Joe's Garage: Acts I, II & III | 
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| Artist: Frank Zappa
Label: Zappa Records
Category: Music
List Price: $29.98
Buy New: $20.95
You Save: $9.03 (30%)
New (38) Used (15) Collectible (4) from $15.69
Rating:  91 reviews
Sales Rank: 2913
Format: Original Recording Remastered
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 2
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 4.9 x 1
MPN: 310530
UPC: 014431053023
EAN: 0014431053023
ASIN: B0000009SY
Release Date: May 2, 1995
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand New and Factory Sealed -- I offer free postal upgrades to first class Mail when you choose standard postage.
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| Tracks:
Disc 1
| • | The Central Scrutinizer | | • | Joe's Garage | | • | Catholic Girls | | • | Crew Slut | | • | Fembot In A Wet T-Shirt | | • | On The Bus | | • | Why Does It Hurt When I Pee? | | • | Lucille Has Messed My Mind Up | | • | Scrutinizer Of Postlude | | • | A Token Of My Extreme | | • | Stick It Out | | • | Sy Borg |
Disc 2
| • | Dong Work For Yuda | | • | Keep It Greasy | | • | Outside Now | | • | He Used To Cut The Grass | | • | Packard Goose | | • | Watermelon In East Hay | | • | A Little Green Rosetta |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
The Central Scrutinizer is out to protect you from the harmful effects of that horrible force called music. Such is the premise of Joe's Garage, Frank Zappa's three-act concept album which explores the world of groupies, governments, sex toys, and Catholic school girls. As always, Zappa's aim is true and his scope wide, following Joe (voiced by his long-time co-conspirator, Ike Willis) as he starts a band, loses his girl, falls in love with a robot, and tries to find his true place in society. Filled with catchy classics ("Catholic Girls" "Crew Slut") and blazing guitar work ("Keep it Greasy," "Watermleon in Easter Hay"), this is the sort of schmorgasbord of imagination and artistry that only Zappa could produce. --Andrew Boscardin
Album Description
Imported from Japan by Rykodisc. Packaged in deluxe mini-album jacket sleeves, these 10 classic albums by rock legend FRANK ZAPPA are now available as limited edition Japanese Imports! These packages re-create the original vinyl packaging in miniaturized form!
Album Description
Limited Edition Japanese pressing of this 1979 album comes housed in a miniature LP sleeve. Columbia. 2008.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 86 more reviews...
 A comment on free speech October 3, 2008
Christopher M. Fulton (Streator, IL United States)
For me, and I speak for no one but me, this is an album about the first amendment. I tend to refuse to read other reviews about anything I review, though I do occasionally do it. For this, I have honestly not looked at another review. I only know that there are a ton and a half of 5 star reviews. All in all, this is a great album. It shows what happens when we let others decide what is right for us to listen to. There are many classic songs here. Come on, how can you not love "catholic girls", "crew slut", "dong work for yuda", "why does it hurt when i pee" or the "central scrutinizer" itself?
I think if one really listens to this album, one cannot help but love it. It is a smidge campy, a smidge campy, but all great music. This is Jazz Fusion and Zappa at a 10+. Enjoy it.
 The best and worst of Zappa... September 1, 2008
finulanu (In my own little world)
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
Now, this could've potentially rocked the house, but instead it'll have to settle for just being pretty good. For those who don't know, this is Zappa's attempt at a rock opera, telling the tale of a dystopian future where music is made illegal. And while Frank loses sight of the concept fairly quickly and spends most the rest of the opera trying desperately to tie random people getting plooked into the rather sketchy plot, he still cooks up a few of his most enjoyable songs, a majority of them found in the brilliant first act. Act I is arguably his best album other than Hot Rats, containing several of Frank's funniest songs: the ironic nostalgia of the title track, a hilarious, strangely touching story of a garage-rock band; "Catholic Girls", a great send-up of society's hypocrisy; the uproarious "Fembot in a Wet T-Shirt", which condemns all those sex-crazed maniacs out there by making us realize just how idiotic a wet t-shirt contest really is (sample lyric: "Our grand prize tonite is fifty American dollars to the girl with the most exciting mammalian protruberances..."). Plus there's always the juvenile but funny rocker "Why Does it Hurt When I Pee?", for those looking for considerably less "intelligent" laughs. And even when his humor fails him on "Crew S***" (trite, tasteless, obnoxious sexism), he's still got a great guitar riff to back it up. There's also the enjoyable, crunchy instrumental "On the Bus" - the only weak part of act one is the neverending reggae mock-up "Lucille Has My Mind Messed Up". For the most part, though, the second act is a waste of time, with Frank flaunting his ignorance of the gay community by giving into nauseating stereotypes ("Stick it Out"; "Sy Borg"; "Dong Work for Yuda"; "Keep it Greasey") and failing to add melodies to his unfunny one-joke tunes - the biggest offender is the nine minute Quiet Storm satire "Sy Borg", though the equally lengthy, equally turgid disco of "Keep it Greasey" isn't much better. It is great to hear Scientologists get their dues on "A Token of My Extreme", though. Act Three is far better. At this point, I think Frank had realized that his story had spiraled off into something he couldn't recover, so rather than desperately try to tie it all back in, he decided to take his own advice. Shut up and play his guitar, that is. A fine idea, too, because it resulted in a triptych of fascinating guitar solos: the jazzy "He Used to Cut the Grass"; nonstop hard rock riffs on "Packard Goose", and especially the haunting emotional odyssey "Watermelon in Easter Hay". That's my favorite song on the album. I have a history of thinking that Zappa's guitar solos are the best songs on his albums - my favorite track on Over-Nite Sensation is "Inca Roads", my favorite on Sheik Yerbouti is "Yo' Mama", my favorite on Hot Rats is "Willie the Pimp", and so forth. If I can just hear Zappa soloing for between seven and twelve minutes, I am perfectly content. That's why Hot Rats is my favorite Zappa album. So, getting back to the album, Zappa closes things off with "A Little Green Rosetta", which is really repetitive but tolerable.
Frank Zappa / Joes Garage Remaster April 28, 2008
Stacy Fiscel (Florida)
The best release of this cd so far, it finally has some tone. It could be better but it's better than the original cd release by far.
You'll love it - it's a way of life April 27, 2008
Jangoclone666
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I'm on my 2nd copy of this album,so you already know where I stand.
If this album is a "hack job",as some of the negative critics here on this site suggest,it's one of the most brilliant "hack jobs" ever conceived.Seriously,could any of these killjoys do any better?As far as I'm concerned,no one's even TRIED.It's that hard of an act to follow.
Fan that I am,I'll admit Zappa's had his share of clunkers ("No Not Now",anyone?),but this monster of a concept album doesn't belong in that category.It's all here- the sympathetic protagonist,the much-deserved swipes at religious chicanery/hypocrisy,the ballsy humor and wordplay (of which Zappa is a master of),the twisted supporting "cast" (a gay bi-lingual vacuum cleaner??A rapist record exec with a speech impediment??),the gentle pokes at the band Toto,the eerie prophecy of the whole thing (Zappa clearly saw the likes of the PMRC looming over the horizon),and the entertaining,absurd storyline all wrapped up in a sci-fi/school play/narc film vibe.
I suppose the short version,for the neophyte,would go like this: Act I is the "party" record.Act II is when it gets weird.Act III will give you chills (with the exception of "A Little Green Rosetta",which is a silly and clumsy way to end the album.That's why I give it 4 stars instead of 5).
And the music?C'mon,this is Frank Zappa we're talking about,you already KNOW it's nothing short of brilliant.
Act I takes you on a whirlwind tour of funk,twisted pop,blues rock,jazz fusion,fake reggae,and mock rock opera bombast as only Zappa can deliver.Acts II and III aren't quite as varied,but they are no less startling to say the least.
The insane rhythmic complexities and time signatures on "Keep It Greasy" alone will make your jaw drop.
If Zappa's passionate soloing during Act III doesn't move you,then you have even less emotion than Sy Borg.I was startled to see all the reviewers on this site praise "A Watermelon In Easter Hay".And here I thought I was the only sentimental fool who gets all lumpy in the throat every time I listen to that track.
And "Packard Goose"- wow.Between the sophisticated (yet never cold) structure of the music and the damning lyrics,you can feel Frank's utter and total disgust for the music industry shine through like a beacon.Bitterness never sounded so righteously beautiful.
So anyway....just buy the friggin' album,alright?
 Aw, come on...this is crap March 28, 2008
dazamaru (Philadelphia PA)
2 out of 4 found this review helpful
Look, Im a Zappa fan who has listened to most of the man's entire output. I'm in agreement, that Zappa was a unique figure in American music.
BUT
This is his weakest effort, shamelessly pandering to the same people he seems to parody. It's truly air-head rock, not much different than AOL rock, with little Zappa humor and flourishes. The humor is either dated, or aimed at pre-teens. This period of Zappa (early 80's)I enjoy the least.
Zappa was brave. Zappa was brilliant. But Zappa was not occasionaly without fault.
Im sure there are more meaningful performances in the Vault, than this mash-up of psuedo-reggae, glam-rock and purile humor.
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