The Man From Utopia

by Frank Zappa

Product Description:

Personnel: Frank Zappa (vocals, guitar, synthesizer, drum programming); Ray White (vocals, guitar); Bobby Martin (vocals, saxophone, keyboards); Roy Estrada, Bob Harris, Ike Willis (vocals); Arthur "Tink" Barrow (guitar, keyboards, bass); Steve Vai (guitar); Dick Fegy (mandolin); Craig "Twister" Steward (harmonica); Marty Krystall (saxophone); Tommy Mars (keyboards); Scott Thunes (bass); Chad Wackerman, Vinnie Colaiuta (drums); Ed Mann (percussion).

Engineers: Bob Stone, Mark Pinske, Dave Jerdan.

By the '80s, Frank Zappa became known as a genius who hid a social conscience behind a biting sense of humor. No matter how crude the lyrics were, he was always making a point. Occasionally, however, he did like to just make a silly record, and THE MAN FROM UTOPIA is mighty silly. On "The Radio Is Broken," he roasts those really bad sci-fi movies that inhabit late night TV. "The Jazz Discharge Party Hats" tells what we can only hope is a fictional groupie story over free-jazz backing. Zappa could even write a funny instrumental, picking a baritone sax to handle the melody on "We Are Not Alone." UTOPIA also features an up-and-coming Steve Vai who had the unenviable task of transcribing and then doubling Zappa's vocal part on "The Dangerous Kitchen" and "The Jazz Discharge Party Hats."