Hot & Spicy Beanburger
Encyclopedia
Hot and Spicy Beanburger, released in 1993, is the fourth studio album
by Dread Zeppelin
. This album marks the return of Tortelvis, the lead singer who left the band and was not on the previous album, It's Not Unusual, which was criticized by many fans due to its focus on disco songs.
On Hot and Spicy Beanburger, Dread Zeppelin returned to its roots: Led Zeppelin
songs covered in a reggae style, sung by an Elvis impersonator.
The album features numerous Led Zeppelin songs, such as Good Times Bad Times
, Going to California
, and Hot Dog
.
The album also has two non-Led Zeppelin songs: Unchained Melody
and Good Rocking Tonight
. The latter song was also covered by Robert Plant
on his album The Honeydrippers: Volume One
as "Rockin' at Midnight". As on 5,000,000
, the album also has original songs by Dread Zeppelin themselves. One of them is "The Ballad of Charlie Haj", which is about the band member Charlie Haj, who is the man that hands Tortelvis his water and towel on stage (which is a running gag in all Dread Zeppelin album credits and live shows). Another original is composition is "Hot and Spicy Beanburger", which is described by Tortelvis as “a kind of informal session with this recording thing we’re gonna do with some friends of mine.”
The leaflet list songs and credits using a various glyph
s instead of normal letters, such as “βallad of ¢hĀrlie Häј” (see also the cover for a sample). The typography
generally ignores conventions such as the use of upper case. The pages feature the band members in costume on a background of a hamburger bun; the band members are placed on lettuce and tomatoes as if condiments. A quote states: “Hot & spicy beanburger is a tasty tid-bit o’love… A plentiful portion O’peace… A royal repast set before the king.” This “quote” is Credited to Unknown Eastern Mystic (1956).
Dread Zeppelin changes the songs’ syntax or names from the original Led Zeppelin version on purpose. Here, the titles are listed as on the album.
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by Dread Zeppelin
Dread Zeppelin
Dread Zeppelin is an American band best known for performing the songs of Led Zeppelin in a reggae style as sung by a 300 pound Vegas Elvis impersonator. Over the years they would also perform songs originally by Elvis Presley, Bob Marley and The Yardbirds. The group toured extensively around the...
. This album marks the return of Tortelvis, the lead singer who left the band and was not on the previous album, It's Not Unusual, which was criticized by many fans due to its focus on disco songs.
On Hot and Spicy Beanburger, Dread Zeppelin returned to its roots: Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
songs covered in a reggae style, sung by an Elvis impersonator.
The album features numerous Led Zeppelin songs, such as Good Times Bad Times
Good Times Bad Times
"Good Times Bad Times" is a song by the English rock band Led Zeppelin, featured as the opening track on their 1969 debut album Led Zeppelin....
, Going to California
Going to California
"Going to California" is a song performed by English rock band Led Zeppelin from their fourth album, released in 1971.-Overview:The song's wistful folk-style sound, with Robert Plant on lead vocals, acoustic guitar by Jimmy Page and mandolin by John Paul Jones, contrasts with the heavy...
, and Hot Dog
Hot Dog (song)
"Hot Dog" is a recorded song on English rock band Led Zeppelin's 1979 album, In Through the Out Door. It is the only song on the album not co-written by bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones. A rollicking tune done in the style of a country hoe-down, it features some Elvis Presley-like vocals from...
.
The album also has two non-Led Zeppelin songs: Unchained Melody
Unchained Melody
"Unchained Melody" is a 1955 song with music by Alex North and lyrics by Hy Zaret. It has become one of the most recorded songs of the 20th century, by some counts having spawned over 500 versions in hundreds of different languages....
and Good Rocking Tonight
Good Rocking Tonight
"Good Rocking Tonight" was originally a jump blues song released in 1947 by its writer, Roy Brown and was covered by many other recording artists. The song includes the memorable refrain, "Well I heard the news, there's good rocking tonight!"...
. The latter song was also covered by Robert Plant
Robert Plant
Robert Anthony Plant, CBE is an English singer and songwriter best known as the vocalist and lyricist of the iconic rock band Led Zeppelin. He has also had a successful solo career...
on his album The Honeydrippers: Volume One
The Honeydrippers: Volume One
The Honeydrippers: Volume One is an EP released on 24 September 1984, by a band led by rock singer Robert Plant. The project originated when Atlantic Records president Ahmet Ertegün wanted to record an album of his favourite songs from the 1950s. Plant was chosen because Ertegün had seen his...
as "Rockin' at Midnight". As on 5,000,000
5,000,000
5,000,000 is Dread Zeppelin's second full-length album. Recorded in early fall 1990, it was conceived and recorded during a three-week break from touring to support the surprisingly successful Un-Led-Ed. Produced by Jah Paul Jo and Rasta Li-Mon, the album once again featured their patented...
, the album also has original songs by Dread Zeppelin themselves. One of them is "The Ballad of Charlie Haj", which is about the band member Charlie Haj, who is the man that hands Tortelvis his water and towel on stage (which is a running gag in all Dread Zeppelin album credits and live shows). Another original is composition is "Hot and Spicy Beanburger", which is described by Tortelvis as “a kind of informal session with this recording thing we’re gonna do with some friends of mine.”
The leaflet list songs and credits using a various glyph
Glyph
A glyph is an element of writing: an individual mark on a written medium that contributes to the meaning of what is written. A glyph is made up of one or more graphemes....
s instead of normal letters, such as “βallad of ¢hĀrlie Häј” (see also the cover for a sample). The typography
Typography
Typography is the art and technique of arranging type in order to make language visible. The arrangement of type involves the selection of typefaces, point size, line length, leading , adjusting the spaces between groups of letters and adjusting the space between pairs of letters...
generally ignores conventions such as the use of upper case. The pages feature the band members in costume on a background of a hamburger bun; the band members are placed on lettuce and tomatoes as if condiments. A quote states: “Hot & spicy beanburger is a tasty tid-bit o’love… A plentiful portion O’peace… A royal repast set before the king.” This “quote” is Credited to Unknown Eastern Mystic (1956).
Track listing
- "Good Times Bad TimesGood Times Bad Times"Good Times Bad Times" is a song by the English rock band Led Zeppelin, featured as the opening track on their 1969 debut album Led Zeppelin....
" (Bonham, Page, Jones) - 3:25 - "Going to CaliforniaGoing to California"Going to California" is a song performed by English rock band Led Zeppelin from their fourth album, released in 1971.-Overview:The song's wistful folk-style sound, with Robert Plant on lead vocals, acoustic guitar by Jimmy Page and mandolin by John Paul Jones, contrasts with the heavy...
" (Page, Plant) - 3:47 - "Good Rocking TonightGood Rocking Tonight"Good Rocking Tonight" was originally a jump blues song released in 1947 by its writer, Roy Brown and was covered by many other recording artists. The song includes the memorable refrain, "Well I heard the news, there's good rocking tonight!"...
" (Roy Brown) - 3:29 - "KashmirKashmir (song)"Kashmir" is a song by the English rock band Led Zeppelin from their sixth album Physical Graffiti, released in 1975. It was written by Jimmy Page and Robert Plant over a period of three years, with the lyrics dating back to 1973.-Overview:The song centres around a signature chord progression...
" (Bonham, Page, Plant) - 9:57 - "Ballad of Charlie Haj" (Ramsey, Putman, Haasis) - 3:38
- "Unchained MelodyUnchained Melody"Unchained Melody" is a 1955 song with music by Alex North and lyrics by Hy Zaret. It has become one of the most recorded songs of the 20th century, by some counts having spawned over 500 versions in hundreds of different languages....
" (North, Zaret) - 3:15 - "Stairway to HeavenStairway to Heaven"Stairway to Heaven" is a song by the English rock band Led Zeppelin, released in late 1971. It was composed by guitarist Jimmy Page and vocalist Robert Plant for the band's untitled fourth studio album . The song, running eight minutes and two seconds, is composed of several sections, which...
" (Page, Plant) - 7:00 - "Hot and Spicy Beanburger" (Ramsey, Putman, Haasis, Tortell) - 1:08
- "HotdogHot Dog (song)"Hot Dog" is a recorded song on English rock band Led Zeppelin's 1979 album, In Through the Out Door. It is the only song on the album not co-written by bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones. A rollicking tune done in the style of a country hoe-down, it features some Elvis Presley-like vocals from...
" (Page, Plant) - 2:57 - "All of My LoveAll My Love (song)"All My Love" is a song on English rock band Led Zeppelin's 1979 album, In Through the Out Door. Credited to Robert Plant and John Paul Jones, it is a slow-tempo song that features a synthesizer solo by Jones and lyrics performed by Plant....
" (Plant, Jones) - 6:05 - "Wot Happened? [The sloppy shuffle]" (Ramsey, Putman, Haasis) - 4:17
Dread Zeppelin changes the songs’ syntax or names from the original Led Zeppelin version on purpose. Here, the titles are listed as on the album.
Band members
- Tortelvis - Lead singer
- Ed Zeppelin - congas, vocals and toast (burnt).
- Jah Paul Jo - cosmic stun guitar
- Butt Mon - porn bass
- Carl Jah - Guitar
- Spice - drums
Additional credits
- Jah Jah Gabor: pinao & alien invasion
- Bun-E-Slopes: harmonica
- I-Lar-E-Treadwell: auto harp, magic bat & vocals
- I-Max: good vibes & vocals
- Colonel Kane: introduction
- Mar-I-Stradivar-I: violin
- Background vocals by the Michael Jordanaires & Merci & The Merkettes as the “Sweet Perspirations”
- Charlie Haj is the man that hands Tortelvis his water & towel on stage.
Production
- Produced by Jah Paul Jo & Rasta Li-Mon
- Engineered by Rasta Li-Mon
- Recorded @ the clubhouse, Burbank, ca
- Assistant engineers: Efren Herrera & Conrad Kalil
- Mixed @ The Chapel, Encino, ca
- Assistant Engineer: Andy Warwick
- Mastered by Doug “d.o.g.” dish Schwartz
- Art Direction: Bryant Fernandez for Graphic cents
- PhotographyMyron (trigger-happy) Beck
- Repped 2-d bone by Kirk Thornby
- Managed “despite the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune” by Charly Prevost, Studio City, ca 91604-3040
- Assisted by those men amongst men: Alan “u-turn” Grange, Darrell Bussino & Tom Hamilton
- Guitars assembled w/incredible precision by dave Cervantes & Karl Sandoval
- Only Dean Markley strings vibrate on this album as ably strung by our man, David Wilson.
- Charlie Haj uses Ken Fuller & Assiciates towels exclusively!