Frank Zappa and The Mothers Of Invention: The Grand Wazoo Song by Song Thread

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by Zoot Marimba, May 12, 2018.

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  1. vince

    vince Stan Ricker's son-in-law

    OH! I remember seeing THOSE!
     
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  2. Sequenzer

    Sequenzer Forum Resident

    Yes that was from 1995 [RCD 40583/3]
     
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  3. mcchocchoc

    mcchocchoc Forum Resident

    Location:
    Oregon
    Yeah, they were pretty neat and priced rather cheaply when they came out. I used to own them, but gave them away to friends that I have turned onto FZ.
     
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  4. warewolf95

    warewolf95 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Greenville, SC
    Despite being recorded pretty much at the same time, I've always vastly preferred Wazoo to Waka for no particular reason.

    I think The Grand Wazoo is Frank's best jazz album and a top 20 album of his imo (what other artist has so many you have to have a top 20?!) :)

    All the tracks are strong pieces, the production and playing is great. It's a great album to put on and just get lost in.

    Great stuff and good choice OP!!! :)
     
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  5. mark winstanley

    mark winstanley Certified dinosaur, who likes physical product

    that's the one i have, and yes, you are correct
     
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  6. Archtop

    Archtop Soft Dead Crimson Cow

    Location:
    Greater Boston, MA
    The guitar solo on the title track is what finally broke my back and got me fully onboard. One interesting observation I made early on (March 2010) is the similarity in the harmonic structure of the solo breaks on The Grand Wazoo (starting at 3:06) and Pink Floyd's Money (starting at 2:49). They must have been recorded some 8,000 miles apart essentially within a few weeks or months of each other. Sure, the Zappa line has b9s/b5s all over the place and the Money line is simple chromaticism, but the resultant grooves are almost identical.
     
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  7. Instant Dharma

    Instant Dharma Dude/man

    Location:
    CoCoCo, Ca
    Nice.

    Hmmm Gilmour had the backing vamp changed to a less compound time didnt he? Both guitarists thrived soloing over basic progressions. I never spotted the similarities between the grooves. Zappa and the Floyd were more than just a Continent apart, but this is something they have in common.
     
    Last edited: May 13, 2018
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  8. Archtop

    Archtop Soft Dead Crimson Cow

    Location:
    Greater Boston, MA
    :nyah:
    I think I've posted my observation (which I find to be endlessly fascinating; not because I observed it but simply because it exists) here a few times over the years and never got so much as a peep out of anyone. It's nice to get at least a single syllable from someone.
     
  9. Zoot Marimba

    Zoot Marimba And I’m The Critic Of The Group Thread Starter

    Location:
    Savannah, Georgia
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  10. pbuzby

    pbuzby Senior Member

    Location:
    Chicago, IL, US
    Hmm. Well, "Money" is in blues i-IV-V changes while "The Grand Wazoo" just stays on i, and Floyd started playing "Money" in January 1972 a few months before Zappa started on his album, but yes, the grooves are similar. Maybe the British rhythm section on Zappa's album is one reason.
     
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  11. Terrapin Station

    Terrapin Station Master Guns

    Location:
    NYC Man/Joy-Z City
  12. Cheevyjames

    Cheevyjames Forum Resident

    Location:
    Graham, NC
    I’ll do a more complete review of For Calvin later, but I just have to chime in and say I love this album so much. Depending on my mood it’s my favorite of Frank’s albums while he was alive. It’s an amazing work that gets more “grand” every time I listen.

    Thanks for doing this, @Musicman1998. Glad to see you’re in this club as well.
     
  13. Zoot Marimba

    Zoot Marimba And I’m The Critic Of The Group Thread Starter

    Location:
    Savannah, Georgia
    Of course
     
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  14. Terrapin Station

    Terrapin Station Master Guns

    Location:
    NYC Man/Joy-Z City
    I've been posting, but I guess we've not been posting in the same threads.
     
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  15. Echoes Myron

    Echoes Myron Forum Resident

    Location:
    USA
    Thanks for this thread. Will be breaking out the blue label Bizarre tonight.
     
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  16. Zoot Marimba

    Zoot Marimba And I’m The Critic Of The Group Thread Starter

    Location:
    Savannah, Georgia
    Well it will be great to see your input
     
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  17. mcchocchoc

    mcchocchoc Forum Resident

    Location:
    Oregon
  18. Rob Hughes

    Rob Hughes Forum Resident

    A little curious that there's been no remaster or repackaging of Ponty's King Kong on CD (or has there?).
    I've never heard it, but I'd be curious to give it a spin.

    Oh! And so far as Grand Wazoo goes, it's one of my faves! Much of the stuff I like best about Zappa -- and not so much of the stuff that puts me off. :)

    Cheers, RH
     
  19. mcchocchoc

    mcchocchoc Forum Resident

    Location:
    Oregon
    Ponty... Aside from the original LP version, I have a 1993 CD pressing from BlueNote/Capitol Records. Not sure if any other cd versions exist(?).
     
  20. mcchocchoc

    mcchocchoc Forum Resident

    Location:
    Oregon
    When thinking of FZ's classic albums, a lot lof the time aside from the music, the imagery and art works surrounding them also quickly come to mind. Largely stuff created by Cal. He's wonderful. Here's a cool deconstruction/reconstruction he made of The Grand Wazoo.

    [​IMG]
     
  21. danner

    danner Forum Resident

    Location:
    Birmingham, AL
    Same here. I loved Wazoo from the first listen, but it took me a good while to warm up to Waka/Jawaka.
     
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  22. warewolf95

    warewolf95 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Greenville, SC
    For some reason Waka feels more jokey/piecemeal than Wazoo. Wazoo sits better as a full entity for me.

    The title track and Big Swifty are still 2 of the best things he ever did though! Fine music, but as an album it doesn't gel for me.

    YMMV :)
     
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  23. mmars982

    mmars982 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Pittsburgh, PA
    I don't have much to add, but want to say Grand Wazoo is sometimes my favorite Zappa (takes turns with Hot Rats, depending on my mood), and I thank you for starting this thread. I look forward to learning more about the details of this album.
     
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  24. mark winstanley

    mark winstanley Certified dinosaur, who likes physical product

    i remember going into a store that specialised in classical music years ago asking about a disc by a guy named uwe krupinski (if i remember rightly). the guy looked down his nose at me and said "well it's probably jazz. if it isn't played from sheet music, we won't have it." ... as i have always tended to have a big mouth and no filter i stated "oh, ok. where is your Frank Zappa please?" to which he looked annoyed and turned away. i probably then let him know what i thought of his attitude and walked out.
     
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  25. SonicBob

    SonicBob Forum Resident

    Location:
    West Virginia
    I've been into Zappa ever since I was in my late teens/early twenties, but I didn't acquire "Grand Wazoo" until about 10 years ago. Lately, I've been into the early years of the original Mothers material, but a few weeks back, I put on "Wazoo" and also "Waka/Jawaka". Those two releases go great together, one obvious reason is that they're of the same time frame, but I like the fact that both releases feature some longer pieces, in the main theme of "Grand Wazoo" and "Big Swifty" and the title piece from "Waka/Jawaka". The rest of the material from Grand Wazoo is a bit stronger than the shorter pieces from "Jawaka", though. I especially like "Eat that Question" and "Blessed Relief". Those numbers hear Frank continuing to display his genius talents of composition with intricate melodies and odd time signatures. He truly was a modern day composer that blazed a trail of innovation and originality within the arenas of classical, rock, pop, jazz, R&B and Doo-Wop, with a cynical, sardonic sense of humor in his lyrical pieces as well.
     
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