THE MOTHERS OF INVENTION: WEASELS RIPPED MY FLESH

In 1969 Zappa decided to disolve the 'Mothers Of Invention' ,mainly due to financial problems and from july to september Zappa recorded his first solo record with Ex-Mother and multinstrumentalist Ian Underwood, Don Sugarcane Harris and guests. Zappa had always recorded a lot for his personal archives and for the rest of the year he compiled 'Mothers' material from 1968 and 1969 for the release of two records : 'Burnt Weeny Sandwich' (released in dec.1969) and 'Weasels Ripped My Flesh' (released in Feb 1970). Despite the fact that both records contain older material, the tracks are no leftovers but carefully assembled masterpices, edited often from several source tracks( live and studio) , spiced with the typical Zappa humour. 'BWS' represents more the neo- classical Zappa side, 'WRMF' the Free-Jazz inspired side.

'Weasels Ripped My Flesh' was released in February 1970 with a great Neon Park cover and presents the Free-Jazz/ Experimental side of the first 'Mothers'.

'Didja Get Any Onya?' starts as a Free-Jazz improvisation featuring Ian Underwood on Alto sax, followed by a narration part of Lowell George, where he imitates the German accent as on 'German Lunch' ( YCDTOSA vol.1), followed by a groove part and a small neo- classical woodwind ensemble part followed by 'Directly From My Heart... ' , a blues cover featuring Sugarcane Harris on vocals and electric violin.

'Prelude To The Afternoon...' comes from the famous 'Royal Festival Hall concert' in London (28 oct.1968), that Zappa released in 1993 as 'Ahead Of Their Time', a track mixing free-jazz and vocal experimentations, featuring Roy Estrada on laughing extravaganza.

'Toad Of The Short Forest' mixes studio and live recordings, a first beautiful and light guitar theme played by Zappa and a second 'Prog' section with different time meters (7/8 drums 3/4 alto sax 5/8 bass) announced by Zappa and reminding cirkus music.

'Get A Little' starts with a short 'field recording' (Zappa used to record the musicians talking during the tour) followed by a great Zappa solo over a slow march.

'The Eric Dolphy Memorial... ' the most interesting composition on the record introduces the theme on marimaba, then adding guitar, another 'laughing section' ,and a reprise of the theme on woodwinds ending with a free Jazz section.

'Dwarf Nebula Procession... ' starts with a beautiful neo-classical theme for harpsichord and woodwinds followed by a treated tape section, that reminds the 'Lumpy Gravy' sessions.

'My Guitar Wants To Kill...' a straight forward rocker that would have nicely fitted into 'Freak Out' with Zappa on vocals, some speeded-up overdubs and an acoustic guitar solo.

' Oh No ' a nice theme , featuring Ray Collins on vocals ,that appeared already as an instrumental on 'Lumpy Gravy' and would re-appear on 'Roxy & Elsewhere' segues into 'The Orange County...' another track from the famous 'Royal Festival Hall concert', a beautiful theme for guitar and woodwinds followed by a guitar solo.

The record ends with the title track 'Weasels Ripped My Flesh...' a two minute feedback orgy.

A great testimony of the first ' Mothers' !