THE MOTHERS OF INVENTION: UNCLE MEAT

Though I sat down first with Hot Rats as part of my own Zappa trilogy, Uncle Meat should have been the starter in my Zappa three course musical meal. And anyway, it is the beginning point of this trilogy in a chronological manner. Uncle Meat, Hot Rats and Burnt Weeny Sandwich are the trio that started and ended my Zappa collection, at least for the moment, but to be honest, I don't envision myself exploring further. Those three albums were fulfilling in themselves. Uncle Meat, a feast of two records, is a right mixed bag of all sorts. Interestingly enough, it was originally to coincide with a film based on the Mothers Of Invention as they moved along the road. This information helps somewhat. Much of the first record is as haphazard as it can be, Zappa and his crew switch styles on a whim, gracelessly with grace. There are some candid recorded moments here, and an interesting insight to the financial plight of a certain Mother, as he gets heated about "Getting Head" as he "Can't Get Ahead". And the album is all the better for these snippets. Zappa would soon part company with the original band and head out as just plain old Frank Zappa for the next album, the highly acclaimed Hot Rats, and the success of that album must have frustrated the old band no end. But anyway, there are still enough musical strengths for this one to be just as popular as Hot Rats, and it is certainly more engrossing than Burnt Weeny Sandwich, but being a double album it was always going to have that advantage, and it is easy to put up with what many may term the "crazy shit" because it really is a fantastic album, infused with, not only that trademark wit, but some fantastic music, obviously enough. "Mr. Green Genes" is a genre away from its urgent son on Hot Rats, while "Cruising For Burgers" is so singable it's superbly infectious, while side four of the album contains the beast that is "King Kong" in all its parts. "King Kong", parts 1 to six I do believe, is a piece of fused rock and jazz that takes the album off on another plain and becomes a musical window to where Frank would be headed to with his next album. I haven't seen the film of this, but if anyone has a copy then drop me a line.

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