10 Best Psychedelic Rock Songs by Frank Zappa

10 of the best psychedelic rock songs by the one and only, Frank Zappa. From his early days with The Mothers of Invention to his later solo work, these tunes exemplify the genre.

Introduction

Frank Zappa was one of the most inventive and prolific musicians of the 20th century. He was a true original, fusing diverse genres including rock, jazz, classical, and avant-garde into his own unique musical style. Zappa was also a master of psychedelic rock, creating some of the most mind-bending and trippy songs ever recorded. Here are 10 of the best psychedelic tracks by Frank Zappa:

1. “Zomby Woof” (Over-Nite Sensation, 1973)
2. “Cosmik Debris” (Apostrophe(‘), 1974)
3. “Don’t You Ever Wash That Thing?” (Roxy & Elsewhere, 1974)
4. “I’m the Slime” (Overnite Sensation, 1973)
5. “Fifty-Fifty” (One Size Fits All, 1975)
6. “Soft-Cell Conclusion” (Sheik Yerbouti, 1979)
7. “Dancin’ Fool” (Sheik Yerbouti, 1979)
8. “City of Tiny Lites” (You Are What You Is, 1981)
9. “Yo’ Mama” (Ship Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch, 1982)
10. “We’re Turning Again” (The Yellow Shark, 1992)

“I’m the Slime”

One of the most popular tracks from Zappa in New York, “I’m the Slime” is a great example of the musician’s talent for mixing genres. The song starts out as a straightforward rock tune, but quickly descends into a quirky and psychedelic jam session. Zappa’s guitar work is particularly impressive on this track, as he effortlessly weaves between different styles.

“Dirty Love”

“Dirty Love” is a song by Frank Zappa, released on his 1965 album Absolutely Free. The song is one of Zappa’s earliest forays into psychedelia, and features a number of elements that would become hallmarks of his later work, including extended instrumental sections, graphic lyrical imagery, and liberal use of sound effects.

Despite its title, “Dirty Love” is actually a relatively tame example of Zappa’s psychedelic output, and is more notable for its sense of humor and inventive arrangements than for any real shock value. Nevertheless, the song remains one of Zappa’s most popular early compositions, and has been covered by a number of artists over the years.

“Cosmik Debris”

“Cosmik Debris” is a song from Frank Zappa’s 1974 album Apostrophe (‘), with words and music by Zappa. It was released as a single in May 1974, backed with “Excentrifugal Forz”.

The song is one of many by Zappa that make reference to extraterrestrial life. In the liner notes for No Commercial Potential, an album of outtakes and demos, Zappa recalls: “I wrote ‘Cosmik Debris’ while living in Laurel Canyon, at a time when I was convinced that aliens were regularly abducting people (for their own amusement) and implanting them with tracking devices”.

The song starts with a guitar solo that gradually builds in intensity. The main body of the song consists of Zappa singing over a staccato rhythm section. The lyrics are absurdist and nonsensical, making numerous references to popular culture: “That mousetrap / That you bought last week / Was it worth the money / That you paid?”

At the end of the song, there is a section where the rhythm becomes more frantic and the lyrics become stream-of-consciousness. This is followed by another guitar solo, which leads into the final verse.

“Don’t Eat the Yellow Snow”

Off of his 1974 Apostrophe album, “Don’t Eat the Yellow Snow” is one of Zappa’s most popular and well-known psychedelic rock songs. The song tells the story of a young boy who is warned not to eat the yellow snow, but does not heed the warning and ends up getting sick. The song is a mix of psychedelic rock and humor, with Zappa’s signature guitarwork front and center.

“Stink-Foot”

“Stink-Foot” is the second track from Frank Zappa’s 1974 album Apostrophe(‘). The song is a psychedelic rock song with a prominent horn section. The lyrics of the song are about a man who has a foot odor problem.

The song starts with a horn solo, followed by Zappa’s guitar solo. The lyrics are sung by Zappa and consist of him talking to someone with a foot odor problem. The chorus of the song is sung by backup singer Ray White.

The song was released as a single in 1974, but did not chart.

“Apostrophe”

“Apostrophe” is a song by American rock band the Mothers of Invention, released on their 1974 album Apostrophe (‘). It was written and sung by Frank Zappa.

The song is about a man who, after smoking marijuana, begins to see imaginary objects and creatures. The lyrics make use of numerous drug references, including “little green Rosies”, “mashed potatoes”, and “reefers”.

Musically, the song is primarily in 4/4 time, with a moderate tempo and a Blues-influenced chord progression. The Instrumental section features a solo from Zappa’s guitar, played over a bed of horns and keyboards.

The song was well received by critics upon its release, and has since been included on several lists of the best psychedelic rock songs.

“Sheik Yerbouti”

“Sheik Yerbouti” is a 1979 double album by American musician Frank Zappa. It is a satirical commentary on automobiles, religion, politics, television, and popular music. The album peaked at number 21 on the Billboard 200 and was certified Gold by the RIAA in December 1979.

The album features some of Zappa’s most famous songs, including “Dancin’ Fool”, “Babysitter”, and the title track. “Sheik Yerbouti” is also notable for its use of stereo effects, differing mixes of the same song on different sides of the vinyl record, and its extensive liner notes.

“Sheik Yerbouti” is considered one of Zappa’s best albums, and has been ranked as one of the greatest double albums of all time.

“Joe’s Garage”

“Joe’s Garage” is the first track on side three of Frank Zappa’s 1979 double album Joe’s Garage. It is a bonus track on the 1992 CD reissue. The song is a parody of the music business, and a satire of anti-rock sentiments.

The song is in three sections, each introduced by a character known as the Central Scrutinizer. In the first section, Joe is tempted by a character called Lather into forming a rock band. Joe agrees, and Lather gets him a record deal. However, Lather screws Joe over, and Joe’s band breaks up.

In the second section, Joe becomes a solo artist and has a hit record with “I Don’t Wanna Get Drafted”. However, he is then arrested and jailed for possession of marijuana.

In the third and final section, Joe is released from jail and forms a new band called “The Mothers of Invention”. The Central Scrutinizer tells us that Joe has finally found his true calling in life.

“Bamboozled by Love”

This tune is a lesser known one from theSheik Yerbouti album, but it’s a great example of Zappa’s guitarplaying during his psychedlic era. The beautiful, dreamlike quality of the intro gives way to some edgy, llipping leads and echoey rhythms.