Them or Us
Studio album by Frank Zappa
Released	October 18, 1984
Recorded	most November 1981 - June 1984
Genre	Hard rock, progressive rock, art rock, comedy rock
Length	70:45
Label	Barking Pumpkin Records Capitol Records
Producer	Frank Zappa
Professional reviews
Allmusic link
Frank Zappa chronology
Boulez Conducts Zappa: The Perfect Stranger (1984) Them or Us (1984) Thing-Fish (1984)

Them or Us is an album by Frank Zappa, released in October 1984. Its opening and closing tracks are covers: "The Closer You Are", which was written by Earl Lewis and Morgan Robinson and originally released by The Channels; and "Whippin' Post", originally recorded by The Allman Brothers Band. Zappa also produced and arranged the album. It was remixed by Bob Stone in 1990, though the differences in the mix between the original vinyl release and the album's first CD release are minimal.

Track listing

All tracks written by Frank Zappa, except where noted.

Side one

1. "The Closer You Are" (Earl Lewis, Morgan "Bobby" Robinson) – 2:55
2. "In France" – 3:30
3. "Ya Hozna" – 6:26
4. "Sharleena" – 4:33

Side two

1. "Sinister Footwear II" – 8:39
2. "Truck Driver Divorce" – 8:59

Side three

1. "Stevie's Spanking" – 5:23
2. "Baby, Take Your Teeth Out" – 1:54
3. "Marqueson's Chicken" – 7:33
4. "Planet of My Dreams" – 1:37

Side four

1. "Be in My Video" – 3:39
2. "Them or Us" – 5:23
3. "Frogs with Dirty Little Lips" (Frank Zappa, Ahmet Zappa) – 2:42
4. "Whippin' Post" (Gregg Allman) – 7:32

Personnel

Musicians

• Frank Zappa – guitar, keyboards, vocals, arranger, producer, main performer, assistant
• Tommy Mars – keyboards, vocals, soloist
• Patrick O'Hearn – wind, bass guitar
• Scott Thunes – vocals, Minimoog, synthesizer, bass guitar
• Johnny "Guitar" Watson – vocals, guitar
• Ray White – guitar, vocals, backing vocals, choir, chorus, harmony vocals, harmony
• Moon Unit Zappa – vocals
• Ed Mann – percussion
• Chad Wackerman – drums, vocals
• Ike Willis – vocals, backing vocals, choir, chorus, harmony vocals, harmony
• Arthur Barrow – bass guitar
• Napoleon Murphy Brock – saxophone, vocals, harmony vocals, harmony
• Brad Cole – piano
• Roy Estrada – vocals, backing vocals, choir, chorus, harmony, bass guitar
• Bob Harris – keyboards, vocals, harmony vocals
• Thana Harris – vocals, harmony
• Steve Vai – guitar, soloist, fills
• Dweezil Zappa – soloist, guitar
• George Duke – keyboards, vocals, piano
• Bobby Martin – keyboards, saxophone, vocals, falssetist, harmony vocals, harmonica

Production staff

• Mark Pinske – engineer
• John Matousek – mastering
• Gabrielle Raumberger – artwork, graphic design
• Steve Schapiro – photography
• Bob Stone – engineer

References

External links

• Release information