Out to Lunch

Great Big Western MOFO Store

Something nostalgic for the Old Folks right now. It’s celebration time. Some classic pop albums are turning 40 this year and hey surprise… they receive a deluxe reissue.
Sergeant Pepper by the Beatles is one of them but I’m will not go in to deep on that one because other blogs will and besides, I think it just sounds pretty outdated by now and features, apart from a couple of outstanding tracks, mostly crapy tunes. That’s what you get from to much dope, although Pet Sounds still sounds great.
Anyway, another classic one is Freak out. It was originally released in 1966 as one of the first double albums along with Bob Dylan’s blonde on blonde. It’s not my favourite Frank Zappa or Mothers album but it’s their first one so it deserves attention but a 6 cd reissue sounds a bit to much. There’s a 4 cd set and a 2 cd set with the appropriate MOFO title (which is short for Mother’s Freak Out or just plain old Motherfucker – which is the main reason they had to change their original name into Mothers Of Invention). The extra’s on the two packages don’t really overlap so real fans are screwed and have to buy all 6 (2 sets).

And what do you get for all that money? Well, I’m not sure. If you’re interested in the man’s work it’s illuminating documentary stuff but if you’re just a music fan with a taste for the straight and the bizarre it’s just way to much of the same stuff. 5 not all to different versions of one song sounds like overkill but if you take the time for it, the basic instrumental tracks, stripped down from their silly compulsory lyrics, reveal early experiments in advanced contemporary percussion, jazz and electro-acoustic sounds by what was actually a really great genuine R&B band. They not only rocked but also knew how to make it swing which was a pretty rare thing in those days if you compare them with other so-called psychedelic West Coast bands (some albums in the YCDTOSA series give a token of their Soul and R&B side). This concept got well develop later on, on other albums but the foundations of the early Mother’s sound are to be found on the Freak out album.

I found both MOFO packages on Chá De Pila which features more recent Pre and Post Mortem Zappa stuff but I thing I will go and buy them for the liner notes and memorabilia stuff because I’m that kind of nerd.

How Could I Be Such A Fool
Anyway The Wind Blows
Trouble Every Day
Help I'm A Rock

Who Are The Brain Police (basic instrumental tracks)
I Ain’t Got No Heart (basic instrumental tracks)
You Didn’t Try To Call Me (basic instrumental tracks)
Vito Rocks The Floor
Psychedelic Upholstery (Mixed Media Detroit 11-13-67)