Easy Meat

Album: Tinsel Town Rebellion (1981)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song is described by Zappa biographer Barry Miles as "another derogatory attack on women." In his thoroughly researched book, Miles accuses Zappa of double standards, i.e. professing to be in favor of the sexual revolution, and then deriding women with songs like "Crew Slut."

    It is difficult to take issue with this claim, especially as Zappa included "Easy Meat" on the compilation album You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol. 5 wherein, running to 7 minutes 38 seconds, it appears as track one on Disc 2; the very next track is "Dead Girls Of London," which was written as a polemic against girls who for him were not such easy meat!

    That being said, this track has much to commend it provided one listens only to the middle, instrumental section. Live, rhythm guitarist Ike Willis would perform the bulk of the vocals while Zappa, holding a baton, would walk around the stage conducting the band. Then he would pick up his axe and play a blistering guitar solo totally and pleasingly out of context with the lyrics. Some of these extant recordings are - ahem, music to the ear - especially when with his use of sustain he sounds less like a raging misogynist than like Carlos Santana. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Randy Houser

Randy HouserSongwriter Interviews

The "How Country Feels" singer talks Skynyrd and songwriting.

Gilby Clarke

Gilby ClarkeSongwriter Interviews

The Guns N' Roses rhythm guitarist in the early '90s, Gilby talks about the band's implosion and the side projects it spawned.

Subversive Songs Used To Sell

Subversive Songs Used To SellSong Writing

Songs about drugs, revolution and greed that have been used in commercials for sneakers, jeans, fast food, cruises and cars.

Tom Bailey of Thompson Twins

Tom Bailey of Thompson TwinsSongwriter Interviews

Tom stopped performing Thompson Twins songs in 1987, in part because of their personal nature: "Hold Me Now" came after an argument with his bandmate/girlfriend Alannah Currie.

Krishna Das

Krishna DasSongwriter Interviews

The top chant artist in the Western world, Krishna Das talks about how these Hindu mantras compare to Christian worship songs.

What Musicians Are Related to Other Musicians?

What Musicians Are Related to Other Musicians?Song Writing

A big list of musical marriages and family relations ranging from the simple to the truly dysfunctional.