Them Or Us by Frank Zappa - DeepRiffs

ALBUM

Released in October 1984, Them or Us is Frank Zappa's last studio rock album (unless one counts Thing-Fish). It contains a little of everything for everyone, but most of all it has that cold and dry early-'80s feel that made this and other albums like The Man From Utopia and Frank Zappa Meets the Mothers of Prevention sound dated pretty quickly. The record begins and ends with covers. "The Closer You Are" is one of those '50s R&B tunes the man loved so much. As for the Allman Brothers' "Whippin' Post," it answered a request from an audience member in Helsinki back in 1974 (go figure). In between one finds the usual offensive lyrics -- the cliché-ridden "In France," the sexually explicit "Baby, Take Your Teeth Out." Crunchy guitars are found in "Ya Hozna" and "Stevie's Spanking" (named after Steve Vai, playing guitar in it, too), arguably one of Zappa's best straightforward rock songs from that period. "Sinister Footwear II" and "Marqueson's Chicken" represent an '80s update of complex instrumental pieces the likes of "RDNZL." "Planet of My Dreams" salvages a bit from the never-produced stage play Hunchentoot (the scenario of which was incidentally published in a book titled Them or Us released at the same time). Finally, "Be in My Video" mocks David Bowie's hit "Let's Dance" and the MTV generation, still in its infancy stage at the time. ~ François Couture

1. The Closer You Are

Primary Artist: Frank Zappa; Main Performer
Composer: Earl Lewis
Morgan Robinson; Composer
Lyricist: Earl Lewis
Morgan Robinson; Composer
Producer: Frank Zappa; Production
Composer Lyricist: Morgan Robinson
Earl Lewis; Other

2. In France

Primary Artist: Frank Zappa; Main Performer
Composer: Frank Zappa; Composer
Lyricist: Frank Zappa; Composer
Producer: Frank Zappa; Production
Composer Lyricist: Frank Zappa; Other

3. Ya Hozna

Primary Artist: Frank Zappa; Main Performer
Composer: Frank Zappa; Composer
Lyricist: Frank Zappa; Composer
Producer: Frank Zappa; Production
Composer Lyricist: Frank Zappa; Other

4. Sharleena

Primary Artist: Frank Zappa; Main Performer
Composer: Frank Zappa; Composer
Lyricist: Frank Zappa; Composer
Producer: Frank Zappa; Production
Composer Lyricist: Frank Zappa; Other

5. Sinister Footwear II

Primary Artist: Frank Zappa; Main Performer
Composer: Frank Zappa; Composer
Lyricist: Frank Zappa; Composer
Producer: Frank Zappa; Production
Composer Lyricist: Frank Zappa; Other

6. Truck Driver Divorce

Primary Artist: Frank Zappa; Main Performer
Composer: Frank Zappa; Composer
Lyricist: Frank Zappa; Composer
Producer: Frank Zappa; Production
Composer Lyricist: Frank Zappa; Other

7. Stevie's Spanking

Primary Artist: Frank Zappa; Main Performer
Composer: Frank Zappa; Composer
Lyricist: Frank Zappa; Composer
Producer: Frank Zappa; Production
Composer Lyricist: Frank Zappa; Other

8. Baby, Take Your Teeth Out

Primary Artist: Frank Zappa; Main Performer
Composer: Frank Zappa; Composer
Lyricist: Frank Zappa; Composer
Producer: Frank Zappa; Production
Composer Lyricist: Frank Zappa; Other

9. Marque-son's Chicken

Primary Artist: Frank Zappa; Main Performer
Composer: Frank Zappa; Composer
Lyricist: Frank Zappa; Composer
Producer: Frank Zappa; Production
Composer Lyricist: Frank Zappa; Other

10. Planet Of My Dreams

Primary Artist: Frank Zappa; Main Performer
Composer: Frank Zappa; Composer
Lyricist: Frank Zappa; Composer
Producer: Frank Zappa; Production
Composer Lyricist: Frank Zappa; Other

11. Be In My Video

Primary Artist: Frank Zappa; Main Performer
Composer: Frank Zappa; Composer
Lyricist: Frank Zappa; Composer
Producer: Frank Zappa; Production
Composer Lyricist: Frank Zappa; Other

12. Them Or Us

Primary Artist: Frank Zappa; Main Performer
Composer: Frank Zappa; Composer
Lyricist: Frank Zappa; Composer
Producer: Frank Zappa; Production
Composer Lyricist: Frank Zappa; Other

13. Frogs With Dirty Little Lips

Primary Artist: Frank Zappa; Main Performer
Composer: Frank Zappa
Ahmet Zappa; Composer
Lyricist: Frank Zappa
Ahmet Zappa; Composer
Producer: Frank Zappa; Production
Composer Lyricist: Frank Zappa
Ahmet Zappa; Other

14. Whipping Post

Primary Artist: Frank Zappa; Main Performer
Composer: Gregg Allman; Composer
Lyricist: Gregg Allman; Composer
Producer: Frank Zappa; Production
Composer Lyricist: Gregg Allman; Other

Technical Specifications

Volume

1 volume only

Tracks

14 tracks available

Type

ALBUM

Format

Digital Media

Duration

1 hour, 10 minutes and 49 seconds

Explicit

None

Coverart

Available and up to 1500x1500 px

Booklet

Not available

Max Quality

CD Quality (Lossless)

16bit / 44.1 kHz

Stereo

Audio Extension

Lossless: FLAC, M4A, WAV, WV, AIFF

Lossy: AAC, MP3, M4A, MP4, OGA, OGG, OPUS, WMA

Archive Format

Available in these formats: ZIP, TAR, RAR

Lyrics

11/14 tracks have lyrics

Synchronized Lyrics

6/14 tracks have synced lyrics

Genres

Pop/Rock, Arena Rock, Hard Rock, Comedy, Prog-Rock, Art Rock, Art & Progressive Rock, Comedy Rock

Label

Frank Zappa Catalog

Music Distribution Service

UMG Global

Country

United States

Language

English (United States)

Popularity

Release Date

Sep 30, 1984

Track Preview

Available

Delivery Charge

Free

Delivery Method

Digital download link via Email or Personal Dashboard on this site

UPC

824302387023