History Music / ThePerfectStranger

On a somewhat more trivial note, this album was the first in Zappa's back-catalog to be officially released on the UsefulNotes/CompactDisc format, via Creator/{{EMI}}'s classical music division and under the "EMI Digital" banner, owing to it being a fully digital recording, Zappa's first in his official discography. Zappa would continue to stick with digital recording and mixing technology for the remainder of his career, all the way until his death in 1993.

%% * GettingCrapPastThe Radar: Due to overwhelming and persistent misuse, GCPTR is on-page examples only until 01 June 2021. If you are reading this in the future, please check the trope page to make sure your example fits the current definition.

* CoolOldGuy and CoolOldLady: The old Republican couple in "Love Story". Never mind their political opinions: having sex while you're breakdancing? That's a pretty impressive feat.

* CultColony: "Jonestown", about the real life murderous Jim Jones cult.

* DesignStudentsOrgasm: The album cover by Donald Roller Wilson.
* {{Dogfaces}}: The dog on the album cover.

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: "Love Story", which is an instrumental track about an old Republican couple trying to have sex while breakdancing.

On a somewhat more trivial note, this album was the first in Zappa's back-catalog to be officially released on the UsefulNotes/CompactDisc format, via Creator/{{EMI}}'s classical music division and under the "EMI Digital" banner (owing to it being a fully digital recording).

# "Dupree's Paradise" (7:54) [[note]] On the original LP "Outside Now Again" was the first track of Side 2, while "Dupree's Paradise" was the third track of that side. The CD re-release has switched them. [[/note]]

# "Outside Now Again" (4:06) [[note]] On the original LP "Dupree's Paradise" was the third track of Side 2, while "Outside Now Again" was the first track on that side. The CD re-release has switched them. [[/note]]

'''Boulez Conducts Zappa: The Perfect Stranger''', aka '''The Perfect Stranger''' is a 1984 ClassicalMusic album by Music/FrankZappa, made in collaboration with composer/conductor Pierre Boulez. Since Boulez' renowned status in classical music circles the album gave Zappa more attention and prominence in that world. On his debut album ''Music/FreakOut'' Zappa had named Boulez one of his influences, so the respect was mutual.

'''Tracklist'''

'''Personnel'''

* RealLifeWritesThePlot: "Jonestown" was inspired by the 1978 [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonestown Jonestown Massacre]] in Guyana, where cult leader Jim Jones forced the members of his group to drink Kool-Aid laced with cyanide. This lead to over 900 deaths, including women and children.

** The same shades wearing dog would appear on the album cover of Zappa's ''Music/FrancescoZappa'' (1984) album. Also, dog imagery happened before in Zappa's lyrics.

[AC:[Side Two]]

Side 1

Side 2

* ContinuityNod: The same shades wearing dog would appear on the album cover of Zappa's ''Music/FrancescoZappa'' (1984) album. Also, dog imagery happened before in Zappa's lyrics.

* RepurposedPopSong: "Outside Now" appeared earlier on ''Music/JoesGarage''. "Naval Aviation In Art?" appeared earlier on ''Orchestral Favorites'' (1979) and would reappear again on ''Läther'' (1993). "The Girl In The Magnesium Dress" would be performed again on ''Music/TheYellowShark'' (1993).

# "Dupree's Paradise" (7:54)

# "Outside Now Again" (4:06)

* AlbumTitleDrop: "The Perfect Stranger".

* ClassicalMusic: It's classical music.
* ContinuityNod: The same shades wearing dog would appear on the album cover of Zappa's ''Music/FrancescoZappa'' (1984) album.

* ContinuityNod: The same shades wearing dog would appear on the album cover of Zappa's ''Francesco Zappa'' (1984) album.

* DrinkingTheKoolAid: "Jonestown" is a haunting classical composition written about the Jonestown Massacre in 1978 where cult leader Jim Jones ordered his followers to drink a cyanide cocktail. The end result were 900 deaths, including women and children.

* DrinkingTheKoolAid: "Jonestown" is a haunting classical composition written about the Jonestown Massacre in 1978 where cult leader Jim Jones ordered his followers to drinking a cyanide cocktail. The end result were 900 deaths, including women and children.

* RealLifeWritesThePlot: "Jonestown" was inspired by the 1978 Jonestown Massacre, where cult leader Jim Jones lead his believers into a secluded place in the Guyana jungle and forced everybody to drink a cyanide cocktail. This lead to 900 deaths, including women and children.

* CoolOldGuy and CoolOldLady: The couple in "Love Story". Never mind their political opinions: having sex while you're breakdancing? That's a pretty impressive feat.