by William Ruhlmann
Free from his Warner Brothers Records contract, Frank Zappa was able to issue new albums as frequently as he liked, which would turn out to be very frequently. Six months after the release of the two-record set Sheik Yerbouti, he was ready with the first LP in a three-record set, a cautionary concept piece about the adventures of a musician named Joe. In Act I, Zappa continued his fascination with road stories, ethnic stereotypes (&Catholic Girls&), and bathroom activities (&Why Does It Hurt When I Pee?&). But although his concern with government censorship would see a later flowering in his battles with the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC), here he wasn't able to use it to fulfill a satisfying dramatic function. [The complete Joe's Garage was released as a double CD on Rykodisc on June 17, 1987.]