Hot Rats

by Frank Zappa

Overview

Aside from the experimental side project Lumpy Gravy, Hot Rats was the first album Frank Zappa recorded as a solo artist sans the Mothers, though he continued to employ previous musical collaborators, most notably multi-instrumentalist Ian Underwood. Other than another side project -- the doo wop tribute Cruising With Ruben and the Jets -- Hot Rats was also the first time Zappa focused his efforts in one general area, namely jazz-rock. The result is a classic of the genre. Hot Rats' genius lies in the way it fuses the compositional sophistication of jazz with rock's down-and-dirty attitude -- there's a real looseness and grit to the three lengthy jams, and a surprising, wry elegance to the three shorter, tightly arranged numbers (particularly the sumptuous "Peaches en Regalia"). Perhaps the biggest revelation isn't the straightforward presentation, or the intricately shifting instrumental voices in Zappa's arrangements -- it's his own virtuosity on the electric guitar, recorded during extended improvisational workouts for the first time here. His wonderfully scuzzy, distorted tone is an especially good fit on "Willie the Pimp," with its greasy blues riffs and guest vocalist Captain Beefheart's Howlin' Wolf theatrics. Elsewhere, his skill as a melodist was in full flower, whether dominating an entire piece or providing a memorable theme as a jumping-off point. In addition to Underwood, the backing band featured contributions from Jean-Luc Ponty, Lowell George, and Don "Sugarcane" Harris, among others; still, Zappa is unquestionably the star of the show. Hot Rats still sizzles; few albums originating on the rock side of jazz-rock fusion flowed so freely between both sides of the equation, or achieved such unwavering excitement and energy. ~ Steve Huey

Product Details

Release Date:	08/26/2016
Label:	Zappa Records
UPC:	0824302384114
Rank:	4820

Tracks

1. Peaches en Regalia
2. Willie the Pimp
3. Son of Mr. Green Genes
4. Little Umbrellas
5. The Gumbo Variations
6. It Must Be a Camel

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Frank Zappa   Primary Artist,Guitar,Director,Percussion,Lead Vocals,Octave Bass
Captain Beefheart   Primary Artist,Vocals
Ian Underwood   Flute,Piano,Clarinet,Saxophone
Don Van Vliet   Vocals
Jean-Luc Ponty   Violin
Ron Selico   Drums
Max Bennett   Bass
Paul Humphrey   Drums
Shuggie Otis   Bass
Don "Sugarcane" Harris   Violin
John Guerin   Drums
Michael Mesker   Rendering

Technical Credits

Bernie Grundman   Mastering,Transfers,Remastering
Jack Hunt   Engineer
Frank Zappa   Text,Concept,Arranger,Composer,Producer,Liner Notes,Art Direction
Dick Kunc   Engineer
Brian Ingoldsby   Engineer
Cliff Goldstein   Engineer
Cal Schenkel   Cover Design
Melanie Starks   Production Manager
John Williams   Design