Inca Roads
Frank Zappa
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Frank zappa (guitar, vocals) George duke (keyboards, synthesizer, lead vocals) Napoleon murphy brock (flute, tenor saxophone, vocals) Chester thompson (drums) Tom fowler (bass) Ruth underwood (vibes, marimba, percussion) Bloodshot rollin' red (harmonica) Did a vehicle Come from somewhere out there Just to land in the andes? Was it round And did it have A motor Or was it Something Different Did a vehicle Did a vehicle Did a vehicle Fly along the mountains And find a place to park itself Or did someone Build a place To leave a space For such a vehicle to land Did a vehicle Come from somewhere out there Did a vehicle Come from somewhere out there Did the indians, first on the bill Carve up the hill Did a booger-bear Come from somewhere out there Just to land in the andes? Was she round And did she have a motor Or was she something different Guacamole queen Guacamole queen Guacamole queen Guacamole queen At the armadillo in austin texas, her aura, Or did someone build a place Or leave a space for chester's thing to land (chester's thing... on ruth) Did a booger-beer Come from somewhere out there Did a booger-bear Come from somewhere out there Did the indians, first on the bill Carve up her hill On ruth On ruth That's ruth
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Written by: BURT F BACHARACH, HAL DAVID
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
25 facts about this song
BACKGROUND"Inca Roads" is a track off of the album "One Size Fits All" (1975), by Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention.
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GENREAlthough Frank Zappa's music routinely defies genre classifications, "Inca Roads" can be classified under the Progressive Rock genre, showcasing complex melodies and intricate instrumentation.
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INSPIRATIONThis song was largely inspired by Zappa's fascination with both space exploration and the ancient cultures of South America, particularly the Inca civilization.
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NOTABLE LYRICSThe song includes unusual and thought-provoking lyrics such as, "Did a vehicle come from somewhere out there, just to land in the Andes?"
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SOLO SECTIONThe guitar solo in "Inca Roads" is known as one of Zappa's best, and is presented in a unique way: the solo played in the song is actually spliced from two separate live performances, demonstrating Zappa's innovative approach to recording and composition.
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CBS CONCERT"Inca Roads" was first performed publicly at a concert sponsored by CBS in 1973, a full two years before its studio release.
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ALBUM ARTThe album "One Size Fits All" which featured "Inca Roads," is uniquely emblazoned with a star map, showcasing Zappa's interest in the cosmos, adding further depth to the thistical theme of the song “Inca Roads.”
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SIGNIFICANCE"Inca Roads" often served as an opening song for The Mothers of Invention’s live performances, signaling its importance and popularity within the band’s repertoire.
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BAND MEMBERSThis track features complex, layered vocal harmonies and a blend of musical virtuosity from band members George Duke, Ruth Underwood, Chester Thompson, and Johnny "Guitar" Watson.
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AWARDSAlthough it didn't win any official awards, "Inca Roads" is often cited by critics and fans alike as one of the standout tracks in Frank Zappa's extensive discography.
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LEGACY"Inca Roads" showcased Frank Zappa's singular approach to songwriting, making it a benchmark for his unique take on melding rock and jazz elements. His skillful fusing of traditional rock setup, jazz harmonies, and robust orchestrations heralded the genre of jazz fusion.
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LENGTHWith a duration of approximately 8 minutes, "Inca Roads" is also lengthy by commercial music standards, demonstrating Zappa’s tendency to craft expansive compositions.
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Song Creation"Inca Roads" is a song by American composer and musician Frank Zappa. The song was first introduced to the public on his 1975 album, 'One Size Fits All'.
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Fusion of Genres"Inca Roads" is known for its fusion of diverse musical elements, including rock, jazz fusion, and other musical genres, which were trademarks of Zappa's musical style.
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Lyrics InspirationThe lyrics of the song reference the influences of the ancient Inca civilization and the possible extraterrestrial origins of their culture.
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Noteworthy PerformanceThe opening track of 'One Size Fits All' is considered one of Zappa's most significant song creations, showcasing complex musical sequences and compositions.
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High LengthThe song has a high length for a rock song. The full version runs for about 15 minutes.
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Innovative Guitar Techniques"Inca Roads" also includes sophisticated guitar solos by Frank Zappa. Zappa used a technique called 'xenochrony' to combine live concert recitals with studio recordings for the solos.
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Unique Album Cover FeatureThe song is referenced on the album cover of 'One Size Fits All,' where a hand-drawn diagram shows the phrase "Inca Roads" leading to a depiction of a spacecraft.
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Live PerformancesZappa frequently performed "Inca Roads" during concerts, and it was often used as an opening song, setting the tone for his unique style of performance.
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Varied RecordingsThere is an abundance of recorded versions of "Inca Roads," and each version features different solos and instrumental arrangements.
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High-Ranking Song"Inca Roads" is often ranked high by fans and musicians alike when discussing Zappa's most significant and orchestrally ambitious compositions.
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Notable Use of MarimbaRuth Underwood's notable mallet percussion, especially the marimba, adds a distinctive musical element to "Inca Roads".
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Mysterious EndingThe song ends on a kind of a cliffhanger with the repeated phrase, 'did a vehicle, come from somewhere out there', which adds to its mysterious aura.
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Critically Acclaimed"Inca Roads" is often regarded as a pinnacle of Zappa's music career for its distinct fusion of multiple music genres and demonstrates his unrivaled creativity in music composition.
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