THE MOTHERS OF INVENTION: OVER-NITE SENSATION

This is one of only two Frank Zappa albums I own, and I get the impression Zappa gurus don’t consider this to be one of his better albums. I really wouldn’t know – he never really appealed to me much.

The only reason I even bought this was because of the track “Montana”. I just happen to have been born in Montana, and was still living there when this album was released. Imagine my disappointment to find out Zappa didn’t have quite the same lofty view of people from that state that I did! I figured he was just a dick at the time and buried this thing at the bottom of my collection. Turns out of course that years later people like the Unibomber, the Freemen, Kyle Huff, Ted Turner, and Evel Knievel (who I once played pool with in my Grandpa’s bar while he was snotty drunk) proved that Frank Zappa was at least partially right – that state has been home to some real retards. At least I can honestly say that I never met a dental floss farmer there.

But there’s some redeeming music on this album as well. Jean-Luc Ponty’s violin wails on “Fifty-Fifty”, probably the closest Zappa came to his jazz side on this album. And “Camarillo Brillo” is a perennial favorite of Zappa fans.

“I’m the Slime” began a sort of theme with Zappa, much like Ian Anderson had with his Willy tunes, so that makes this a sort of landmark record for him in that respect. And “Zomby Woof” has some truly wicked keyboard riffs that almost defy logic at times.

So this is a pretty decent album, and probably one of the more accessible from a guy that was never really known for that. I still hardly ever play it, but surprisingly one of my kids has started getting into Zappa lately, especially the guitar since he plays one himself and can appreciate Frank’s talents there.

I can’t say this is an essential recording, not even for Frank Zappa fans. But it’s decent, so three stars is probably the right place to rate it. No recommendations though, since most Zappa fans I know are far more intimate with his catalog then I’ll ever be. Hopefully they don’t crucify me for not being among his flock of true-believers.

peace