2020 Album Draft- Round 6 Pick 2- Cincinnati Babyhead selects- Frank Zappa and The Mothers with Captain Beefheart- Bongo Fury.
Have to take some Zappa and this one with Captain Beefheart fills the bill. Has the mix that I need. Frank doing his live thing with a great band and throw in the Captain doing his thing. Right up my alley. Mad jazz, hard rock, a taste of country and like Frank says “A little madness”
I’m a huge fan of Frank’s guitar playing and he cuts loose on this one often. With Zappa and Beefheart together I get a two for one deal. I get “Bongo Fury”. The music is all over the map and it is more than a taste of Zappa live ( 3 studio cuts). One of those cuts is ‘200 Years Old’ a slow blues with Beefheart sounding like his inspiration, Howlin Wolf/Muddy Waters. Frank laying down some of those chops I like. It’s not smooth but it’s greasy and rough the way they intended and it sounds great. ‘Advance Romance’ gets some vocal help from Napoleon Murphy Brock and George Duke (great Zappa sidemen) and the band jams and does their live thing. Again Frank does some tasty solos. The album ends with the top 40 hit ‘Muffin Man’ (just kidding. It should have been). Frank takes us out, laying down some last licks, he introduces the band and the Captain adds some of his silky smooth vocals. Man do I miss these guys and girls.
So there it is folks. The Zappa/Beefheart/Mothers experience. It’s unique. They didn’t make a lot of music together. Maybe that’s a good thing for some people. Not me. Really had to think about this. I’ve been on an extended Zappa listen lately. There are so many great releases and re-releases (7 hrs of Hot Rats) that I could lock into but I’ll go with one of my original listens for nostalgic reasons and other things. I miss ya Frank, Don, Mothers. But I still have the music. “I wish I had a pair of bongos”
These scratched my strange music itch today.
Nothing like a good scratch
Frank was a wizard on guitar…or really any instrument he played. It was all about the music with him and he had a great sense of humor. I can’t say I’ve heard a lot of his music but I have listened to Joe’s Garage and a few others. Captain Beefheart I’ve only heard some of the Trout Mask Replica… this is a perfect pairing that is for sure…I’ll take a listen to it….cool choice CB
Being a musician you would appreciate Frank’s work. He has so many good instrumentals. Joe’s Garage has a couple ‘Watermelon In Easter Hay’ is a good one.. I like this album. Scratches a certain itch. You heard his version of ‘Whipping Post’? Anyways just heading to the beach to play my bongos.
Yes I love his of Whipping Post…it’s cool that Frank covered it.
He could play any music he wanted to…have fun with the bongos!
Captain Beefheart, Marlon Brando and CB on the bongos.
I love Muffin Man – need to remember to hear the whole thing.
A Frank classic.
Thought he was a man but he was a muffin!
Then he commences to let his guitar do the singing. Love it. “The Prince of foods”
He’s one of those otherworldly musicians that I never got into except for the few songs LAV-FM used to play. It adds some nice seasoning to the music stew we have cooking in this draft.
A little “Frank Seasoning” in the stew. I think he’d like that.
🙂
I like your description. I’m not familiar with this album, but Hot Rats is one of my favorites by anybody. Gonna have to give this a listen.
I was in a Frank groove the last while and ‘Rats’ was in the mix. The Captains on that one also. I cant help thinking of Howlin Wolf when Beefheart and Waits sing. A few others also.
A Zappa classic and personal fave – basically the entire track is a Zappa guitar solo – a great Zappa guitar solo – with Beefheart delivering the dulcit tones of a Mack truck’s gears grinding – sublime..
I wish I would have said all that. I agree totally.
This pick totally threw me- I will have to give it a listen- I have honestly never heard this one- while I am familiar with both Zappa and The Captain. I like the diversity and unpredictability of the picks so far.
I’m with you on the “diversity and unpredictability”. Again, the cool thing is the connection to the choices. You’ll be humming ‘Muffin Man’ in no time.
Another surprising but quite intersting pick! Good on you Cinci! ‘muffin man’ I know, not sure if I know anything else on there. I liked Frank’s quirky music, the Captain I know more by name & album covers than music.
The Captains early work is probably a little more accessible. Good thing about nowadays, you can test out music fast and easy. I had to take some of this stuff to the island or I would have regretted it.
This was a fun surprise! I want to like Zappa’s music, and I try again every now and then. So far, it’s just not happening. But thanks for prompting me to try again. This was not unlistenable, so maybe someday it will click with me and I’ll be a fan. I’m glad to see him make it into the draft.
One day a FZ piece is going to hit you and you will say “Where is that wonderful music coming from?” Right now keep digging the stuff you like. So much good music out there.
(He does have some really tasteful instrumentals. I’ll save that for another day)
I’ve listen to „Bongo Fury“ a lot. There’s no such thing as old music when it’s this good : It’s timeless.
I’m going to repost this and give you a not Fox. You did a good piece a while ago.
It’s ok., CB! “Bongo Fury” is a stunning album by two greats. I’m sure Frank and Don would be happy, if we like their music.
Permission to add your take to mine on Sunday?
Thanks, CB.Just do what’s right for you!
Thanks Fox. I’ll attach your take also.