While compiling a "Back to School" house mix for the Uke Cabaret this past Saturday, I came across the mighty Franz Zappa, who I hadn't listened to in years. I found both "Catholic Girls" from the Triple album rock opera Joe's Garage and "Jewish Princess"from double album Sheik Yerbouti, both released in 1979 (thats 10 album sides in one year for those counting!)

Both tracks are hilarious but crass and ruthless concoctions mixing doo wop, prog rock, funk, and Spike Jones style novelty music. The musicianship, as always with FZ, is astounding...just listen to the middle section of CG with its shifting time signatures.

Zappa caught some flack for "Jewish Princess"from the Jewish lobby group, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), who tried to prevent the song from getting airplay due to its alleged anti-Semitic lyrics. Zappa vehemently denied any anti-Semitic sentiments and disregarded the ADL as a "noisemaking organization that tries to apply pressure on people in order to manufacture a stereotype image of Jews that suits their idea of a good time.

Major world religions were not the only ones in Zappa's sites, as he also satirized eskimos, groupies, scientologists, fetishism, drug use, and especially censorship among others.


Jewish Pricess


Catholic Girls