THE MOTHERS OF INVENTION: OVER-NITE SENSATION

Don't remember exactly when I heard the songs from this album the very first time; must have been around 76 right in the middle of my teenager years. But I remember very well that I've been immediately fascinated by them and I am still today 30 years later. This one was the first of a series of more accessible Zappa releases followed by "Apostrophe", "One Size Fits All", "Zoot Allures" and "Sheik Yerbouti" which I consider his most commercial one. Though the tracks on here being mostly quite catchy "Overnite Sensation" is like the following ones nonetheless an excellent album and certainly a very good starting place to get into the huge discography of this legendary musical genius. Accessibility doesn't mean here inferiority at all, actually for an exceptional and quite "mad" musician like Zappa who had been doing artistic works which are really extremely difficult to get into it's rather a positive thing. It doesn't mean as well that one has to forgo great musicianship and complex song structures, both of which are plenty to be found on here. Of course the lyrics are as usually with him x-rated, mostly about sex, but as well social criticism (as in "I'm The Slime" about tv program) or ironic (as in the parody of a country song "Montana"). Actually all the songs on here kept stuck very well in my mind though I haven't listened to this album very often during the decades. For me it's having a big time and pleasure with nice memories every time I'm puttin' it into my player (of course I own the CD version meanwhile). Not to forget mentioning the great line-up the Mothers were consisting of on this record: Jean-Luc Ponty with furious violin play, George Duke with terrific keyboards, Ian Underwood on flute, clarinet and sax, Bruce Fowler on trombone to name just a few. Finally I just can say that this one's certainly a must-have addition for any prog collection and an excellent example for a "more accessible Zappa"!