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Product details
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Track Listings
| 1. Pronounced Normal | |||
| 2. Don't Be A Singer | |||
| 3. It's Nice To Have Things | |||
| 4. I Swear To God My Love Was True | |||
| 5. Talking | |||
| 6. Watch Out For The Sharks | |||
| 7. When You're Younger | |||
| 8. Yesterday | |||
| 9. Fish Heads | |||
| 10. Mistakes | |||
| 11. Frank | |||
| 12. It's A Money World | |||
| 13. The Mope Part 2 | |||
| 14. The Righteous | |||
| 15. Oh Linda, No Laurie | |||
| 16. The Bouillabaisse | |||
| 17. One Minute | |||
| 18. In My Room | |||
| 19. I'm A Christmas Tree | |||
| 20. Let Us Live As One | |||
See all 22 tracks on this disc
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
If you only intend to buy one Wild Man Fischer album, buy this one. Although An Evening With remains Wild Man Fischer's best work to date, Pronounced Normal has far more immediate appeal (it is much shorter for one, and doesn't suffer from the "filler material" which spoilt the flow of An Evening With). Further more it has much better production values than Wildmania (courtesy of Barnes and Barnes), and some of the tracks (particularly Bouillabaisse) have a unique sound that goes beyond psychedelia, and into madness.
In addition the album has a fascinating history. The vocals were recorded by Arti Barnes while driving around in his car with Wild Man Fischer hold a pair of rusty scissors over his head. The track My Friend Frank so incensed the usually unflappable Frank Zappa that he threatened to storm off the Dr Demento show if it was played. And, upon listening to Bouillabaisse, Wild Man Fischer became convinced that "Weird" Al Yankovich was trying to steal his penis.
This album offers an audio experience quite unlike any other, and offers a glimpse it to the mind of one of the most unusual talents to come out of the sixties era.
In addition the album has a fascinating history. The vocals were recorded by Arti Barnes while driving around in his car with Wild Man Fischer hold a pair of rusty scissors over his head. The track My Friend Frank so incensed the usually unflappable Frank Zappa that he threatened to storm off the Dr Demento show if it was played. And, upon listening to Bouillabaisse, Wild Man Fischer became convinced that "Weird" Al Yankovich was trying to steal his penis.
This album offers an audio experience quite unlike any other, and offers a glimpse it to the mind of one of the most unusual talents to come out of the sixties era.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
2 reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
The Soundtrack of an Unstable Mind
26 Aug 2009
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
You ever happen to meet someone while your out shopping or at a bar, and immediately know something just isn't right with them? For some reason things just didn't come together and you are dealing with someone who isn't all there, what is your usual reaction?
Well I guess if you are Frank Zappa, you sign them up to a record deal.
"An Evening with Wild Man Fischer" was the debut double album by Fischer, and not long after, he had a falling out with Zappa....apparently a pretty ugly falling out in which Fischer threw a jar at Frank's daughter. Because of this "An Evening with Wild Man Fischer" remains out of print, and has never been released on CD.
Wild Man Fischer fans have to console themselves with Fischer's three other disks which are now available. "Pronounced Normal" is Fischer's third album, and it's a bit different than both "An Evening with.." and "Wildmania". On "Normal" Fischer enlists the help of "Barnes & Barnes", the comedy rock/pop duo formed by "Lost in Space" child-actor turned musician Billy Mumy. "Barnes & Barnes" were a staple on Dr. Demento's novelty tune radio show with their song "Fish Heads", which the Wild Man covers on this album. Is this a good thing? I don't know, at times the added production value seems to take away from the Wild Man's delivery, in tunes like "Frank" and the title track, the post production keyboard and drum mix can be a little heavy-handed and distract the listener from Fischer's raw delivery. At other times, "Barnes & Barnes" add a bit of flourish that will enhance the tune, for instance the lonely blowing wind effect playing behind "Oh Linda, No Laurie", or the simplistic keyboard melody played before "Mistakes". If nothing else, I'm happy for the involvement of "Barnes & Barnes", becuase without them, we never would have gotten this disk's strongest tune, "The Bouillabaise" which basically consists of some Wild Man Fischer ramblings mixed with a nightmarish instrumental.
"Pronounced Normal" comes with extensive liner notes written by Bill Mumy reflecting on his time recording with the Wild Man. The challenges of getting Fischer into the studio, the fun of watching Fischer create songs, the "pep", and the heartache of Fischer's initial reaction to this disk and specifically the effect "The Bouillabaise" had on the Wild Man was a fascinating read.
If you have ever listened to Wild Man Fischer and simply laughed at his tunes, or thought that the whole "crazy persona" was simply a gimmick, read Mumy's liner notes, watch the documentary about Wild Man Fischer "Derailroaded", and then listen to these songs again with a new perspective. You will still chuckle at times, but you will also begin to hear a bit more depth to the Wild Man's lyrics, and realize Fischer is actually saying something, not just doing schtick.
Well I guess if you are Frank Zappa, you sign them up to a record deal.
"An Evening with Wild Man Fischer" was the debut double album by Fischer, and not long after, he had a falling out with Zappa....apparently a pretty ugly falling out in which Fischer threw a jar at Frank's daughter. Because of this "An Evening with Wild Man Fischer" remains out of print, and has never been released on CD.
Wild Man Fischer fans have to console themselves with Fischer's three other disks which are now available. "Pronounced Normal" is Fischer's third album, and it's a bit different than both "An Evening with.." and "Wildmania". On "Normal" Fischer enlists the help of "Barnes & Barnes", the comedy rock/pop duo formed by "Lost in Space" child-actor turned musician Billy Mumy. "Barnes & Barnes" were a staple on Dr. Demento's novelty tune radio show with their song "Fish Heads", which the Wild Man covers on this album. Is this a good thing? I don't know, at times the added production value seems to take away from the Wild Man's delivery, in tunes like "Frank" and the title track, the post production keyboard and drum mix can be a little heavy-handed and distract the listener from Fischer's raw delivery. At other times, "Barnes & Barnes" add a bit of flourish that will enhance the tune, for instance the lonely blowing wind effect playing behind "Oh Linda, No Laurie", or the simplistic keyboard melody played before "Mistakes". If nothing else, I'm happy for the involvement of "Barnes & Barnes", becuase without them, we never would have gotten this disk's strongest tune, "The Bouillabaise" which basically consists of some Wild Man Fischer ramblings mixed with a nightmarish instrumental.
"Pronounced Normal" comes with extensive liner notes written by Bill Mumy reflecting on his time recording with the Wild Man. The challenges of getting Fischer into the studio, the fun of watching Fischer create songs, the "pep", and the heartache of Fischer's initial reaction to this disk and specifically the effect "The Bouillabaise" had on the Wild Man was a fascinating read.
If you have ever listened to Wild Man Fischer and simply laughed at his tunes, or thought that the whole "crazy persona" was simply a gimmick, read Mumy's liner notes, watch the documentary about Wild Man Fischer "Derailroaded", and then listen to these songs again with a new perspective. You will still chuckle at times, but you will also begin to hear a bit more depth to the Wild Man's lyrics, and realize Fischer is actually saying something, not just doing schtick.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Larry Deserves Some Credit
6 July 2009
Format:Audio CD
Wow no ratings for Larry. I'll be the first.
Larry is weird and wild but his songs can be INCREDIBLY sweet and INCREDIBLY charming despite his lunatic delivery and point of view. I've used them on compilations given to women who seemed charmed too.
Songs like:
I Swear To God My Love Was True
In My Room - a classic
It's Nice to Have Things - histerically funny and TRUE!
or
I Worry About My Friends - off Nothing Scary
Love Love Love In Everything You Do - off Nothing Scary
are just wonderful. If anyone else sang them they'd be corny, Wild Man has just the right touch of insanity and sincerity to make them lovable.
Not for everyone. But heck Frank Zappa liked them enough to pay out money to produce them. Me and Francis agree, Larry is one of a kind. He deserves better than history has given him.
Larry is weird and wild but his songs can be INCREDIBLY sweet and INCREDIBLY charming despite his lunatic delivery and point of view. I've used them on compilations given to women who seemed charmed too.
Songs like:
I Swear To God My Love Was True
In My Room - a classic
It's Nice to Have Things - histerically funny and TRUE!
or
I Worry About My Friends - off Nothing Scary
Love Love Love In Everything You Do - off Nothing Scary
are just wonderful. If anyone else sang them they'd be corny, Wild Man has just the right touch of insanity and sincerity to make them lovable.
Not for everyone. But heck Frank Zappa liked them enough to pay out money to produce them. Me and Francis agree, Larry is one of a kind. He deserves better than history has given him.
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