Hot Rats is a Jazz album by Frank Zappa, originally released in 1969. On Gatefold: 230 pressings tracked, owned by 90 collectors.
About
Frank Zappa's guitar chops played second fiddle to his skewered pop visions, his tape-edit abilities, and the general bizarre quality of his work with The Mothers of Invention. <i>Lumpy Gravy</i> saw him conducting an orchestra, while <i>Cruising with Ruben and the Jets</i> fulfilled his interests in doo-wop. <i>Hot Rats</i>, meanwhile, shows off Zappa's unorthodox approach to jazz and blues. "Willie the Pimp," with Captain Beefheart wailing away as Howlin' Wolf, is an epic jam, with Zappa turning in one of his dirtiest performances on record. At nine minutes, the only complaint is that it's too short! "Peaches En Regalia" is a stone classic, a compact piece that shows off Zappa's guitar and arrangement skills. The extended pieces—"Son of Mr. Green Genes," "The Gumbo Variations"—carry symphonic and jazz-improv weight, respectively, while "Little Umbrellas" and "It Must Be a Camel" prove Zappa can get down to business when the spirit moves him. Longtime musical accomplices Ian Underwood and Don "Sugarcane" Harris are on board, as well as Jean-Luc Ponty and Little Feat's Lowell George.
via Apple Music
The Clerk says
The Clerk knows this whole record — the pressing quirks, the credits, the take.
Tracklist
Side A
- A1Peaches En Regalia3:58
- A2Willie The Pimp9:25
- A3Son Of Mr. Green Genes8:58
Side B
- B1Little Umbrellas3:09
- B2The Gumbo Variations12:55
- B3It Must Be A Camel5:15
Sound DNA
- Jazz
- Jazz Fusion
- layered
- driving
- cerebral
This is the first Zappa album on which Dweezil (opens in a new tab) has a credit. Both (he and the album) pretty much came into the world together. Also check out "The Story Of Willie The Pimp" on Zappa - Mystery Disc (opens in a new tab)
For UK issues: First UK issues have the Reprise Tri-color labels (Pop Series) RSLP 6356, with the Pye distribution data eradicated by a black over-stamp [Feb 1970]. The 2nd issue has tan Reprise labels RSLP 6356 [Late 1970/71]. The 3rd issue has tan Reprise labels K 44078 [circa 1972]. The 4th has tan Reprise labels K 44078 [circa 1974], but now with a 'W' logo in radius text. (These are the 'key' changes, other variations may apply. The 'K' changes relate to the Kinney acquisition but, under Law, were not applied in the USA)
Many early USA (and international) vinyl releases continued to use 'legacy' artwork, irrespective of a history of Warner company changes and often continuing to bear the Reprise/WSeven Arts logo. Initial issues were on the Bizarre label (distributed by Warner/Reprise) and then phased into the (various) Reprise labels.
On the Zappa One Size Fits All (opens in a new tab) back cover star map, there is a minor star titled "Hotratz" (situated above the major star "Pixies")
The uncredited cover photo was taken by. The uncredited cover model is.
Credits
The people behind it.
Performers
- Don "Sugarcane" HarrisVIOLIN ELECTRIC VIOLIN MUSICIAN , VIOLIN
- Frank ZappaBASS , PERCUSSION COMPOSED BY, ARRANGED BY, GUITAR, BASS , PERCUSSION GUITAR
- Ian UnderwoodCLARINET, FLUTE, PIANO, SAXOPHONE PIANO, FLUTE, CLARINET , SAXOPHONE , PERFORMER PIANO, FLUTE, CLARINET, SAXOPHONE
- John GuerinDRUMS MUSICIAN , DRUMS MUSICIAN, DRUMS
- Max BennettBASS ELECTRIC BASS MUSICIAN , BASS
- Ralph HumphreyDRUMS
- Captain BeefheartLEAD VOCALS MUSICIAN , VOCALS MUSICIAN, VOCALS
- Jean-Luc PontyELECTRIC VIOLIN MUSICIAN , VIOLIN MUSICIAN, VIOLIN
- Paul HumphreyDRUMS MUSICIAN , DRUMS MUSICIAN, DRUMS
- Ron SelicoDRUMS MUSICIAN , DRUMS MUSICIAN, DRUMS
- Shuggie OtisBASS ELECTRIC BASS MUSICIAN , BASS
90 collectors on Gatefold own this · 230 pressings tracked on Gatefold
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