1968 SUPERIOR Mothers FRANK ZAPPA LUMPY GRAVY psych

$

32

RARE LAMINATED GERMAN ORIGINAL 1968  ~                    

STRANGER THAN STRANGE ZAPPA MOTHERS                         

                &

 THE MOTHERS OF INVENTION

         "LUMPY GRAVY"

\                                          UK - black and silver VERVE RECORDS - V6 8741

Here, an actual (very rare) 1968 German first pressing with full laminated gatefold cover, not the more common non-laminated issue that turned up in the later 70's ... plus the old German vinyl is of the worlds best quality next to the Japanese vinyl productions when talking wide range sound delivery.

After a couple of MOTHERS OF INVENTION albums ("Freak Out", "Absolutely Free"), ZAPPA decided to do a project outside the MOTHERS (even though it;s with some Mothers, and he decided to do what is perhaps his most ambitious project up until that point. And "Lumpy Gravy", released in December 1967 (varying sources say this album was released in March or May 1968) is the result. Basically this band consisted of ZAPPA as conducter, with a large orchestra, and rock band. And yes, members of the MOTHERS OF INVENTION do appear on this album: Roy Estrada, Euclid James "Motorhead" Sherwood and Jimmy Carl Black. This original LP, unlike the cd issue, is simply divided by side one and two. The album starts off very deceptively sounding like instrumental surf music. The wind instruments included sounds not unlike what ZAPPA was doing with the MOTHERS (even the themes are pretty common on a MOTHERS album). But suddenly the music stops and turns in to lots of strange electronic effects and totally twisted arrangements. Somewhere, a catchy song gets played on orchestra and drums, this being called "Oh No" (which would be later recorded with the MOTHERS OF INVENTION, with a more normal rock setting and vocals, on "Weasels Ripped My Flesh").

As the album progresses, you'll hear the sounds of people spouting out a bunch of bull[&*!#], like about how it's like outside a drum (ie. "It's dark and murky"), or about pigs and ponies (which is about cops versus hippies). There was even one part of the album where this guy was talking about fixing on his car, but his girlfriend got pissed off at him, so she rips out the motor, the tires, and the seats from his car. The theme to "Oh No" repeats itself later on.

As the album progresses further, you face more of the same: passages that sound like rock music, experimental passages, people talking a bunch of nonsense. A similar theme would later be used on Uncle Meat ("King Kong"), is delivered here with an orchestral style. After all the relentless experiments, the album ends with an instrumental version of "Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance".

"Lumpy Gravy" is one truly fascinating album, although some people think this is one of ZAPPA's strangest albums. Regardless, if you like the weird/experimental/neo-classical side of ZAPPA, then you need "Lumpy Gravy".

           Side one

1. "Lumpy Gravy, Part One" – 15:48

   • "The Way I See It, Barry"
   • "Duodenum"
   • "Oh No"
   • "Bit Of Nostalgia"
   • "It's From Kansas"
   • "Bored Out 90 Over"
   • "Almost Chinese"
   • "Switching Girls"
   • "Oh No Again"
   • "At the Gas Station"
   • "Another Pickup"
   • "I Don't Know If I Can Go Through This Again"

Side two

1. "Lumpy Gravy, Part Two" – 15:51

   • "Very Distraughtening"
   • "White Ugliness"
   • "Amen"
   • "Just One More Time"
   • "A Vicious Circle"
   • "King Kong"
   • "Drums Are Too Noisy"
   • "Kangaroos"
   • "Envelops the Bath Tub"
   • "Take Your Clothes Off"

CONDITION: The fully laminated gatefold cover is VG++ with light scuffing to lamination which is not noticable unless holding directly under a bright light...otherwise it looks fine, and contains no split seams, no bends and no writing anywhere...

The vinyl is glossy having but some stray superficial hairline scuffs, anyway, it plays exceptional & enjoyable.

      A cool addition to anyone's music library!

SEE: SELLERS OTher items for similar cool sounds for "head" people...

EFFICIENT/CAREFUL GRADING

All imperfections are noted both cover & record