolling Stone

| rev4Score = favorable{{cite web |url= https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/apostrophe-overnight-sensation-19740606 |title=Apostrophe ' by Frank Zappa | Rolling Stone Music | Music Reviews |first=Gordon |last=Fletcher |work=rollingstone.com |date=6 June 1974}}

}}

Village Voice critic Robert Christgau wrote in his review: "Disillusioned acolytes are complaining that he's retreated, which means he's finally made top ten, but that's just his reward for professional persistence. If anything, the satire's improved a little, and the title piece—an improvisation with Jack Bruce, Jim Gordon, and rhythm guitarist Tony Duran—forays into quartet-style jazz-rock. Given Frank's distaste for 'Cosmik Debris' you'd think maybe he's come up with something earthier than Mahavishnu, but given his distaste for sex you can be sure it's more cerebral instead."

Apostrophe (') and Over-Nite Sensation, recorded with the same group of musicians, are the subject of a Classic Albums series documentary from Eagle Rock Entertainment, released on DVD May 1, 2007.

In July 2016, the Zappa Family Trust released a CD of alternate mixes, different takes and live versions of material from Apostrophe (') titled The Crux of the Biscuit.{{cite web |url= http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-crux-of-the-biscuit-mw0002953273 |title=The Crux of the Biscuit – Frank Zappa | AllMusic |first=Sean |last=Westergaard |work=allmusic.com |access-date=21 August 2016}}{{cite web |url= http://globalia.net/donlope/fz/lyrics/The_Crux_Of_The_Biscuit.html |title=The Crux Of The Biscuit – Lyrics and information |first=Román |last=García Albertos |work=IINK |access-date=25 August 2017}} It includes early versions of "Down in De Dew", which Zappa considered for Apostrophe (') but later included on Läther.

On 13 September 2024 album was re-released with new remaster, additional studio material and concert performances from 1974 on six CD and Blu-Ray Audio discs.

{{Track listing

| headline = Side one

| total_length = 14:27

| all_writing = Frank Zappa except where noted

| title1 = Don't Eat the Yellow Snow

| length1 = 2:07

| title2 = Nanook Rubs It

| length2 = 4:38

| title3 = St. Alfonzo's Pancake Breakfast

| length3 = 1:50

| title4 = Father O'Blivion

| length4 = 2:18

| title5 = Cosmik Debris

| length5 = 4:14

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Side two

| total_length = 17:24

| title1 = Excentrifugal Forz

| length1 = 1:33

| title2 = Apostrophe{{'-}}

| length2 = 5:50

| note2 = Zappa, Jim Gordon, Jack Bruce

| title3 = Uncle Remus

| note3 = Zappa, George Duke

| length3 = 2:44

| title4 = Stink-Foot

| length4 = 6:33

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = CD 1: Original 1974 Album – 2024 Remaster + Album Session Bonus Tracks

| title10 = Don’t Eat The Yellow Snow

| note10 = Basic Tracks/Alternate Take

| length10 = 22:12

| title11 = Nanook Rubs It

| note11 = Basic Tracks/Outtake

| length11 = 0:43

| title12 = Nanook Rubs It

| note12 = Session Outtake

| length12 = 0:49

| title13 = Cosmik Debris

| note13 = Basic Tracks - Take 3

| length13 = 5:10

| title14 = Excentrifugal Forz

| note14 = Mix Outtake

| length14 = 1:34

| title15 = Apostrophe (')

| note15 = Mix Outtake

| length15 = 9:07

| title16 = Uncle Remus

| note16 = Mix Outtake

| length16 = 3:59

| title17 = Apostrophe'

| note17 = Unedited Master/2024 Mix

| length17 = 11:07

| title18 = Uncle Remus

| note18 = Piano And Vocal Mix 2024

| length18 = 3:20

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = CD 2: Bonus Concert 1 – Colorado Springs, CO 1974

| title1 = Show start/Band Intros

| length1 = 2:05

| title2 = Village Of The Sun

| length2 = 5:15

| title3 = Echidna’s Arf (Of You)

| length3 = 3:52

| title4 = Don’t You Ever Wash That Thing?

| length4 = 8:53

| title5 = Babbette

| length5 = 5:03

| title6 = Approximate

| length6 = 4:13

| title7 = Cosmik Debris

| length7 = 10:28

| title8 = Pygmy Twylyte

| length8 = 6:24

| title9 = The Idiot Bastard Son

| length9 = 2:14

| title10 = Cheepnis

| length10 = 5:20

| title11 = Montana

| length11 = 6:17

| title12 = Dupree’s Paradise Intro

| length12 = 8:03

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = CD 3: Bonus Concert 1 – Colorado Springs, CO 1974 (Continued)

| title1 = Dupree’s Paradise

| length1 = 19:05

| title2 = Is There Anything Good Inside Of You?

| length2 = 11:03

| title3 = Florentine Pogen

| length3 = 4:19

| title4 = Kung Fu

| length4 = 1:08

| title5 = Penguin In Bondage

| length5 = 6:38

| title6 = T’Mershi Duween

| length6 = 1:51

| title7 = The Dog Breath Variations

| length7 = 1:41

| title8 = Uncle Meat

| length8 = 4:51

| title9 = RDNZL

| length9 = 4:49

| title10 = Medley: King Kong/Chunga’s Revenge/Son Of Mr. Green Genes

| length10 = 9:16

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = CD 4: Early 1974 Bonus Live Track + Bonus Concert #2 – Dayton, Ohio, Hara Arena 20 November 1974

| title1 = Inca Roads

| note1 = Salt Lake City, Utah - 3-18-74 - Terrace Ballroom

| length1 = 14:00

| title2 = Tush Tush Tush (A Token Of My Extreme)

| length2 = 1:28

| title3 = Stink-Foot

| length3 = 6:45

| title4 = RDNZL

| length4 = 10:28

| title5 = Village Of The Sun

| length5 = 4:44

| title6 = Echidna’s Arf (Of You)

| length6 = 3:22

| title7 = Don’t You Ever Wash That Thing?

| length7 = 6:25

| title8 = Penguin In Bondage

| length8 = 9:31

| title9 = T’Mershi Duween

| length9 = 3:46

| title10 = The Dog Breath Variations

| length10 = 1:36

| title11 = Uncle Meat

| length11 = 2:18

| title12 = Building A Girl

| length12 = 2:56

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = CD 5: Dayton, OH Show (Continued) + Bonus

| title1 = Dinah-Moe Humm

| length1 = 9:04

| title2 = Camarillo Brillo

| length2 = 4:08

| title3 = Pygmy Twylyte

| length3 = 9:56

| title4 = Room Service

| length4 = 3:15

| title5 = Tush Tush Tush (End Vamp)

| length5 = 1:30

| title6 = Don’t Eat The Yellow Snow

| length6 = 2:52

| title7 = Nanook Rubs It

| length7 = 6:25

| title8 = St. Alfonzo’s Pancake Breakfast

| length8 = 2:09

| title9 = Father O’Blivion

| length9 = 3:14

| title10 = Apostrophe TV Ad

| length10 = 0:27

| title11 = Don’t Eat The Yellow Snow- Single Edit

| length11 = 3:37

| title12 = Goteborg GTR

| length12 = 5:10

| title13 = Approximate

| length13 = 2:23

| title14 = …the poodle bites…

| length14 = 1:16

}}

• Frank Zappa – vocals, guitar, bass, bouzouki
• Sal Marquez – trumpet
• Ian Underwood – saxophone
• Napoleon Murphy Brock – saxophone
• Bruce Fowler – trombone
• Tom Fowler – bass guitar
• Don "Sugarcane" Harris – violin
• Jean-Luc Ponty – violin
• Ruth Underwood – percussion, vibraphone
• George Duke – keyboards
• Tony Duran – rhythm guitar
• Harper May – bass guitar
• Erroneous (Alex Dmochowski) – bass guitar
• Jack Bruce – bass on "Apostrophe'" (see controversy presented above)
• Ralph Humphrey – drums (side one)
• Johnny Guerin – drums on "Excentrifugal Forz"
• Aynsley Dunbar – drums on "Uncle Remus" and "Stink-Foot"
• Jim Gordon – drums on "Apostrophe"

• Lynn (Linda Sims)
• Robert "Frog" Camarena
• Ruben Ladron de Guevara
• Debbie (Debbie Wilson)
• Ray Collins
• Sue Glover
• Kerry McNabb
• George Duke
• Napoleon Murphy Brock
• Tina Turner (uncredited)

• Cal Schenkel – artwork, graphic design
• Barry Keene – engineer
• Kerry McNabb – engineer, remixing
• Ferenc Dobronyi – cover design
• Bob Ludwig – technician
• Paul Hof – technician
• Oscar Kergaives – technician
• Brian Krokus – technician
• Mark Aalyson – photography
• Bob Stone – transfers, digital remastering
• Steve Desper – engineer
• Terry Dunavan – engineer
• Zach Glickman – marketing
• Bob Hughes – engineer

{{Reflist}}

• [http://globalia.net/donlope/fz/lyrics/Apostrophe_(').html Lyrics and information]
• [http://www.lukpac.org/~handmade/patio/vinylvscds/apostrophe.html Release details]

{{Frank Zappa albums}}

{{Jean-Luc Ponty}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1974 albums

Category:Albums produced by Frank Zappa

Category:DiscReet Records albums

Category:Frank Zappa albums

Category:Albums recorded at Electric Lady Studios

Category:Albums recorded at Bolic Sound