Waka/Jawaka

Waka/Jawaka
Studio album by Frank Zappa
Released	July 5, 1972
Recorded	Paramount Studios, LA, April 17–21 and May, 1972
Genre	Jazz fusion, progressive rock, big band
Length	36:08
Label	Bizarre/Reprise
Producer	Frank Zappa
Frank Zappa chronology
Just Another Band from L.A. (1972)Just Another Band from L.A.1972 Waka/Jawaka (1972) The Grand Wazoo (1972)The Grand Wazoo1972

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic
Robert Christgau	(B)
Rolling Stone	(favorable)

Waka/Jawaka (also known as Waka/Jawaka - Hot Rats) is the fourth solo album by Frank Zappa, released in July 1972. The album is the jazz-influenced precursor to The Grand Wazoo (November 1972), and, as the front cover indicates, a sequel of sorts to 1969's Hot Rats. According to Zappa, the title "is something that showed up on a ouija board at one time." This is Official Release #15.

Songs

"Big Swifty" is a jazz-fusion tune, similar to many of Zappa's pieces from the jazz period of his compositional time line. It features many horns to achieve a thick brassy sound as well as room for improvisation and use of multiple time signatures. Opening in a fast 7/8 riff, the tune continues to alternate between 7/8 and 6/8 (or 3/4) times, finally ending on a 4/4 swing time signature. Known recorded live versions expanded rhythmic diversification to 11/8 and rubato parts (e.g. live in Texas, 1973).

The track "It Just Might Be a One-Shot Deal" is a strange tale of hallucinations sung by Sal Marquez and Janet Ferguson (the 'tough-minded' groupie in 200 Motels). Jeff Simmons' Hawaiian guitar sets up a dream-like, smooth quality, but with the words but you should be diggin' it while it's happening cause it just might be a one-shot deal, though played in real time rather than achieved with a splice, it again sounds as if the music has started to run backwards.

Reissues

It was reissued in a digitally remastered version on CD by Rykodisc in 1986 (with much digital reverb added and missing the back cover artwork) and in 1995 (restoring the rear cover, but with identical sound). In 2012, Universal Music released a CD containing a remastered version of the original vinyl mix.

Track listing

All songs written, composed and arranged by Frank Zappa.

Side one
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Big Swifty"	17:22

Side two
No.	Title	Length
2.	"Your Mouth"	3:12
3.	"It Just Might Be a One-Shot Deal"	4:16
4.	"Waka/Jawaka (song sample, 659Kb)"	11:18

Personnel

Musicians on the album

• Frank Zappa – guitar (all tracks, including acoustic guitar on track 3), percussion (1), electric bed springs (3), uncredited vocals (3)
• Sal Marquez – trumpets (all tracks), vocals (1, 3, 4), chimes (1, 4), flugelhorn (4)
• Erroneous (Alex Dmochowski) – electric bass (all tracks), vocals (3), fuzz bass (4)
• Aynsley Dunbar – drums (all tracks), washboard (3), tambourine (3)
• Tony Duran – slide guitar (1, 2, 3), vocals (3)
• George Duke – ring-modulated & echoplexed electric piano (1), tack piano (2)
• Mike Altschul – baritone saxophone (2, 4), piccolo (2, 4), bass flute (4), bass clarinet (4), tenor sax (4)
• Kris Peterson – vocals (2, 4)
• Joel Peskin – tenor sax (2)
• Jeff Simmons – Hawaiian guitar (3), vocals (3)
• Sneaky Pete Kleinow – pedal steel guitar solo (3)
• Janet Ferguson – vocals (3)
• Don Preston – piano (4), Minimoog (4)
• Bill Byers – trombone (4), baritone horn (4)
• Ken Shroyer – trombone (4), baritone horn (4)

Production

• Producer: Frank Zappa
• Engineers: Marshall Brevitz, Kerry McNabb
• Mastering: Frank Zappa
• Supervisor: Marshall Brevitz
• Concept: Sal Marquez
• Creative consultant: Sal Marquez
• Design: Cal Schenkel
• Cover Design: Cal Schenkel
• Cover illustration: Marvin Mattelson
• Illustrations: Marvin Mattelson
• Photography: Philip Schartz
• Back cover: Philip Schwartz
• Packaging: Cal Schenkel
• Repackaging: Ferenc Dobronyi

Charts

Album - Billboard (North America)

Year	Chart	Position
1972	Pop Albums	152

External links

• Release details