Barking Pumpkin Records

Record label

Barking Pumpkin Records is an American record label founded by Frank Zappa in 1981. Zappa named the label after his wife's smoker's cough when she tried to quit the habit.[1] Barking Pumpkin was initially distributed by CBS Records.[2]

## History[edit]

Zappa had founded the Zappa Records label in 1977, and formed a deal with Phonogram Inc., to distribute the label in the United States and Canada.[3] Its first releases were the (mostly) live album Sheik Yerbouti, followed by the dystopian rock opera Joe's Garage.[3] Phonogram refused to distribute the single I Don't Wanna Get Drafted in the US, though they did distribute it in Canada. The song's lyrics criticized president Jimmy Carter's reintroduction of the military draft.[3] Zappa later released the single independently in the US in early 1980.

After spending most of 1980 on the road, Zappa founded Barking Pumpkin and released the album Tinsel Town Rebellion in 1981.[4] Also in 1981 the label released three individual volumes in the Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar series which were initially sold only in the United States by mail order.[5][6][7][8][9][10]

In 1984 Zappa intended to move Barking Pumpkin distribution to MCA Records. Thing-Fish was produced as a test pressing by MCA.[11][12] However, MCA cancelled the contract after a woman in the quality control department became offended by the album's content.[12] A deal was then made with EMI, which allowed Them or Us and Thing-Fish to be distributed by Capitol Records in the United States.[11][12]

In response to the conflict with MCA, Zappa created a sarcastic "Warning/Guarantee" notice which appeared on these albums, as well as Frank Zappa Meets the Mothers of Prevention. The warning said that the album "contains content which a truly free society would neither fear nor suppress", and the guarantee claimed that the lyrics would "not cause eternal torment in the place where the guy with the horns and pointed stick conducts his business".[11][12]

Dweezil Zappa released his debut album Havin' a Bad Day on Barking Pumpkin in 1986. After an album on another label, he released Confessions on Barking Pumpkin in 1991, and formed the group Z, with Ahmet Zappa, releasing Shampoohorn on Barking Pumpkin.

Two more albums, Frank Zappa Plays the Music of Frank Zappa: A Memorial Tribute and Quaudiophiliac, were released posthumously by Barking Pumpkin in 1996 and 2004, along with the previously unreleased album Everything Is Healing Nicely in 1999.

In 2012, the Zappa Family Trust regained control of Frank Zappa's recorded music catalog and made a distribution arrangement with Universal Music Enterprises to reissue the Zappa catalog on the Zappa and Barking Pumpkin labels.[13]

## Artists[edit]

See also: Barking Pumpkin Records discography

Former
Artist  | Year(s) signed  | Albums released on Barking Pumpkin  | Notes

|
|
|

Frank Zappa |  —  | 21  | Died December 4, 1993 (aged 52), due to prostate cancer.
Dweezil Zappa | 1986–1988; 1991–1994  | 2  | Son of Frank Zappa. Has since released albums on Chrysalis, Favored Nations and Zappa Records.
Z  | 1994  | 1  | Consists of Dweezil and Ahmet Zappa, sons of Frank Zappa. Released one more album on Zappa Records.

## References[edit]

1. ^ Miles, Barry, "Zappa: A Biography", Grove Press, 2004.
2. ^ "Billboard". 1982-07-17. Retrieved 2015-06-18.
3. ^ a b c Schinder, Scott; Schwartz, Andy (2008). Icons of Rock: Velvet Underground ; The Grateful Dead ; Frank Zappa ; Led ... - Scott Schinder, Andy Schwartz. ISBN 9780313338472. Retrieved 2015-06-18.
4. ^ Lowe, 2006, The Words and Music of Frank Zappa, p. 161.
5. ^ Hoffman, Frank (2004-08-21). Encyclopedia of Recorded Sound. ISBN 9780203484272. Retrieved 2015-06-18.
6. ^ Miles, Barry (September 2005). Zappa - Barry Miles. ISBN 9780802142153. Retrieved 2015-06-18.
7. ^ Helander, Brock (2010-04-29). Rocking Sixties - Brock Helander. ISBN 9780028648736. Retrieved 2015-06-18.
8. ^ Lowe, Kelly Fisher (October 2007). The Words and Music of Frank Zappa - Kelly Fisher Lowe. ISBN 978-0803260054. Retrieved 2015-06-18.
9. ^ Helander, Brock (2010-07-03). The Rock Who's who - Brock Helander. ISBN 9780028710310. Retrieved 2015-06-18.
10. ^ Bogdanov, Vladimir; Woodstra, Chris; Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (2002). All Music Guide to Rock: The Definitive Guide to Rock, Pop, and Soul. ISBN 9780879306533. Retrieved 2015-06-18.
11. ^ a b c Miles, Barry (September 2005). Zappa - Barry Miles. ISBN 9780802142153. Retrieved 2015-06-18.
12. ^ a b c d Zappa, Frank with Occhiogrosso, Peter (1989). The Real Frank Zappa Book. New York: Poseidon Press. pp. 278–279. ISBN 0-671-63870-X.`{{cite book}}`: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
13. ^ Groover, Heidi (2012-06-11). "Zappa Family Trust Regains Control of Frank's Barking Pumpkin Catalog, Plans Comprehensive Reissue Campaign - Line Out". Thestranger.com. Retrieved 2015-06-18.

## External links[edit]

* The official Frank Zappa website
* Barking Pumpkin discography discography at Discogs

* v
* t
* e

Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention

* Frank Zappa
* Roy Estrada
* Jimmy Carl Black
* Ray Collins
* Don Preston
* Van Dyke Parks
* Henry Vestine
* Jim Guercio
* Steve Mann
* Elliot Ingber
* Jim Sherwood
* Jim Fielder
* Bunk Gardner
* Billy Mundi
* Ian Underwood
* Art Tripp
* Lowell George
* Buzz Gardner
* Aynsley Dunbar
* Mark Volman
* Howard Kaylan
* Jeff Simmons
* George Duke
* Jim Pons
* Bob Harris
* Jean-Luc Ponty
* Tom Fowler
* Ruth Underwood
* Ed Mann
* Bruce Fowler
* Napoleon Murphy Brock
* Chester Thompson
* Terry Bozzio
* Denny Walley
* Ricky Lancelotti
* Norma Jean Bell
* Novi Novog

Studio and
live albums
(1966–1993)|

* Freak Out!
* Absolutely Free
* Lumpy Gravy
* We're Only in It for the Money
* Cruising with Ruben & the Jets
* Uncle Meat
* Hot Rats
* 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
* 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
* Boulez Conducts Zappa: The Perfect Stranger
* Them or Us
* Francesco Zappa
* Thing-Fish
* 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
* 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 albums of
unreleased studio
and live recordings|

* Civilization Phaze III
* The Lost Episodes
* Läther
* Mystery Disc
* Everything Is Healing Nicely
* FZ:OZ
* Halloween
* Joe's Corsage
* Joe's Domage
* QuAUDIOPHILIAc
* Joe's XMASage
* Imaginary Diseases
* Trance-Fusion
* Buffalo
* The Dub Room Special!
* Wazoo
* One Shot Deal
* Joe's Menage
* Philly '76
* Congress Shall Make No Law...
* Hammersmith Odeon
* Feeding the Monkies at Ma Maison
* Carnegie Hall
* Road Tapes, Venue #1
* AAAFNRAA Baby Snakes The Compleat Soundtrack
* Road Tapes, Venue #2
* A Token of His Extreme
* Joe's Camouflage
* Roxy by Proxy
* Dance Me This
* Roxy the Soundtrack
* Road Tapes, Venue #3
* Frank Zappa for President
* Chicago '78
* Little Dots
* The Roxy Performances
* Halloween 73
* The Hot Rats Sessions
* The Mothers 1970
* Halloween 81
* 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

Miscellaneous and
compilations|

* Mothermania
* The **** of the Mothers
* The Guitar World According to Frank Zappa
* Beat the Boots
* Beat the Boots II
* Frank Zappa Plays the Music of Frank Zappa: A Memorial Tribute
* Strictly Commercial
* Have I Offended Someone?
* Strictly Genteel
* Cucamonga
* Cheap Thrills
* Son of Cheep Thrills
* Understanding America
* Finer Moments
* ZAPPAtite

Birthday Bundle series|

* 2006
* 2008
* 2010
* 2011

Project/Object series|

* The MOFO Project/Object
* Lumpy Money Project/Object
* Greasy Love Songs
* The Crux of the Biscuit
* Meat Light

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
* Video from Hell
* Does Humor Belong in Music?
* The True Story of Frank Zappa's 200 Motels
* The Amazing Mr. Bickford
* Uncle Meat
* Eat That Question: Frank Zappa in His Own Words

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
* Captain Beefheart
* Wild Man Fischer
* Bobby Jameson
* Ruben and the Jets
* The Real Frank Zappa Book
* Zappa Records
* Abnuceals Emuukha Electric Symphony Orchestra
* Bizarre Records
* Straight Records
* DiscReet Records
* Barking Pumpkin Records
* Studio Z
* Utility Muffin Research Kitchen

* Category

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* France
* BnF data

Other|

* MusicBrainz label

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