Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention - Just Another Band From L.A.
|
Our Price: $22.24 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $15.91 (click here) Category: Music CD See more new music releases 
|
|---|
Canadian Music Store
Free Music Notes for Just Another Band From L.A.
Free Music Review: Farewell Flo & Eddie....You Won't Be Missed.....Enough Is Enough
Hit: 3 Stars
After recording lead vocals on 3 of Zappa's albums, Flo & Eddie sang concluded their tenure in the band with this album.
It was recorded in August, 1971, just 4 months before Zappa's on-stage attack in London which led to him getting rid of Flo & Eddie along with the rest of this band.
Maybe this was a good thing since many people hated Flo & Eddie. I enjoyed them but 4 albums full of them two singing about groupies was enough for me.
After this album, Zappa would return to creating brilliant musical compositions and diverse but always entertaining satire that was not heard since "Weasels Ripped My Flesh."
He would continue to do so until his death in 1993.
With that being said, I must say that this album has some very good material on it.
"Magdalena" is a fast-paced song about incest between a father and his daughter that must be heard to be believed. By far,the best song on the album.
"Eddie, are you kidding?" is a good number about the tasks of suit-sellers and tailors.
"Billy the mountain" makes its premiere here but this version is not as good as the one found on "playground psychotics." The version here is 6 minutes shorter and doesn't have an organ solo and contains many out-of-date references.
"call any vegetable" and "dog breath" are mediocre re-makes of earlier Zappa works. Again, whether or not you will like this album depends upon whether or not you like Flo & Eddie.
I liked them but I had enough of them up to this point.
Free Music Review: An O.K. Album
Hit: 3 Stars
Actually "Billy The Mountain" is awesome! A 24 mins tale of the adventures of a mountain and his stunning wife (a tree). Very funny and varied musically. The track contains a lot of improvisation by Flo & Eddie. But due to it's length and weirdness it's not a track I often play.(It's GREAT when I'm in the mood for it though)As for "Call Any Vegetable" well that is the best version I have heard so far due to the keyboard, the small variation in the lyrics and the affirmation that IT IS GREAT TO BE ALIVE! But I Miss the instrumental that followed it on Absolutely Free (Ritual & Dance Of The Young Pumpkin)
The next two tracks are under the usual Zappa standard. Not very good musically or lirically.
As for "Dog Breath" it has a very cool rythm, conceptual continuity and one of the best Zappa solos (even though we know that they're all great)
I would not reccommend this for the Zappa neophyte but to "true" fans who wish to share the insanity of the grandiose "Billy The Mountain"
Free Music Review: for Zappaphiles only
Hit: 3 Stars
The 1971 group was, musically speaking, one of Zappa's weaker groups. It is no coincidence that it is virtually not featured on the YCDTOSA series (apart from thê anthological "Groupie Routine" on Vol 1). Having said this, any mediocre Zappa band is a cut above most groups in the history of rock!If this is not the best band, this is not their best Album.
If you're a true Zappa fan, it's a must: Billy the Mountain is very representative of the "theatrical" pieces of the time (the 1968 Festival Hall "Progress" being the best example). Additionally, as with all his early works, you will find important "Conceptual Continuity" elements.
If you are a new comer and want to dicover this line-up, take "Filmore East" for the fun, "Chunga's Revenge" for the music or, if you're really adventurous and are not put off by Berio, Boulez or Varese, take the real masterpiece: 200 Motels.
Free Music Review: I was at the concert.
Hit: 3 Stars
I attended this show at Pauley Pavillion. I remember the set list very well. Side one is the opening of the show, then Billy the Mountain. After intermission, they played the "Live at the Filmore" set as this album had just been released. What I remember vividly was that Billy the Mountain was much longer. Frank edited out an excellent Ian Underwood sax solo and some vocal comments aimed at George Putman, a local newscaster who they were mimicing - "This just in to the KTLA news service". A very fun show.
A question to anyone. Is there a Zappa recording that contains the unabridged version of "Billy the Mountain" from this show? I remember seeing it in a record store, but I don't remember the name of the CD.
Free Music Review: Great! ...if you are a teenage boy
Hit: 3 Stars
I love Zappa's music and have many, many CDs from different eras. My first Zappa purchase was in 1972, Weasles Ripped My Flesh. I even saw the Roxy lineup live in March 1974. I do not own any of the Flo and Eddie material anymore. It might have been funny when I was 16 but not so much now that I'm 51. Really now, it's pretty disgusting dialog throughout. There just isn't THAT much emphasis on the music, which is sort of shocking in light of the body of Zappa's work. so, if you are a 16 year old boy who has not heard this or Live at the Fillmore East 1971, buy 'em. Otherwise, I say skip 'em.