MOTHERMANIA: THE BEST OF THE MOTHERS

Mothermania is a best of album from Frank Zappa & the Mothers of Invention. It´s not a regular best of album though as most of the songs differ a bit from the original. This is a real treat of course and IMO the reason for buying Mothermania if you´re already a fan who has all the albums ( of course you have all the albums right ?).

There is a broad selection of songs from the three Mothers of Invention albums Freak Out!, Absolutely Free and We´re Only in It for the Money. Neither Cruising with Ruben and the Jets or Uncle Meat is represented here. The first one probably because it wasn´t very popular and with Uncle Meat I´m not sure if it was released before or after Mothermania came out. Uncle Meat was released the same year ( 1969) as Mothermania.

The song selection is good and represents the three albums well which means that the album serves its purpose as a best of album well. The small changes to vocal parts or instrumentation is only something you notice if you´re a hardcore fan. There are great songs like Brown Shoes Don't Make It, Mother People ( with the changed vocal line: Shut your fucking mouth about the length of my hair), The Duke Of Prunes, The Idiot Bastard Son, Plastic People, Hungry Freaks, Daddy and Who Are The Brain Police? On Mothermania, but all songs are classics in The Mothers of Invention´s repetoire.

The musicianship is of course of the highest caliber as always when Frank Zappa is involved. Some might call some of the vocals parts out of tune but believe me when I say that it is on purpose when things sound a bit dissonant or out of tune at times.

The production is muddy at times but incredible anyway if you think about when this music was made. Frank Zappa is a genious producer. There I said it.

Mothermania has a double function as it is equally as attractive to the Zappa newbie as it is to hardcore Zappa fan. It´s a very recommendable best of album and deserves 4 stars.