by Robert Wilkinson
The December 21 Solstice isn the 83rd birthday of one of the great composers and guitar players of the 20th century! He's a last degree Sagittarius!
Zappa was a unique force of Nature. Here’s a little from Wikipedia to give you a taste of what this musical genius was all about:
Frank Zappa, (December 21, 1940 – December 4, 1993) was an American musician, songwriter, composer, recording engineer, record producer, and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa composed rock, jazz, orchestral and “musique concrete’” works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed album covers. Zappa produced almost all of the more than 60 albums he released with the band The Mothers of Invention and as a solo artist. While in his teens, he acquired a taste for 20th-century classical composers such as Edgard Varese, Igor Stravinsky, and Anton Webern along with 1950s rhythm and blues music. He began writing classical music in high school, while at the same time playing drums in rhythm and blues bands; he later switched to electric guitar.Zappa was a self-taught composer and performer, and his diverse musical influences led him to create music that was often difficult to categorize. His 1966 debut album with The Mothers of Invention, Freak Out! combined songs in conventional rock and roll format with collective improvisations and studio-generated sound collages. His later albums shared this eclectic and experimental approach, irrespective of whether the fundamental format was rock, jazz or classical. His lyrics—often humorously—reflected his iconoclastic view of established social and political processes, structures and movements. He was a strident critic of mainstream education and organized religion, and a forthright and passionate advocate for freedom of speech, self-education, political participation and the abolition of censorship.
He was a highly productive and prolific artist and gained widespread critical acclaim. He had some commercial success, particularly in Europe, and worked as an independent artist for most of his career. He also remains a major influence on musicians and composers.
For your amazement and enjoyment, Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention! "No commercial potential" of course!!
Here’s the double album that freaked out the world! Given song titles like “Hungry Freaks Daddy,” “Who Are the Brain Police,” “Wowie Zowie,” and my personal favorites, “Trouble Coming Every Day,” “Help I’m A Rock,” and “It Can’t Happen Here,” it’s no wonder no one knew what to make of this debut! For your enjoyment, the entire masterpiece The Mothers of Invention Freak Out!
Here’s a very jazzed out short live performance from 1984 of one of the signature tunes from that album, written about the LA riots of 1965-66. “Trouble Comin’ Every Day”
To see just how radically he changed the song, here's the original studio version of the incredibly hard rocking "Trouble Comin' Every Day"
Here he took the song into a funky groove! Very live from “A Token of His Extreme Training of 1975,” this one’s good! “Trouble Comin’ Every Day”
If you thought the first album was weird, this one pushed the limits even further with songs like “Plastic People” and “Brown Shoes Don’t Make It”! For your amazement, the entire 43 minute second Mothers of Invention album Absolutely Free
For those who want some live freaking out, from 1968, 22 minutes of The Mothers of Invention Live in London
I found it again! It’s the entire hour and 19 show at The Beat Club in Bremen. Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention in Germany - October 1968
From that same year, and 8+ minute musical freakout on French tv! Frank Zappa and the Mother on Forum Musiques
The compilation of the entire “European tour” clip has disappeared, but I found this! Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention at the Fillmore April 1968
From 1969, another of my favorite Mothers albums! Here’s the entire pioneering jazz fusion album Hot Rats
From May 9, 1970, an hour and 20 of the Mothers of Invention live on Mother’s Day at the Fillmore East! Frank Zappa and the Mothers Live at the Fillmore East on Mother’s Day
From December 1970, a multi-part video of Frank and the Mothers in Paris with Flo and Eddie! (Pt. 1 with “Improvisations” is nowhere to be found.)
The Mothers Of Invention in Paris 1970 Part 2 – “Dog Breath,” Mother People,” and “You Didn’t Try to Call Me”
The Mothers Of Invention in Paris 1970 Part 3 – “King Kong”
The Mothers Of Invention in Paris 1970 Part 4 – “Who Are the Brain Police?”
Here’s the entire 1 hour 47 minute audio-only show from December 1970! The Mothers of Invention Live in Paris
From 1971, the 44 minute audio-only album! The Mothers of Invention Live at the Fillmore East
As a follow up to “Hot Rats” in 1972, here’s more jazz fusion courtesy of the full 36 minute album Waka/Jawaka
Here’s a full one hour 15 minute live video of an early show! The Mothers of Invention Live in Stockholm, Sweden 1973
From 1973 at the Armadillo World Headquarters in Austin, TX, a concert I was at! For your enjoyment, 15+ minutes of Frank Zappa and the Mothers play a Mr Green Genes Medley (Includes “Son Of Mr. Green Genes,” “King Kong,” and “Chunga's Revenge”)
Frank and the Mothers played several nights at the Roxy in 1973, and released an album with that material the next year. I found a 32 minute video of one of those performances! Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention Live at the Roxy - 1973
This 32 minute clip is at the Roxy in 1973! Frank Zappa and the Mothers at the Roxy – “DUPree’s Paradise and Montana”
Here’s an audio-only 1974 hour of Frank and the Mothers live at the Roxy and elsewhere! Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention at the Roxy and Elsewhere
I found a few more from “A Token of His Extreme Training of 1975.” Very live and in the groove!
From April 1975, Frank gives us an 8+ minute audio-only version of one of his best, featuring Captain Beefheart! “Willie the Pimp”
From some point in space time, here’s a great lineup backing Zappa in a live performance of “Cosmik Debris” (Lineup includes Jean Luc Ponty, George Duke, Tom Fowler, Bruce Fowler, Ruth Underwood, Ian Underwood, and Ralph Humphrey)
Here’s a full 1 hour 50 minute audio-only show from 1978! Frank Zappa Live at the Capitol Theater in Passaic, NJ
Here’s a full 2 hour audio-only show in 1978! Frank Zappa Live at the NY Paladium
Here’s a great 52 minute 1993 BBC documentary! The BBC Frank Zappa Documentary
We’ll start the close of this tribute with a gem from 1963! Here’s Frank Zappa on The Steve Allen Show where he “plays a bicycle.” Frank Zappa on The Steve Allen Show in 1963
I found a great 1990 7 part interview with Frank, where he discusses all kinds of early influences, other musical acts, and whatever he felt like talking about.
The Frank Zappa Lost Interview – pt. 1 (Early influences)
The Frank Zappa Lost Interview – pt. 2 (Joe McCarthy, Elvis, and racism)
The Frank Zappa Lost Interview – pt. 3 (JFK, LBJ, Nixon)
The Frank Zappa Lost Interview – pt. 4 (Beatles, Stones, Lenny Bruce, censorship)
The Frank Zappa Lost Interview – pt. 5 (Jimi Hendrix, UFOs, and sex)
The Frank Zappa Lost Interview – pt. 6 (Dictatorships and problems with democracy)
The Frank Zappa Lost Interview – pt. 7 (Message for the future)
We’ll close this birthday tribute with four video clips. First, Frank’s 33 minute appearance before Congress in 1985 when they were discussing censoring music. Have fun watching a genius not give politicians an inch! Frank Zappa Testifying at the PMRC Senate hearing in 1985.
From August 1985, 19 minutes on Frank Zappa on Larry King Live
Then, on Crossfire in March 1986, he takes on right wing control freaks. Some of his looks of disgust are really funny, even though he’s as serious as an ice pick. Frank Zappa on Crossfire
And now, from February 1988, here’s 15 minutes of Frank shooting straight on Charlie Rose! Frank Zappa on Pat Robertson and Iran-Contra
For our encore, Frank Zappa in a live 1988 performance in Vienna of the Led Zeppelin classic, “Stairway to Heaven”
For our second encore, the Wayback machine takes us back to the Fillmore West for 29 minutes in June 1966 when Frank and the Mothers opened for Lenny Bruce (who died less than 6 weeks later)! Frank Zappa and the Mothers live at the Fillmore West in 1966
For our final encore, an hour and 17 of vintage material from his earliest days! The first section is the same as the one above, and the second two shows are from Sweden and Germany in 1967-68. Frank Zappa and the Mothers 1966-68 – The Unheard Concerts
Frank, you definitely helped my young mind freak out, and become absolutely free from a bunch of preconceptions! Looking forward to new releases for the next century!!
© Copyright 2023 Robert Wilkinson
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