Broadway the Hard Way

Live album by

Released

October 14, 1988 (LP)
May 25, 1989 (CD)

Recorded

February 9 – June 9, 1988

Genre

Length

71:03 (CD)

Label

Barking Pumpkin

Producer

Frank Zappa

Frank Zappa chronology

You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 2
(1988)

Broadway the Hard Way
(1988)

You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 3
(1989)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[1]

Broadway the Hard Way is a live album by American musician Frank Zappa recorded at various performances along his 1988 world tour. It was first released as a 9-track vinyl album through Zappa's label Barking Pumpkin Records in October 1988, and subsequently as a 17-track CD through Rykodisc in 1989.

Music and lyrics

This album was compiled from Zappa's last tour in 1988. Most of the songs are satirical of prominent contemporary figures, chiefly in the political sphere, and of current social and political trends. Zappa's individual targets include Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan on "Dickie's Such an Asshole" (written in 1973), Jesse Jackson on "Rhymin' Man", Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker and Pat Robertson on "Jesus Thinks You're a Jerk", and Michael Jackson and his family on "Why Don't You Like Me?". In "Any Kind of Pain" (which Zappa's band had performed as an instrumental in 1976 and rehearsed in 1981, with slightly different melody and lyrics, but was not completed as a vocal work until 1988), he satirises the manner in which an imagined vapid model is exploited and despised by the men who employ her.

The album contains several covers, from the jazz standard "Stolen Moments" to the Police song "Murder by Numbers" (with a guest appearance by Sting). "Outside Now" is from Joe's Garage, and "Why Don't You Like Me" can be easily recognized as a remake of Zappa's 1970 title "Tell Me You Love Me." "Rhymin' Man" is filled with melodic quotes from evergreens such as "Happy Days Are Here Again", "Hava Nagila", "La Cucaracha" and "Frère Jacques". In "What Kind of Girl" there is a line from "Strawberry Fields Forever" and a segment from the "Battle Hymn of the Republic"; while "Jesus Thinks You're a Jerk" quotes "Louie Louie", "Rock of Ages" and Marius Constant's Theme from The Twilight Zone.

"Promiscuous", which takes aim at surgeon general C. Everett Koop, is delivered in rapped verse.^[2]

Despite the title, Zappa did not intend the material for a theatrical production, but the album received a Grammy nomination in 1990 for Best Musical Cast Show Album, losing to Jerome Robbins' Broadway.

Track listing

All tracks by Frank Zappa, except where noted.

Original LP

Side one
No.	Title	Venue and date(s)	Length
1.	"Elvis Has Just Left the Building"	Palasport di Genova, June 9, 1988	2:24
2.	"Planet of the Baritone Women"	Music Hall, March 5, 1988 Warner Theatre, February 9, 1988 Tower Theater, February 12, 1988	2:48
3.	"Any Kind of Pain"	Music Hall, March 5, 1988 Warner Theatre, February 9, 1988 Tower Theater, February 12, 1988 Falkoner Teatret, April 25, 1988	5:42
4.	"Jesus Thinks You're a Jerk"	Tower Theater, February 13 and 14, 1988 Royal Oak Music Theatre, February 26, 1988 Cumberland County Civic Center, March 15, 1988 Rothman Center, March 20, 1988 Civic Center, March 16, 1988 Nassau Coliseum, March 25, 1988 Warner Theatre, February 9, 1988 Wembley Arena, April 19, 1988 Shea's Theater, March 9, 1988 War Memorial Auditorium, March 11, 1988	9:15
Total length:			20:45

Side two
No.	Title	Venue and date(s)	Length
5.	"Dickie's Such an Asshole"	Music Hall, March 5, 1988 Warner Theatre, February 9, 1988 Hall Tivoli, May 23, 1988 Broome County Arena, March 17, 1988 Olympen, April 26, 1988	6:37
6.	"When the Lie's So Big"	Music Hall, March 5, 1988 Warner Theatre, February 9, 1988	3:38
7.	"Rhymin' Man"	Rudi-Sedlmayer-Halle, May 9, 1988	3:51
8.	"Promiscuous"	Royal Oak Music Theatre, February 26, 1988	2:03
9.	"The Untouchables" (Nelson Riddle)	Civic Center, March 16, 1988	3:05
Total length:			19:50

CD version
No.	Title	Venue and date(s)	Length
1.	"Elvis Has Just Left the Building"	Palasport di Genova, June 9, 1988	2:24
2.	"Planet of the Baritone Women"	Music Hall, March 5, 1988 Warner Theatre, February 9, 1988 Tower Theater, February 12, 1988	2:48
3.	"Any Kind of Pain"	Music Hall, March 5, 1988 Warner Theatre, February 9, 1988 Tower Theater, February 12, 1988 Falkoner Teatret, April 25, 1988	5:42
4.	"Dickie's Such an Asshole"	Music Hall, March 5, 1988 Warner Theatre, February 9, 1988 Hall Tivoli, May 23, 1988 Broome County Arena, March 17, 1988 Olympen, April 26, 1988	5:45
5.	"When the Lie's So Big"	Music Hall, March 5, 1988 Warner Theatre, February 9, 1988	3:38
6.	"Rhymin' Man"	Rudi-Sedlmayer-Halle, May 9, 1988	3:50
7.	"Promiscuous"	Royal Oak Music Theatre, February 26, 1988	2:02
8.	"The Untouchables" (Riddle)	Civic Center, March 16, 1988	2:26
9.	"Why Don't You Like Me?"	Bushnell Memorial Hall, February 17, 1988 Syria Mosque, February 25, 1988 Tower Theater, February 13, 1988 Auditorium Theatre, March 3, 1988	2:57
10.	"Bacon Fat" (Andre Williams, Dorothy Brown, Zappa)	Frauenthal Auditorium, March 1, 1988	1:29
11.	"Stolen Moments" (Oliver Nelson)	Frauenthal Auditorium, March 1, 1988 Auditorium Theatre, March 3, 1988	2:57
12.	"Murder by Numbers" (Sting, Andy Summers)	Auditorium Theatre, March 3, 1988	5:37
13.	"Jezebel Boy"	Tower Theater, February 13, 1988	2:27
14.	"Outside Now"	Wembley Arena, April 19, 1988 Palasport di Genova, June 9, 1988	7:49
15.	"Hot Plate Heaven at the Green Hotel"	Wiener Stadthalle, May 8, 1988 Rudi-Sedlmayer-Halle, May 9, 1988	6:40
16.	"What Kind of Girl?"	Frauenthal Auditorium, March 1, 1988 Auditorium Theatre, March 4, 1988	3:17
17.	"Jesus Thinks You're a Jerk"	Tower Theater, February 13 & 14 1988 Royal Oak Music Theatre, February 26, 1988 Cumberland County Civic Center, March 15, 1988 Rothman Center, March 20, 1988 Civic Center, March 16, 1988 Nassau Coliseum, March 25, 1988 Warner Theatre, February 9, 1988 Wembley Arena, April 19, 1988 Shea's Theater, March 9, 1988 War Memorial Auditorium, March 11, 1988	9:15

Personnel

Frank Zappa – lead guitar, vocal
Ike Willis – guitar, vocal
Mike Keneally – guitar, synth, vocal
Robert Martin – keyboards, vocal
Ed Mann – percussion
Walt Fowler – trumpet
Bruce Fowler – trombone
Paul Carman – alto saxophone
Albert Wing – tenor saxophone
Kurt McGettrick – baritone saxophone
Scott Thunes – bass
Chad Wackerman – drums
Eric Buxton (an audience member) – spoken narrative during middle 8 on "Jesus Thinks You're A Jerk"
Sting – lead vocal on "Murder by Numbers"

References

External links

Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention album discography

Official releases
(1966–1993)

1960s	Freak Out! Absolutely Free We're Only in It for the Money Lumpy Gravy Cruising with Ruben & the Jets Mothermania Uncle Meat Hot Rats
1970s	Burnt Weeny Sandwich Weasels Ripped My Flesh Chunga's Revenge Fillmore East – June 1971 200 Motels Just Another Band from L.A. Waka/Jawaka The Grand Wazoo Over-Nite Sensation Apostrophe (') Roxy & Elsewhere One Size Fits All Bongo Fury Zoot Allures Zappa in New York Studio Tan Sleep Dirt Sheik Yerbouti Orchestral Favorites Joe's Garage Act I Joe's Garage Acts II & III
1980s	Tinsel Town Rebellion Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar Some More Return of the Son of Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar You Are What You Is Ship Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch The Man from Utopia Baby Snakes London Symphony Orchestra, Vol. I Boulez Conducts Zappa: The Perfect Stranger Them or Us Francesco Zappa Thing-Fish The Old Masters, Box I Frank Zappa Meets the Mothers of Prevention Does Humor Belong in Music? The Old Masters, Box II Jazz from Hell London Symphony Orchestra, Vol. II The Old Masters, Box III Guitar You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 1 You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 2 Broadway the Hard Way You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 3
1990s	The Best Band You Never Heard in Your Life Make a Jazz Noise Here You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 4 You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 5 You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 6 Playground Psychotics Ahead of Their Time The Yellow Shark

Posthumous
official releases

1990s	Civilization Phaze III The Lost Episodes Läther Frank Zappa Plays the Music of Frank Zappa: A Memorial Tribute Have I Offended Someone? Mystery Disc Everything Is Healing Nicely
2000s	FZ:OZ Halloween Joe's Corsage QuAUDIOPHILIAc Joe's Domage Joe's XMASage Imaginary Diseases Trance-Fusion The MOFO Project/Object Buffalo The Dub Room Special! Wazoo One Shot Deal Joe's Menage The Lumpy Money Project/Object Philly '76
2010s	Greasy Love Songs "Congress Shall Make No Law..." Hammersmith Odeon Feeding the Monkies at Ma Maison Carnegie Hall Understanding America Road Tapes, Venue #1 Finer Moments AAAFNRAA: Baby Snakes – The Compleat Soundtrack Road Tapes, Venue #2 A Token of His Extreme Soundtrack Joe's Camouflage Roxy by Proxy Dance Me This 200 Motels: The Suites Roxy the Soundtrack Road Tapes, Venue #3 The Crux of the Biscuit Frank Zappa for President ZAPPAtite: Frank Zappa's Tastiest Tracks Meat Light: The Uncle Meat Project/Object Audio Documentary Chicago '78 Little Dots Halloween 77 The Roxy Performances Zappa in New York 40th Anniversary Orchestral Favorites 40th Anniversary Halloween 73 The Hot Rats Sessions
2020s	The Mothers 1970 Halloween 81 Halloween 81 Highlights Zappa - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Zappa '88: The Last U.S. Show 200 Motels 50th Anniversary Edition The Mothers 1971 Zappa/Erie Zappa '75: Zagreb/Ljubljana Waka/Wazoo Zappa '80: Mudd Club/Munich Funky Nothingness Over-Nite Sensation 50th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition

Miscellaneous

Compilations	The *** of the Mothers* Strictly Commercial: The Best of Frank Zappa Strictly Genteel: A "Classical" Introduction to Frank Zappa Cucamonga Cheap Thrills Son of Cheep Thrills

Birthday Bundle series	2006 2008 2010 2011

Authority control databases