The Mothers Of Invention - Vocal Stuff

 
Hungry Freaks Daddy
I Ain't Got No Heart
Who Are The Brain Police
Go Cry On Somebody Else's Shoulder
Motherly Love
How Could I Be Such A Fool
Wowie Zowie		 You Didn't try To Call Me
Any Way The Wind Blows
I'm Not Satisfied
You're Probably Wondering Why I'm Here
Trouble Every Day
Help I'm A Rock
Return Of The Son Of Monster Magnet
The first double LP ever released, Freak Out! is also considered the first "concept album"ever recorded. Rather than a collection of "hit singles", Freak Out! marked the beginning of an era wherein the creation of an "album" was viewed as an artistic statement. This fact alone qualifies Freak Out! for inclusion in every rock fan's music collection.

Recorded in 1966, this album sounds pretty "dated" by today's standards. Nevertheless, Freak Out! is arguably the most "fully realized" offering from the early Mothers' catalog.

Hungry Freaks Daddy, Motherly Love and Trouble Every Day are standout tracks.

Check it out!

 

 
Plastic People
The Duke Of Prunes
Amnesia Vivace
The Duke Regains His Chops
Call Any Vegetable
Invocation And Ritual Dance Of The
Young Pumpkin
Soft-Sell Conclusion		 Big Leg Emma
Why Don'tcha Do Me Right?
America Drinks
Status Back Baby
Uncle Bernie's Farm
Son Of Suzie Creamcheese
Brown Shoes Don't Make It
America Drinks & Goes Home
Sounding like the Mothers on a "budget", Absolutely Free doesn't quite have the polish found on Freak Out!. This is due to the financial constraints emplaced by the record company, as well as an erratic recording schedule. Still, Absolutely Free finds the Mothers coming into their own with Frank's compositions taking full advantage of the addition of Bunk Gardener, Don Preston and Billy Mundi to the band.*

This is probably the most overlooked album from this period, which is a shame.

*This album marks the departure of Elliot Ingber who's unsavory opinion of Frank can be viewed on Video From Hell.

 

 
Are You Hung Up?
Who Needs The Peace Corps?
Concentration Moon
Mom & Dad
Telephone Conversation
Bow Tie Daddy
Harry, You're A Beast
What's The Ugliest Part Of Your Body?
Absolutely Free
Flower Punk		 Hot Poop
Nasal Retentive Calliope Music
Let's Make The Water Turn Black
The Idiot Bastard Son
Lonely Little Girl
Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance
What's The Ugliest Part Of Your Body? (Reprise)
Mother People
The Chrome Plated Megaphone Of Destiny
We're Only In It For The Money Represents Frank's take on the "hippie" counter-culture extant during the late '60s. The original gate-fold cover opened to a spoof of the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band album cover, which gives you a good indication of Zappa's irreverence toward the "in scene" at the time.

This album seems to be a favorite from this period, though it doesn't have the depth or personality found on Freak out! and Absolutely Free.

The addition of Ian Underwood, the curious absence of Ray Collins and the inclusion of Jimi Hendrix on the cover and Eric Clapton in the mix* add to the ambience.


*The mention of Eric Clapton in the liner notes has led many to believe that he played guitar on this album. This is not the case. Eric's contribution to this project was strictly vocal.

 

 
Cheap Thrills
Love Of My Life
How Could I Be Such A Fool?
Deseri
I'm Not Satisfied
Jelly Roll Gum drop
Anything		 Later That Night
You Didn't Try To Call Me
Fountain Of Love
"No. No. No."
Anyway The Wind Blows
Stuff Up The Cracks
Taking a cue from Igor Stravinsky's "neo-classical" period, Cruising With Ruben & The Jets finds Frank exploring the possibilities of "neo-doo-wop". "An album of greasy love songs & cretin simplicity", Cruisin lacks any of the musical sophistication found in the rest of Zappa's output.

I would be tempted to place this album before We're Only In It For The Money, chronologically, were it not for the replacement of Billy Mundi with Arthur Dyer Tripp III. The featured presence of Ray Collins on vocals adds to my confusion. (Why was he absent from ...Money?)

Cruisin is the weakest entry in the entire Zappa catalog, unless of course, you happen to "groove" on this sort of stuff.