Trouble Every Day (song)
Encyclopedia
"Trouble Every Day" is a song by The Mothers of Invention
, released on their 1966 debut album Freak Out!
.
Frank Zappa
wrote the song in 1965 at 1819 Bellevue Avenue, Echo Park, Los Angeles (the suburban residence of a methamphetamine
chemist referred to by Zappa as "Wild Bill the Mannequin-Fucker") after watching news coverage of the Watts Riots
. Originally dubbed "The Watts Riot Song," its primary lyrical themes are racial violence, social injustice, and sensationalist journalism. The musical style—featuring multiple guitar tracks and a harmonica
—much more closely resembles electric blues
than mainstream rock and roll
.
Producer Tom Wilson of MGM Records
signed the Mothers to a record deal on March 1, 1966, having heard only this song and believing them to be a "white blues band". Together, they released "Trouble Every Day" as a single with B-side "Who Are the Brain Police?"
A re-arranged version appeared on the Mothers' 1974 LIVE album Roxy & Elsewhere
(and on the 1991 live album The Best Band You Never Heard in Your Life
) as "More Trouble Every Day." These subsequent versions were more up-tempo and usually featured a strong horn intro and punctuation.
The UK underground artist Mick Farren
covered the song on his album "Vampires Stole My Lunch Money
" (1978).
The Frank Zappa tribute band Trouble Every Day named itself after this song.
The Mothers of Invention
The Mothers of Invention were an American band active from 1964 to 1969, and again from 1970 to 1975.They mainly performed works by, and were the original recording group of, US composer and guitarist Frank Zappa , although other members have had the occasional writing credit...
, released on their 1966 debut album Freak Out!
Freak Out!
Freak Out! is the debut album by American band The Mothers of Invention, released June 27, 1966 on Verve Records. Often cited as one of rock music's first concept albums, the album is a satirical expression of frontman Frank Zappa's perception of American pop culture...
.
Frank Zappa
Frank Zappa
Frank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
wrote the song in 1965 at 1819 Bellevue Avenue, Echo Park, Los Angeles (the suburban residence of a methamphetamine
Methamphetamine
Methamphetamine is a psychostimulant of the phenethylamine and amphetamine class of psychoactive drugs...
chemist referred to by Zappa as "Wild Bill the Mannequin-Fucker") after watching news coverage of the Watts Riots
Watts Riots
The Watts Riots or the Watts Rebellion was a civil disturbance in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles, California from August 11 to August 15, 1965. The 5-day riot resulted in 34 deaths, 1,032 injuries, and 3,438 arrests...
. Originally dubbed "The Watts Riot Song," its primary lyrical themes are racial violence, social injustice, and sensationalist journalism. The musical style—featuring multiple guitar tracks and a harmonica
Harmonica
The harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
—much more closely resembles electric blues
Electric blues
Electric blues is a type of blues music distinguished by the amplification of the guitar, bass guitar, drums, and often the harmonica. Pioneered in the 1930s, it emerged as a genre in Chicago in the 1940s. It was taken up in many areas of America leading to the development of regional subgenres...
than mainstream rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
.
Producer Tom Wilson of MGM Records
MGM Records
MGM Records was a record label started by the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film studio in 1946, for the purpose of releasing soundtrack albums of their musical films. Later it became a pop label, lasting into the 1970s...
signed the Mothers to a record deal on March 1, 1966, having heard only this song and believing them to be a "white blues band". Together, they released "Trouble Every Day" as a single with B-side "Who Are the Brain Police?"
A re-arranged version appeared on the Mothers' 1974 LIVE album Roxy & Elsewhere
Roxy & Elsewhere
Roxy & Elsewhere is a live album by Frank Zappa & The Mothers which was released in 1974. Most of the songs were recorded at The Roxy Theatre in Hollywood, California on December 8, 9 and 10, 1973...
(and on the 1991 live album The Best Band You Never Heard in Your Life
The Best Band You Never Heard in Your Life
The Best Band You Never Heard in Your Life is a double disc live album by Frank Zappa, released in 1991 . The album was one of three to be recorded during the 1988 world tour, along with Broadway the Hard Way and Make a Jazz Noise Here...
) as "More Trouble Every Day." These subsequent versions were more up-tempo and usually featured a strong horn intro and punctuation.
The UK underground artist Mick Farren
Mick Farren
Michael Anthony 'Mick' Farren is an English journalist, author and singer associated with counterculture and the UK Underground.-Music:...
covered the song on his album "Vampires Stole My Lunch Money
Vampires Stole My Lunch Money
Vampires Stole My Lunch Money is a 1978 album by the UK underground artist Mick Farren.Farren had left music performance after his 1970 album Mona – The Carnivorous Circus to concentrate on journalism and writing. However, in 1976 he had the opportunity whilst in New York to record the single "Play...
" (1978).
The Frank Zappa tribute band Trouble Every Day named itself after this song.
External links
- Sputnik Music review
- Lyrics to Trouble Every Day