Zebra, "Better Not Call"

Zebra. The Band.

For 99.99% of the listening public, “the band“ modifier must be added to Zebra because even the internet seems lacking in references to this melodic rock band from Louisiana. But for those of us in the know, and lucky enough to experience the 3-man wall of sound live, “Zebra” can be like the password to a secret club where insight into talent and musicality is a basis for lasting respect and friendship.

You would think that a band with no particular involvement in ethical animal rights who names itself after one mammal and featured another mammal (bears) in a lead single would be a tad short on pertinence to anyone in the 30 years since their last hit. And if lyrics are the thing that turns your crank, you would probably be right. While in possession of a serviceable lyric catalog, it would be a stretch to convince the uninitiated that they need to blow off the dust on the jacket of a 1982 album for Zebra’s poetic insights on life, love, and heartbreak. And bears.

But the music matters. In spite of the nettling nabobs of negativity, Zebra got the music right. Even in the their tepid heyday, Zebra was dismissed by many reviewers as a Triumph knock-off with a comical pseudo-Robert Plant falsetto lead singer, further limited by near indie-label production quality. What many missed is the truth that Zebra found the rare balance between technical prowess and pop accessibility.

Not that there weren’t other acts up to the challenge. The eighties was a time of unparalleled musicianship in the rock genre. Unfortunately, many acts had too many songs that were either all about showcasing their hooks or making a crass attempt at commercial success by isolating the challenging riffs to a brief solo or bridge. Zebra started with musicality first and foremost, but the sheer force of their talent always found an outlet before long.

The handful of people who still remember Zebra will no doubt recall their first album which had critical success and MTV airplay for a few songs, most notably “Who’s behind the Door?”  Some may remember the disappointing follow-up album No Tellin’ Lies,” though the fact that “Bears” was actually an enjoyable and interesting song gets overlooked. By 1986, when their third album (3.V) came out, few paid any attention and thus a well-crafted start-to-finish album was overlooked.

For those of us paying attention, 3.V felt like a cherished secret. Before the days of internet and social media, unheard gems like 3.V generally had to be appreciated in isolation. To find a kindred spirit who “got” treasures like Zebra 3.V was truly a challenge, but some of us made the effort.

Back in the day, “Can’t Live Without” from 3.V seemed like the song I had been waiting for Zebra to write for years. But in retrospect that song comes off with an air of contrived energy. Instead, it is the last song on side 1, “Better Not Call”, that blows me away today. From start to finish the song demands your attention. Randy Jackson, guitarist and lead vocalist, delays his transition to falsetto until after the first verse. This is perhaps one reason why “Better Not Call” withstands the test of time more so than some other Zebra classics. Also, something special happens about 2:55 into the song. The guitar solo and rhythm section achieve an other-worldly groove and the final chorus transcends the so-so production quality of the album. 

As I listen, I imagine the three members of Zebra in the recording studio. In my mind, they do not lay down tracks individually but instead confine themselves in a tiny recording studio and play with reckless abandon. In this imagined scenario I can see them smiling at each other realizing that they had momentarily captured lightning in a bottle. I can also foresee, with wishful thinking, a day when an extended track will be released that reveals the fade-out belied jam session that continued in ecstasy well into the 8 minute range. Listen to it and I dare you to disagree.

Most Zebra fans will tell you that Zebra live (which still happens from time to time) is better than any album version, but at this moment, on this song, they were on fire in a way few studio tracks ever capture. It is a great moment from a very good band. I take it as a personal credit that I was paying close enough attention to notice and appreciate it.

So, who is your Zebra?

Image: Eva the Weaver, Flickr (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)