Zappa In New York - Frank Zappa

Advantages: First true orchestral outing since 200 Motels
Disadvantages: Slightly Muddy sound, Early synclavier sounds

...solo from "In New York") and Sad Jane/Bob in Dacron (source - unreleased guitar solo from 1968), both of which can be found on the LSO albums. Jonestown is the closest Zappa gets to the soundscapes set out by Ligeti in his early phase (Atmospheres, Volumina), and by Nono in his later (A Pierre..., A Carlo Scapa, etc.). The backdrop is sustained quiet sounds, supporting the surface levels of short musical phrases , which in Zappa's case are aimed to create a certain programmatic image. This particular piece draws attention to the Jonestown incident, in which Jim Jones led his followers - the People's Temple - to mass suicide in 1978. After a visit from the authorities, Jones order all the inhabitants of his village/commune to drink a cyanide-laced punch. All of the adults were well aware of what they were doing, as Jones had held... Read review

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Advantages: One of the most subversive albums of all time
Disadvantages: Original artwork is concealed within the booklet

...In It For The Money (WOIIFTM) is very much the soundtrack to this disintegration, and in many ways, was the herald for the death of the decade. Despite being recorded between August and October 1967 and released the following January, WOIIFTM places me into a particular year ('68) better than any other record. WOIIFTM was initially conceived as Our Man In Nirvana, a collaboration between the Mothers of Invention and Lenny Bruce featuring their music and his comedy routines. Bruce had died in 1966 from a suspected morphine overdose and was a cultural hero to the 'Underground' scenes of New York and Los Angeles. Work was just beginning in the preparation of the album when Frank Zappa first heard a little record called Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Zappa liked the record enough, but the levels to which the album was quickly embraced by the hippy... Read review

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Advantages: An insight into the great mind that was - Frank Zappa
Disadvantages: May be a little to wild for some people.

...Apostrophe was released in 1974 on the 'Zappa' label. Track One - Don't Eat the Yellow Snow '' Quite a famous track for Zappa, but at 2mins 7secs it doesn't really provide much of an insight into what the album is going to be like. Also, as you probably have already understood, the 'yellow snow' meaning. Track Two - Nanook Rubs It ' Another funny track from Zappa, but once again doesn't really show his great creativity. Track Three - St. Alfonzo's pancake breakfast '' From the title you can probably grasp that this track is going to be quite interesting... and you wouldn't be wrong. Very tight... Read review

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