Difference between revisions of "Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance"
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==Notes About This Song== | ==Notes About This Song== | ||
| − | The title comes from a track on 1968s [[We're Only In It For The Money]] but it has existed in many forms. | + | The title comes from a track on 1968s [[We're Only In It For The Money]] but it has existed in many forms. An instrumental version recorded at [[Pal Recording Studio]] around 1961 issued on 1996's "[[The Lost Episodes]]". It appears as a "surf" instrumental at the end of [[Lumpy Gravy]] which FZ described as a demo from around 1962/63. The theme appears again in [[I'm So Happy I Could Cry]] recorded around 1965 issued on [[Joe's Corsage]]. |
| − | + | There is an interesting link between this song and [[Wikipedia:Irving_Berlin|Irving Berlin's]] tune ''[[Wikipedia:Puttin%27_on_the_Ritz|Puttin' on the Ritz]]''. The musical theme of both songs starts of with five repitions of three notes: (d-)G-Bb-D in ''Puttin' on the Ritz'' and G-Bb-C in ''Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance'' (cf. this [http://www.zappa-analysis.com/take.htm score] of Zappa's tune). In both songs, the rhythmic structure of these simple melodies is organised in such as way that the main beat is on a different place in each repitition. As we are told from the liner notes in ''[[The Lost Episodes]]'', Zappa wrote the melody during a period in which he was playing jazz regularly, so he might very well be inspired by Irving Berlin's tune which is well-known as a jazz standard. | |
| − | + | As for the text, ''Puttin' on the Ritz'' is also about clothing, though with a diametrically opposite gist as in Zappa's text. The title ''Puttin' on the Ritz'' apparently derives from an American English slang expression meaning "to dress very fashionably". This song is all about fashion, money and glamour: | |
| − | + | :''If you're blue and you don't know where to go to why don't you go where fashion sits: Puttin' on the Ritz<br>Different types who wear a day coat pants with stripes and cutaway coat perfect fits: Puttin' on the Ritz<br>Dressed up like a million-dollar trooper<br>Tryin' hard to look like Gary Cooper (super duper)<br>Come let's mix where Rockefellers walk with sticks or um-ber-ellas in their mitts: Puttin' on the Ritz'' | |
| + | |||
| + | In typical zappaesque fashion, the last few lines of Zappa's song reverse this image: if you don't have the money to dress up, then take your clothes off. | ||
==CC Clues In This Song== | ==CC Clues In This Song== | ||
Revision as of 13:21, 29 November 2005
Contents
Lyrics
There will come a time when everybody
Who is lonely will be free...
TO SING & DANCE & LOVE
There will come a time when every evil
That we know will be an evil...
THAT WE CAN RISE ABOVE
Who cares if hair is long or short
or sprayed or partly grayed...
WE KNOW THAT HAIR AIN'T WHERE IT'S AT
(there will come a time when you won't
even be ashamed if you are fat!)
WAH WAH-WAH WAH
There will come a time when everybody
Who is lonely will be free...
TO SING & DANCE & LOVE (dance and love)
There will come a time when every evil
that we know will be an evil...
THAT WE CAN RISE ABOVE (rise above)
Who cares if you're so poor you can't afford
To buy a pair of Mod A Go-Go stretch-elastic pants...
THERE WILL COME A TIME WHEN YOU CAN EVEN
TAKE YOUR CLOTHES OFF WHEN YOU DANCE
Players On This Song
1961
Chuck Grove: drums
Caronga Ward: bass
Tony Rodriguez: alto sax
Chuck Foster: trumpet
Danny Helferin: piano
Frank Zappa: guitar
Records On Which This Song Has Appeared
Zappa Albums
In order of recording:
- The Lost Episodes, rec. 1961
- Lumpy Gravy, rec. 1962/63
- We're Only In It For The Money
Tribute & Cover Albums
Notes About This Song
The title comes from a track on 1968s We're Only In It For The Money but it has existed in many forms. An instrumental version recorded at Pal Recording Studio around 1961 issued on 1996's "The Lost Episodes". It appears as a "surf" instrumental at the end of Lumpy Gravy which FZ described as a demo from around 1962/63. The theme appears again in I'm So Happy I Could Cry recorded around 1965 issued on Joe's Corsage.
There is an interesting link between this song and Irving Berlin's tune Puttin' on the Ritz. The musical theme of both songs starts of with five repitions of three notes: (d-)G-Bb-D in Puttin' on the Ritz and G-Bb-C in Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance (cf. this score of Zappa's tune). In both songs, the rhythmic structure of these simple melodies is organised in such as way that the main beat is on a different place in each repitition. As we are told from the liner notes in The Lost Episodes, Zappa wrote the melody during a period in which he was playing jazz regularly, so he might very well be inspired by Irving Berlin's tune which is well-known as a jazz standard.
As for the text, Puttin' on the Ritz is also about clothing, though with a diametrically opposite gist as in Zappa's text. The title Puttin' on the Ritz apparently derives from an American English slang expression meaning "to dress very fashionably". This song is all about fashion, money and glamour:
- If you're blue and you don't know where to go to why don't you go where fashion sits: Puttin' on the Ritz
Different types who wear a day coat pants with stripes and cutaway coat perfect fits: Puttin' on the Ritz
Dressed up like a million-dollar trooper
Tryin' hard to look like Gary Cooper (super duper)
Come let's mix where Rockefellers walk with sticks or um-ber-ellas in their mitts: Puttin' on the Ritz
In typical zappaesque fashion, the last few lines of Zappa's song reverse this image: if you don't have the money to dress up, then take your clothes off.
