Sleep Dirt Variations
We are all quite familiar with the acoustical duet version of “Sleep Dirt” between Frank Zappa (acoustic lead guitar) and James “Bird Legs” Youmans (acoustic rhythm guitar) on the album of the same name, recorded at the Caribou Studios in Nederland, Colorado, in December, 1974. It is one of the most beautiful compositions in Zappa’s body of work.
The other day, while organizing music tracks, I happened across several versions of “Sleep Dirt” by other artists as well as a live version by Frank Zappa from 1975 which has an eerie resonance when one listens to these later cover versions.
Listen for yourself, then decide:
Sleep Dirt – Henry Kaiser & Mike Keneally
- Live at the Freight and Salvage, 2000.
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Sleep Dirt – Ed Palermo Big Band
- Iridium Jazz Club, NYC, NY, 12 Dec 2007.
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Sleep Dirt – Quintette Gaucher
- Quintette Gaucher Play the Music of Frank Zappa, 1996.
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Sleep Dirt – Zappatistas
- Jazz Festival, Frankfurt, Germany, 3 October 2003.
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Sleep Dirt – Frank Zappa
- War Memorial Gym, Vancouver, B.C., Canada, 1 October 1975.
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December 2nd, 2009 at 7:57 pm » Quote
Sleep Dirt is Black Napkin’s brother (or sister).
December 2nd, 2009 at 10:07 pm » Quote
Best version I ever heard is on the Zappa Internet Jam:
http://zappafan.net/songs/song_item.asp?NewsID=7
December 2nd, 2009 at 10:17 pm » Quote
kvh – just what I wanted to say!! The most beautiful one, by ZombyWoof! Just listen to the piano. Heyyy… Should have been on the top of this list.
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I remember years ago when listenning to this version of Sleep Dirt in my room at the university where I work, and after a while a young girl walked in (the door was open): “What is this beautiful melody?…” I was surprised, also, Never experienced that an FZ tune can truly catch people for the first hearing.
December 2nd, 2009 at 11:00 pm » Quote
A quote from Bálint:
I tend to disagree, Balint. While aspects of ZombyWoof’s version are, indeed, quite beautiful (the piano and sax, for instance) – it doesn’t measure up with the versions I posted, mainly because it wasn’t performed live – which is what gives these live versions (and ultimately what gives Zappa’s 1975 Vancouver War Memorial Gym version) their beauty, unity and strength within an improvised framework.
Having said that, though, I believe it was Zappa’s initial improvisation with this piece that allowed so many others to interpret the song so differently. While some FZ compositions require note for note precision, it’s a work like “Sleep Dirt” that allows for individual variation. And to my ear, all versions are successful, including ZombyWoof’s.
December 3rd, 2009 at 1:55 am » Quote
Well, we’re all different – that’s the nice thing in all this.
Though I have to add, that having a music recorded live will not necesserily add some pluses to the tune. I happen to like (love?) live recordings, but if its not Mr. Zappa, than sometimes it has its ups and downs, and some live recordings are far from perfection. As with Ed Palermo: I love their music, but I’ve never ever enjoyed their live recordings as much as I did their CDs.
Back to ZombyWoof: this version’s main advantage (to me) that its not played in front of tons of people, so it can be very intimate (just like the original one), and really finely detailed. One thing that is addition to the original tune that ZW (just like FZ did quite often) used it as a source for a(n almost) new composition or orchestration: choozes a tune for a “main melody” and puts it on different instruments, uses it’s beauty in a very fine way, and played with perfection. So here we can enjoy the tune’s original improvised quality together with a nice orchestration, with nice guitar (and piano-) playing.
This is the same thing ZW did with Republicans (check that one out!) – that is a cover I just cannot be bored of. Amazingly „live” and richly orchestrated at the same time. Something you would not expect, something much more then you would dream of – and that is what I call (sometimes) a really zappaesque experience.
December 3rd, 2009 at 9:40 am » Quote
Can someone please explain to me how to upload music using the above tool ( Adobe Flash Player 10 I guess ) and place it on your blog for instance? Can’t find any info about it. Cheers.
December 3rd, 2009 at 9:08 am » Quote
A quote from Adam:
If your blog is running on WordPress, then the WP Audioplayer plugin is what you’re looking for.
December 3rd, 2009 at 6:42 pm » Quote
I agree with your assessment, Balint. I must confess my bias towards live versions is pretty obvious (this, of course, takes nothing away from ZW’s orchestration). Personally, I will always prefer a live ensemble – especially when it comes to FZ’s music. Sure, there may be imperfections, particularly when these ensembles are not FZ’s bands, but each ensemble has a magic all their own.
December 4th, 2009 at 6:17 am » Quote
The FZ version:
Sleepy Napkins?
Black Dirt?
Dirty Napkins?
Narcoleptic Table Dressing?