Baby Snakes

1979 film by Frank Zappa

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Baby Snakes

DVD cover

Directed by| Frank Zappa
Bruce Bickford (animated sequences)
Produced by| Frank Zappa
Bennett Glotzer
Starring|

* Frank Zappa
* Terry Bozzio
* Roy Estrada
* Adrian Belew
* Ed Mann
* Patrick O'Hearn
* Peter Wolf
* Tommy Mars
* and New York's Finest Crazy Persons

Music by| Frank Zappa
Distributed by| Intercontinental Absurdities

Release date

* December 21, 1979 (1979-12-21)

Running time

| 166 minutes
Language| English
Budget| $679,000

Baby Snakes is a film which includes footage from Frank Zappa's 1977 Halloween concerts at the Palladium in New York City. It also includes backstage antics from the crew, and stop motion clay animation from award-winning animator Bruce Bickford.

The film premiered on Zappa's 39th birthday, December 21, 1979, at the Victoria Theater in Manhattan. During this initial New York run it was shown continuously 24 hours a day. (The theater marquee can be seen in the opening credits to the 1980 Italian horror film, Eaten Alive!, partly filmed in New York at the time that Baby Snakes was playing.)[citation needed]

## History

[edit]

Zappa spent his own money on the project and took several months editing the film during 1978. He had difficulty finding a distributor for the film in 1979. He tried to interest United Artists, the company that released 200 Motels, but they declined. Other studios followed United Artists' lead, fearing that Zappa's "cinematic style" had lost considerable appeal in 1970s pop culture, and also declined to distribute the film.

Several European distributors told Zappa that there might be interest if the running time was cut from its original 168-minute length. The film was cut to 90 minutes, but still, there were no takers.

Even after Bruce Bickford's sequences won first prize at a French animated film competition, there was no interest. Eventually Zappa took it upon himself to distribute the film independently, via his own production company, Intercontinental Absurdities.

The film was first released on videocassette in 1983 in a 90-minute edited version with a "sell-through" price of $59.98. This coincided with the original vinyl release of the soundtrack album. The complete 2-hour 45-minute version of the film was released as a double videocassette in 1987, with the soundtrack album being issued on CD around the same time. The full version retailed at $200 and was aimed at rental stores. Both the 1983 and 1987 editions sold out quickly.

Baby Snakes was released on DVD on December 9, 2003, by Eagle Vision United States in its complete unedited form. This version has a four channel Surround sound mix included. The surround mix was created by Zappa for theatrical showings in 1979 but not previously available on home video. This DVD was also the first time that the film was widely distributed to the public.

## Soundtrack

[edit]

Main article: Baby Snakes (soundtrack)

The soundtrack album was first released on vinyl in 1983 as a picture disc, and subsequently on compact disc with different artwork.[1]

### AAAFNRAA: Baby Snakes – The Compleat Soundtrack

[edit]

AAFNRAA: Baby Snakes – The Compleat Soundtrack

Soundtrack album by

Frank Zappa

Released| December 21, 2012 (2012-12-21)
Recorded| October 28–31, 1977
Venue| The Palladium, New York City
Genre|

* Hard rock
* progressive rock
* art rock
* comedy rock
* spoken word

Length| 164:20
Label| Zappa Records
Producer| Frank Zappa
Frank Zappa chronology
| Finer Moments
(2012)  | AAFNRAA: Baby Snakes – The Compleat Soundtrack
(2012)  | Road Tapes, Venue #2
(2013)

|
|

AAAFNRAA: Baby Snakes – The Compleat Soundtrack consists of the entire soundtrack of the film (including all dialogue and sound effects), released to iTunes on Zappa's birthday on December 21, 2012.[2] Of the 130 official releases, it is the only one which is available only as a download.

No.| Title| Length

|
|

1.| "Baby Snakes Rehearsal"| 2:11
2.| "'This Is the Show They Never See'"| 5:52
3.| "Baby Snakes - The Song"| 2:04
4.| "Bruce Bickford / 'Disco Outfreakage'"| 6:15
5.| "The Poodle Lecture"| 5:03
6.| "'She Said' / City of Tiny Lites"| 10:28
7.| "New York's Finest Crazy Persons"| 1:55
8.| "'The Way the Air Smells…' / Flakes"| 4:01
9.| "Pound Bass & Keyboard Solo"| 6:36
10.| "'In You' Rap / Dedication"| 6:47
11.| "Manuaga / Police Car / Drum Solo"| 9:45
12.| "Disco Boy"| 4:02
13.| "'Give People Somewhere to X-Scape Thru'"| 6:26
14.| "King Kong / Roy's Halloween Gas Mask"| 9:01
15.| "Bobby Brown Goes Down"| 3:43
16.| "Conehead / 'All You Need to Know'"| 5:32
17.| "I'm So Cute / 'Entertainment All the Way'"| 5:15
18.| "Titties 'n' Beer"| 6:19
19.| "Audience Participation / The Dance Contest"| 6:36
20.| "The Black Page #2"| 2:55
21.| "Jones Crusher"| 2:53
22.| "Broken Hearts Are for Assholes"| 3:50
23.| "Punky's Whips"| 12:10
24.| "'Thank You' / Dinah-Moe-Humm"| 7:19
25.| "Camarillo Brillo"| 3:26
26.| "Muffin Man"| 4:59
27.| "San Ber'dino"| 5:02
28.| "Black Napkins"| 7:54
29.| "New York's Finest Crazy Persons 2"| 4:09
30.| "'Good Night'"| 1:22

## Reception

[edit]

The New York Times called it "a shapeless and inexcusably-long concert film made by, and about, Frank Zappa".[3] Movie historian Leonard Maltin considered the picture "Excruciating...In every fifth shot, Frankie is in closeup; either that or a fan runs up, kisses him, and screeches for joy. Zappa the producer should have fired Zappa the director, although Zappa the editor did cut the running time in half for a reissue 5 years later. The film's sole virtue is its clay animation."[4]

## See also

[edit]

* List of American films of 1979

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Baby Snakes - Frank Zappa | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
2. ^ "2012 AAAFNRAA (Baby Snakes Soundtrack) by Frank Zappa on iTunes". iTunes. December 21, 1979.
3. ^ Maslin, Janet (December 21, 1979). "Screen: For Zappaphiles:A One-Man Enterprise (Published 1979)". The New York Times.
4. ^ Maltin's TV, Movie, & Video Guide

## External links

[edit]

* Baby Snakes at IMDb
* Baby Snakes at Rotten Tomatoes

* v
* t
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Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention

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Official releases
(1966–1993)|

| 1960s|

* Freak Out!
* Absolutely Free
* We're Only in It for the Money
* Lumpy Gravy
* Cruising with Ruben & the Jets
* Mothermania
* Uncle Meat
* Hot Rats

|

1970s|

* Burnt Weeny Sandwich
* Weasels Ripped My Flesh
* Chunga's Revenge
* Fillmore East – June 1971
* 200 Motels
* Just Another Band from L.A.
* Waka/Jawaka
* The Grand Wazoo
* Over-Nite Sensation
* Apostrophe (')
* Roxy & Elsewhere
* One Size Fits All
* Bongo Fury
* Zoot Allures
* Zappa in New York
* Studio Tan
* Sleep Dirt
* Sheik Yerbouti
* Orchestral Favorites
* Joe's Garage Act I
* Joe's Garage Acts II & III

1980s|

* Tinsel Town Rebellion
* Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar
* Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar Some More
* Return of the Son of Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar
* You Are What You Is
* Ship Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch
* The Man from Utopia
* Baby Snakes
* London Symphony Orchestra, Vol. I
* The Perfect Stranger
* Them or Us
* Thing-Fish
* Francesco Zappa
* The Old Masters, Box I
* Frank Zappa Meets the Mothers of Prevention
* Does Humor Belong in Music?
* The Old Masters, Box II
* Jazz from Hell
* London Symphony Orchestra, Vol. II
* The Old Masters, Box III
* Guitar
* You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 1
* You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 2
* Broadway the Hard Way
* You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 3

1990s|

* The Best Band You Never Heard in Your Life
* Make a Jazz Noise Here
* You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 4
* You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 5
* You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 6
* Playground Psychotics
* Ahead of Their Time
* The Yellow Shark

Posthumous
official releases|

| 1990s|

* Civilization Phaze III
* The Lost Episodes
* Läther
* Frank Zappa Plays the Music of Frank Zappa: A Memorial Tribute
* Have I Offended Someone?
* Mystery Disc
* Everything Is Healing Nicely

|

2000s|

* FZ:OZ
* Halloween
* Joe's Corsage
* Quaudiophiliac
* Joe's Domage
* Joe's Xmasage
* Imaginary Diseases
* Trance-Fusion
* The MOFO Project/Object
* The MOFO Project/Object (Fazedooh)
* Buffalo
* The Dub Room Special!
* Wazoo
* One Shot Deal
* Joe's Menage
* The Lumpy Money Project/Object
* Philly '76

2010s|

* Greasy Love Songs
* "Congress Shall Make No Law..."
* Hammersmith Odeon
* Feeding the Monkies at Ma Maison
* Carnegie Hall
* Understanding America
* Road Tapes, Venue #1
* Finer Moments
* AAAFNRAA: Baby Snakes – The Compleat Soundtrack
* Road Tapes, Venue #2
* A Token of His Extreme Soundtrack
* Joe's Camouflage
* Roxy by Proxy
* Dance Me This
* 200 Motels: The Suites
* Roxy the Soundtrack
* Road Tapes, Venue #3
* The Crux of the Biscuit
* Frank Zappa for President
* ZAPPAtite: Frank Zappa's Tastiest Tracks
* Meat Light: The Uncle Meat Project/Object Audio Documentary
* Chicago '78
* Little Dots
* Halloween 77
* The Roxy Performances
* Zappa in New York 40th Anniversary
* Orchestral Favorites 40th Anniversary
* Halloween 73
* The Hot Rats Sessions

2020s|

* The Mothers 1970
* Halloween 81
* Halloween 81 Highlights
* Zappa - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
* Zappa '88: The Last U.S. Show
* 200 Motels 50th Anniversary Edition
* The Mothers 1971
* Zappa/Erie
* Zappa '75: Zagreb/Ljubljana
* Waka/Wazoo
* Zappa '80: Mudd Club/Munich
* Funky Nothingness
* Over-Nite Sensation 50th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition
* Whisky a Go Go 1968
* Apostrophe(') 50th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition
* Cheaper Than Cheep
* One Size Fits All 50th Anniversary

Miscellaneous|

* Lumpy Gravy (Primordial)
* The Guitar World According to Frank Zappa
* Beat the Boots!
* Beat the Boots! II

| Compilations|

* The **** of the Mothers
* Strictly Commercial: The Best of Frank Zappa
* Strictly Genteel: A "Classical" Introduction to Frank Zappa
* Cucamonga
* Cheap Thrills
* Son of Cheep Thrills

|

Birthday Bundle series|

* 2006
* 2008
* 2010
* 2011

|

Singles|

* "Trouble Comin' Every Day"
* "Who Are the Brain Police?"
* "WPLJ"
* "My Guitar"
* "Peaches en Regalia"
* "I'm the Slime"
* "Cosmik Debris"
* "Don't Eat the Yellow Snow"
* "Du Bist Mein Sofa"
* "Find Her Finer"
* "Disco Boy"
* "Dancin' Fool"
* "Bobby Brown"
* "Joe's Garage"
* "I Don't Wanna Get Drafted"
* "You Are What You Is"
* "Valley Girl"
* "Cocaine Decisions"
* "Stairway to Heaven"

Other
compositions|

* "Absolutely Free"
* "Advance Romance"
* "The Adventures of Greggery Peccary"
* "America Drinks & Goes Home"
* "Are You Hung Up?"
* "Billy the Mountain"
* "The Black Page"
* "Brown Shoes Don't Make It"
* "Camarillo Brillo"
* "Cheepnis"
* "Duodenum"
* "Father O'Blivion"
* "Help, I'm a Rock"
* "G-Spot Tornado"
* "I Have Been in You"
* "Inca Roads"
* "Jewish Princess"
* "Let's Make the Water Turn Black"
* "A Little Green Rosetta"
* "Memories of El Monte"
* "Montana"
* "Muffin Man"
* "Nanook Rubs It"
* "Plastic People"
* "The Return of the Son of Monster Magnet"
* "Rollo"
* "Sleep Dirt"
* "St. Alfonzo's Pancake Breakfast"
* "Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance"
* "A Token of My Extreme"
* "The Torture Never Stops"
* "Uncle Remus"
* "Watermelon in Easter Hay"
* "Who Needs the Peace Corps?"
* "Willie the Pimp"
* "Wind Up Workin' in a Gas Station"

Filmography|

* 200 Motels
* Baby Snakes
* The Dub Room Special
* Does Humor Belong in Music?
* Video from Hell
* Uncle Meat
* The True Story of Frank Zappa's 200 Motels
* The Amazing Mr. Bickford

Relatives|

* Gail Zappa
* Moon Zappa
* Dweezil Zappa
* Ahmet Zappa
* Diva Zappa

Influence|

* In popular culture
* Zappa Plays Zappa
* Pachygnatha zappa
* Phialella zappai
* Zappa confluentus
* 3834 Zappafrank
* Frankly a Cappella
* King Kong: Jean-Luc Ponty Plays the Music of Frank Zappa
* Zappa's Universe

Related articles|

* Discography
* Musicians
* Abnuceals Emuukha Electric Symphony Orchestra
* Alice Cooper
* The GTOs
* Wild Man Fischer
* Ruben and the Jets
* Bobby Jameson
* Little Feat
* Flo & Eddie
* U.K
* Missing Persons
* The Turtles
* Bizarre Records
* Straight Records
* DiscReet Records
* Zappa Records
* Barking Pumpkin Records
* The Real Frank Zappa Book
* Studio Z
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* Zappa

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