Weasels Ripped My Flesh
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| Weasels Ripped My Flesh | ||||
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 Cover art by Neon Park |
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| Studio album by The Mothers of Invention | ||||
| Released | August 10, 1970 | |||
| Recorded | October 1967 – August 1969 | |||
| Genre | Jazz fusion, Experimental rock, Avant-garde | |||
| Length | 43:03 | |||
| Label | Bizarre/Reprise | |||
| Producer | Frank Zappa | |||
| Professional reviews | ||||
| Frank Zappa chronology | ||||
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| Alternate covers | ||||
German album cover
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2 Originals of the Mothers of Invention
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Weasels Ripped My Flesh is an album by Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention, released in 1970.
Conceptually, the album could be considered Phase Two of Burnt Weeny Sandwich. Both albums consist of previously unreleased Mothers tracks released after the demise of the original band. Whereas the pieces on Burnt Weeny Sandwich generally have a more rigid and planned feel captured by quality studio equipment, Weasels Ripped My Flesh mostly captures the Mothers on stage, where they employ frenetic and chaotic improvisation characteristic of avant-garde free jazz. The album's infamous closer and title track is nothing more than every player on stage producing as much noise and feedback as they can for two minutes. Interestingly, an audience member is heard yelling for more at its conclusion. The album also contains Don "Sugarcane" Harris's straight-ahead blues violin and vocal performance of "Directly From My Heart to You".
The CD version of the album features different versions of "Didja Get Any Onya?" and "Prelude to the Afternoon of a Sexually Aroused Gas Mask", which featured music edited out of the LP versions. Some of this extra music was used as the backing track for "The Blimp" on the Captain Beefheart album Trout Mask Replica, produced by Frank Zappa.
Burnt Weeny Sandwich and Weasels Ripped My Flesh were also reissued together on vinyl as 2 Originals of the Mothers of Invention, with the original covers used as the left and right sides of the inner spread, and the front cover depicting a pistol shooting toothpaste onto a toothbrush.
Contents |
[edit] Album cover
Frank Zappa recruited artist Neon Park to create a subversive image based on a cover story from the September 1956 issue of Man's Life, a men's adventure magazine. After showing Neon a copy of the magazine, Zappa inquired, "This is it. What can you do that's worse than this?"[1] Neon's answer was to craft a parody of an advertisement for Schick brand electric razor based on the "Weasels Ripped My Flesh" theme.[1] The record company wasn't happy about the cover, not being up to their standard, still finally approving its use.[2]
German releases of the album featured an album cover showing a metal baby caught in a rat trap. This cover was not approved by Zappa.
[edit] Track listing
All songs by Frank Zappa, except where noted otherwise.
[edit] Side one
- "Didja Get Any Onya?" – 3:42 (6:51 on the CD version)
- recorded live on March 2, 1969 at the Philadelphia Arena, Philadelphia, PA
- Includes 'Charles Ives', and only on the compact disc re-issue, 'The Jelly'
- "Directly from My Heart to You" (Richard Wayne Penniman) – 5:16
- recorded c. July 1969 at T.T.G. Recording Studios, Hollywood, CA
- "Prelude to the Afternoon of a Sexually Aroused Gas Mask" – 3:47
- recorded live on October 25, 1968 at the Royal Festival Hall, London, UK
- "Toads of the Short Forest" – 4:47
- 1st half recorded c. August 1969 at Whitney Studios, Glendale, CA &
- 2nd half recorded live on February 7-8, 1969 at Thee Image, Miami, FL
- "Get a Little" – 2:31
- recorded on February 13, 1969 live at The Factory, The Bronx, New York, NY
[edit] Side two
- "The Eric Dolphy Memorial Barbecue" – 6:52
- recorded on June 1969 at A&R Studios, New York, NY)
- "Dwarf Nebula Processional March & Dwarf Nebula" – 2:12
- recorded on December, 1967-February, 1968 at Apostolic Studios, New York, NY
- "My Guitar Wants to Kill Your Mama" – 3:32
- = the original version recorded on February(?), 1969 at Criteria Studios, Miami, FL
- with final overdubs recorded c. August-September, 1969 at T.T.G. Studios, Hollywood, CA & at Whitney Studios, Glendale, CA
- "Oh No" – 1:45
- recorded on December, 1967-February, 1968 at Apostolic Studios, New York, NY
- "The Orange County Lumber Truck" – 3:21
- 1st part recorded live in 1969 from an unknown performance &
- the rest recorded live on October 25, 1968 at the Royal Festival Hall, London, UK
- "Weasels Ripped My Flesh" – 2:08
- recorded live on May 30, 1969 at the Town Hall, Birmingham, UK
[edit] Personnel
- Frank Zappa – lead guitar, vocals
- Jimmy Carl Black – drums
- Ray Collins – vocals
- Roy Estrada – bass, vocals
- Bunk Gardner – tenor saxophone
- Lowell George – rhythm guitar, vocals
- Don "Sugarcane" Harris – vocals, electric violin
- Don Preston – organ, electronic effects
- Buzz Gardner – trumpet and flugel horn
- Motorhead Sherwood – baritone saxophone, snorks
- Art Tripp – drums
- Ian Underwood – alto saxophone
[edit] Production
- Producer: Frank Zappa
- Art Direction: John Williams
- Cover art: Neon Park
- Photography: John Williams
- Digital art: Bob Stone
[edit] Charts
Album - Billboard (North America)
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Pop Albums | 189 |
[edit] References
- ^ a b "the big nOte files". Black Page. April 2005. http://www.united-mutations.com/123/big_note_files200504.htm. Retrieved 2006-06-13.
- ^ Thorgerson, Storm; Powell,Aubrey (1999). 100 Best Album Covers: The Stories Behind the Sleeves. Dorling Kindersley. pp. 152. ISBN 0751307068.
