The Man From Utopia
Release Info
Released March 1983
Tracks
- Cocaine Decisions
- SEX
- Tink Walks Amok
- The Radio Is Broken
- We Are Not Alone
- The Dangerous Kitchen
- The Man From Utopia Meets Mary Lou
- Stick Together
- The Jazz Discharge Party Hats
- Luigi & the Wise Guys
- Moggio
Players
Frank Zappa (guitar, vocals, ARP 2600, Lynn Drum Machine), Steve Vai (impossible guitar parts on strat and acoustic), Ray White (guitar, vocals), Roy Estrada (pachuco falsettos etc), Bob Harris (boy soprano), Ike Willis (bionic baritone), Bobby Martin (keyboards, sax, vocals), Tommy Mars (keyboards), Arthur Barrow (keyboards, bass, micro-bass, rhythm guitar), Ed Mann (percussion), Scott Thunes (bass), Chad Wackerman (drums), Vinnie Colaiuta (drums on "Dangerous Kitchen"), Dick Fegy (mandolin), Marty Krystall (sax)
Background
“Tink Walks Amok” is titled after Arthur Barrow’s childhood nickname, which Frank learned of from easy-pop singer Christopher Cross and found hilarious. “I didn’t know that Frank had named it after me until the album came out,” Arthur posted on Vladimir Sovetov’s ARF website. “The main lick of the first section used to be called ‘Atomic Paginini.’” The only fully rehearsed parts are probably the faster progressions, as “[Frank] would point to different strings and frets on my bass and tell me where to take the lick next. He was writing it as we were recording!” Also interpolated, toward the end, is an early ‘80s piece called “13.”
The title of “Moggio” came from Frank’s daughter Diva; she crawled into bed with her parents and dreamt that she had a tiny father named Moggio who lived under her pillow.
The opening song on the original side 2 is a studio medley of two R&B oldies, “The Man From Utopia” by Donald Woods and the Vel-Aires (1955) and “Mary Lou” by Young Jessie from around the same time.
“Stick Together” is a slogan used with some sarcasm, since it’s usually a pro-union motto.
The songs are heard in a different order on the 1995 CD than on the original album, and “Luigi and the Wise Guys” is added.
