Over-Nite Sensation
| Over-Nite Sensation | |||||
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| Studio album by Zappa/Mothers | |||||
| Released | September 7, 1973 | ||||
| Recorded | March 19 – June 1, 1973 at Bolic Sound, Inglewood and Whitney Studios, Glendale | ||||
| Genre | Rock | ||||
| Label | DiscReet | ||||
| Producer | Frank Zappa | ||||
| Frank Zappa chronology | |||||
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| The Mothers of Invention chronology | |||||
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Over-Nite Sensation is the seventh studio album by Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention. Released on September 7, 1973, it was subsequently followed by Zappa's solo album, Apostrophe ('), which derived from the same recording sessions.
Contents |
[edit] Recording
Frank Zappa wanted to use backup singers on the songs "I'm The Slime", "Dirty Love", "Zomby Woof", "Dinah-Moe Humm" and "Montana". His road manager suggested The Ikettes, and Ike & Tina Turner were contacted. Ike Turner insisted that Zappa pay the singers, including Tina Turner, no more than $25 per song.[1] During the recording sessions, Tina brought Ike into the studio to hear one of her recordings with Zappa. Ike listened to the tape and responded "What is this shit?" before leaving the studio.[1] Ike later insisted that Zappa would not credit the Ikettes on the released album.[1] The recording sessions which produced Over-Nite Sensation also produced Zappa's followup, Apostrophe ('),[1] released as a solo album rather than a Mothers of Invention release.
[edit] Music and lyrics
Much of the album's lyricism deals with sexual intercourse.[1][2] "Dirty Love" includes references to a woman performing zoophilia with a poodle,[1] while "Dinah-Moe Humm" describes a woman who wagers that the narrator can't give her an orgasm, and is ultimately aroused by watching him have sex with her sister.[1] Sexuality, however, is not the sole focus of the album's lyrics, as "I'm The Slime" criticizes television shows, which are described as "vile and pernicious", brainwashing their audiences into eating the processed food advertised in their commercials and thinking as the government wants them.[1] "Montana" describes moving to Montana to grow dental floss.[1]
The music of Over-Nite Sensation draws from rock, jazz and pop music.[2] "Zomby Woof" has been described as a "heavy metal hybrid of Louis Jordan and Fats Waller".[2]
[edit] Reception
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [3] |
| Robert Christgau | (C)[4] |
The album received mixed reviews due to its lyrical content, which was perceived as being puerile in nature.[2] Rolling Stone disliked the album, describing Zappa as a "spent force", and saying that his best work had been recorded with earlier incarnations of the Mothers.[2] New Music Express said that the album was "not one of Frank's most outstanding efforts."[2] Robert Christgau gave the album a C, asking "where's the serious stuff?"[4]
Contemporary reviews evaluated the album far better, with Allmusic writer Steve Huey writing, "Love it or hate it, Over-Nite Sensation was a watershed album for Frank Zappa, the point where his post-'60s aesthetic was truly established".[3] Kelly Fisher Lowe, in The Words and Music of Frank Zappa, wrote that "Over-Nite and Apostrophe (') are important [...] as a return to Mothers of Invention form and as close to traditional pop albums as Zappa would ever come."[2]
[edit] Legacy
Over-Nite Sensation and Apostrophe (') are the subject of a Classic Albums series documentary from Eagle Rock Entertainment, released on DVD May 1, 2007.
[edit] Track listing
All songs written and composed by Frank Zappa.
| Side one | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length | |||||||
| 1. | "Camarillo Brillo" | 3:59 | |||||||
| 2. | "I'm the Slime" | 3:34 | |||||||
| 3. | "Dirty Love" | 2:58 | |||||||
| 4. | "Fifty-Fifty" | 6:09 | |||||||
| Side two | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length | |||||||
| 5. | "Zomby Woof" | 5:10 | |||||||
| 6. | "Dinah-Moe Humm" | 6:01 | |||||||
| 7. | "Montana" | 6:35 | |||||||
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Total length:
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34:26 | ||||||||
[edit] Personnel
- Musicians
- Frank Zappa – guitar, vocals on all tracks except "Fifty-Fifty" and most of "Zomby Woof"
- George Duke – synthesizer, keyboards
- Bruce Fowler – trombone
- Tom Fowler – bass
- Ralph Humphrey – drums
- Ricky Lancelotti – vocals on "Fifty-Fifty" and "Zomby Woof"
- Sal Marquez – trumpet, vocals on "Dinah-Moe Humm"
- Jean-Luc Ponty – violin, baritone violin
- Ian Underwood – clarinet, flute, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone
- Ruth Underwood – percussion, marimba, vibraphone
- Kin Vassy – vocals on "I'm the Slime", "Dinah-Moe Humm" and "Montana"
- Tina Turner and the Ikettes - Backing vocals (uncredited)
- Production staff
- Producer: Frank Zappa
- Engineers: Fred Borkgren, Steve Desper, Terry Dunavan, Barry Keene, Bob Stone
- Remixing: Kerry McNabb
- Arranger: Frank Zappa
- Technician: Paul Hof
- Cover design: Ferenc Dobronyi, Cal Schenkel
- Illustrations: David McMacken
[edit] Charts
Album - Billboard (North America)
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Pop Albums | 32 |
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i http://books.google.com/books?id=BW1Jom4nswwC&pg=PA232
- ^ a b c d e f g http://books.google.com/books?id=uAYfqgGf4yYC&pg=PA105
- ^ a b Huey, S. (2011 [last update]). "Over-Nite Sensation - Frank Zappa & the Mothers | AllMusic". allmusic.com. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r53147. Retrieved 21 July 2011.
- ^ a b Christgau, R. (2011 [last update]). "Robert Christgau: CG: Artist 4155". robertchristgau.com. http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist2.php?id=4155. Retrieved 21 July 2011.
