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I was looking at the cover and I was wondering if there was any kind of irony behind the "hot" and "rats" on the water knobs. Was FZ trying to imply that this album would "wash away" all of the thoughts of Hot Rats?


Maybe I'm just looking in to it to much. HAHA.

I remember reading somewhere that Frank referred to this album as Hot Rats III at one point

I think Waka/Jawaka is sometimes referred to as Hot Rats II; Sleep Dirt was originally named Hot Rats III when it was handed over to Warner Bros.

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"I don't think Pop Tarts have any place in our Lord's plans for the world."

Without having done any research whatsoever on the topic, I think I can safely assume that I have no idea. Perhaps it's a reference to that few days he spent in jail, where there was no hot water, which was the real reason he never bathed that week. Sure, there was mouldy scum everywhere, but what really got his goat was the lack of hot water. "Rats!" he would say, echoing his fellow inmates' frustrations.

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Let's hear it again for the London Philharmonic Orchestra!

I always thought it was just the irony of seeing the word 'Hot' and thinking 'typical faucet' then seeing the next and where you expect to see 'Cold' seeing 'Rats.'

If I remember correctly, Barry Miles makes that point in his Zappa bio.

On the spine and label of the Warners LP, Waka Jawaka is called Waka/Jawaka - Hot Rats.

An interview that I read with FZ would concur with this statement.
FZ had intended that Sleep Dirt be titled Hot Rats III. What the 3 LPs have in common to be designated as such I certainly couldn't say.

Hot Rats, Waka and Sleep Dirt (I'm speaking of original vinyl version) are all jazz-rock fusion oriented (mostly) instrumental albums. They also capture different sides of jazz fusion. Hot Rats mixes the multi-layered horn arrangements with lengthy guitar excursions, Waka is heavier on the horns, whereas half of Sleep Dirt is pure guitar oriented music. Also, "Regyptian Strut" was originally played by the same lineup that world premiered "Big Swifty" onstage (The Grand Wazoo orchestra aka Hot Rats!). The Hutchentoot songs were also composed around the same era as Waka/Wazoo material.

when i saw Zappa at the San Diego Sports Aroma, I can't remember the date (it was late 60s) he was the last act on-after about five (maybe). They did all the tunes from the1st Hot Rats album...i do remember that the electricpiano was really painfully loud. I and my friend walked up to him afterwards, the band was taking down their own equipment (taht says something about them), and I got his autograph (on a package of wheatstraw rolling papers I found on the floor)...he seemed flattered that we were there...it's a fond memory...try not to read too much into the imagery...remember he commissioned that work even if he had a lot to do with its content on a conceptual level...

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This has the blue dress thing going, distinctively different looking colors...I see blue on album cover and purple on display photo...

I believe FZ credited trumpeter Sal Marquez with the sink faucet concept. Marquez could later be seen with the Jay Leno-era Tonight Show band.

Maybe Gail washed it with something red.

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New album THE HIPCRIME VOCAB available now!
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Hey Punk, where you goin' with that passport in your hand?