Frank Zappa-Hot Rats

Credited as a Zappa solo album, although Mothers Of Invention member Ian Underwood plays a variety of instruments on the record. This is a new one I bought a couple of years ago. Always one of my favorites this is a 2016 reissue on the Zappa Records label and was remastered by Bernie Grundman. The gatefold cover again was by Cal Schenkel and features GTOs member Miss Christine in an empty swimming pool. An instrumental album except for some vocals on “Willie The Pimp” this is a great Jazz Rock record. “Peaches En Regalia” is fairly well known and has been re-recorded many times by Zappa. I remember seeing him perform it on Saturday Night Live in 1976. “illie The Pimp” has vocals by Captain Beefheart, Zappa’s High School classmate in Lancaster Ca. and an early collaborator in the 50’s. An awesome guitar solo by Zappa is heard between the second and last verse with some mean violin by Don “Sugarcane” Harris. “Son Of Mr. Green Genes” and “The Gumbo Variations” are also great jams. Jean- Luc Ponty plays violin on “It Must Be a Camel” The overall sound of this pressing is great.

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