Help, I'm a Rock
"Help, I'm a Rock" is a song written by American musician Frank Zappa. It was recorded by Zappa along with the rock band the Mothers of Invention on the group's debut album Freak Out!, which was released on Verve Records on June 27, 1966.[1]
| "Help, I'm a Rock" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by The Mothers of Invention | ||||
| from the album Freak Out! | ||||
| A-side | "How Could I Be Such a Fool" | |||
| Released | 1966 | |||
| Recorded | 1966, TTG Studios, Hollywood, California | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:12 (single version) 8:37 (album version) | |||
| Label | Verve | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Frank Zappa | |||
| Producer(s) | Tom Wilson | |||
| The Mothers of Invention singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Background
The Mothers of Invention entered TTG Studios to record "Help, I'm a Rock"—among other tracks for the Freak Out! album—after record producer Tom Wilson signed the group to MGM Records under the incorrect assumption that they were a traditional blues ensemble. As a testament to its absurdity, Zappa explained "Help, I'm a Rock" was created spontaneously as "just a thing that spewed out. What was happening was what was in the air that night".[2] For the composition's unusual droning background sounds, the band encompassed screams, duck calls, alien beeps and chatter, tribal chants, and erotic moans that simulated a female orgasm.[3] In the liner notes to Freak Out!, Zappa wrote the tongue-in-cheek statement: "'Help, I'm a Rock' is dedicated to Elvis Presley. Note the interesting formal structure and the stunning four-part harmony toward the end". He concludes his comments on the song by jokingly remarking about "the obvious lack of commercial potential. Ho hum".[4]
"Help, I'm a Rock" is a three part suite consisting of: "Okay to Tap Dance", "In Memoriam Edgar Varese" and "It Can't Happen Here". In the first pressing of Freak Out!, the song was credited simply as "Help, I'm a Rock". However, as Freak Out! reissues and compilation albums were made available, the third part, "It Can't Happen Here", has been commonly listed as a separate track. In concert, the composition was typically mixed with other band songs, most regularly "Hungry Freaks Daddy".[4] One music critic notes "Long term, the psychedelic workout had plenty of commercial appeal, with Zappa’s bands playing it throughout the master’s career. 'Help, I’m a Rock' became one of the many catch phrases attached to Zappa over his career".[2]
A section of "Help, I'm a Rock" called "Third Movement: It Can't Happen Here" was also featured as the B-side of the DJ-only "How Can I Be Such a Fool?" single. With a running time of nearly nine minutes, "Help, I'm a Rock" remains one of the Mothers of Invention's most lengthy and experimental pieces in their catalogue.[5]
In 1967, psychedelic rock group the West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band recorded the song on their second album Part One.[6] Richie Unterberger described the rendition as a concept that "flung them into freakier pastures", with its style being "emulated convincingly on the group original '1906', an apt soundtrack to a bummer acid trip with its constant spoken refrain, 'I don't feel well'".[6]
References
- "Pretty Pat". globalia.net. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
- "No. 28 "Help I'm a Rock"". psychedelicsight.com. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
- Contour, Francois. "Help, I'm a Rock - Review". allmusic.com. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
- Zappa, Frank (2012), Freak Out! (CD booklet), Zappa Records
- Hoffman, Jesse. "The Mothers of Invention - Freak Out!". itsfluffy.com. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
- Unterberger, Richie. "Part One - Review". allmusic.com. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
