Mothermania: The Best of the Mothers

by Ian Underwood, Frank Zappa, Roy Estrada, The Mothers of Invention, Bunk Gardner

Overview

Mothermania is a collection of previously released tunes culled from the first three Mothers of Invention albums. So why bother? Well, it's the only early collection actually compiled by FZ. Verve released a bunch of early compilations without permission, but more importantly, this is the only place you can hear some of these mixes and edits. Many of the tunes from Freak Out! appear in different mixes, while "It Can't Happen Here" plays through without the interruptions of the Freak Out! version. The We're Only in It for the Money tracks might be even more interesting. The backwards snippet that closes side one of the original WOIIFTM album was a censored verse from "Mother People," and Mothermania is the only place you can hear the original uncensored version of the song. The version of "Idiot Bastard Son" has an otherwise unheard instrumental introduction and a VERY different mix, and plays through without the edits and interruptions of the WOIIFTM version. Mothermania could hardly be called essential, but it does have some really interesting material that any hardcore fan of FZ's early years would want to hear. ~ Sean Westergaard

Product Details

Release Date:	07/26/2019
Label:	Universal / Zappa Records
UPC:	0824302384015

Tracks

1. Brown Shoes Don't Make It
2. Mother People
3. Duke of Prunes
4. Call Any Vegetable
5. The Idiot Bastard Son
6. It Can't Happen Here
7. You're Probably Wondering Why I'm Here
8. Who Are the Brain Police?
9. Plastic People
10. Hungry Freaks, Daddy
11. America Drinks & Goes Home

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Frank Zappa   Primary Artist
The Mothers of Invention   Primary Artist
Ian Underwood   Primary Artist
Roy Estrada   Primary Artist
Bunk Gardner   Primary Artist
Jimmy Carl Black   Primary Artist
Euclid James Sherwood   Primary Artist
Arthur Tripp   Primary Artist
Don Preston   Primary Artist

Technical Credits

Ami Hadani   Engineer
Bob Ludwig   Mastering
Frank Zappa   Composer,Producer,Compilation Producer
Dick Kunc   Engineer
Joe Travers   Transfers
Richard Berry   Composer
Tom Hidley   Engineer
Tom Wilson   Producer
Gary Kelgren   Engineer
Cal Schenkel   Cover Design
Melanie Starks   Production Manager
Val Valetine   Engineering Director