"Plastic People" is the first track of the Mothers of Invention album Absolutely Free. It also was featured on the You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore (Volume 1) compilation as Track 1 on disc 2, along with a "Louie, Louie/Plastic People"-like version titled "Ruthie-Ruthie" as Track 10 on disc 1. It was also featured on the 1998 Mystery Disc release.

"Plastic People"
Song by The Mothers of Invention
from the album Absolutely Free
ReleasedMay 26, 1967
RecordedNovember 15, 1966[1]
GenreExperimental rock
Length3:42
LabelVerve
Composer(s)Frank Zappa[2]
Producer(s)Frank Zappa, Tom Wilson

The title was the inspiration for the name of the Czech band Plastic People of the Universe.[3] The tune is loosely based on Richard Berry's 1957 classic "Louie Louie". The song is a manifesto against conformity and materialistic culture, with Frank Zappa finally asking, "Go home/and check yourself/you think we're singing 'bout someone else?"

It is sampled throughout the GZA single "Cold World" from the Liquid Swords album.[4]

References

  1. ^ Ulrich, Charles (May 13, 2018). The Big Note: A Guide to the Recordings of Frank Zappa. New Star Books. ISBN 1-554201-46-2.
  2. ^ "Music by Richard Berry" credit added on subsequent releases.
  3. ^ Vulliamy, Ed (6 Sep 2009). "1989 and all that: Plastic People of the Universe and the Velvet Revolution". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 Jun 2020.
  4. ^ "GZA feat. Inspectah Deck and Life's 'Cold World' - Discover the Sample Source". WhoSampled.com. Retrieved February 1, 2020.


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