Leather Conversation & Grout

Fragments of this conversation between Davey Moire, Terry Bozzio, Patrick O'Hearn, etc., and other grout can be heard at:

Notes & Comments

Dave Lane, alt.fan.frank-zappa, May 28, 1998

I think the official FZ terminology for what you refer to as a "LINK" is "grout".

Terry Bozzio, May 10, 2011, quoted by Paul Carr, Frank Zappa And The And, 2013

[F]rank got onto an editing trek and spend days & nights cutting just 1" long pieces of tape into what was used in part on [Läther] . . . you would hear music, sounds and dialogue from 60's mixed w/anything he wanted to cut it together with, up to material from every day before. sometimes just the silent ambience of 6 different places in time and space would zip by in some "varying tape hiss white noise rhythm" he had cut them to. i recall it being maybe 45 min. long . . . his abstract composition of seemingly unrelated pieces of tape that cohesively worked together [.]

[Z]appa came up w/idea & concept of putting people under a mic'd, blanket-covered grand piano, w/a sandbag depressing the sustain pedal to add an ambient "piano string" reverb to the sound of the voices [...] then he just let us go and talk & improvise hopefully comedic material, in this dark, tent-like atmosphere. i remember it feeling like we were little kids who were hiding in a "fort" we had built.

Appearances

Thanks to Charles Ulrich, Tan Mitsugu & Patrick Buzby.

grout

Läther (1996) [Universal 2012]

Sheik Yerbouti (1979) [Rykodisc 1995]

Baby Snakes (The Movie) (1979) [Eagle Rock 2003]

Tinsel Town Rebellion / Shut Up 'N Play Yer Guitar (1981) [Rykodisc 1995]

Leather Era Outtakes Quaudiophiliac (2004) dialog & music
 

Re-gyptian Strut

           
percussion 0:00-0:01       10. Grout I. 0:01-0:25    
leather 0:01-0:07        

Bozzio: L-l-l . . .
O'Hearn: Listen now . . .
Bozzio: Father I'm glad you're here . . . I want you to hear this . . . I have a confession to make, you know?
O'Hearn: Well, spit it out, son

orchestra 0:07-0:08          
leather 0:08-0:10   1. 0:00:09-0:00:10     Bozzio: L-l-l-l-l-l-
leather 0:10-0:12         Bozzio: LEATHER . . .
orchestra 0:12-0:13   1. 0:00:10-0:00:21     "I Have Seen The Pleated Gazelle" (RPO, 1971)
orchestra 0:13-0:22      
snorks 0:22-0:23          
leather 0:23-0:24   8. 0:34:43-0:34:44     O'Hearn: Well, don't be ashamed
 

Naval Aviation In Art?

           
orchestra 1:21-1:21            
percussion 1:21-1:25   8. 0:35:01-0:35:06        
percussion 1:25-1:26     1.2. Hog Heaven. 2:46-2:49 13. Grout II. 0:28-0:35    
leather 1:26-1:28      

Bozzio: God, that was really beautiful . . .
O'Hearn: Ha-uh . . .

percussion 1:28-1:33          
  A Little Green Rosetta            
percussion 0:00-0:00       13. Grout II. 0:35-0:35    
leather 2:48-2:49          

Bozzio: What?

 

Duck Duck Goose

           
leather 0:41-0:43 15. Dancin' Fool. 3:42-3:43 1. 0:00:07-0:00:09      

O'Hearn: Heh heh heh ye-yes!

orchestra 0:43-0:46   1. 0:00:04-0:00:07   10. Grout I. 0:47-1:20   "Kung Fu" (WRMF, 1990)
orchestra 0:46-0:47          
percussion 0:47-0:50          
Roy 0:50-1:01        

Roy:
I never thought you'd go from me

percussion 1:01-1:03          
Roy 1:03-1:12        

Roy:
Now that you're gone
I miss you so much

tapes 1:12-1:12   6. 0:21:41-0:21:46      
tapes 1:12-1:13        
Roy 1:13-1:13      

Roy:
Wha-

percussion 1:13-1:14        
Roy 1:14-1:14      

Roy:
Wha-

leather 1:14-1:15        
percussion 1:15-1:16        
tapes 1:16-1:16        
Roy 1:16-1:20   13. 1:08:55-1:08:59   10. Grout I. 1:20-1:23
19. Grout IV. 0:10-0:14
 

Roy:
Whatcha gonna do when the well runs dry?

leather 1:20-1:21 7. Rat Tomago. 5:15-5:17        

O'Hearn: Oh-ooh-h listen to him go!

percussion 1:21-1:22            
bass & orchestra 1:22-1:55   13. 1:09:51-1:10:19   19. Grout IV. 0:29-0:57   "Shove It Right In" (RPO, 1971)
percussion 1:55-1:55 11. The Sheik Yerbouti Tango. 0:00-0:02          
leather 1:55-1:57        

O'Hearn: Why don't you take it down to C-sharp, Ernie?

percussion 1:57-1:57            
Roy 1:57-2:01   13. 1:09:05-1:09:09   13. Grout II. 0:00-0:03
19. Grout IV. 0:20-0:24
 

Roy:
Whatcha gonna do when the well runs dry-y-y-y?

percussion 2:01-2:02     1.6. Heavy Duty Judy. 4:34-4:39 10. Grout I. 0:00-0:01
13. Grout II. 0:03-0:04
   
leather 2:02-2:06     13. Grout II. 0:04-0:08  

Bozzio: Talk him down, Vic . . .
Moire: Mmm . . .
O'Hearn: Come on down, Johnny . . .
Moire: Okay . . .

percussion 2:06-2:09            
percussion 2:09-2:52       17. Grout III. 0:50-1:32    
percussion 2:52-2:55            
leather 2:55-2:56            
percussion 2:56-2:56            
leather 2:56-2:57          

Moire?: Yeah

percussion 2:57-2:58            
leather 2:58-3:01          

O'Hearn?: Nope

 

Down In De Dew

           
tape 2:54-2:55            
percussion 2:55-2:56            
leather 2:56-2:57          

Uh-uh-uh-un-ha-ahh!

 

For The Young Sophisticate

           
FZ 3:11-3:12            
 

Tryin' To Grow A Chin

           
percussion 0:00-0:00       10. Grout I. 0:25-0:47    
leather 0:00-0:03        

Moire: Leather!

percussion 0:03-0:04          
tape 0:04-0:05          
leather 0:05-0:06        

Bozzio: Ungh . . . ungh . . . ungh . . .

percussion 0:06-0:12          
Roy? 0:12-0:12        

 

percussion 0:12-0:15          
Roy & bass? 0:15-0:16         Roy: Unnh-ooh-oooh . . .
percussion 0:16-0:18          
leather 0:18-0:20        

Moire: Leather . . .
Bozzio: What?

percussion 0:20-0:20          
leather 0:20-0:21         Moire: Leather!
percussion 0:21-0:21          
percussion 3:15-3:15            
leather 3:15-3:26          

Bozzio: Ungh . . . ungh . . . ungh . . .
O'Hearn: Whadya say we go down the street for a few minutes?
Bozzio: No . . . no go on that . . . I, uh . . .
Moire: You don't like fag bars?
Bozzio: No
O'Hearn: Well, try 'em!

 

Broken Hearts Are For Assholes

           
shot (repeated on FH 6:03) 4:34-4:35 9. Bobby Brown. 2:43-2:49          
leather 4:35-4:40        

O'Hearn: Yeah . . . I knew you'd be surprised . . .

 

Lemme Take You To The Beach

           
percussion 2:44-2:47            
 

RDNZL

           
percussion 0:00-0:00            
 

Honey, Don't You Want A Man Like Me

           
percussion 0:00-0:02   13. 1:08:48-1:08:55   19. Grout IV. 0:04-0:10    
percussion 0:02-0:03   1.5. Treacherous Cretins. 5:29-5:34    
leather 0:03-0:06    

Bozzio: It's gone . . .
O'Hearn: What? Your talent for sucking?
Bozzio: I . . .
O'Hearn: Never . . .

percussion 0:06-0:07      
noise 4:20-4:20 8. Wait A Minute. 0:00-0:31 13. 1:09:13-1:09:50        
leather 4:20-4:33      

Bozzio: Wait a minute; we gotta get somethin' happenin' here. He's in there spendin' thousands of dollars 'n shit . . . We should make this worthwhile. We should . . . We should get into something REAL

leather 4:33-4:36       O'Hearn: Ho Ho
Moire: LEATHER!
percussion 4:36-4:37        
leather 4:37-4:51       Bozzio: No, man, he's not interested in Leather . . . shit . . . That shit's been fuckin' rubbed in the ground . . . Hmmmm . . . Christ, that's goin' on two tours old now . . . We gotta come up with some new shit . . .
noise 4:51-4:53          
percussion 4:53-4:54          
orchestra 4:54-4:54          
leather 4:54-4:57   3.3. Pinocchio's Furniture. 2:02-2:05 10. Grout I. 1:24-1:26   O'Hearn: Oh-ho-ho-you don't think so, huh?
 

Big Leg Emma

           
percussion 2:11-2:13 6. WEHTATFITW. 0:00-0:03          
leather 2:13-2:14        

Moire: What ever happened to all the fun in the world?

percussion 2:14-2:17            
leather 2:17-2:18           O'Hearn?: Gurh-gurh-gurh-gurhg . . .
 

Flambé

           
noise 1:47-1:48            
percussion 1:48-1:49            
leather 1:49-2:05          

Bozzio?: There it is . . .
O'Hearn: Bill, look at it . . . ain't she a beauty . . .
Bozzio: It's . . . it's breathtaking . . .
O'Hearn: Sh . . . sh . . . she musta cost you a small fortune . . . whadya pay for it?
Bozzio: An arm and a leg . . . Christ, are you kidding? . . . Shit, I'm in hock up to my godamned eyeballs . . .

 

The Purple Lagoon

           
percussion 16:15-16:15       17. Grout III. 0:00-0:08    
leather 16:15-16:20        

O'Hearn: Tse-heh-heh-heh-heh-ha-ha . . .

 

Pedro's Dowry

           
snork 7:41-7:42            
leather 7:42-7:45   13. 1:08:59-1:09:02   19. Grout IV. 0:14-0:17  

Moire: Oh God, no, not again . . .

percussion 7:45-7:45        
 

Läther

           
leather 3:32-3:32   13. 1:08:44-1:08:46   19. Grout IV. 0:00-0:01  

Bozzio: HEH-heh-heh . . .

percussion 3:32-3:33       19. Grout IV. 1:21-1:38    
leather (Dale) 3:33-3:33   1. 0:00:01-0:00:02     Dale: Ahhhh!
percussion 3:33-3:34        
orchestra 3:34-3:35          
leather 3:35-3:37         O'Hearn: Ooo-oo-oo-oh, yes!
Bozzio: What?!
percussion 3:37-3:39          
piano 3:39-3:41          
leather 3:41-3:41         O'Hearn: Ahhh . . .
percussion 3:41-3:43          
leather 3:43-3:44   8. 0:35:10-0:35:10     O'Hearn: Smell it . . .
percussion 3:44-3:45          
leather 3:45-3:45         Moire: Sniff . . .
percussion 3:45-3:46          
leather 3:46-3:47         Moire: Nn-hng . . .
percussion 3:47-3:47          
leather 3:47-3:48         O'Hearn: Oh . . .
percussion 3:48-3:49          
leather 3:49-3:50       19. Grout IV. 1:20-1:21   Moire: Uh-huhm . . .
 

Spider Of Destiny

           
percussion 2:31-2:35            
leather 2:35-2:36         9. WJ. 13:21-13:23 O'Hearn: Say, uh . . .
percussion 2:36-2:37        
leather 2:37-2:38       O'Hearn: You still bowling?
honk 2:38-2:38   6. 0:29:00-0:29:02     10. BM#2. 0:00-0:02  
kazoo 2:38-2:40      
 

Filthy Habits

           
orchestra 6:02-6:03 6. WEHTATFITW. 0:03-0:33         "I Have Seen The Pleated Gazelle" (RPO, 1971)
shot (from BHAFA 4:34) 6:03-6:04          
percussion 6:04-6:05          
lumpy gravy + bass 6:05-6:08        

Louis The Turkey?: Uh . . . heh-heh-heh-heh-heh-heh-heh-heh . . .

percussion 6:08-6:08          
orchestra 6:08-6:09          
leather 6:09-6:20        

Bozzio: Larry's not with us any more; he went on y'know
O'Hearn: Yeah
Bozzio: Yeah . . . He bit the big one
O'Hearn: Hah-hah!

orchestra 6:20-6:22         "I Have Seen The Pleated Gazelle" (RPO, 1971)
leather 6:22-6:22         Bozzio: Ahem . . .
orchestra 6:22-6:24         "I Have Seen The Pleated Gazelle" (RPO, 1971)
leather 6:24-6:25         Bozzio: Yeah . . .
percussion 6:25-6:27          
leather 6:27-6:31         Bozzio: Well, he's got his own little piece of heaven now
O'Hearn: Hhh! Hah-hah-hah . . .
orchestra 6:31-7:00       17. Grout III. 0:17-0:46   "Can I Help You With This Dummy?" (RPO, 1971)
orchestra 7:00-7:03       17. Grout III. 0:47-0:50   "I Have Seen The Pleated Gazelle" (RPO, 1971)
leather 7:03-7:12     TTR.2. Easy Meat. 3:10-3:19 17. Grout III. 0:08-0:17   O'Hearn: Uh, wish he'd play something else . . . 'Cause, uh, they just aren't gonna stand for it . . .
 

Titties 'N Beer

           
Bozzio 5:21-5:23            
 

Greggery Peccary

           
leather 20:53-20:55       19. Grout IV. 1:38-1:42  

O'Hearn: L-le-leather . . .

percussion 20:55-20:56          
percussion       1.3. SUNPYG. 5:32-5:33      
leather       1.3. SUNPYG. 5:33-5:38    

Bozzio: We've been out here a long time, man, I wonder if he's really . . . entertained by this

leather       1.4. WYWO. 5:59-6:00    

Heh heh heh . . .

piano       2.1. VOTCSSCP. 3:56-3:57      
percussion       2.1. VOTCSSCP.3:57-3:57      
leather       2.1. VOTCSSCP.3:57-3:58    

Ah . . . e-hem . . .

leather?       2.2. GILYP. 2:30-2:35    

O'Hearn: Identify your last port of entry, space wanderer . . .

leather       2.3. Canarsie. 6:01-6:05    

Bozzio: L-l-l-l-l-l . . .
O'Hearn: Oh, ship ahoy!

percussion       2.5. The Deathless Horsie. 6:18-6:20      
leather       2.5. The Deathless Horsie. 6:20-6:20    

Bozzio: Ngh . . .

percussion       2.6. SUNPYGSM. 6:50-6:53      
leather       2.6. SUNPYGSM. 6:53-6:53    

Bozzio: L-l . . .

leather + lumpy       3.1. BIWYF. 1:40-1:58    

John: Can't burn 'em . . . ahm . . .
Spider: It's . . .
John: Goes out with Gross Man. I know they're Gross Men . . .
Girl: No!
Louis: Scars . . . all my body! No, I didn't have it. Boogey-man or something, nothing's in your head, Boogey-man!
Spider: . . . who God's put away, man.

Moire: Holy Christ! [...] God, what a fuckin' war club that is! Get that thing off the piano, will ya? For Chrissakes. You'll stain the fuckin' wood . . .
Bozzio: I'm gonna beat this fuckin' surface, man.
Moire: Not with that, though. Great [...], for Christ, beat it with your fist, for Chrissakes.

percussion       3.2. ROTSOSUNPYG. 8:28-8:28      
leather       3.2. ROTSOSUNPYG. 8:28-8:30    

O'Hearn: Heh heh heh heh heh . . . I was there last night . . .

percussion       3.3. Pinocchio's Furniture. 2:01-2:02      
leather       3.5. Stucco Homes. 8:56-9:08    

Bozzio: Once in a while . . .
O'Hearn: Oh, sing it!
Bozzio: Da-dwe-dee-da-doo-dwe-da-dee-da-doo-da-ah!

leather       3.6. Canard Du Jour. 2:38-2:40    

Bozzio: Yeah . . .
O'Hearn: Kinda reminds you of home, doesn't it?

 

Re-gyptian Strut (1993)

           
KROQ '77 0:00-0:04            
KROQ '77 0:04-0:07            
leather 0:07-0:14           Just what the hell's going on down there anyway? You-you kids quit monkeying with that machinery! Get the hell outta there!
percussion 0:14-0:17            
KROQ '77 0:17-0:24            
KROQ '77 0:24-0:30            
 

Leather Goods

           
KROQ '77 0:00-0:00            
KROQ '77 0:00-0:03            
grout 0:03-0:05            
voice + bass 0:05-0:11           Yeah I-I left home. I used to sleep in one of those old stand-up Baldwins, y'know?
percussion 0:11-0:19            
grout 0:19-0:23            
percussion 0:23-0:29            
grout 0:29-0:33            
percussion 0:33-0:34            
London '77 0:34-5:57            
Bozzio 5:57-6:01           "Terr, ya gotta upset stomach? I give you some Pepto-Dismal"
 

Time Is Money

           
KROQ '77 2:52-3:01            
noise 3:01-3:01            
leather 3:01-3:05           L-le-leather . . .
percussion         10. Grout I. 0:01-0:01    
percussion         10. Grout I. 1:23-1:24    
Royce Hall '75         13. Grout II. 0:08-0:28    
percussion         17. Grout III. 0:46-0:47    
percussion         17. Grout III. 1:32-2:03    
percussion     13. 1:08:44-1:08:48   19. Grout IV. 0:00-0:04    
Roy [including Duck Duck Goose. 1:57-2:01]   13. 1:09:02-1:09:13   19. Grout IV. 0:17-0:28   Roy:
Oooh oooh
Whatcha gonna do when the well runs dry-y-y-y?
Dry-y-y . . .
bass + electronic noises [Duck Duck Goose. 1:22-1:55 without orchestra]   13. 1:09:50-1:10:34   19. Grout IV. 0:28-1:12    
percussion         19. Grout IV. 1:12-1:14    
leather         19. Grout IV. 1:14-1:19   But if you look back and feel it . . .

 

Conceptual Continuity

More bizarre people talking:

 

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