Posted 8 years ago
artfoot
(367 items)
Why would you collect records?
If you are anything like me, music is always happening in one form or another. There is music everywhere - some that you choose to listen to, some you don't but hear anyway. When I was young, records were the only choice available if you wanted to hear a song more than once. Now I can mow the lawn with an mp3 player and ear buds. The best reason I've heard for collecting records is simply - you can't hold an mp3.
So, why collect this record?
This particular album is a blue label first pressing from 1968 with the original insert. Frank Zappa was less than pleased with this release. First, in his mind, it was released inside-out. The gatefold cover was intended as a parody of The Beatles "Sgt. Pepper" album cover but record company censors (lawyers?) made The Mothers reverse the pictures. Probably even more important to Frank, that wasn't the only censorship enforced on this release. They altered the music and lyrics as well. There were even more changes in subsequent releases. Frank turned down an award for this album, demanding it be given instead to whoever did the changes. It was finally released as originally intended when Zappa achieved complete control over his label and material. But before all that in-fighting was known about, in 1968, The Mothers of Invention put out some of the most amazing music of the era.
![Fleetwood Mac - Rumours [New Vinyl LP]](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/cOEAAOSwXh9m4irt/s-l225.jpg)
![The Cranberries - Dreams: The Collection [New Vinyl LP] UK - Import](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/O0MAAOSwSa9eczk5/s-l225.jpg)
![Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin IV [New Vinyl LP] 180 Gram, Rmst](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/AFAAAOSwZtRm4iC0/s-l225.jpg)
![Michael Jackson - Bad [New Vinyl LP] Gatefold LP Jacket](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/ljIAAOSwXrhj7HPx/s-l225.jpg)
I have this and Lumpy Gravy too... filled with satire of the era... Concetrtation Moon satirizing Reagan as Gov. of California, Bow Tie Daddy, etc... Hey Punk, where you going with that flower in your hand? I was lucky enough to see Zappa in New Orleans in a solo show around the time of Sheik Yerbouti. In addition to his many talents, he was an excellent guitarist. Well - time for me to go... PS, my favorite Zappa song is a tie between "My Guitar Wants to Kill Your Mama" & "Can't Afford No Shoes".
Love it. Zappa is also an underrated guitarist.
Here's a bit of trivia about this album - the song "Let's Make the Water Turn Black" is a true story.
Note Jimi Hendrix in the front row at far right. That's actually him, not a cut out! Zappa's wife Gail is to JH's left.
Despite the often strangely pitch-altered vocals and raw sound of this record, I think it is beautiful; one of Frank's best. It's an ecstatic time capsule of the LA Freak scene, something that otherwise would have been forgotten in lieu of the much bigger Hippie scene.