Broadway the Hard Way - Zappa, Frank (CD 1995)

There are many departed musicians that I dearly miss. I miss no longer be able to hear new music or get their take on the world. With all that is going on in the world today, I more and more find myself missing Frank Zappa. Zappa was often outspoken and cynical but he did give you some unique views on the world.

Zappa was certainly not afraid to duke it out with politicians or religious leaders. He fought against censorship and voiced sarcastic views toward many political figures. One CD that really reveals that edge in 1989's Broadway the Hard Way. Republicans and televangelists look out, Frank is on to your game.

Of course, politicians and televangelists are not the only ones who get skewered by Frank. He starts this disc off with a song called Elvis Has Just Left the Building. Here he is mocking Elvis fans who refuse to accept the fact that the King is dead. He also does a funny hatchet job on Michael Jackson on a later track called Why Don't You Like Me?.

Broadway the Hard Way is classic Frank Zappa with his trademark acerbic lyrics as well as some stellar guitar playing and arrangements. It is one of his more directly political albums as he really goes off on many of the current events of that time. There are 17 songs on this disc. It was released as a two record set although it all fits on one CD.

The song listing is:

1. Elvis Has Just Left The Building
2. Planet of the Baritone Women
3. Any Kind of Pain
4. Dickie's Such An @sshole
5. When the Lies So Big
6. Rhymin' Man
7. Promiscuous
8. The Untouchables
9. Why Don't You Like Me?
10. Bacon Fat
11. Stolen Moments
12. Murder By Numbers
13. Jezebel Boy
14. Outside Now
15. Hot Plate Heaven at the Green Hotel
16. What Kind of Girl
17. Jesus Thinks You're a Jerk

The music here was all recorded live during Zappa's 1988 tour. I was fortunate enough to catch three of these shows at the Tower Theatre in Pennsylvania. The beginning of the disc showcases Zappa's normal sardonic social commentary. Elvis Has Just Left the Building is a mocking commentary on those who refuse to accept the reality of death. It has a rock and roll beat although Frank croons most of the vocals. Planet of the Baritone Women and Any Kind of Pain tackle issues like feminism, sexism and the obligatory S & M.

It isn't till the fourth track that he begins to veer off in a political direction. Dickie's Such an @sshole is an older piece about Old Milhouse, former occupant of the White House. Then he goes after televangelists with When the Lie's So Big and Rhymin' Man. He takes on Pat Robertson and Jessie Jackson respectively.

Promiscuous is a funny conspiracy theory song that exonerates the monkeys in Africa accused of starting the AIDS virus. It boasts a thunderous rap beat behind the probing lyrics. The Untouchables goes after all the people involved in the Iran-Contra scandal. We often forget that the Reagan administration liked to sell weapons to countries like Iran and Iraq. The song discusses going after all the participants in this alleged scandal.

He goes ballistic on Michael Jackson for all the plastic surgery and operations with Why Don't You Like Me?. Bacon Fat is about pork barrel spending in Washington D.C. Stolen Moments is simply a trumpet solo by Walter Fowler. Murder By Numbers is, in fact, The Police song with a guest lead vocalist named Sting. They manage to get a nice reggae lilt going during this song.

After that, Zappa begins to get back to his favorite themes: Sex and Evangelist hang-ups about sex. Jezebel Boy is a joking song about a male prostitute in L.A. being overlooked by the police as they round up all the short pants girls. Outside Now is about a prisoner paying his debt to society and dreaming of playing a guitar. I think there is an underlying meaning of Frank expressing his disdain for the business aspects of the music industry. Frank was a shrewd businessman but he loved the music first and foremost.

Hot Plate Heaven at the Green Hotel and What Kind of Girl are the Zappa spin on the phoniness of many televangelists. Hot Plate could easily be able political fundraising as well as the notion of abusing the cloth for gain. What Kind of Girl? seems to be an homage to Jessica Hahn. Yes, I know, her 15 minutes of fame are up now but it was a hot topic then.

My favorite song on the disc is the lengthy closer Jesus Thinks You're a Jerk. This song starts off with a circus type happy music and then the sarcastic vocals from Frank and from Ike Willis begin. A lot of this is about the fall from grace of Jim and Tammy Faye Baker. He also gets in a few shots at Robertson and Swaggart as well. He questions whether or not Jesus would truly choose the Bakers to do his work. The rips on Robertson's presidential run are also obvious. Frank seemed to feel that Jesus wouldn't have much respect for televangelists that abuse His good word. This song could offend some people but I agree with the basic sentiment being expressed. A lot of people of the cloth do manipulate the faith to their own purposes.

This disc is a wonderful collection for the Frank Zappa fan. People who like off the wall stuff will also dig this material. Many of the views expressed are controversial and there is some strong language used but it is a great recording. It's one that always seems to work its way into the rotation. It's a little more politically charged than most of Zappa's work but it still features his musical genius and sardonic wit.