Invention

1. Playing Parties

2. Pursed Lips Reply

3. Astroboy

4. Adventress

5. Elegy (At Last)

6. Muggle Born

7. Aplomb

8. Experience

9. Loded

10. Quiet Now

11. Minor Detour

12. Perchance a Bit

13. Soulful of Child

14. Thus the Whirligig

15. Quiet Now

16. Pursed Lips Reply - Daedelus,

Tracks:

Toccata In D Minor For Organ
Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 In F: I. Allegro
Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 In G: I. Allegro
Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 In D: II. Affetuoso
Concerto For 2 Violins In D Minor: I. Vivace
Concerto For 2 Violins In D Minor: II. Adagio
Violin Concerto No. 1 In A Minor: I. Allegro
Violin Concerto No. 2 In E: I. Allegro
Magnificat In D: Magnificat
Magnificat In D: Deposuit potentes
The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I: Prelude 1
Concerto For 3 Harpsichords In C: II. Adagio
Concerto For 2 Harpsichords In C Minor: II. Adagio
Concerto For 4 Harpsichords In A Minor: First Movement
Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring
Toccata, Adagio & Fugue In C: II. Adagio
Partita No. 3 For Solo Violin: Prelude
2-Part Invention: No. 8 In F
Wachet Auf: Sleepers Awake
Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 In G: III. Presto
Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 In F: III. Allegro assai
Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 In D: III. Allegro
Orchestral Suite No. 2 In B Minor: VII. Badinerie
Mass In B Minor: Gloria
Mass In B Minor: Dona Nobis Pacem

Customer Reviews:

Just what you would expect.......2007-05-19

I was looking for a CD of exclusively Bach music, not necessarily played by a famous artist or orchestra. This had a lot of his well-known pieces and was exactly what I was looking for.

Wonderful collection and price!.......2007-05-11

I found this to be a nice collection of favorites, especially to keep in the car and listen to. It is a variety of well known compilations. Although not encompassing, it is perfect as a review for driving, relaxing, and enjoyment. Plus, the price is right!

Like Floating On A Cloud.......2006-09-20

My first real appreciation of this sound was from watching the film "Slaughterhouse Five" in the theater, back in the '70s. That soundtrack was just a taste of what you get with this recording. My family pops this CD in the car stereo on long trips, and glide down the highway to some original smooth grooves. Helps the miles pass swiftly. Music for the soul.

Bach.......2006-08-27

Surely you don't need me to review the guy. You know who he is, you've heard his music, and I hope you own some. So let me turn the podium over to a cat named Picasso, and you can read into that whatever you wish. She's in a chair, near the CD player. She has entered the room specifically for the music. Her eyes are squinted, almost but not quite shut, little face concentrating on just how contented those sounds make her feel. Nobody can say why they move her so, any more than we can say why they move us so. If we knew the answer to that one, we'd copy the guy. But anyway, she loves the music, and don't you dare make a sound such as squeaking your computer chair. If you do, her golden orbs will open, fix upon your face, and shame you. Yes they will. But if you are quiet long enough, you can watch a little calico sleep, with the very same sweet kitten face that drew you to her five years ago. Bach is gooooood.

Good CD, especially for novices.......2005-10-12

I was looking for a recommended Bach CD - certain music by a certain orchestra - and stumbled on this. It is an excellent choice for a new library. I think when there was more than one movement to a piece, it would have made more sense to go ahead and keep the movements together instead of separating them, but a novice listener would not notice. A great way to become exposed to a great composer.

Average customer rating:

A gem of the late sixties
The album that made me a Zappa freak
The first step in Zappa's amazing world....
What can one say?
One of the most ambitious (not to mention greatest) debuts of all time

Freak Out!
Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention
Manufacturer: Zappa Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000009RT
Release Date: 1995-05-02

Tracks:

Hungry Freaks, Daddy
I Ain't Got No Heart
Who Are The Brain Police?
Go Cry On Somebody Else's Shoulder
Motherly Love
How Could I Be Such A Fool
Wowie Zowie
You Didn't Try To Call Me
Any Way The Wind Blows
I'm Not Satisfied
You're Probably Wondering Why I'm Here
Trouble Every Day
Help, I'm A Rock
It Can't Happen Here
The Return Of The Son Of Monster Magnet

Amazon.com essential recording

"This is the voice of your conscience, baby..." The recording debut of the Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention is a brilliantly wicked counter-strike to the flower power sensibilities prevalent at the time of it's release in 1966. Arguably rock music's first true "concept album," Zappa's aural collage mashes together chunks of psychedelic guitars, outspoken political commentary, cultural satire, and avant-garde musical sensibilities, and then hides it all under cleverly crafted pop melodies. Not diminished in the slightest by the passage of time, Freak Out! remains as vital and relevant today as it was in the 1960's. --Andrew Boscardin

Customer Reviews:

A gem of the late sixties.......2007-04-12

This is just one of those classics that you could never get enough of, no matter how many spins it gets. A bizzarre and delightfully off-kilter assault on the ears.

'Freak Out' is one of the more unconventional albums of its time. It has that unmistakingly late 60's acid trip vibe to it that really adds a nice touch to the Zappa insanity. 'Freak Out' is full of unconventional, off-kilter, mock-pop songs that really indulge in Zappa's bizzare sense of humor, such as 'Go Cry on Somebody Else's Shoulder', but then it also has its 'moments of clarity' as well. This album really reminds me of Pink Floyd's 'Saucerful of Secrets' except with more humor and less LSD. Even though the music is aimed in different directions, the production and mix are really similar in my opinion. Everything on this album is completely, delightfully, off the wall.

From the almost instrumental arrangments of vocalizations that would later be the foundation of Mike Patton's Mr. Bungle, to the extremely long sound samples twords the end, everything fits together perfectly in its own, strange, Zappatastic way. The sound samples are really a key part to this album rather than simple filler. Zappa prove to be absolutely and completely original by preforming magnificant pieces of avant-garde art with seemingly mindless noise.

'Freak Out' is truly a gem of the late sixties, and an absolute must have for anyone who considers himself the slightest Zappa fan. Scratch that, for anyone who considers himself a fan of avant-garde music itself, this album is totally classic.

The album that made me a Zappa freak.......2006-12-19

My first Zappa album was the Grand Wazoo and I thought it was pretty good. I didn't think it was that great though. But I am happy that it gave me just enough interest in Zappa to buy this album. This album attacks pop music so well you would think that it was serious and not a joke. A few songs on here have music that is not ironic (Hungry Freaks Daddy, I ain't got no heart, Who are the Brain Police, Trouble Every Day, and Help I'm a Rock) most of the songs are simple pop songs with cliche lyrics and thats what makes them so funny. A concept album is an album that has a theme the entire time or tells a story, and this was the first rock album that had a concept (yes it even preceded Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band)I have since bought one other album by Zappa (You are What You Is) and I can't choose which of the two I like better. I have really connected with his music recently and I plan on buying many of his albums. The lead work is very good for its time, but his later albums definately have WAY better guitar solos. He doesn't satire every form of life on this album like he does on later albums, but he definately satires sappy made for radio pop songs. The songs I listed above are more expirimental and those are my favorites on this album and they will hint at what Zappa will create later. It's hard to belive that so many great albums can come from one man, C'ya latter Zappa Rules!

The first step in Zappa's amazing world...........2006-12-05

In many cases, when an artist puts out a great debut album (or film, book, TV programme), it is quite often a pain in the butt, as they have an enormously difficult time coming up with something greater. Orson Welles's Citizen Kane is considered the greatest film of all time by many critics, how do you top that? Welles was never really able to. Zappa did. Freak Out is an amazing album, yet, Zappa was able to constantly do work that was even better than this album, one of the greatest debuts in rock history. Zappa made interesting and artistic work up until his death (which is the day I'm writing this review). This is one of my favorites, especially the last track, the originally side long song The Return of the Son of Monster Magnet. The producer, Tom Wilson, was on acid when Zappa recorded it, so God only knows what the hell transpired in his mind that night. The social commentary on here is still valid, and this is one of the greatest debuts of all time. Zappa never disappointed....

What can one say?.......2006-12-03

I leave the brilliant musical commentary to the other reviewers who are obviously better qualified.
My review consists of one sentence:

I heard it in 1967; never recovered, never wanted to.

One of the most ambitious (not to mention greatest) debuts of all time.......2006-12-02

Frank Zappa's debut is a bizarre, eclectic, hilarious piece of work that's one of the man's best. To be fair, I'm not at all familiar with Zappa. But the Zappa I've heard, I like a lot. Here he divides his time between sarcastic pieces of social commentary (Hungry Freaks, Daddy; Who are the Brian Police?; You're Probably Wondering Why I'm Here; Trouble Every Day) and hilarious love song parodies (I Ain't Got No Heart; Go Cry on Somebody Else's Shoulder; Motherly Love; Anyway the Wind Blows; How Could I Be Such a Fool?) and he pulls it off either way. Oh, and the twenty-minute sound collage that ends the disc is bizarre, but it's also friggin' hilarious and so ahead of its time, it's jaw-dropping. Wowie Zowie and You Didn't Try to Call Me aren't all that good, but the rest is awesome. At LEAST buy it for the hilarious liner notes.
Best tunes: Hungry Freaks, Daddy; I Ain't Got No Heart; Who Are the Brain Police?; Go Cry on Somebody Else's Shoulder; You're Probably Wondering Why I'm Here; Trouble Every Day; Help I'm a Rock/It Can't Happen Here; Return of the Son of Monster Magnet

Average customer rating:

All these 5-star reviews must mean something...
Zappa still has not been outplayed!
Zappa's best album of the 70's
One Size Does Fit All...
5 estrellas.....no hay mas???????

One Size Fits All
Frank Zappa & The Mothers Of Invention
Manufacturer: Zappa Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Roxy & Elsewhere
Over-Nite Sensation
Apostrophe (')
Hot Rats
The Grand Wazoo

ASIN: B0000009SM
Release Date: 1995-05-02

Tracks:

Inca Roads
Can't Afford No Shoes
Sofa No.1
Po-Jama People
Florentine Pogen
Evelyn, A Modified Dog
San Ber'dino
Andy
Sofa No.2

Amazon.com

The pinnacle of his jazz-rock work of the early '70s, One Size Fits All boasts some of the most memorable songs of Frank Zappa's career performed by one of the most beloved Mothers of Invention lineups ever assembled. This cast of musicians' musicians--including George Duke, Ruth Underwood, and Johnny 'Guitar' Watson--blasts through the groovy sci-fi world of Inca Roads, the hyper-charged blues rock of "Pajama People," the lounge majesty of "Sofa" and concert mainstays like "San Ber'dino" and "Florentine Pogan." An integral part of any Zappa Collection. --Andrew Boscardin

Customer Reviews:

All these 5-star reviews must mean something..........2007-07-30

Every lineup FZ hired was par excellence, and this is no exception. What makes this a standout, is it is probably the smoothest-sounding record he ever made, especially under the name of "The Mothers." The Mothers' music was often crude, tasteless, even harsh-sounding. And even though the personnel changed constantly, the name "Mothers" meant usually a raspberry in the direction of every current convention. The divisive humor is still present on "One Size..." but there is an elegance in this particular record that is rare, even the Zappa catalogue. "Inca Roads," the opener, is a song about unidentified flying objects, and this sets the mood, because most of this music is not of this world. It is a typical project for the bands Zappa has led, a pretty simple vamp with some odd punctuation, a stunning guitar solo, and some incredibly difficult instrumentation for good measure. "Can't Afford No Shoes" is a straight-foreward rocker, leading into possibly the most elegant melody in Zappa's body of work, the instrumental "Sofa." This number dates back to the "Flo & Eddie" period, Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan sing in phonetic German, just like on One Size's closer, "Sofa #2." "Po-Jama People" exploits the voice change Zappa experienced after damaging his larynx in his fall from the stage when that psycho attacked him at the Rainbow Theater in 1971. Banged him up pretty good, but his voice went considerably deeper afterwards, and probably sounds better than he would've otherwise. And of course, the lengthy, fuzz-tone guitar solo, obligatory at this point, is the centerpiece of the song. "Florentine Pogen" is probably the most structurally complex number on this disc. It seems every verse has a different melody and time signature. Most songs have a bridge, but this has several. A difficult number to perform. "Evelyn, A Modified Dog" is a silly number, Frank singing to George Duke's piano, very similar to "Leather's" version of "A Little Green Rosetta." Conceptual Continuity. All his recordings dovetail, it seems.

"San Ber'dino," even though it sounds upbeat, is about Zappa's ten days in jail in 1965. He was facing up to twenty years, on a trumped-up obcenity charge, where a vice detective named Willis set him up in a sting operation. They didn't like the fact that he was living in Studio Z with Jim Sherwood, the buxom Lorraine Belcher, and another white woman who had a black baby, who used to play in the dirt outside. The "seedy" atmosphere of the place, with its psychedelic decorations and freaky people who frequented the place, just didn't jibe with the white-bread "Leave It To Beaver" community. They hired Studio Z to make a racy tape for a supposed bachelor party, and arrested Zappa and Belcher when the tape was handed over. The judge thought the tape was funny, which angered the prosecution, but he was given two years probation and a suspended sentence. This would explain the overt sexual content in much of his work, rubbing the authority's nose in his right to artistic expression. Imagine how he must have felt at the time: "...land of the free? HAH!"

"Andy" is up there with "Sofa," in its elegance and beauty. The bluesy beginning belies the atmosphere of the rest of it. It has an incredible beauty to it. Of course, this is subjective, someone else may disagree about it's merit, but judge for yourself. I'll leave it at that.

And, of course, this all closes with "Sofa#2." Originally part of a bigger, more elaborate piece, fragments of which appear in "Playground Psychotics" and Volume One of the "You Can't Do That..." series from the Flo & Eddie days, as stated earlier. This is the polished version. Even if you can't understand a word of it, it will speak to you.

This is a very elegant, sophisticated piece of music, and the only people I imagine not liking it, would be the ones who catagorically dismiss it, all over the Zappa name. There would be no pleasing them anyway.

This is an incredible piece of music.

Zappa still has not been outplayed!.......2007-04-22

If you are one of those people who say they dont like Zappa buy this CD. The guitar solo's on Inca Roads and Po-Jama People are enough to convert anyone with the slightest bit of taste into a Zappa fan. The music is great on this album from start to finish.

Zappa's best album of the 70's.......2007-02-25

This album is the culmination of Zappa's work of the 70's. Its predecessors: "Over-Nite Sensation" and "Apostrophe" were fabulous, but had not matured to the degree of excellence as this album did. Zappa assembled a group of veteran musicians. The refined and consumed madness of its jazz-rock sound makes this album a monumental treasure. "Inca Roads" transports us in Zappa's Jazz oriented mind where the lyrics and the drum-beats share the same tight-rope, then its guitar solo confirmed that once again Zappa was not only a superb musician, but he was also full of surprises and charms. The four songs: "Po-Jama People," "Florentine Pogen," "San Ber'dino," and "Andy" prove how Zappa was such a sarcastic and iconoclastic son-of-a-gun. Johnny "Guitar" Watson's vocal contribution in two songs makes this album even more special. In closing, "One Size Fits All" may also be described as Zappa's signature: "Music is the Best."

One Size Does Fit All..........2007-01-12

If you are into Zappa's mid-seventies, George Duke-influenced, funk...then look no further. This is by far Zappa's funkiest entry, and if you get a chance to buy Bongo Fury which was recorded live at about this time, the two complement each other perfectly. Andy, in my opinion an underrated song, is classic and unrivaled on this album. Sofa's 1 and 2 are both interesting pieces; San Ber'doo, for Californians especially, will make you laugh; Florentine Pogen is exceptional. If you do not like his 'poppy' stuff of this time period, you might give this one a try because it is still solid, and in my opinion, better than Overnite Sensation and Apostrophe.

5 estrellas.....no hay mas???????.......2006-09-26

creo que entre las genialidades del maestro frank, esta placa debe ser una de las mas increibles, donde alcanza el punto justo donde el rock mas cuadrado y el jazz mas sublime se unen...no hay momento que suene a desperdicio, no hay una nota de mas, la locura esta increiblemente sensata y mas afinada que nunca...para colmo, los musicos que acompañan a zappa no solo siguen al maestro sino que lo superan por momentos! un disco imprescindible para enterder a zappa (habra querido que alguien lo entienda..?)brindo por eso!

Average customer rating:

VERY switched on and total joy!
Viva Walter/Wendy
Bach, enhanced by Ms. Wendy Carlos
W. Carlos un precursore nell'uso del sintetizzatore ed un originale interprete della musica classica
Switched-On Bach

Switched-On Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach , and Wendy Carlos
Manufacturer: East Side Digital
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Fugues | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Inventions | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B00005ORCV
Release Date: 2001-10-02

Tracks:

Sinf To Cant No.29
Air On A G String
Two-Part Invention in F
Two-Part Invention in B flat
Two-Part Invention in d
Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring
The Well-Tempered Clavier: Book I: Prld And Fugue No.7 in E flat
The Well-Tempered Clavier: Book I: Prld And Fugue No.2 in c
Chorale Prld 'Wachet Auf'
Brandenburg Con No.3 in G: I. Allegro
Brandenburg Con No.3 in G: II. Adagio (First, 1968 Version)
Brandenburg Con No.3 in G: III. Allegro
Initial Experiments

Amazon.com

Wendy Carlos's Switched-On Bach is one of those rare novelty recordings that never gets boring. In the capable hands of Carlos, Bach's keyboard masterpieces sound like they were made for the otherworldly blurps, farts, and chimes of a Moog synthesizer. And, in a sense, they were. Bach's inventive music doesn't lose any of it's contrapuntal punch in these complicated arrangements and, novelties aside, the playing is great on this Grammy Award-winning classic. Whether performing Bach's "Two-Part Inventions," "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring," or "Wachet Auf," Carlos offers one-of-a-kind interpretations, her synthesizers still sounding as otherworldly as they did in 1968. This is one of those weird and wonderful classical releases that anyone--classical scholar or pop enthusiast--can enjoy. A Switched-On box set exists, capturing most of Carlos's baroque-gone-berserk output, but this is the disc that started it all. In a word, fun. --Jason Verlinde

Customer Reviews:

VERY switched on and total joy!.......2007-04-27

I was thrilled to see how many people like myself love this album & were introduced to it at an early age like I was. I believe the original release was in 1963 (?) and I remember as a kid I thought Walter Carlos was the guy on the cover of the album... so imagine my surprise when years later I see the same album cover with the performer listed as Wendy Carlos. Could it be the same album? Was I about to get really happy? YOU BET! I was so delighted to see this released on CD I can't even tell you. I loved this album and listened to it repeatedly as a kid. I especially love the pure, triumphant, unadulterated and unapologetic JOY of the first track, the Cantata... wow, turn THAT up in your car and just feel the tears of joy flood your eyes... well, maybe pull over if you are like me and can't see for that very same reason!

Bach is so very well suited to this medium- to hear each line like this and really have so much great color and definition-- I think Bach himself would be so very proud of Wendy's achievement. This album was such a landmark- I also was fascinated by the Tomita Planets (a synthesized version of the same composition by Gustav Holst) when I was younger- but this album will always have a special place in my heart. If you get it for only the very first track, it will be money well spent. Having said that, the whole album is just amazing- the Air on a G string is so reverent and peaceful. The inventions are all a trip! The one in F always cracks me up because that was one of the 1st pieces of his I tried to play... very tough because the hands do exactly the same thing- but 1 measure apart. Wendy's tempos are cookin' too, such virtuosity! But the love is there too on the slower movements where the time and care with the dynamics is so evident.

GREAT ALBUM, be glad it's on CD and get it! You won't regret it.

Viva Walter/Wendy.......2007-04-21

I have just ordered this item so I can't comment on its production value however I purchased the original LP in SQ Quadriphonic and it sounded great;still does -I transferred it to CD some time ago; but I wanted a 'professional' copy. I hope this 'enhanced' version lives up to its QUAD predecessor.
Edward Kerr
iegolden@shaw.ca

Bach, enhanced by Ms. Wendy Carlos.......2007-03-13

One of the attractions of this CD is that it portrays the Moog synthesizer. Its main attraction, in my opinion, is the performance in which Ms. Wendy Carlos has revealed the cosmic aspect of Bach's music. The Moog synthesizer was used as a vehicle to achieve this goal. The enormous popularity of this recording no doubt lies in the fact that Ms. Carlos has taken the best of the Bach's music and amplified it. This music is an abstraction fitting our times. Ms. Carlos has catapulted Bach to space. One can hear the cosmic fireworks, see brilliant colors, the birth and death of the stars, feel the loneliness of the infinite stretches of space, and the ultimate power of the hope that we can conquer our own mortality. I think that this beautiful music is all about the human spirit. It is Bach at his best.
I fell in love with this recording almost three decades ago. I maintain that there is no nicer performance of Bach. The genius of Ms. Wendy Carlos sparkles. It makes me reflect on the human achievements. It is wonderful that she has produced something so great, and that so many people have benefited from her talent.
My favorites are Symphonia to Cantata #29, Prelude and Fugue #7 in E-Flat Major and Prelude and Fugue #2 in C Minor (both from Book I of the Well-Tempered Clavier), and also the Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G Major.
The recording is enhanced and it has a delightful addition of about 8 minutes in which Ms. Wendy Carlos tells us about the early beginnings of this project. The CD comes with a very attractive booklet that is artistically designed and has several informative write-ups about the history and development of this project.
This recording is a must!

W. Carlos un precursore nell'uso del sintetizzatore ed un originale interprete della musica classica.......2007-03-08

W. Carlos un precursore nell'uso del sintetizzatore ed un originale interprete della musica classica.
Credo che "Switched-On Bach" sia il primo (o uno dei primi) dischi prodotti da W.Carlos.
Molto interessante.
L'uso del sint era sicuramente più originale 30/40 anni fa che oggi

Switched-On Bach.......2007-01-24

Bach had a genius for polyphonic art as expressed in music. Hear his gift performed on the moog...the early synthesizer of the 60s...done tastefully and skillfully by Wendy Carlos. An eye opener in its time, yet still in demand some 40 years later. Why is that? Yes, questions...

Average customer rating:

Yes, folks, it's yet another great Frank Zappa album...are you gettting tired of the excellence?
Fabulous...
A favorite meal
W's for White, the P is for Port, L is the Lemon, the J is the Juice
Worth The Calories

Burnt Weeny Sandwich
Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention
Manufacturer: Zappa Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000009S5
Release Date: 1995-05-02

Tracks:

WPLJ
Igor's Boogie, Phase One
Overture To A Holiday In Berlin
Theme From Burnt Weeny Sandwich
Igor's Boogie, Phase Two
Holiday In Berlin, Full-Blown
Aybe Sea
The Little House I Used To Live In
Valarie

Customer Reviews:

Yes, folks, it's yet another great Frank Zappa album...are you gettting tired of the excellence? .......2007-02-04

This is a sister album to Weasels Ripped My Flesh. Zappa had disbanded the Mothers by this time, and this album is left over material from the Mothers. Despite that, it has an incredibly coherent feel (much like Weasels), and the material here is superb. I love the song WPLJ, showcasing Zappa's love of doo-wop ballads. A lot of the songs here are really intricate, and would probably be fantastic in an orchestral setting (like Overture to a Holiday in Berlin and Igor's Boogie, probably named after Igor Stravinsky, a good buddy of Frank's who was his roadie in the 1960's, and one of Russia's foremost composers). I love the way Zappa handles a heckler in The Little House I Used to Live In (and the song is good too). The title is one of Zappa's most memorable as well. Another superb album in the cannons of Zappa.

Fabulous..........2006-09-21

The only Frank Zappa Recording I like better than this is Hot Rats...but this a very close second. Fabulous from start to finish...

A favorite meal.......2006-07-26

I've been a Zappa fan for a very long time. I've owned Burnt Weeny Sandwich (on LP) for a long time. The odd thing is that I didn't figure out until just recently that Burnt Weeny Sandwich is one of my favorite Zappa albums. I think that part of the problem is that I didn't really understand the album when I was a kid--although I certainly didn't dislike it. It was one of the last ones I picked up on CD, so that after not really hearing it for years, I mostly heard a song at a time in isolation with the disc in my CD changers on random shuffle.

But as someone else mentioned, this is really a concept album of sorts, and needs to be listened to in its entirety to "get it". It's an odd concept, because it's not linked by lyrics or music so much as it is by a structural meta-concept--that of a sandwich. The first and last tracks, two pseudo-doo-wop songs, serve as the bread. All the songs up to "Little House I Used to Live In" are the toppings, condiments, and so on, and "Little House I Used to Live In" is the meat . . . well, er, the big burnt weeny. What's remarkable is that the basic tracks consisted of Mothers of Invention "outtakes", but Zappa, being a skilled Dadaist/collagist, could turn "outtakes" into beautiful, cohesive, seemingly composed from scratch works faster than you can say "Max Ernst". At any rate, let's look at the tracks.

Track 1: "WPLJ" 5/5
This has been performed live on a number of occasions--it appears on the Does Humor Belong in Music? disc, for example--but without a doubt, this is my favorite version of the song. Zappa achieves an appropriate 1950s-sounding production, including the female backup singers, and the music has a great, grooving looseness, including the horns. Roy Estrada's falsetto makes it even better, as does the Cheech-Marin sounding chicano dialogue over the end.

Track 2: "Igor's Boogie, Phase One" 5/5
No one, not even Zappa, loves/loved Stravinsky more than I do, plus I love Zappa just as much, so this "L'Histoire du Soldat" tribute/spoof works brilliantly for me.

Track 3: "Overture to a Holiday in Berlin" 5/5
. . . and it leads beautifully to this severely bent-intonation wonder. God I love that brief sax solo. And the outtro melody is gorgeous and orchestrated gorgeously.

Track 4: "Theme from Burnt Weeny Sandwich" 5/5
It begins as a guitar solo track, but with an extension of the orchestration from the previous track creating multiple layers underneath. It segues to some tape-speed manipulation percussion, ala that heard accompanying the Bruce Bickford animation in Baby Snakes. There it piqued your interest, but here it grows perfectly, organically out of the composition until it consumes everything in its path. Something like a melodic Tony Williams-on-a-ton-of-acid-and-speed drum solo.

Track 5: "Igor's Boogie, Phase Two" 5/5
The bookend (within a larger bookended work) that matches Track 2. Shorter, but just as good, and not just because of the added honking, although that rocks.

Track 6: "Holiday in Berlin, Full Blown" 5/5
Later used again on 200 Motels. Here it's a bit like "Peaches en Regalia's" mellow cousin. Gorgeous melodies, wondrous orchestration, and an amazing soprano sax solo leading to more tape-speed manipulation percussion. It ties a lot of the elements of tracks 2 through 5 together very nicely, then moves to one of Zappa's more lyrical extended solos.

Track 7: "Aybe Sea" 5/5
Speaking of lyrical guitar work, this is a mostly delicate, almost kinda traditional classical piece for guitars, keyboards and a bit of percussion. Of course, there's lots of twentieth century stuff in there, too, and in a surprising change for this album, the piano solo that closes it gets pretty quiet, sparse, and not so surprisingly, increasingly "outside", as it segues to--

Track 8: "Little House I Used to Live in" 5/5
In a very smooth transition, the continuing solo piano is suddenly more jazzy--kind of a cross between Gershwin and Copland's (underrated) piano pieces. It's contemplative and moving. Then the whole band joins in a Zappa-ish fusion groove. After the drum break, there's a great 11/8 groove that turns into some wicked carousel orchestration. Then more complex, fusiony, uptempo 3/4 stuff becomes some extremely skilled interplay between Zappa and his drummer (probably Art Tripp) before the extended, burning and soulful Don "Sugarcane" Harris violin solo, interpolated by a typically odd Don Preston piano solo. There is a couple of short, interesting "stomping" vamps to listen for here--one halfway between 3/4 and 5/8, one halfway between 4/4 and 7/8. I love those kinds of "in-between" grooves. It's difficult to say how intentional they were here, but they work. The end of this track becomes composed 20th Century classical again. The transition between a melancholic hurdy-gurdy block chord structure and a spastic carnival-gone-haywire groove is primo. Although the ending pretty much remains in 4/4, there is a lot of creative rhythmic and playing-with-tempo stuff between the keyboards and drums. After the track is over, we get the Zappa's infamous quote, "Everybody in this room is wearing a uniform, and don't kid yourself".

Track 9: "Valarie" 5/5
This is the bottom piece of bread, the second pseudo doo-wop song. It has an appropriate and enjoyable lazy, sloppy--maybe even "skanky"--groove, enhanced by the guitar fluttering through Leslie speakers. Especially with the vocals, it sometimes sounds like we're trudging through molasses. In other words, holy cow we're pleasantly stuffed after eating all of that Burnt Weeny Sandwich!

W's for White, the P is for Port, L is the Lemon, the J is the Juice.......2006-07-11

This is my personal all-time favorite FZ album and makes a perfect one-two punch with the seminal "Hot Rats," which came out around the same time... those two together are almost the perfect showcase for Zappa's compositional skills ("The Little House I Used to Live In"), his guitar prowess (Hot Rats' "Willie the Pimp"), as well as the mind-shattering instrumental talents of reedsmith Ian Underwood and violin madman Sugarcane Harris.

I agree with the assessment that this one is more the classical side of FZ and Hot Rats is more the jazz-rock avenue, but there is ample crossover on each from one to the other in terms of style and compositional intent. Anyway you slice it this is top-drawer, truly Progressive Rock in every sense of the word, wherein many styles and forms are united under the inclusive rubric of Rock, making a whole that is, at its best, greater than the sum of its parts.

I love everything about this album, from the almost modern-classical feel of the instrumentals to the fantastic doo-wop numbers that are the bookends of this most tasty Sandwich, which manage that rarest of accomplishments in that they sound like parodies AND tributes to the genre at the same time. Perhaps best of all is the concert interlude near the end where Frank defends the cops providing security at the show from screaming, disapproving hippies, with the admonishment that "every one in this room is wearing a uniform, and don't kid yourself...".

Again, there is no excuse not to own both this and Hot Rats, they are FZ at his apogee and worthy contenders for his best recordings ever.

Worth The Calories.......2006-07-07

Collecting Zappa is treacherous business, even for the die-hard fan - for the uninitiated it is on a par with sticking your head into a bucket of piranha fish. Even his very best work, (Uncle Meat, Freak Out, Hot Rats, We're Only In It For The Money, and Weasels Ripped My Flesh, to name just a few), is replete with dreadful flaws and grandiose missteps. The best rule of thumb is to seek out the earlier material, steer towards the more musically oriented work, and avoid the infantile humor and curmudgeon-ish political rants. This is harder than it sounds.

Fortunately, you can save yourself a lot of pain by going straight to Burnt Weeny Sandwich, easily one of Zappa's best, and most musically satisfying efforts. You'll have to sit through WPLJ and Valerie, two short satirical bits of ersatz pop fluff. These numbers are intended to be funny but get lost on the way, something that happens rather a lot in the wonderland of Frank Zappa & The Mothers Of Invention. But everything beyond that it smooth sailing.

The standout here is Little House I Used To Live In, 18:41 of mercurial magic that builds and builds, constantly switching gears, instruments, moods, and time signatures. The piece is a showcase for Ian Underwood and Don "Sugar Cane" Harris, whose virtuoso fiddling also appears on Hot Rats and Weasels Ripped My Flesh. Underwood, a musical prodigy, plays at a level of sophistication more at home in Carnegie Hall than in the dreadful arenas frequented by rock groups. His expressiveness and versatility are spellbinding. As is often the case with Zappa's better work, Little House I Used To Live In is a "movie for your ears," it seems to suggest a gallery of pictures you alone can provide. All other tracks are also orchestral and, though not as dazzling as Little House I Used To Live In, deliver the freight to the right address. Highly recommended because it's so darn tasty.

Average customer rating:

Relaxing music for baby's bedtime
Baby loves this music!
yikes! would say any lover of classical music
ANOTHER FANTASTIC CD
Excellent CD

Baby Bach
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Buena Vista
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Baby Mozart
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ASIN: B000065VBH
Release Date: 2002-05-07

Product Description

A collection of classical music specifically designed for babies 1 to 36 months. The Bach selections included in this recording have been softened so as not to frighten or startle young listeners and to make classical music accessible and pleasing. Since classical music has been shown to influence a child's verbal ability, creativity, intuition, and memory, this CD is a perfect tool to aid in your child's development. Musical selections include: Minuet in G from the Anna Magdalena Notebooks; Flute Sonata in E flat, third movement; Brandenburg Concerto no. two, third movement; Orchestral Suite no. four, Rejouissance; Brandenburg Concerto no. four, first movement; Flute Sonata in E flat, first movement; Toccata in D; Brandenburg Concerto no. five, third movement; Orchestral Suite no. two, Badinerie; Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring; Orchestral Suite no. three in D, Air; Two Part Invention, no. one; Goldberg Variations, no. one; Goldberg Variations, no. four; Goldberg Variations, no. thirty; Goldberg Variations, Canons; and Brandenburg Concerto no. two, third movement. Age: Birth - 3 years Manufacturer: New Sound Music

Customer Reviews:

Relaxing music for baby's bedtime.......2007-04-27

While I do want my baby to listen to Bach's music played with "real" instruments in an authentic style (which Baby Bach is NOT), Baby Bach is a very sweet, soothing selection of music. My newborn son and I both find this music very relaxing and it works like a charm to calm him down at bedtime! I would recommend this CD to any parent looking for new music to add to a baby's or young child's bedtime routine.

Baby loves this music!.......2007-02-17

Puts our 6-week old daughter to sleep. What more could you ask for!

yikes! would say any lover of classical music.......2007-01-05

The baby einstein series of music CDs is the equivalent of muzack for babies- horror to the ears!
I don't think babies need their music dumbed down to that degree.
Anyway, for the parent it's awful to hear. The beauty inherent in the muusic is completely lost, and replaced with whistles, goofy chimes, and plastic pianos. Absolutely horrible.

ANOTHER FANTASTIC CD.......2006-04-25

This cd absolutely calms my newborn - and I like the music also. Everyone with children should have this cd.

Excellent CD.......2005-10-12

Loved the CD, same music as on the DVD which my 20-month-old grandson loves. Falls asleep at night with the CD on, and I leave it on all night to soothe him if he wakes. Great puchase, worth the money!

Average customer rating:

Classic Zappa!!
Did Anyone Else Notice This?
For the money...
Zappa at his best, if you don't mind the baggage
Zappa's Finest Hour

We're Only in It for the Money
The Mothers of Invention
Manufacturer: Zappa Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Freak Out!
Absolutely Free
Hot Rats
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Burnt Weeny Sandwich

ASIN: B0000009RX
Release Date: 1995-04-18

Tracks:

Are You Hung Up?
Who Needs The Peace Corps?
Concentration Moon
Mom & Dad
Telephone Conversation
Bow Tie Daddy
Harry, You Are A Beast
What's The Ugliest Part Of Your Body?
Absolutely Free
Flower Punk
Hot Poop
Nasal Retentive Calliope Music
Let's Make The Water Turn Black
The Idiot Bastard Son
Lonely Little Girl
Take Your Clothes Off When you Dance
What's The Ugliest Part Of Your Body? (Reprise)
Mother People
The Chrome Plated Megaphone Of Destiny

Amazon.com essential recording

The Mothers of Invention answer the sentiments of the suits, the suburb dwellers, and flower children of the 60's with a big fat raspberry. Considered by many to be the Mothers' (and some would say Zappa's) best album, We're Only in it for the Money deals with harsh subject matter in a seemingly glib and light-hearted fashion (eventually a Zappa trademark), sparing no targets with catchy melodies and high-pitched vocals. Zappa applies the same aggressive studio techniques he did on Lumpy Gravy, creating a jarring collage of sound that still sounds avant-garde today. Highlights from this flawless album are numerous and include the hippie bashing "Who Needs thePeace Corps," the bedroom science of "Let's Make the Water Turn Black," the anthematic "Mother People," and the perfect payoff of "What's the Ugliest Part of Your Body?" Quite simply one of the best rock albums of all time. --Andrew Boscardin

Customer Reviews:

Classic Zappa!!.......2007-07-30

The man was a genius. This album just emphasizes and puncuates that fact. No matter what your taste in music, you can't dispute the technical expertise he showed in all his work.

Did Anyone Else Notice This?.......2007-07-03

I was listening to We're Only In It For The Money in my basement and I realized:
Phase 1: We're Only In It For The Money
Phase 2: Lumpy Gravy
Phase 3: Civilization (Phase III)
Frank even put it on the album in a speech bubble "Is this Phase 1 of Lumpy Gravy?" and on Lumpy Gravy "Is this Phase 2 of We're Only In It For The Money?" We're Only In It For The Money and Lumpy Gravy Have a song in common, "Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance" (Just "Take Your Clothes Off" on Lumpy Gravy)

If you are a Zappa fan and you don't have any of these albums BUY THEM NOW! and listen to them, back to back to back.

For the money..........2007-04-09

In college, our "hippie" friend Lowell W... introduced our group to Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention. Soon, I was adding Mothers LPs (They came on vinyl, you know) to my ecclectic record collection. So, what was this stuff anyhow? Political comment? Rock N Roll? It certainly was not Country & Western! What a puzzle! (However, it might have been poltical satire because Zappa seems to have written a song about my family friendly congressman before he was even elected. "Just have your fun, you old son of a gun, and drive off in your Lincoln..." So, Lowell up and writes Frank about what's it really mean anyhow and signs it Lo W... Now, Zappa was not one to waste a stamp on a fan. But, a few months later a full page ad appeared for the newest Mother's album in "The Rolling Stone." The headline read: "Dear Lo: We're only in it for the money!" and there was a large photo of the album cover and some other stuff. Well, we still did not know what it was all about, but I enjoyed the album. I cannot speak for the entire listings of the Mothers on Amazon, but "We're only in it for the money" is my favorite Zappa CD. I still do not know what the goofy thing is all about, but I think the title is telling the truth.

Zappa at his best, if you don't mind the baggage.......2007-01-12

Frank Zappa's best work is often weighed down with his insistent brand of humor, and this album, perhaps the best of his early period, is no exception. Some of his studio mastery is already at work with the story of an intruder in the studio somehow messing with the tapes weaving through the songs. And the acerbic look at the hippie scene is devastating. Anybody who ever thought about going to San Francisco with flowers in their hair should have been forced to listen first. And doesn't that sound dated; there's the rub - stuff like that drags down the timeless quality of this music. It becomes a "period document" instead of just a great musical listen.
But don't let that stop you - this is a textbook example of how rock music was already becoming a melting pot for every genre imaginable. And in this album, it's in the hands of a master. In multiple styles, brilliantly executed, the Mothers create a rich sonic landscape of memorable melodies, creative instrumentation, daring rhythmns, and superb playing. Don't miss this one.

Zappa's Finest Hour.......2006-12-20

Some of this album is snarky, hilarious satire (Who Needs the Peace Corps?; Flower Punk; Absolutely Free; the Idiot Bastard Son), some of it's unabashed, unironic protest singing (Mother People; Concentration Moon; Mom and Dad; What's the Ugliest Part of Your Body?; Take off Your Clothes When You Dance), some of it's comic relief (Harry, You're a Beast; Let's Make the Water Turn Black), and some of it's more avant-garde (Are You Hung Up?; Hot Poop; Nasal Rentetive Callipoe Music; The Chrome Plated Megaphone of Destiny), but every part of this forty minute suite (pretty much what it is) is unadultred brilliance that'll make your head spin. The best Zappa album out there, at least out of what I've heard.

Average customer rating:

Is This Phase II of Waka Jawaka?
The Grand Wazoo
The Grand Wazoo
Jawaka no.2: he does it again...
A wonderful jazz disc

The Grand Wazoo
Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention
Manufacturer: Zappa Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Waka/Jawaka
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ASIN: B0000009SF
Release Date: 1995-05-16

Tracks:

The Grand Wazoo
For Calvin (And His Next Two Hitch-Hikers)
Cletus Awreetus-Awrightus
Eat That Question
Blessed Relief

Customer Reviews:

Is This Phase II of Waka Jawaka?.......2007-07-26

I'm a big Zappa fan (actually saw the Roxy band in 1974 - eat your heart out). Anyway, in my humble but all important and all knowing opinion, The Grand Wazoo (with its glorious 21 piece jazz orchestra) and Waka Jawaka simply represent the best of Zappa's material from the 70s. Ok, we can throw Roxy and Elsewhere and Bongo Fury in there as well. Sure, Zappa had bands that sounded this good, most notably the Make A Jazz Noise Here band - but for some reason, this music just sounds more organic than that final touring band (which he regarded as his best band ever). There are 5 tracks on Grand Wazoo and they are all great. I have a particular fondness for the title track and the closing track, Blessed Relief. If you want to hear Zappa at his very best, you want The Grand Wazoo and Waka Jawaka. 'Nuff said.

The Grand Wazoo.......2007-05-30

Frank Zappa And The Mothers Of Invention-The Grand Wazoo *****

A previous reviews have stated Frank Zappa belongs to a select few composers of jazz that surpass all the rest and are among some of the most talented musicans ever, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Duke Ellington, Frank Zappa. Now, and really even during his career Frank Zappa was mostly known for his satirical comedy in his lyrics and his vituosic guitar playing which is fine and good because he was amazing at both, however Zappa was also one of the greatest arrangers of classical and jazz that the world has ever known, as well as one of the most inventive and innovative, and that is often disgarded and overlooked, and The Grand Wazoo does a wonderful job of showing all of showing all of Zappa strong suits.

The Grand Wazoo was released in 1973 as part of the tilogy of albums begining with the legendary classic Hot Rats, continuing with the brilliant Waka/Jaka, and concluding here with The Grand Wazoo. While not the overwelming classic that Hot Rats is this is far superior in composistion and form. More mature and thought out even though most of this is 'free form/improv' though not much was ever improv with Zappa other then guitar solos. While this is more orchastral then Hot Rats it is more like Waka/Jawaka, and once again this album is superior in all the techincal ways of playing and composition and form, however the other two albums in the genra are favorites above this one. Doesnt make since does it. See while this one is most innovative and revolutionary it does not compare to the other albums as a whole.

Zappas playing as far as guitar playing goes is nothing short of breath taking here, not that it ever is, but this album shows a more adventurous nature to Zappas playing one that had not been heard by him before and he had tried after The Grand Wazoo but was never able to reach this level of experimentation with such success again.

As composing goes this is possibly his strongest album in that area. The songs, well piecces of music rather are so of his most original and interesting. The time signatures and molodic lines and harmonies are out of this world. Zappa was really on a role with The Grand Wazoo.

Aside from Zappa himself Sal Marquez owns the trumpet here and shines like never before or since. This album may contain the most talented and cohesive group of musicians ever assembled together to play on a Zappa album, which explains the incredible results. Aynsley Dunbar, Don Preston and George Duke all in the same room playing together...are you kidding, there is no way this album would be anything short of phenonomal!

For jazz fans and Zappa fans alike this is an album not to pass up. This is the album Miles Davis wishes he would have made with Bitches Brew!

The Grand Wazoo.......2007-04-03

This album is simply amazing!!! The whole album is jazz fusion. The compositions are extremely well written and performed, and it'll blow your mind!! Highlights of the album are The Grand Wazoo, Cletus Awreetus Awrightus, Eat That Question, And Blessed Relief.

Jawaka no.2: he does it again..........2007-03-22

I see this work as a continuation of "Waka/Jawaka," very similar, but it seems to be more crafted, a more solid body of work. One peculiar thing about the label on this record, it is accredited to "The Mothers;" yet another assembly of musicians almost completely unrelated to the previous "Mothers" lineups. But this time around, it is a line-up of twenty-odd something players, a huge band to lead, in a studio or on a stage.

Like its predecessor, it is a vehicle for the featured musicians to show off a little in the framework outlined for them, yet it has the trademark Zappa approach, which the true fan, as well as even the casual fan, will notice right away. A very busy, layered sound, full production, and just odd-ball enough to throw you a curve.

This is a very beautiful performance. The title track, "Grand Wazoo (not to be confused with the other 'Grand Wazoo' from "The Lost Episodes," a monologue delivered by Don Vleit with synclavier accompaniment)" is a swinging blues/jazz fusion piece with electronically treated electric guitar and dark, brooding horn arrangements, very ominous, but still nice. "For Calvin" is another taste of the bizarre, it has a dream-like quality, rambling sound, but still organized. "Cletus Awreetus-Alrightus" is just playful, tack piano, with its "La-La-La" lyrics and horn solos by Ernie Watts, from Johnny Carson's Tonight Show Orchestra. Somewhat silly, but very entertaining, nonetheless.

"Eat That Question," what can I say? This is a vehicle for George Duke to treat you to a taste of his piano playing, and the horn section's repetition of the melody line throughout provides a solid backdrop; and I have always thought a high-school marching band could win a competition with this arrangement. And "Blessed Relief" is a soft, big-band piece, soothing melody, kind of mournful, but as with the rest of this material, a wonderful arrangement, pulled off immaculately by this huge ensemble.

On the whole, this release, teamed up with "Waka/Jawaka," can provide many entertaining, educational hours of listening and learning pleasure.

A wonderful jazz disc.......2007-02-24

"The Grand Wazoo" is different from typical Zappa albums because it's mainly instrumental jazz. No satirical lyrics or crunching rock riffs, just five groove filled songs with plenty of room for improvising.

The title track is a big-band jazzy tune with awesome solos all around, the shuffling percussion work and walking bass line really move the tune along making thirteen minutes fly by. "For Calvin" is a weird dissonantly arranged beast that could test your patience. I love the boogie-woogie keyboard break of "Cletus Awreetus Awrightus" and the quirky horn toot's and vocals near the end of the song are hilarious. "Eat That Question" incorporates a bit of blues into a loose-formed jam with some great keyboard and guitar work, and finally, "Blessed Relief" is a quiet, moving, intricate ballad that is the perfect closing song. What a wonderful jazz disc.

Average customer rating:

Beautiful. Fresh. Spiritual. Music as pure as you ever heard before.
Bach Lives
Sublime
Awesome and original
Bach would have loved this!

Bach & Beyond - Gabriela Montero

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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From This Moment On

ASIN: B000HC2PC2
Release Date: 2006-09-12

Tracks:

J. S. Bach: Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring from " Herz und Mund und Tar und Leben" BWV 147
J. S. Bach: Presto from Italian Concerto
Montero: Beyond Bach
J. S. Bach: Air in G - Orchestral Suite #3 BWV 1068
J. S. Bach: Aria from Goldberg Variations BWV 988
J. S. Bach: Adagio from Violin Concerto No. 2 in E BWV 1042
J. S. Bach: Prelude in C BWV 846 from Well Tempered Clavier Book 1
J. S. Bach: Sheep May Safely Graze from Hunt Cantata BWV 208
J. S. Bach: Two-Part Invention in D Minor BWV 775
J. S. Bach: Allegro from Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G BWV 1048
J. S. Bach: Adagio from Keyboard Concerto in D Minor BWV 974
J. S. Bach: Tocatta in D Minor BWV 565

Amazon.com

Taking as her base 12 works of Bach, Venezuelan pianist Gabriela Montero proceeds to play variations on each. The works are familiar and most Classical fans will recognize their melodies instantly. But Montero, who is closer to a jazz improvisationalist than a classical pianist merely embellishing, alters rhythm as well as melody, and the results are invariably both surprising and delightful. The Presto from the Italian Concerto is positively wacky, but "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" sticks to the piece's mood with truth and originality. Montero plays "beyond" Bach with good taste and respect, and always with intense musicality. The results may seem improvised, but I doubt they are---they seem to well worked through---but that is more of a plus than a minus. You'll revel in hearing old favorites "interpreted" and find some unexpected pleasures here. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful. Fresh. Spiritual. Music as pure as you ever heard before........2007-04-02

This is a true masterpiece. The artist takes themes from Bach and transforms them in trully original compositions, beeing hard to beleive they are improvisations. They are never boring, always beautiful. She takes one or several Bach themes, puts to work her classical backround, adds some jazz and south american rythms, and comes up with some of the most moving and inspirational music I ever heard. Bravo for Gabriela, this CD is a must for every music lover, classical or not.

Bach Lives.......2007-03-08

Bach was known to be at the very top echelon of improvisers; not only was he fond of playing around with his own tunes but he was also known to have borrowed a lick or two from his contemporaries. I have no doubt that he would have enjoyed, if not have been stunned by, the similar efforts of this pianist, Gabriela Montero. This pianist is a very nice techician with lovely lyrical gifts. Her reworkings of some of Bach's most famous tunes range from very close "inhabitings" of Bach's pieces (Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring), to some rather tangental takes on them (Air in G). However, it seems clear that she always undertakes the improvisations with great reverence and humility. Surely in this last trait, she is worthy to ride on Bach's legacy. I particularly enjoyed her infusions of Argentinian rhythms and sensibilities (tango, gaucho) to her reworkings. Repeated listening produces only slightly diminished results. In large part, I began to enjoy the pieces for themselves, not merely as dependants of their originals. I really only have two quibbles with the CD. First, her own piece called 'Beyond Bach' seems more like Bach than beyond him. The title does rattle me for it seems a bit presumptious and not in keeping either with the humility of her playing or her liner notes. Second, Montero's endings to her improvisations never seem to convince me. Her timid exits surely do not follow in the keystrokes of her mentor, the pianist Martha Argerich, one of the best in the business. All in all, minor quibles. In lieu of actually seeing and hearing this pianist at work, this is an enjoyable CD from a young pianist of whose rare gifts we should all take note.

Sublime.......2007-01-22

This is compositional improvisation at the highest possible level - stunning - with everything that music is or is supposed to have: the highs, the lows, the emotions, the amazingly transparent technical ability. Not only is she a brilliant performer of such composers as Chopin, Bach, Debussy, Granados and some of the modernists like Prokofiev, but she has entirely absorbed the musical idiom of each one and can call upon it at will in dazzling fashion. I listen to a lot of everything and I am completely blown over with her depth of expression and transcendent musical ability. I have been listening to this CD for the entire weekend and it is recorded well in every respect, from the capturing of the sound of the piano to the spontaneous performances themselves. The highest compliment I can pay her is this: her talent is such that she could make a skeptic believe in God; her many hours of practice aside, I truly believe that's the only place where her amazing musical and compositional gift could possibly come from; for she has said herself that it is not filtered through the mind. I hope to hear her live when I have the chance. What a musical discovery...a treasure.

Awesome and original.......2007-01-15

I simply give Gabriela`s ability to improvise an A+. While listening to her performance I traveled from the 17th. century to the 20th. back and forth; from Leipzing to central Venezuela with a stop somewhere in the jazz country. I hope this is the first one in a series and that we will soon be enjoying Gabriela improvising on Mozart's and Chopin's.

Bach would have loved this!.......2007-01-14

Gabriela Montero shows how brilliant an innovator she is, not only in the reworking of some of Bach's classical works but how she seamlessly weaves the connections between his time and ours. Some of the innovations are jazzy, some evoke Latin American rhythms, and some remind me of the beauty of birdsong.

Anyone who appreciates creativity, intelligence and classicism will love this CD.

Average customer rating:

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Absolutely brilliant
Absolute Garbage
Is this part two of Freak Out?
(4.5 stars) Brilliant

Absolutely Free
Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention
Manufacturer: Zappa Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Freak Out!
We're Only in It for the Money
Burnt Weeny Sandwich
Uncle Meat
Hot Rats

ASIN: B0000009RV
Release Date: 1995-05-02

Tracks:

Plastic People
The Duke Of Prunes
Amnesia Vivace
The Duke Regains His Chops
Call Any Vegetable
Invocation & Ritual Dance of the Young Pumpkin
Soft-Sell Conclusion
Big Leg Emma
Why Don'tcha Do Me Right?
America Drinks
Status Back Baby
Uncle Bernie's Farm
Son Of Suzy Creamcheese
Brown Shoes Don't Make It
America Drinks & Goes Home

Amazon.com essential recording

Sandwiched as it is between Freak Out!, Zappa's 1966 debut with the Mothers of Invention, and We're Only in It for the Money, arguably his artistic zenith, Absolutely Free comes in a distant third--but that's only because the competition is so darn fierce. Absolutely Free is a continuation of the weird freakiness--both in sounds and concepts--introduced on Freak Out! "Plastic People" and "America Drinks & Goes Home" continue the artist's lampooning of Middle American values, while this time out, Zappa also seems obsessed with the fruits and vegetables that "keep you regular" ("The Duke of Prunes," "Call Any Vegetable"). The music here jumps from avant-garde jazz snippets to gritty garage rock to operatic vocals in a manner that was truly innovative at the time; in fact, it often sounded like true musical insanity. The definitive highlight here, however, is "Brown Shoes Don't Make It," a seven-and-a-half minute mini-operetta that initially ridicules America's suburban culture of the era before comically looking at the repressed sexual perversions hiding underneath that same culture. With its 13-year-old "Teenage Queen" ("who's rockin' and rollin' and acting obscene"), the Lolita-like obsession of the brown-shoed gentleman in the title, the track was a precursor to the naughty sexual themes later found in tracks like "Dinah Moe Hum" or the entirety of the Fillmore East, June 1971 album--themes that became Zappa's artistic stock in trade. --Bill Holdship

Customer Reviews:

If it ain't broke, don't fix it........2007-05-16

The original release,"Absolutely Free" is a masterpiece.
It is a complete work like a symphony or an opera.
The inclusion of Big Leg Emma and Why Don'tcha You Do Me Right
interrupts the flow, the direction, the theme.
The listener should skip these two if they wan't to hear
"Absolutely Free" as it was intended to be.

Absolutely brilliant.......2007-02-05

The first time I listened to this I didn't like it. It's definitely not one of those albums you just casually listen to. But once I absorbed all of the lyrics and themes expressed in this album, I recognized it for its brilliance and its humor. It mocks its own "freakiness" by such asides as "Think this'll sell in New York?" as it covers themes ranging from reaching out to lonely people to the phoniness of society and its politicians to the dullness of everyday life to underage sex. One of the funniest and most brilliant albums I've ever listened to.

Absolute Garbage.......2007-01-13

Thankfully this was not my first Zappa album or I may not have bought another. Zappa shows his disdain for the ignorant listening public with Absolutely Free which is only slightly better than Were Only In It For the money. If your a first time Zappa listener start with Zoot Allures. Live at the Fillmore East, Joe's Garage or Roxy and elsewhere. At least then you'll here some of the best R&R guitar soloing ever recorded. Freak Out was possibly the best debut album ever recorded but man did he ever go downhill, although briefly, from there. Even Sheik Yerbouti and Ruben and the Jets would be better choices.

Is this part two of Freak Out?.......2006-12-04

First of all, who IS this Peter Gooch who does the incredible reviews of Freak Out and Absolutely Free? He does a hell of a review.

That said:

Burned out my mind on Freak Out. This vaporized the cinders that were left.

(4.5 stars) Brilliant.......2006-11-03

Okay, I wanted to give this a "real" five-star rating, and I would've if only the Big Leg Emma/Why Don'tcha Do Me Right single had been omitted. Let's face it, it really doesn't belong. Still, I don't know how many times I laughed out loud during the Duke of Prunes suite... my god it is HILARIOUS! Imagine a sex song, only with constant cheese and prune metaphors. And he also hilariously works in a parody of Duke of Earl ("Duke, Duke, Duke of Prunes!") . Same with Call Any Vegetable, which combines absurdist humor (it deals with being friends with vegetables, of all things); a complex arrangment, and Zappa's guitar skills during the "Invocation and Ritual Dance of the Young Pumpkin" (one of the great song titles, ever) section. There are also a trilogy of funny, biting satires: the opening Plastic People (which works in a demented variant of Louie, Louie during the beginning); the underrated war protest Uncle Bernie's Farm, and, of course, the unforgettable Brown Shoes Don't Make It, certainly Zappa's finest hour. Here he deals with mindless conformity ("Be a loyal plastic robot for a world that doesn't care"); the dumbing down of society ("Do your job and do it right/Life's a ball!/TV tonight"); secretive politicians ("A world of secret hungers/perverting the men who make your laws/every desire is hidden away/in a drawer/in a desk") and pretty much whatever else Zappa was thinking of at the time. And the song shifts styles rapidly, moving from hard rock to opera to '30's jazz (this is the only time you'll hear lyrics about an underage hooker doing her "business" with the mayor set to a Duke Ellington-esque backdrop!) I cannot praise this song enough. And America Drinks and Goes Home is hilarious, right down to the title. Especially the title. Great stuff. Really, really, really great stuff. I know that some people don't "get" Zappa, and his music is challenging. But it's very, VERY rewarding. I still think Hot Rats is the man's finest moment, but this is great!

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