WE'RE ONLY IN IT FOR THE MONEY / LUMPY GRAVY

Using the supposed deterioration of the master tapes as an excuse (we now know, by the later release of these albums on CD), Frank Zappa had the nerve to release "We're Only In It For The Money" with re-recorded drums and bass, plus some other instruments added in here and there. If he had marketed it as his own true vision of the album, or something like that, instead of pushing it off as the original, it would not have been so obscene.

First, the good parts: All of the narrow-minded Verve censored parts have been restored. You get to hear the songs as they were intended. And some of trhe added instruments are quite good. There is percussion here and there (I presume by Ed Mann), that makes it sound like Ruth Underwood was there. And some woodwinds that add to some of the pieces. Zappa even throws in some more guitar layers at times.

But the drums and bass, sounding very 1980's is out of place, and sticks out against the rest of the music. Really, would you want the Mona Lisa painted over in day-glo?

"Lumpy Gravy" is left intact. Although Zappa had done an overdubbed version of this as well. Each side of the album is one long track, not sectioned like the later release. This to me is good, because I like the full sides on my MP3 player.

If you are a Zappa collector, you may want this. But if not, get the individual CDs.