Hot Rats

It's difficult to review boxed sets such as this with lack of bias. In one sense, you need to be somehow able to equate the material contained to the price one is required to pay to listen to said material. The problem with this approach is that A) It seems unlikely that one would be willing to pay the price of admission for such an item as a casual listener and so, B) as someone who has purchased the item one is, by definition, a none casual listener: already invested in the artist's work and, therefore, biased!Taking that as a starting point then, I'm going to review this item by asking / answering three distinct questions:1: "As a "pre-existent" Zappa enthusiast is this box any good and is it worth the price?"A: With reservations, yes, It's great!A variety of artists (or artists' estates and record companies) have adopted this approach over the past twenty plus years: thus, The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, King Crimson, The Who, David Bowie, Van Morrison, Led Zeppelin, Sex Pistols, Elvis Costello, Bob Dylan, The Band, Jimi Hendrix, and, of course, Zappa himself, etc, etc, etc, have all adopted this form of archeological tape trawling release policy.With artists such as Hendrix such releases far and away outnumber the official releases the artist was involved with in his lifetime. (As Zappa fans, we all know what a studio workaholic he was so, potentially, this state of affairs could conceivably end up true for his catalogue at some point as well!).All of these releases are intentionally directed at the "heavyweight" fan of course and not the person with a passing curiosity. As such, we are a ready made biased audience for such releases.I personally think the music contained within the "Hot Rats Sessions" is marvellous. It's an audio Verite experience of course; you're a fly on the studio wall listening to take after take of the album evolve and gel. The audio fidelity is, by and large, absolutely fantastic and the playing is, of course, top flight. On top of this, there are a number of cuts that never made the final release of the official album (some were culled and / or canabalised for future releases starting with "Burnt Weeny Sandwich" and going through to, I think "Sleep Dirt"). I've a feeling at least the track "Natasha" has never previously had a release. You also get complete unedited takes of the edited official release performances (unedited both in length but also dubbing and final mix arrangement).2: "So, as a Zappa fan, is the box worth the price over all?"A: Hmmm, maybe!As far as the music is concerned, by and large, yes! absolutely. However, I do feel, given the price, one could take issue with a few points vis a vis this box.Firstly: there is no new mix of the "Hot Rats" album per-se contained herein. What we get is the 1987 digital re-mix of the album. This seems a little lazy to me given that A) we've already got this, B) as they were mixing the studio takes (etc) for the rest of this set they could have carried on for the album per-se without that much extra effort, and C) it means that the "finished work" contained in the box sonically pales next to the work in progress recordings which sound marvellously live and "in your face" throughout the rest of the box.I think it's disengenuous to claim that, "well, Frank sanctioned the 1987 mix" as justification for its inclusion here. If this was the yardstick then this box would potentially never have been released at all; after all, Zappa himself obviously didn't sanction it did he?As per the set's packaging, I'll give it 6 out of 10.What you do get does look great. However, some of what you get is pointless in comparison to what you should have had for the money! The biggest gripe would be that, for some reason known only to the box producers, a silly board game is contained with Zappa plectrums as counters. This is fun enough I suppose but it just feels like something that's been put together to justify the price asked. Who's ever going to look at it again never mind play the game?What SHOULD have been included instead is the upcoming "Hot Rat Sessions" book which is due to be published seperately in February at a £25 asking price. Instead, in the box, (and as well as the game) all we get is a pamphlet - about the same amount of content as your average gig programme - with a scattering of short pieces by Ian Underwood, Matt Groening and the album's photographer et al, plus some accompanying photos from the recording sessions. It's all very nice...... but......!No! What we should have had for the money is for the pamphlet, board game (plectrums and all!) to have been ditched and the upcoming book included instead.As it stands, for what you get, it would have been far better for the fan if this set had been released in a similar format to, say, the "Roxy" box and had £40 to £50 knocked off the asking price.So.... for the fan, the music is 10 / 10. The packaging / box contents 6 / 10 due both to what's included and what isn't.3) "So, as a casual listener, would it be worth me buying this to see what all the fuss was about?"A: Absolutely not. It will leave you cold as any of these type of archival releases by any band would leave you cold if you're not already a fan and know the original released work back to front...... and there's not even that much to look at!Get hold of the actual "Hot Rats" album instead and then you'll be cooking!

It's hard not to look at Christine Frka's frizzy-haired mad-as-a-dingbat-on-acid stare as she peaks over a wrecked/abandoned Beverley Hill's swimming pool on the cover of Frank Zappa's iconic Jazz-Rock album "Hot Rats" - and not smile. In some ways she summed up the adventure contained within the grooves – gonna be a little frizzled around the edges by the time you're done. Miss Christine was one of the all-girl group The GTOs (Girls Together Outrageously) – another Bizarre Records act – and the one who reputedly talked Frank into signing Alice Cooper.After five incendiary albums with The Mothers Of Invention since 1966 (two of which were doubles) – it was time for the inevitable Solo LP proper from Frank Zappa and instead of Vocal Group pastiches and Comedy Soundtracks – Zappa went Rock in a very Jazzy way and never looked back. "Hot Rats" even hit No 9 in the UK charts in late February 1970 – his first and highest chart placing in good old Blighty (the Bizarre Records LP scraped into 173 in the USA).His CD reissues from this period have been dogged with controversy. Having acquired the rights to own back catalogue - Zappa began remixing the masters to what many felt were sacred cows – even adding posthumous parts that weren't on the originals thereby altering their very nature (he argued he was the artist). Most notorious is the extra four minutes of music added on to the 12:53 of "The Gumbo Variations" on the 1995 Rykodisc CD reissue. Using the Zappa approved 'edit' master of the 1969 album – this BERNIE GRUNDMAN 2008 Remaster goes back to basics and yet still packs a lot of punch especially in those huge instrumental stretches within "Willie The Pimp", "Son Of Mrs. Green Genes" and the Saxophone-driven "The Gumbo Variations". Here are the 'little umbrellas'...UK released July 2012 – "Hot Rats" by FRANK ZAPPA on Zappa Records 0238412 (Barcode 824302384121) is a straightforward transfer of the original 1969 LP onto CD (using a 2008 remaster) and plays out as follows (43:19 minutes):1. Peaches En Regalia2. Willie The Pimp3. Son Of Mrs. Green Genes4. Little Umbrellas [Side 2]5. The Gumbo Variations6. It Must Be A CamelTracks 1 to 6 are the album "Hot Rats" – released early October 1969 in the USA on Bizarre/Reprise RS 6356 and February 1970 in the UK on Reprise RSLP 6356 (re-issued July 1971 in the UK on Reprise K 44078).Players were:FRANK ZAPPA – Guitars, Octave Bass & PercussionLOWELL GEORGE – Guitar (uncredited)CAPTAIN BEEFHEART – Vocals on "Willie The Pimp"SUGAR CANE HARRIS – Violin on "Willie The Pimp" and "The Gumbo Variations"JEAN LUC PONTY – Violin on "It Must Be A Camel"IAN UNDERWOOD – Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone & Keyboards (solo on "The Gumbo Variations")MAX BENNETT – Bass on all except "Peaches En Regalia"SHUGGIE OTIS – Bass on "Peaches En Regalia"JOHN GUERIN – Drums on "Willie The Pimp", "Little Umbrellas" and "It Must Be A Camel"PAUL HUMPHREY – Drums on "Son Of Mr. Green Genes" and "The Gumbo Variations"RON SELICAO – Drums on "Peaches En Regalia"The fold-out inlay reinstates the colour photos on the inner gatefold of the original LP and those not quite complete musician credits – but unfortunately very little else. Someone could have produced the lyrics to the only song with vocals on it – "Willie The Pimp" – or even explained about the album's intricate history on LP and CD – but alas – you barely get the BG remaster mention and that's it. Still at least the Audio is restored and wicked into the bargain...The album opens with perhaps his most famous piece – the instrumental "Peaches En Regalia" which features the Bass playing of future Columbia Records guitar whizz Shuggie Otis. Great audio as those keyboard overdubs punch in. The mighty Captain Beefheart adds his considerable larynx to "Willie The Pimp" giving the 9:23 minutes an anchor – but what shines even more is Frank's Guitar soloing giving the piece an almost hypnotic feel as it stoner-rocks along defying all conventional wisdom as to what a Pop Song should be.The battle between Zappa's Guitar, Sugar Cane Harris' Violin and Paul Humphrey’s extraordinary Drumming on relentless groove of "The Gumbo Variations" certainly tests the Remaster to the max and Bernie Grundman has seen to it that you can appreciate the individual contributions and crescendo all at the same time. The Piano and Flute passages on "Little Umbrellas" are fuller and the almost lounge-room vibe of the Piano and Drums on "It Must Be A Camel" is very clear - a sort of five-minute 'settle down' piece of Jazz Rock that ends the album on a mellow vibe.The only real let down is the average presentation (sans regalia more than peaches) – otherwise here's one sizzling rodent you need in your suburban pool Mrs. Green Genes...

Probably Frank Zappa's most accessible album, loud, lary and lots of fun. I had an appalling cassette copy of this album when I was young, now a pensioner this music still appeals enormously.I believe that this CD is the original 1969 mix, it certainly has the wonderful mellow analogue sound that modern digital remixes nearly always lose.The music is difficult to pin down by genre and each track is quite different. Peaches en Regalia is a delightful melody that would not offend a vicar, whilst the lyric of Willie the Pimp might offend some. That said the lyric is soon replaced by a few minutes of rock jazz. Son of Mr Green Genes reminds me a little of Derek and the Dominoes (a high accolade indeed), even though the instrumentation is very different. The Gumbo Variations has a vibrant sax to start with, followed by a speedy violin, both backed by bass guitar and drums, and yes it does go on a bit - but by the third listening it will take you along for the ride. It Must be a Camel is a slow and at times discordant piece, not my favourite track.Not quite Layla or Atom Heart Mother this is still a remarkable album. If you have not heard it then I suggest you buy a copy immediately, it offers so much more individuality than the bands of today seem to come up with, and if you are jazz lover then I assume that you already have a copy.

A must have for all Zappa fans, especially those like myself who bought it at the time and somehow have absorbed it into their DNA. As opposed to other packages of alternate takes etc, this is more like a documentary of how Hot Rats evolved into a ground breaking album. Well put together and fascinating to listen to.Which makes it completely mystifying as to why the original mix isn't included. I have to say I was disappointed to find it was missing. Instead we get the '87 remix as an example of the completed work. I think this is misleading as I'm not sure this is what Frank was working towards through all the sessions included here. The '69 mix is what was released as the fruit of all this labour and is the one most familiar to fans who bought it at the time. It was the definitive version up until '87, so why isn't it included?I've had to buy the original '69 mix and add it to the box myself, which is an odd thing to have to do... ( I wasn't aware it was still available until I heard the podcast between Joe Travers and Scott Parker where Joe tries to explain why they didn't include it. Even after his explanation it still doesn't make any sense..)So if you buy this, be prepared to complete it by also purchasing the original '69 mix so it all makes sense. (The good thing is the extra disc currently isn't expensive.).

A few nights ago I watched an interesting BBC4 documentary on Franz Zappa [actually I watched it over a couple of nights for a variety of reasons but that's not important]. I'd always known of Zappa, but never really knew anything about him and wasn't conscious of having ever heard any of his music. So inspired by the documentary I decided to dip a toe in the Zappa-waters, but where do you start when the guy released 62 albums during his lifetime and a further 57 [so far] have been released posthumously, with no doubt more to follow.But that's mostly a question of which Zappa do you want? The rock Zappa (sounds interesting), the comic satirist Zappa (no, probably dated and I've never really liked musical comedy, at least not since the Goodies disbanded), the pop Zappa (maybe/maybe not), the jazz Zappa (probably not), the orchestral Zappa (maybe) or the musique concrète [whatever that is] Zappa (interesting but in reality probably too extreme for my tastes)? So I plumped for the jazz-fusion Zappa, I've always had a bit of thing for fusion: Miles Davis, The Mahavishnu Orchestra, Weather Report, EST. And if it's jazz-fusion Zappa you want then that means "Hot Rats"; [it must be good because it regularly appears in list of all time albums!].With five instrumentals among it's six tracks to call "Hot Rats" jazz fusion is a reasonable classification although I think it's fair to say that true jazzers will find it falls on the rock side of fusion with opener "Peaches En Regalia" being a prime example of rock with a bit of jazz thrown-in; and while it maybe regarded as a Zappa standard it's too lounge'y to be exciting. Second, and only vocal track "Willie The Pimp" with Captain Beefheart providing vocals [Beefheart is another like Zappa who regularly pops up on must have lists but hasn't troubled my radar - until now] is better; Beefheart only appears for the first two or three minutes before it slides into an extended six minute blues fusion workout that has the boys in the band stretching-out."Son of Mr. Green Genes" is nice enough but not special, initially lacking intensity it's a bit superficial like one of those the "Royal Philharmonic Orchestra plays [inset unlikely heavy metal band here]" albums but it improves as Zappa's extensive soloing comes to the fore, unlike fourth track "Little Umbrellas" that just remains bland and lounge'y throughout its three minutes.But the nearly thirteen minutes of "The Gumbo Variations" that follows is the highlight here; an extended jam and another that errs on the rockier side of fusion but with solos from Ian Underwood's tenor sax and Zappa's guitar, and electric violin fills from Sugar Cane Harris it gradually develops and unwinds as the band stretch into the groove, now this is what I came for, I could listen to this all day. But not closer "It Must Be a Camel", this is probably the most complex and jazziest track on the album but in all honesty it's a bit on the jarringly chaotic side leaving you wondering whether they were all playing from the same sheet.And that's it. Jazz fusion takes time to develop and the longer tracks, in particular "Willie The Pimp" and "The Gumbo Variations" are far better for being given the time they need, the rest I can take or leave and that's why I suspect that this CD is going to sit on the shelf until the charity shop beckons.So sorry I'm not [yet at least] a Zappa convert? This isn't going to be the start of a love affair, it's more the end of a so-so first [and probably] only date.