Author Topic: Tom Fowler and Zappa (Read 582 times)

mikedm · « **on:** June 22, 2004, 01:11:49 PM »

I can?t find the thread that made me think about this, but there was some
mention a few weeks back of Tom Fowler?s work on the Frank Zappa album One Size Fits All, particularly Inca Roads?
I haven?t listened to Zappa for over twenty years, then a few comments in a thread on this site and a day later an unrelated conversation at work where I find an unlikely source for all of FZ?s material. I turned the conversation to Inca Roads and this guy says he has the CD, it?s in his car right now, now how cool is that? It?s sometimes a small, harmonious world.
Anyway, I?ve been listening to it for about a week straight and all I have to say is that I had forgotten how great Zappa and his band were. And Tom Fowler, what a monster on the bass. A number of great tracks on the album, but I think my favorite is Andy, or maybe Pajama People, or maybe San Ber?dino, or the oddball Sofa #2?I can?t decide, you pick just one, I dare you.

Mike

the_mule · « **Reply #1 on:** June 22, 2004, 01:51:48 PM »

This is the thread: http://club.alembic.com/Images/402/10511.html?1086808442 I bought 'One Size Fits All' because of this and I've enjoyed it numerous times already. Next thing to look for will be 'Overnite Sensation' which also features Tom Fowler...

smokin_dave · « **Reply #2 on:** June 23, 2004, 12:36:50 AM »

I think I own a copy that has both 'One Size Fits All' and 'Overnite Sensation'.Both are Zappa fave's of mine.A good book to read is Frank's The Real Frank Zappa Book.A great read and sort of a Zappa freak's bible if you will.

811952 · « **Reply #3 on:** June 23, 2004, 07:06:09 AM »

I love the Tom's playing and tone on Dirty Love. Overnight Sensation is simply incredible.
John

dadabass2001 · « **Reply #4 on:** June 23, 2004, 11:17:15 AM »

Tom also played on some tracks from Apostrophe, all of Roxy & Elsewhere and You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore: The Helsinki Concert. For Roxy & Elsewhere Tom's brothers Bruce and Walt were in the horn section.

Mike

keavin · « **Reply #5 on:** June 23, 2004, 11:59:17 AM »

Any body got any photos?,

son_of_magni · « **Reply #6 on:** June 23, 2004, 01:18:00 PM »

Also the bass line on 50-50 from Overnight Sensation is really nice. Actually that album has some of my favorite Zappa licks too.

bob · « **Reply #7 on:** June 23, 2004, 03:48:08 PM »

The liner notes on the combined Apostrophe/Overnight Sensation reissue CD are useless... I gather from the discussion here that Tom did all of O.S., but only some of Apostrophe, correct? Anyone have the full list of tracks he played on, on these two albums?

hollis · « **Reply #8 on:** June 23, 2004, 04:21:34 PM »

I'm pretty sure he played bass on everything except: Excentrifugal Forz (Frank Zappa/bass), Apostrophe (Jack Bruce/bass), Uncle Remus(Erroneous..Alex Dmochowski/bass), and Stink Foot (Frank Zappa/bass).

dadabass2001 · « **Reply #9 on:** June 24, 2004, 05:35:25 AM »

The original LP for One Size Fits All credited Tom as playing bass ...when left hand not broken

811952 · « **Reply #10 on:** June 24, 2004, 07:32:09 AM »

I always thought Jack Bruce played bass on Don't Eat The Yellow Snow as well. Was that someone else? And 50-50 does stand out as having yet another excellent bass track. Overnight Sensation is a great album.
John

zappahead · « **Reply #11 on:** June 24, 2004, 07:52:17 AM »

I think the You Cant Do that on Stage Anymore Volumes 1-6 are all really good Zappa albums. The entire set is full of funny stuff and lots of good instrumentals. I dont have them in front of me but Id imagine Fowler appears on some of those tracks. I think its one of the better career retrospective series ever done and it covers Zappa from the Mothers thru to the 1984 band (the Steve Vai band) which Zappa claims is his personal favorite.

the_mule · « **Reply #12 on:** June 24, 2004, 03:09:54 PM »

Got 'You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore' Volume 2 (the Helsinki Concert) today. Great live disc that made me wonder why on earth people think you can't do that on stage anymore...

hollis · « **Reply #13 on:** June 24, 2004, 03:42:34 PM »

Hi John,
According to:
http://www.globalia.net/donlope/fz/lyrics/Apostrophe_%28%27%29.html

Don't Eat The Yellow Snow

FZ guitar, lead vocals
George Duke keyboards, back-up vocals
Tom Fowler bass
Ralph Humphrey drums
And probably:
Ray Collins back-up vocals
Kerry McNab back-up vocals
Susie Glover back-up vocals ?
Debbie back-up vocals
Lynn back-up vocals
Ruben Ladron de Guevara back-up vocals
Robert Frog Camarena back-up vocals

I can't verify this through the official Frank Zappa site and my LP's jackets are a long time gone....

hup · « **Reply #14 on:** June 24, 2004, 08:50:43 PM »

Hey, I just ordered Overnight Sensation & One Size Fits All after reading what you guys say about them, i look forward to them arriving, thanks for the inspiration to here some more Zappa
Cheers
Hup
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