December 17, 2010 Playlist

Frank Vincent Zappa, born December 21
Frank Zappa Day is December 21
   
"Cruising With Ruben & The Jets" by The Mothers of Invention (1968)
CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK
The Mothers of Invention (Frank Zappa)  "Cruising With Ruben & The Jets"  1968 (USA)
It's time for our annual Frank Zappa Day birthday salute -- the "modern day composer" was born 70 years ago on December 21.  One of the reasons I love Zappa's music is that he was a "maximalist" -- at some point just about every popular (and unpopular) musical trend seems to have turned up in his muse.  Among the most singular of Zappa's many albums is this gem from 1968, which is among other things an attempt to apply modern classical techniques to banal 1950's-style teenage doowop music (for example, the background singers on one greasy love song are singing the melody from a Stravinsky piece, and so on.)  But you'd really never guess by listening, although there is something not quite right about this pastiche of a past style.  It doesn't quite sound like something from the 1950's or the 1960's, but it is mighty enjoyable for what it is.  Among other things, it's one of the most ensemble efforts by the original Mothers of Invention, with spiffy three-part harmony singing from Zappa (bass voice), Ray Collins (lead singer & co-writer of 3 songs, the most non-Zappa tunes on any Mothers LP), and Roy Estrada (the underrated bassist who sings pachuco falsetto.)  Beware the insipid 1980's CD re-recording however;  one of Zappa's most controversial creative decisions (and even I can't abide this one) was redoing the bass and drum parts on this album and We're Only In It For The Money (and then making those the only mixes available on CD.)  Eventually his estate reissued the original mixes of both albums, on the recent CD compilations Lumpy Money and Greasy Love Songs.  But don't worry, I have the original vinyl versions of all of these albums, so your Kosmik Radiation experience will be as Frank originally intended in the first place!
Zappa videos have a tendency to not last on youtube for very long, so peep these quick!  One of the most classic videos of the original Mothers in action is this clip of "King Kong" recorded at the BBC.  Next, here's one of FZ's signature instrumentals: "Black Napkins" (live on the Mike Douglas Show 1976.)  These days Frank's son Dweezil leads a repertoiry group called Zappa Plays Zappa -- here's their version of "The Black Page" (featuring former Zappa drummer Terry Bozzio and his insanely huge drum kit.)  Among Zappa's many sidemen over the years, perhaps none were as charistmatic as Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman, who had formerly been the co-lead singers of the popular sixties teen pop combo The Turtles, and were known as "Flo & Eddie" while they were with The Mothers due to legal disputes.  Here's a rather hilarious clip of  Flo & Eddie describing the ins and outs of their career (stick around for the punchline at the end!)
 
(N) = New Release
   
Artist Song Album Year (label) Country
John Lennon & Yoko Ono (with Frank Zappa & The Mothers) Well (Baby Please Don't Go) (The Olympics) Some Time In New York City 1972 UK/Japan
/USA
John Lennon & Yoko Ono (with Frank Zappa & The Mothers) Jamrag (actually "King Kong" by Frank Zappa) Some Time In New York City 1972 UK/Japan
/USA
John Lennon & Yoko Ono (with Frank Zappa & The Mothers) Aü Some Time In New York City 1972 UK/Japan
/USA
 
 
The Mothers of Invention (Frank Zappa) Later That Night Cruising With Ruben & The Jets
CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK		 1968 USA
The Mothers of Invention (Frank Zappa) You Didn't Try To Call Me Cruising With Ruben & The Jets
CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK		 1968 USA
The Mothers of Invention (Frank Zappa) Stuff Up The Cracks Cruising With Ruben & The Jets
CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK		 1968 USA
Flo & Eddie Another Pop Star's Life
  / Just Another Town		 Flo & Eddie 1973 USA
Flo & Eddie Mama, Open Up Moving Targets 1976 USA
   
 
Gong Shadows Of (Parts 1 & 2) Expresso 1976 France/UK
Parliament Dr. Funkenstein The Clones Of Dr. Funkenstein 1976 USA
Magma Maahnt (The Wizards Fight vs. The Devil) Attahk 1978 France
National Health The Bryden 2-Step (For Amphibians) Part 1 Of Queues And Cures 1978 UK
   
 
The Mahavishnu Orchestra Noonward Race The Inner Mounting Flame 1971 UK/USA/Czech.
Ireland/Panama
Return To Forever Majestic Dance Romantic Warrior 1976 USA
Miles Davis Spanish Key Bitches Brew (N - 40th Anniversary reissue) 1970 (2010 Sony Legacy) USA
   
 
Frank Zappa & The Mothers (with Flo & Eddie) Billy The Mountain (live) Playground Psychotics rec. 1971,
rel. 1992		 USA
 
 
Edgard Varese Integrales EMS 401 1926 France/USA
Jean-Luc Ponty Idiot Bastard Son (Zappa) King Kong: Jean-Luc Ponty Plays the Music of Frank Zappa 1970 France
Jean-Luc Ponty Twenty Small Cigars (Zappa) King Kong: Jean-Luc Ponty Plays the Music of Frank Zappa 1970 France
             
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