Lots of social commentary on this one, particularly on the dangers of "organized religion." Originally released as a double album in 1981 (and now on one CD), this set is unusually heavy on vocals; in fact only one track, a brief excerpt from the ballet "Sinister Footwear," is an instrumental. With a cast including Moon Zappa, Steve Vai, Ike Willis and returning Mother Jimmy Carl Black, FZ takes stabs at punk fashion ("Mudd Club", "I'm a Beautiful Guy"), salutes his pals from the planet Remulak ("Conehead"); and closes it out with "Drafted Again," a remake of his topical 1980 single "I Don't Wanna Get Drafted." But the sharpest satire is reserved for the churches, on a pointed sequence of tunes including "The Meek Shall Inherit Nothing" (first performed on "Saturday Night Live"), "Dumb All Over", and "Heavenly Bank Account."
Steve Vai's notes on 'You are what You is':
"This was the first real studio album on which I ever played. I remember going up to Frank's house one night and staying for nine days. When you worked with Frank in the studio, you could just record and record until you couldn't stand it anymore. Then you sleep a little bit, you get up, maybe eat some Raisin Bran with room temperature milk and record, then record some more. Then there will be material out with you on it for many years to come. You Are What You Is was a challenging record to make. Some of the material was very hard for me and I was surprised at how patient Frank was. I remember how he would sit directly next to me at the console, punching me through the guitar parts. Moments like that are blazed into my memory, never to be forgotten."
