Plastic People
"Plastic People" is the first track of the Mothers of Invention's 1967 album Absolutely Free. A live version from 1969 is featured on You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 1, released in 1988, as Track 1 on disc 2, along with a "Louie, Louie/Plastic People"-like version titled "Ruthie-Ruthie" from 1974 as Track 10 on disc 1. It was also featured on the 1998 Mystery Disc release.
"Plastic People" | |
---|---|
Song by The Mothers of Invention | |
from the album Absolutely Free | |
Released | May 26, 1967 |
Recorded | November 15, 1966[1] |
Genre | Experimental rock |
Length | 3:42 |
Label | Verve |
Composer(s) | Frank Zappa[2] |
Producer(s) | Frank Zappa, Tom Wilson |
The title was the inspiration for the name of the Czech band Plastic People of the Universe.[3] The tune is loosely based on Richard Berry's 1957 classic "Louie Louie". The song is a manifesto against conformity and materialistic culture, with Frank Zappa finally asking, "Go home/and check yourself/you think we're singing 'bout someone else?"
It is sampled throughout the GZA single "Cold World" from the Liquid Swords album.[4]
References
[edit]- ^ Ulrich, Charles (May 13, 2018). The Big Note: A Guide to the Recordings of Frank Zappa. New Star Books. ISBN 1-554201-46-2.
- ^ "Music by Richard Berry" credit added on subsequent releases.
- ^ Vulliamy, Ed (6 Sep 2009). "1989 and all that: Plastic People of the Universe and the Velvet Revolution". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 Jun 2020.
- ^ "GZA feat. Inspectah Deck and Life's 'Cold World' - Discover the Sample Source". WhoSampled.com. Retrieved February 1, 2020.