Frank Zappa Ship Arriving Too Late To Save A Drownin

Personnel: Frank Zappa (vocals, guitar); Moon Unit Zappa, Lisa Popeil, Ike Willis, Bob Harris, Roy Estrada (vocals); Steve Vai, Ray White (guitar); Bobby Martin (saxophone, keyboards); Tommy Mars (keyboards); Scott Thunes, Arthur Barrow, Patrick O'Hearn (bass); Chad Wackerman (drums); Ed Mann (percussion). Digitally remastered by Bob Stone (1991). SHIP ARRIVING turned out to be Zappa's highest charting and most popular album of the '80s (its title is based on the album's cover artwork--a drawing by '50s artist Roger Price). The record's unexpected commercial success was due to the inclusion of the popular novelty song "Valley Girl," which featured Zappa's then-teenage daughter, Moon Unit, doing her best impersonation of a spoiled and obnoxious youngster. Besides "Valley Girl," the rest of SHIP ARRIVING TOO LATE TO SAVE A DROWNING WITCH is comprised of five tunes that are more representative of Zappa's usual work. The album's closer, "Teen-Age Prostitute," is the perfect example of how Zappa constantly tried to push musical boundaries--the music is heavy metal accompanied by a female opera singer (Lisa Popiel) with xylophone added in for good measure! Other intriguing tracks include the transcendent "Drowning Witch," a melodic instrumental entitled "Envelopes," and "I Come From Nowhere," which merges funk with tough hard rock. Although some Zappa fans have complained that the album is too short (when compared to his other lengthy recordings), SHIP ARRIVING TOO LATE TO SAVE A DROWNING WITCH certainly has its moments.

• Format: CD
• Genre: Pop