Frank Zappa – Hot Rats (1969)
Genre: Jazz-Fusion
Intro:
Frank Zappa was an absolute hero and if you need an introduction, I can do no justice to such a man, so go read it for yourself.
The Band consists of:
• Frank Zappa – electric guitar, percussion, octave bass
• Ian Underwood – organ, clarinet, flute, piano, saxophone
• Max Bennett – bass on all tracks except "Peaches en Regalia"
• Captain Beefheart – vocals on "Willie the Pimp"
• John Guerin – drums on "Willie the Pimp", "Little Umbrellas" and "It Must Be a Camel"
• Don "Sugarcane" Harris – violin on "Willie the Pimp" and "The Gumbo Variations"
• Paul Humphrey – drums on "Son of Mr. Green Genes" and "The Gumbo Variations"
• Shuggie Otis – bass on "Peaches en Regalia"
• Jean-Luc Ponty – violin on "It Must Be a Camel"
• Ron Selico – drums on "Peaches en Regalia"
• Lowell George - guitar (uncredited)
• Harvey Shantz – Snorks
Zappa and Underwood were the two major contributors to the album.
“Hot Rats” is Zappa’s second solo album.
Review:
As we have come to suspect in the previous Zappa albums, brilliance, but this time showcased in a longer, jazzier, solo-filled and vocally barren album. (Except for Beefhearts little piece)
The album begins, not with a song but as you pick up the cover when you think to yourself, “What is this man doing?” A clear visualization of the unknown, that is to follow.
The album begins with one of the more well-known tracks of Zappa’s, “Peaches en Regalia,” which is a lovely song to begin with and gives off that feeling of un-sureness if you listening to rock or jazz. The saxophone pieces in the track are top class. A short intro to the new Zappa it could be said.
“Willie the Pimp,” is the song to follow and unexpectedly we come across a very bluesy track, a very unique track on the album too. Zappa is on top form with his guitar with many extended bursts of brilliance. This is the only song on the album that contains any vocals, which is quite unique. The vocals come from not Zappa, but Captain Beefheart at the beginning of the song and add a nice dimension to the track which no other track could achieve on this album. The overall rhythm to the song is quite-catchy which could come as a surprise for an almost 10 minute long track.
“Son of Mr Green Genes,” is a re-make of a previous Zappa tune so the song could sound rather familiar to those had owned “Uncle Meat.” Another very jazzy tune for the album, that is not so say that the guitar work was compromised. It gets of to a rather slow start with the first 4 minutes of it being the worst part to the album before the guitar and piano solos start to kick-in after 6 or so minutes and we have a very interesting song again. If only the first four minutes were this good.
“Little Umbrellas,” is another one of those songs that define the jazz-fusion, much like the first track. The track almost acts as a soothing bridge from the re-worked ‘Mr Green’ to the 17 minute long epic….
“The Gumbo Variations,” is definitely the highlight of the album, not lacking in stature, playing time or musicianship this is definitely where the talents of Zappa and Mr Underwood are showcased. Zappa is a mad man during the major guitar solo and Underwood provides us with a mind-numbing saxophone solo too, which really turns this album from a very good one, to a grand one.
“It Must Be A Camel,” is a fine way to end the album and showcases Underwood performing on the keyboard very nicely, although after the previous song it comes as quite an anti-climax. A very weird rhythm throughout the song, which you don’t quite know what to think of. So give the whole damn thing another listen!
9.3/10
Frank Zappa – Willie The Pimp