BILL MESNIK OF THE SPLENDID BOHEMIANS PRESENTS: THE SUNNY SIDE OF MY STREET - SONGS TO MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD - EPISODE #69: MONTANA by Frank Zappa (DiscReet, 1973)

Hang on to your hats, folks, it’s Frank Zappa time! Love ‘im or Hate ‘im, you have to admit that Zappa was an all-American original. Virtuoso guitarist, ground-breaking jazz-fusion orchestral arranger, and scathing social satirist, Zappa stood alone against legions of corporate sycophants, carving out a successful empire built from sheer hubris and talent. Plus, he was funny as hell. In this cut from his 1973 Over-nite Sensation album, all of the classic Zappa elements are on display: the ironic lead vocal, the blistering guitar solo, the off-beat background harmonies (courtesy of Tina Turner and the Ikettes) and a suite of tempo and time changes. And, all in the service of the silliest, yet most relatable of premises: that fantasy of breaking away from the pack to live life on one’s own terms… as a dental floss rancher.