When his contract ended, Zappa still owed Warners four CDs, which he delivered: Studio Tan, Hot Rats III, Zappa’s Orchestral Favorites and Zappa in New York. Sixty days later and he still hadn’t gotten paid so, he sued them for breach of contract. Zappa in New York was out first and was the most vilified for sexist, sexually explicit lyrics. Illinois Enema Bandit is, for example, outright offensive as Zappa takes joy in a robber who sexually assaults women, and he goes on to claim that they all secretly love it. He always hated the women’s liberation movement and this song certainly showed it.
Warners released Studio Tan next with their own sleeve and no liner notes, Sleep Dirt (originally Hot Rats III) came in ’79, as well as Orchestral Favorites.
The albums had been released without consulting Zappa, came with new packaging, no liner notes and were all edited for content. What’s more Zappa wasn’t paid any publishing or artist royalties.
Could you blame him for hating on them and taking them to court?!
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