» Them or Us - by Frank Zappa
In 1984 Frank Zappa self-published Them or Us, created with a dot matrix printer. This facsimile edition brings this seminal work on conceptual continuity to a new generation of fans who have outgrown the ordinary. The book is written in quasi-screenplay style and contains tons of conceptual continuity clues. It is partly narrated by Francesco Zappa.
In 1984 Frank Zappa self-published Them or Us, created with a dot matrix printer. This facsimile edition brings this seminal work on conceptual continuity to a new generation of fans who have outgrown the ordinary. The book is written in quasi-screenplay style and contains tons of conceptual continuity clues. It is partly narrated by Francesco Zappa.
Among others, Them or Us contains the lyrics to "Flambay", "Spider Of Destiny" and "Time Is Money". These songs were originally issued as instrumentals on "Sleep Dirt", versions with lyrics were supposed to be part of the (unproduced) "Hunchentoot" stage play. It also contains the complete script of Zappa's musical Thing-Fish. Large parts of the lyrics in the book (and the record) are written in "[...] a pseudo-negrocious dialect, originated by an actor named Tim Moore in the TV version of ‘AMOS & ANDY’. He was severely punished for it." (Stage character "Frank", page 262.)
“This cheesy little home-made book was prepared for the amusement of people who already enjoy Zappa music. It is not for intellectuals or other dead people. It is designed to answer one of the more troubling questions related to conceptual continuity: ‘How do all of these things that don’t have anything to do with each other fit together, forming a larger absurdity?’
“This is a story book. It is not a rock & roll biography. This is the only REAL & OFFICIAL FRANK ZAPPA BOOK. All other books attempting to trade on my name are unauthorized and full of misinformation. This book is dedicated to all of the fans who have made the last 20 years of large-scale absurdities possible.” Frank Zappa Them or Us is the first book written by FZ, published by Barfko-Swill (Los Angeles) in 1984 (No ISBN), containing 351 pages.