December 18, 2009 Playlist

Frank Vincent Zappa, born December 21
Frank Zappa Day is December 21
   
"Lumpy Gravy" by Frank Zappa (1967)
CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK
Frank Zappa  "Lumpy Gravy"  1967 (USA)
Frank Zappa's birthday (Dec 21) is right around the corner, so it's time for our annual Zappa Day salute.  The classic album this week is the first release credited solely to Frank Zappa (with "The Abnuceals Umuukha Electric Symphony Orchestra & Chorus"), rather than his legendary 1960's group The Mothers Of Invention (who had already released two albums.)  It's one of his most bizarre albums, but also arguably his most groundbreaking and influential work.  Lumpy Gravy was probably the first album to combine elements of classical, jazz, rock, electronics and studio effects plus surreal spoken word into a melange that was niether "pop" nor "avant-garde" but rather an original hybrid of the two worlds.  "Art rock/progressive rock" and any record that fuses divergent styles of music from the highbrow and lowbrow worlds owes Zappa's pioneering work a large debt.
The Zappa Family Trust is a ruthless enforcer of copyright infringement, but this first clip is from overseas television so might be more likely to stay up for awhile:  The Mothers (with Jean-Luc Ponty) live in 1973.  Next, here are a couple of Zappa's more memorable TV appearances:  first, a clean-shaven 22 year old Zappa on the Steve Allen show back before he was famous, and lastly this interview from 1993, the year he died from cancer.  
 
(N) = New Release
   
Artist Song Album Year (label) Country
The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band Help I'm A Rock (Zappa) Part One 1967 USA
Good God King Kong (Zappa) Good God 1972 USA
Jean Luc Ponty King Kong (Zappa) King Kong: Jean-Luc Ponty Plays the Music of Frank Zappa 1970 France
Babe Ruth King Kong (Zappa) First Base 1973 UK
Grand Funk Railroad Out To Get You (Frank Zappa producer & guitar solo) Good Singin' Good Playin' 1976 USA
 
 
Frank Zappa Lumpy Gravy, Part One Lumpy Gravy
CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK		 1967 USA
   
 
Frank Zappa Lumpy Gravy, Part Two Lumpy Gravy
CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK		 1967 USA
   
 
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band The Blimp
  / Steal Softly Through Snow (produced by Zappa)		 Trout Mask Replica 1969 USA
Nazz (Todd Rundgren) Under The Ice Nazz Nazz 1969 USA
Spirit Ice Clear 1969  USA
Queen Stone Cold Crazy Sheer Heart Attack 1974 UK
Thin Lizzy Cold Sweat Thunder And Lightning 1983 Ireland
Qui Willie The Pimp (Zappa) Love's Miracle 2007 USA
The GTO's TV Lives (produced by Zappa) Permanent Damage 1969 USA
   
 
Sun Araw featuring Matthew Lessner Luther In Orbit (N - cassette) 2009 (Stunned) USA
Meat Puppets I'm Not You Sewn Together (N) 2009 (Megaforce) USA
Os Mutantes
 Teclar Haih . . . Or Amortecedor (N) 2009 (ANTI-) Brazil
Mission of Burma SSL 83 The Sound The Speed The Light (N) 2009 (Matador) USA
Psychedelic Horseshit Forget All Split 7"  EP with Times New Viking 2007 USA
 
 
Wooden Shjips Shrinking Moon For You Shrinking Moon For You 10" EP
(bonus track on Vol. 1 CD)		 2006 USA
Silvester Anfang Ossezaaddans Sylvester Anfang II (N) 2009 (Aurora Borealis) Belgium
 
  
Frank Zappa A Kayak (On Snow)
  / N-Lite		 Civilization Phaze III 1995 USA
             
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