Waka/Jawaka

Be the first to write a review

Editorial Reviews

All Music Guide - François Couture
When Frank Zappa found himself stuck in a wheelchair for most of the year 1972 (after a "fan" pushed him off the stage on December 10 of the previous year), he relieved his then-current band (including singers Flo & Eddie) of its duties and turned to studio work. One of the first things he tried was to write jazz fusion music scored for wider instrumentation than an average rock band. Waka/Jawaka was conceived in parallel to The Grand Wazoo, but with fewer players. The album, released in July 1972, is comprised of two extended instrumental pieces and two shorter songs. "Big Swifty," a theme-and-solos showcase, would become a live favorite, but the highlight came in...
See more details below
CD
$13.83
BN.com price
(Save 1%)$13.99 List Price
Pick Up In Store

Pick Up In Store

Reserve and pick up in 60 minutes at your local store

Other sellers (CD)
  • All (7) from $10.76   
  • New (7) from $10.76   

More About This Product

Editorial Reviews

All Music Guide - François Couture
When Frank Zappa found himself stuck in a wheelchair for most of the year 1972 (after a "fan" pushed him off the stage on December 10 of the previous year), he relieved his then-current band (including singers Flo & Eddie) of its duties and turned to studio work. One of the first things he tried was to write jazz fusion music scored for wider instrumentation than an average rock band. Waka/Jawaka was conceived in parallel to The Grand Wazoo, but with fewer players. The album, released in July 1972, is comprised of two extended instrumental pieces and two shorter songs. "Big Swifty," a theme-and-solos showcase, would become a live favorite, but the highlight came in the form of the orgiastic title track, recorded with ex-Mothers of Invention keyboardist Don Preston, trumpeter Sal Marquez, trombonists Bill Byers and Ken Shroyer, saxophonist Mike Altschul, bassist Erroneous, and drummer Aynsley Dunbar. The songs, never performed live, feel like filler material. Waka/Jawaka was Zappa's second solo album and is occasionally referred to as "Hot Rats II" (the handles of the faucets on the cover artwork show the words "hot" and "rats" instead of "hot" and "cold"). His writing and recording technique had matured a lot in very little time. The dirty blues jamming of the 1969 LP was replaced by clean, crisp jazz improvisations -- no need to say this was also an abrupt change in style from the Mothers' 1969-1971 incarnation. But this album was only transitional: Zappa's big-band stylings would really flourish in The Grand Wazoo a few months later.
Read More Show Less

Product Details

  • Release Date: 8/28/2012
  • Label: Zappa Records
  • UPC: 824302384824
  • Catalog Number: 3848
  • Sales rank: 30,438

Tracks

Disc 1
  1. 1 Big Swifty (17:25)
  2. 2 Your Mouth (3:12)
  3. 3 It Just Might Be a One-Shot Deal (4:16)
  4. 4 Waka/Jawaka (11:17)
Read More Show Less

Album Credits

Performance Credits
Frank Zappa Primary Artist, Acoustic Guitar, Guitar, Percussion, Conductor
George Duke Electric Piano, Tack Piano
Don Preston Piano, Mini Moog
Sal Marquez Trumpet, Chimes, Flugelhorn, Vocals
Jeff Simmons Vocals, Hawaiian Guitar
Aynsley Dunbar Drums, Tambourine, Washboard
Sneaky Pete Kleinow Pedal Steel Guitar, Soloist
Mike Altschul Bass Clarinet, Bass Flute, Piccolo, Baritone Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone
Billy Byers Trombone, Baritone Horn
Erroneous Electric Bass, Vocals, Fuzz Bass
Janet Ferguson Vocals
Joel Peskin Tenor Saxophone
Chris Peterson Vocals
Ken Shroyer Trombone, Baritone Horn
Tony Duran Vocals, Slide Guitar
Technical Credits
Frank Zappa Arranger, Composer, Producer, Art Direction, Text
Kerry McNabb Engineer
Doug Sax Mastering
Cal Schenkel Packaging
Marvin Mattelson Cover Illustration
Robert Hadley Mastering
Michael Mesker Digital Layout
Sanwook "Sunny" Nam Mastering
Read More Show Less

Customer Reviews

Be the first to write a review
( 0 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(0)

4 Star

(0)

3 Star

(0)

2 Star

(0)

1 Star

(0)

Your Rating:

Review Guidelines
Add Recommendations
Your Name: Create a Pen Name or

Barnes & Noble.com Review Rules

Our reader reviews allow you to share your comments on titles you liked, or didn't, with others. By submitting an online review, you are representing to Barnes & Noble.com that all information contained in your review is original and accurate in all respects, and that the submission of such content by you and the posting of such content by Barnes & Noble.com does not and will not violate the rights of any third party. Please follow the rules below to help ensure that your review can be posted.

Reviews by Our Customers Under the Age of 13

We highly value and respect everyone's opinion concerning the titles we offer. However, we cannot allow persons under the age of 13 to have accounts at BN.com or to post customer reviews. Please see our Terms of Use for more details.

What to exclude from your review:

Please do not write about reviews, commentary, or information posted on the product page. If you see any errors in the information on the product page, please send us an email.

Reviews should not contain any of the following:

  • - HTML tags, profanity, obscenities, vulgarities, or comments that defame anyone
  • - Time-sensitive information such as tour dates, signings, lectures, etc.
  • - Single-word reviews. Other people will read your review to discover why you liked or didn't like the title. Be descriptive.
  • - Comments focusing on the author or that may ruin the ending for others
  • - Phone numbers, addresses, URLs
  • - Pricing and availability information or alternative ordering information
  • - Advertisements or commercial solicitation

Reminder:

  • - By submitting a review, you grant to Barnes & Noble.com and its sublicensees the royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable right and license to use the review in accordance with the Barnes & Noble.com Terms of Use.
  • - Barnes & Noble.com reserves the right not to post any review -- particularly those that do not follow the terms and conditions of these Rules. Barnes & Noble.com also reserves the right to remove any review at any time without notice.
  • - See Terms of Use for other conditions and disclaimers.
Search for Products You'd Like to Recommend

Recommend other products that relate to your review. Just search for them below and share!

Create a Pen Name

Your Pen Name is your unique identity on BN.com. It will appear on the reviews you write and other website activities. Your Pen Name cannot be edited, changed or deleted once submitted.

 
Your Pen Name can be any combination of alphanumeric characters (plus - and _), and must be at least two characters long.

Continue Anonymously