Uncle Meat [Original recording remastered]

Amazon.com
The soundtrack for a film that remained incomplete for over a decade, Uncle Meat is one of the finest albums produced by Zappa and the original Mothers of Invention. Showcasing every facet of the band, Uncle Meat is filled with quirky Zappa instrumentals like the title track and the "Dog Breath Variations," rock staples like "Cruisin' For Burgers" and "Mr. Green Genes," and an epic suite of instrumental fervor centered around the jazz-rock forerunner, "King Kong". This double CD edition also contains audio excerpts from the movie and a later song called "Tengo Na Minchia Tanta." --Andrew Boscardin

From the Label
A crucial turning point in Motherdom, this started as the soundtrack to the movie that was completed decades later. Just when Zappa's fans had digested the vicious satire of WE'RE ONLY IN IT FOR THE MONEY and the doo-wop homages of RUBEN & THE JETS, he gave them a mostly-instrumental album that highlighted the jazz-rock leanings and increasing virtuosity of the early Mothers. The album's finale, the adventurous but appealing instrumental suite "King Kong," convinced a few skeptical ears that Zappa wasn't so scary after all.

As a whole, UNCLE MEAT illustrates FZ's masterful production techniques, and his ability to appropriate all sorts of popular music and have his way with it as well. Doo-wop rears its head on "Cruisin' For Burgers" and "Electric Aunt Jemima;" and the groupies-turned recording artists the GTO's make their debut on "Our Bizarre Relationship." And of course, it wouldn't be a serious, jazz-influenced Mothers album without a little "Louie Louie."

This double CD has been augmented with a full 45 minutes of extra dialogue and stuff from the film. Primer mi carucha, brodie knobs and spinners, fake I.D.s, khaki maple buckwheats and King Kong in excelsis.

Uncle Meat,Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention,Rykodisc,Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop

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Uncle Meat [Original recording remastered]

Average customer rating: My Favorite Zappa, the best of all the rest in one neat package Uncle Meat A sprawling journey through The Mothers' career... Uncle Meat and Electric Aunt Jemima The most original and absurd work ever

Uncle Meat Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention Manufacturer: Zappa Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Experimental Rock | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Comedy Rock | Comedic Music | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Progressive | Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Burnt Weeny Sandwich The Grand Wazoo Weasels Ripped My Flesh Absolutely Free We're Only in It for the Money ASIN: B0000009S1 Release Date: 1995-05-02

Tracks:

1. Uncle Meat
2. The Voices Of Cheese
3. Nine Types Of Industrial Pollution
4. Zolar Czakl
5. Dog Breath, In The Year Of The Plague
6. The Legend Of The Golden Arches
7. Louie Louie
8. The Dog Breath Variations
9. Sleeping In A Jar
10. Our Bizarre Relationship
11. The Uncle Meat Variations
12. Electric Aunt Jemima
13. Prelude To King Kong
14. God Bless America
15. A Pound For A Brown On The Bus
16. Ian Underwood Whips It Out
17. Mr. Green Genes
18. We Can Shoot You
19. If We'd All Been Living In California...
20. The Air
21. Project X
22. Cruising For Burgers

Tracks:

1. Uncle Meat Film Excerpt Part 1
2. Tengo Na Minchia Tanta
3. Uncle Meat Film Excerpt Part II
4. King Kong Itself
5. King Kong II
6. King Kong III
7. King Kong IV
8. King Kong V
9. King Kong VI

Amazon.com

The soundtrack for a film that remained incomplete for over a decade, Uncle Meat is one of the finest albums produced by Zappa and the original Mothers of Invention. Showcasing every facet of the band, Uncle Meat is filled with quirky Zappa instrumentals like the title track and the "Dog Breath Variations," rock staples like "Cruisin' For Burgers" and "Mr. Green Genes," and an epic suite of instrumental fervor centered around the jazz-rock forerunner, "King Kong". This double CD edition also contains audio excerpts from the movie and a later song called "Tengo Na Minchia Tanta." --Andrew Boscardin

Customer Reviews:

My Favorite Zappa, the best of all the rest in one neat package.......2007-05-17

Listening to this today, I began to go down memory lane a bit... why was I informed several years ago not to bother with Uncle Meat? Someone told me it was collage-type noise. Another time, I got the impression from some online article once that it was almost unlistenable. Neither is true. All the FZ fans I met in college (or in my life) seemed to overlook it. Or, at least, I never heard anyone play it and I never saw it lying around as part of anyone's collection. People talked about Joe's Garage a lot, the first three Mothers albums and some of the 70s and 80s live stuff, but I never heard much about Uncle Meat.

I can't figure it out, really. It's a classic FZ album. Apparently, Frank added some crappy dialog to the 2nd disc, but that can be skipped easily enough by simply going straight to track 4 on disc 2 (which I always, always do!)

As for the rest of it, it's fantastic. The sort of cool instrumentation that came out on later albums like Jazz from Hell and the classical discs is done here with a real live feel that sounds old and smokin' with the sort of production on old jazz classics and still-classic recordings of classical music of around the same time period. It certainly sounds better than many of the early FZ cd remasters! Or the plastic/dry sound of his early 80s albums. At times, this sounds downright ethereal. Looking at the liner notes, I see that this was a Zappa-approved master in 1993. I guess that is what people are talking about when they complain about the pre-93 remasters. I never bothered to look until just now. Maybe I'll replace some of my other FZ cds (although I doubt You Are What You Is was remastered after 93 and that features the dry/plastic sound I'm thinking about right now... I can't listen to that album anymore because the sound annoys me too much. The ultra-pristine sound of much of the live 80s stuff kind of annoys me, too, but not as much). Anyway, point being: this album has a cool sound which is not too ancient sounding and not too dry. It has the organic, warm feel of a 60s record without sounding like it was recorded in an oil drum.

It sure would be hard to pick a favorite FZ album, but this one certainly fills a lot of needs. You'd think it might be a bit self-indulgent since it's experimental, but the fact is these songs are really tight and focused. The only overdone thing on it are the added-for-cd-release first 3 tracks on disc 2... but, like I said-- just skip those. Very easy to do! Tje rest of disc 2 (King Kongs) is like a bonus _classic_ jazz record right up there with the funkiest avant jazz you can think of. But, this is probably cooler.

Thinking more about it, this one album was like the "key" to a whole bunch of other FZ albums I just didn't really like that much. Somehow, it made everything else take on a new light. In many ways, it's more accessible than even the early Mothers albums, which were more straight "rock"-- what Uncle Meat offers that those don't is less cynicism, less "music concrete" (aka "noise"), less doo-wop, less bad/meaningless storytelling/lyrics and more beautifully cool and utterly unique musicianship. When you see what Frank and his gang were capable here, it makes you wonder why they did some of the stuff they did later. I could appreciate 4 or 5 more albums like this.

Uncle Meat.......2007-04-03

WOW!!! nothing compares to the original MOI! Uncle Meat is probably the most under-rated Moi album. It focusses mostly on chamber music and avant garde instrumentals. There is also rock, jazz, experimental, and of course doo-wop!!! The only down side of the album is the first three tracks on disc two. The film excerpts are intensely boring and Tengo Na Minchia Tanta does not at all fit in the album, but the album is still a five! The album contains brilliantly written chamber music such as the two part Uncle Meat, The Legend Of The Golden Arches, Dog Breath Variations, Sleeping In A Jar,and Pound For a brown On The Bus. It also contains some fascinating avant garde, such as Nine Types Of Industrial Pollution, Zolar Cyskal, The Voice Of Cheese, Louie Louie, Our Bizarre Relationship, God Bless America, Ian Underwood Whips It Out, We Can Shoot You, If we'd All Been Living In California, And Project X. The album also contains some rock influenced chamber music such as Dog Breath: In The Year Of The Plague, Mr. Green Genes, And Cruising For Burgers. The album also has some awesome doo- wop songs like Electric Aunt Jemima, and The Air. The jazz songs are the intense multi part King Kong. The whole album is brilliant, there is plenty of songs, plenty of variety, most of it listenable but all of it extraordinary. Very high recommendation

A sprawling journey through The Mothers' career..........2007-02-21

This is one of the more bizarre records in popular music. The original release was four sides of vinyl, covering many genres and styles. The CD is expanded to include a long sequence from the film, the official release, and outtake sequences, which isn't really necessary, but it does help put the concept of the finished film into context. Despite the rambling nature of the complete release, if you listen to it in its entirety, you do have a sense of going on a journey through sound, compliments of contemporary music's true pioneers, the Mothers Of Invention. Even though Frank Zappa was the group's spear-head, it becomes obvious that this particular group's sound and image were unique, even in the Zappa catalogue. At the time, he needed these musicians, however much he may have since said otherwise, and I don't believe this would have the sound, mood, and appearance that it has if other players were involved. Proof of this would be one of the tracks on the later release, "Tengo Na Minchia." Not the original band, and there is a night-and-day difference between this and the rest of the soundtrack. I am one of the world's biggest fans of FZ and The Mothers, but I think he messed with an ideal-sounding and ideally-paced release by including this. Just an opinion.

There is typical Mothers-style humor here, as with them playing the Whiskey-A-Go-Go in Los Angeles, a kazoo-accompanied "God Bless America," and the treatment they gave to "Louie Louie" at the Albert Hall, desecrating the "mighty, majestic Albert Hall pipe organ" in the process. Some serious pieces offset this, such as "Project X," and "Legend Of The Golden Arches." You get the definitive treatment of "King Kong," and no later band has played it with the fire of the original band performing this.

It's odd, this is a band that sometimes plays badly on purpose, and it sounds RIGHT. Proper technique can sometimes be a detrimint, and "Uncle Meat" proves this. It takes a little concentrated listening, but once you enter, you probably won't want to leave.

:)

Uncle Meat and Electric Aunt Jemima.......2006-10-05

What I love about Uncle Meat is the unpredictability in the music and the collages of music and dialogue with Suzy Creamcheese and Ian Underwood. The music sounds like something from outer space. Zappa makes it seem easy the way he arranges collages and composes the jazz-rock masterpieces. Where does the music come from? Zappa is a genuis and should be compared to the greats like Mozart, Ravel, Beethoven, Grieg, John Cage, Schumann, Prokofiev, and Varese. Great listen!

The most original and absurd work ever.......2006-05-10

Uncle meat is a soundtrack to a film of the same name, which Zappa finished almost two decades later. It is definately the weirdest soundtrack ever. My five star rating goes to original Uncle meat vinyl that doesn't contain film excerpts. The power of Uncle meat seems sometimes to be completely beyond any analysis. First of all it works better as whole than separate pieces. The album flows perfectly from instrumentals to vocal pieces to conversations to musical jokes. Uncle meat is full of complex instrumental music that is quite enjoyable, but still very experimental and unclassifiedable. There are many jazz, classical, doowop, psychedelic rock and even opera influences. I think the vocal pieces are real meat of this album. The vocals are even more hilarious than usually in Zappa's work.

This work is full of absurd humour, which probably only the band members truly understand, but musical jokes like God bless America can still be funny or at least make you smile. The whole album sounds like that Frank Zappa had a very weird dream and he put it on the album. I think this album is more mysterious than many psychedelic albums and this album actually contains one of the best psychedelic songs of all time Mr.Green Genes. The album has a tight absurd atmosphere, if you listen it throught. It contains some of the most imaginative and brilliant popular music ever Electric aunt Jemina, Uncle meat, Mr.Green Genes, Uncle meat variations and Dog breath in the year of plague. It breaks many barriers of popular music and turns everything upside down. It is not perfect. Some of the material is absolutely crap, but it is the brilliant and the most unique work ever. I'm a poet and this work has inspired me more than any other. In Uncle meat Frank Zappa has once again created a new musical universe. Certainly not a starting point for your Frank Zappa collection, but if you already own some Frank Zappa albums, give it a try. I highly recommend this for you.

Average customer rating: Dedicated to experts? Zappa Attempts Stockhausen The Yello Shark, performed by the Modern Music Ensemble ZAP! A Frank Zappa Treasure. Better than many of his CDs

The Yellow Shark Manufacturer: Zappa Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Experimental Rock | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Electronic | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music | Computer General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Avant Garde & Free Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Experimental Music | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Progressive | Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Jazz From Hell Make a Jazz Noise Here The Grand Wazoo Uncle Meat Burnt Weeny Sandwich ASIN: B0000009VU Release Date: 1995-05-30

Tracks:

1. Intro
2. Dog Breath Variations
3. Uncle Meat
4. Outrage At Valdez
5. Times Beach II
6. III Revised
7. The Girl In The Magnesium Dress
8. Be-Bop Tango
9. Ruth Is Sleeping
10. None Of The Above
11. Pentagon Afternoon
12. Questi Cazzi Di Piccione
13. Times Beach III
14. Food Gathering In Post-Industrial America, 1992
15. Welcome To The United States
16. Pound For A Brown
17. Exercise #4
18. Get Whitey
19. G-Spot Tornado

Amazon.com

Released shortly after his death in 1993, The Yellow Shark represents one of the only accurate performances of Frank Zappa's "serious" orchestral music--at least as far as the composer was concerned. Assembled from a series of sold-out performances in Germany by the Ensemble Moderne, the set includes re-workings of old favorites like "The Dog Breath Variations" and "Uncle Meat," live arrangements of some of his hairiest computer music like "The Girl in the Magnesium Dress" and "G-Spot Tornado" and new works by Zappa composed specifically for the event. The performances are astonishing and the music? Pure Zappa. --Andrew Boscardin

Album Description

The 26-member Ensemble Modern performs FZ's 'most-humanly-impossible-to-play' compositions. Piano duets, string quintets & small ballets. Simply exquisite, with a 60-page booklet to explain it all. Originally released in 1993, it stayed on the classical chart for most of `94. Includes the tracks 'Outrage At Valdez,' 'None Of The Above,' & 'Welcome To The United States', plus arrangements of some of the most fiendishly difficult pieces from FZ's back catalogue & even a 'greatest hit' or two (some would pick this as the definitive version of 'Dog Breath Variations'). Sadly, this was the last album released by FZ during his lifetime. The didipak and the booklet are housed in a slipcase. Rykodisc.

Customer Reviews:

Dedicated to experts?.......2007-06-25

Frank Zappa was very proud of this great and difficult work done at the end of his (too short) life.
It requires also great concentation and a capability that probably I don't have to well understand this kind of experimental classic music.
It goes beyond the experimental rock that is typical of many of his works, leading him to the level of great contemporary experimental classic composers.
Given such a level of difficulty I don't know how much I can suggest to buy it. You just should try to hear at this music and decide if it does fit with your soul (how could I believe just a few years ago that today I would like so much 'Your funeral my trial' of Nick Cave?)

Zappa Attempts Stockhausen.......2007-02-13

FZ goes to Germany to upstage Karlheinz and tries an avant garde stage performance which is an elegant and popular form of expression in Germany. The Germans have perfected this type of marriage between romanticism and neoclassicism. In this case it's an overly technical performance, a display. The orchestra all sound good yet Zappa has given the music to another conductor, Peter Rundel. There is no rhythm section and without a background the result is too intellectual.

The Yello Shark, performed by the Modern Music Ensemble.......2007-01-19

This CD addresses the more serious, compositional aspect of Frank Zappa's career, and it could not be addressed in a more suitable manner. It includes some of FZ's more difficult works, such as "Bee Bop Tango", "Uncle Meat", and "G-Spot Tornado". The conductor is Peter Rundel, and as Zappa says himself, he is a fine conductor. This is highly recommended for anyone who has already developed a taste for Zappa's complex and imaginative arrangements.

ZAP!.......2006-01-20

Trying to define this album to my good friend was hard. "Well it's Zappa's songs done with an orechestra, but's not really classical sounding . . . it's just Zappa." And my friend just simply nodded and said "Sounds awesome." and i realized that if any reviewer would've just said 'It's Zappa!' it wouldn't take much more to sway me. so - It's Zappa! And it's damn near perfect it's so good! Riveting!!!

Be warned! You may like nobody (musically or real life) or anything (musically or real life) ever again after listening to this album, but it's not that big of a deal!

A Frank Zappa Treasure. Better than many of his CDs.......2005-07-29

`The Yellow Shark', with words and music by Frank Zappa is a collection of `chamber music' pieces recorded in 1993 in Germany, performed by a German orchestra, `Ensemble Modern', which, I believe, commissioned Herr Zappa to assemble these pieces for their concerts. In the accompanying booklet, Frank is pictured with a baton in hand, but the credits only have him conducting three pieces, those with a very significant spoken word aspect (all spoken in English). He also makes a brief appearance at the beginning of the CD where he introduces the Ensemble Modern conductor, Peter Rundel.

This recording is probably one of the very last to be done by Zappa himself, before his unexpected death due to illness. Of all the musical figures of the 1960s lost to us over the years, I miss Zappa almost as much as I miss John Lennon, and I am very happy that if we had to lose them, it was not to drugs or any other kind of self abuse.

There are fourteen musical pieces and three `spoken word' pieces on the recording. I confess that the spoken word pieces may actually be a bit dated, especially the `Welcome to the United States' track on a questionnaire for immigrants which makes a reference to terrorism which may seem entirely too glib in our current environment.

Two of the earliest tracks `Dog Breath Variations' and `Uncle Meat' are instantly recognizable from their music and titles as `quotes' from earlier albums, with very little `classical' varnish over their strongly jazzy sound. Most of the other musical pieces have more subtle quotes from earlier Zappa works, and demonstrate influences from George Gershwin, Kurt Weill, the movie music from `Spartacus', and his old mentor, Edgar Varese.

I noticed that the applause on these tracks was louder than the music and I was wondering whether the audience was appreciating the music itself or the presence of that formidable 1960's icon, Frank Zappa. I'm sure it was a little bit of both, but Zappa and audience couldn't resist quoting from one of his best albums, `The Mothers Fillmore East - June 1971'.

I think this quote was entirely appropriate, in that we owe so much musical innovation to the popular musical performers who were nutured by 1960's, producing such wonders as Zappa and the great bands such as The Rolling Stones and The Who, who are still scoring our artistic perceptions on both commercials and dramatic themes on TV.

This may not be Zappa's greatest album, but it is one of his cleanest. Like `Hot Rats', there is very little `throw away' material. And, it is one of the very few pop or classical recordings by a major musical figure where you will hear the performance of a didgeridoo (Australian aborigonal flute).

Highly recommended for Zappa fans and fans of 1960s music in general.

Average customer rating: Excellent Buy it! A Brilliant Baroque Ensemble Whipping It Out Love it or hate it - choose only one Wondrous And Exotic Not for Zappa Fans

Ensemble Ambrosius: The Zappa Album Frank Zappa , and Ensemble Ambrosius Manufacturer: Northern Lights ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Classical | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Ensemble Modern Plays Frank Zappa: Greggery Peccary & Other Persuasions Oh No! Just Another Frank Zappa Memorial Barbecue! Take Your Clothes off When You Dance Frank Zappas Hot Licks & Funny Smells: Live at Moers Festival 2004 Trance-Fusion ASIN: B0000508S2 Release Date: 2000-10-17

Tracks:

1. Night School
2. Sofa
3. Black Page #2
4. Uncle Meat
5. Igor's Boogie
6. Zoot Allures
7. Big Swifty
8. T'Mershi Duween
9. Alien Orifice
10. Idiot Bastard Son
11. RDNZL
12. Orange County Lumber Truck
13. Echidna's Arf (Of You)
14. Inca Roads
15. G-Spot Tornado

Amazon.com

Since his death, Frank Zappa has enjoyed several translations of his extremely original and quirky material onto discs performed by jazz ensembles and major European orchestras with such eminent conductors as Pierre Boulez. Not too shabby. This disc by the Finnish Ensemble Ambrosius takes some of Zappa's more tuneful pieces and reworks them for Baroque instruments. This is actually a brilliant maneuver, since much of Zappa's writing translates well for such instruments as oboe, harpsichord, and mandolin (or lute). Highlights here include the catchy theme from Uncle Meat, the short but goofy "Igor's Boogie," and "Idiot Bastard Son," sung with the solemnity of a monk's chant. The performances are above average, but there is some blurring of textures and some lack of clarity in the recorded sound. Overall, though, it's a worthy effort that advances the cause of Zappa's music. --Paul Cook

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Buy it!.......2005-06-30

This is one of my favorite non FZ produced cds of FZ music. Heck it may even be my favorite. This is FZ music stripped of all artifice except melody / harmony (i'm aware of the over-simpflication, but roll with me here). FZ dinner music this is. I play it for people who "normally don't like FZ " and they like it. Gorgeous melodies. Performed and arranged lovingly. When you want to put the pedal to the metal: pull out the FZ produced canon. When you want to bliss out on his melodic sense and ability to craft the finest of tunes and variations on a theme: this is the place.

A Brilliant Baroque Ensemble Whipping It Out.......2005-02-17

Firstly I need to address the validity of this album as many have questioned its validity as a Zappa tribute - and be clear that I believe it's an amazing tribute.

Frank Zappa was the greatest composer of the 20th century in terms of the stunning spectrum of elements he was able to incorporate in his works without being consumed by them. He wasn't just a rock and roll guitarist a la Carolina Hard Core Ecstasy. He had fun doing that but he was so much more than that. As an improviser, Frank Zappa was unique but then again so is anyone who's good at it, and many of his guitar solos still thrill me today. That part of Frank Zappa will never be seen again but there is so much more to the man that can still be brought to life - in his own words "My main interest is composition - getting an idea and manifesting it in a way that people can listen to". He was a person who listened to Edgar Varese for entertainment as a teenager. "I didn't write rock and roll until I was in my twenties, but I started writing other kinds of music. I couldn't play it, I could only write it. I liked the way music looked on paper. It was fascinating to me that you could see the notes and somebody who knew what they were doing would look at them and music would come out. I thought it was a miracle". How many rock musicians does that apply to?

Throughout his musical career he produced music in many different styles and many different formats and those two points are distinct - for example he would have rock and roll type themes played in a symphonic format or neo classical type themes played in a jazz/rock big band format. The formats he chose were not always purely dictated by his own whim, he lived in the real world and worked with the resources available to him at any given time and projects some times collapsed as with his original aims with the combination of the early Mothers and 14 members of the BBC orchestra on 28th October 1968 in the Royal Festival Hall, London. The album that was originally intended never materialised.

When Zappa was approached by the Ensemble Modern he was initially sceptical about what could be achieved but he warmed to the idea and The Yellow Shark album is a testament to what was possible. I believe if he was still alive and was approached by Ensemble Ambrosius he wouldn't turn them away and Olli Vertaperko might have been saved one or two years of his life. None the less, Olli's work on transcribing Zappa's compositions is nothing short of incredible. Those close to Frank have commented about how long it took him to complete some of his pieces and his attention to detail and I think that Olli's arrangements have captured that element of Frank's work. Zappa may or may not have suggested a different choice of pieces had he collaborated with Ensemble Ambrosius but he surely would not have knocked back their choice of instruments. One of them plays the harpsichord - so naturally it appears a great deal in the arrangements.

As I've said elsewhere, we need brave new productions of Zappa's music. The Zappa Album by Ensemble Ambrosius is brave, new, unique and brilliant and just as there is no Carolina Hard Core Ecstasy on Yellow Shark there isn't one here either and so what? We should leave it to rock bands perhaps to attempt to capture that aspect of Zappa's work, note that there are no members of the BBC orchestra, or any other classical ensemble for that matter on the Bong Fury version of Carolina Hard Core Ecstasy. Let's not forget that a significant motivation for Zappa's rock music participation was to make a living, it wasn't his prime directive. In his own words when asked during the last year of his life if he missed the rock and roll life - "No". And his attitude to the guitar at that time - "Every once in a while, I feel like playing the guitar, but I stop and think what I'd have to go through in order to do it. The urge goes away". He was a composer to the end and was working on the completion of Civilisation Phase lll, which by the way, also has no Carolina Hard Core Ecstasy.

My favourite piece on The Zappa Album is RDNZL, and I mean the arrangement and performance on this album. All the other tracks are just as amazing in my opinion. It's made pretty clear that this album is performed on baroque instruments so don't be surprised if you buy it and find its performed on baroque instruments. Many baroque instruments aren't very loud and to amplify them would compromise their baroque character. Hence the production is often very subtle and might take some time to grow on you, it only took me two listens to figure it out. Play it really loud at least once. I can't see how anyone who appreciates the entire spectrum of Zappa could not at least respect this album. It is an honourable tribute to him and I'm sure he would have appreciated it. If I could have got my copy for 99 cents it would be one of the best deals I've ever had.

Love it or hate it - choose only one.......2004-08-10

I have been listening to Frank Zappa on LPs, CDs and at concerts since FREAK OUT! was released in 1966. I own a copy of most of his material including two obscure interview CDs.

Prior to buying ENSEMBLE AMBROSIUS, I noticed a wide diversity of opinion among the Amazon reviewers. In fact, based on these reviews, it appears that a person is either going to love or hate ENSEMBLE AMBROSIUS. There seems be no middle ground of appreciation for this work. Because of the negative reviews, I purchased it with a great deal of hesitation.

The question becomes, why do so many people hate it? and conversely, how can so many others love it? I've been reading and rereading the other reviews and thinking about their comments for several days and have come to one conclusion. Those who liked it, were expecting something unusual and their expectations were fulfilled. Those who hated ENSEMBLE AMBROSIUS, I believe were expecting to find Zappa's soul or imprint on this CD. Zappa is not on this CD. Ensemble Ambrosius didn't miss notes, didn't hit the wrong pitch, they didn't get "it" wrong. It is not a rotten tribute. It is their interpretation of Zappa and, most importantly, you may not like it.

In the end, you're either going to love ENSEMBLE AMBROSIUS or hate it. There will be no middle ground. The problem: Amazon, as with so many other CDs, does NOT offer (at the time of this writing) its potential customers an opportunity to listen to sound bites prior to purchase. The negative reviews nearly stopped me from buying this CD. I suspect that others who would like this CD will not buy it because of the reviews, but, in fact, would enjoy owning it if they had an opportunity to listening to bites of the CD on Amazon's web page.

Wondrous And Exotic.......2003-11-17

This is an excellent album.

When I first heard it, I had two criticisms. The fast lick near the end of "The Black Page #2" seemed sloppy to me. But it's just phrased differently.

And the vocalist on "Idiot Bastard Son" sounds a little strange on some low notes, but I've gotten used to it. The treatment of the tune is beautiful.

The great music on this album makes up for any minor weaknesses.

Highlights include : "RDNZL", "Inca Roads",
"Uncles Meat", "Alien Orifice", "Echidna's Arf",
"Night School", "G-Spot Tornado" and "Igor's Boogie".

The harpsichord doing the incredibly fast melody that Ruth Underwood used to play toward the end of "Inca Roads" is something to hear.

Not for Zappa Fans.......2003-06-25

Do not look for Carolina's Hardcore Esctacy on this CD (lalalalalaa la). I don't think its that FZ's music doesn't mix with baroque instruments, I think these musicians have gotten it all wrong. They try (and fail) to 'be creative' with the rhythmn, hit a few totally errant notes (which can sometimes be excused), and show a lame ability to rework Frank'z music and get it right. If there was a 99 cent bin in my town, it would be there. Since there's not, I think Mom will cotten to this "Frank Zappa lite" album - slow, simple and inoffensive - it that a rotten tribute or what?!

Average customer rating: "Nice Elevator Music"?! works quite well Bound to win over new appreciation for Zappa's genius!

Prophetic Attitude Manufacturer: L'empreinte Digitale ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music General | New Age | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Experimental Rock | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Comedy Rock | Comedic Music | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Classical | Imports | Stores | Music Rock | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Anxiety of Influence Ear Mind I Smart Went Crazy Prime Meridian Take Your Clothes off When You Dance ASIN: B000005WCB Release Date: 2005-12-27

Tracks:

1. Blessed Relief
2. Twenty Small Cigars
3. A Pound For A Brown
4. Uncle Meat
5. Strictly Genteel
6. Wind Quintet
7. Cletus Awreetus - Awrightus
8. King Kong
9. Duke Of Prunes
10. Peaches en Regalia
11. The Black Page
12. Number 6
13. Mr. Green Genes
14. The Idiot Bastard Son
15. Sofa
16. Outside Now Again

Customer Reviews:

"Nice Elevator Music"?!.......2001-04-24

I accidentally learned about this wonderful CD while browsing through Amazon.com.

Le Concert Impromptu & Rossini play Frank Zappa. From a classical perspective, they interpret a wide range of Zappa's work. They include 16 cuts and go back to ABSOLUTELY FREE where they present their interpretation of THE DUKE OF PRUNES. I've heard other classical presentations of THE DUKE OF PRUNES and am fond of their version. This is particularly interesting because Le Concert Impromptu employs NO percussion. They present THE DUKE OF PRUNES with a flute, oboe, clarinet, horn and bassoon, which seem contrary to the original message. However, the musicians do an excellent job. I found all the selections quite striking with a fine job of sound engineering.

As a side note, I was playing the CD on my office computer. A colleague entered my office and commented, "Nice elevator music." I had to laugh. As I reflected on my history of listening to Zappa, I could never imagine someone describing his work as elevator music.

I strongly recommend this CD to all Zappa fans.

works quite well.......2000-06-08

These are wonderful arrangements, and the music on this CD is quite accessible - even my 5 year old daughter likes it. While you have to be a pretty devoted fan of experimental music to get into many of the tracks on 'The Yellow Shark', this one is a great way to introduce Serious Music People to the Frank Zappa we know and love.

Reccomended for all Zappa fans and chamber music types.

Bound to win over new appreciation for Zappa's genius!.......2000-04-05

Stuck in a classical rut? This will get you moving in the right direction. Excellent arrangement and execution.

Old twist to newer sound. I like it, but prefer the original master himself.

Average customer rating: TRACK LIST

Underneath Manufacturer: ARS ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B000FIDMMA

Product Description

Sprawling Turn Away Alone Dig Iceman Underneath Monsterman Rape this Breathe Tangled 22 Hidden track

Customer Reviews:

TRACK LIST.......2006-11-02

Uncle Meat / Underneath Track Title 1. Sprawling 2. Turn Away 3. Alone 4. Dig 5. Iceman 6. Underneath 7. Monsterman 8. Rape This 9. Breathe 10. Tangled 11. 22 12. Hidden

Average customer rating:

Music by Frank Zappa Manufacturer: Opus 3 ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Ravel, Maurice | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General Contemporary | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Vocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music General | New Age | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music Experimental Rock | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music ASIN: B0000260O0 Release Date: 2002-01-01

Tracks:

1. Inca Roads
2. How Could I Be Such A Fool
3. Revised Music For A Low Budget Orch
4. Let's Make The Water Turn Black
5. The Black Page No.2
6. No.7
7. Igor's Boogie
8. Be-BopTango
9. Alien Orifice
10. Dog Breath Vars
11. Uncle Meat
12. Sinister Footwear, 2nd Movt
13. Brown Shoes Don't Make It
14. Peaches En Regalia
15. Bolero

Average customer rating:

Uncle Meat Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention Manufacturer: Rykodisc ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Experimental Rock | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Comedy Rock | Comedic Music | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Similar Items: Over-Nite Sensation ASIN: B00000E7MI Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

1. Uncle Meat: Main Title Theme
2. Voice of Cheese
3. Nine Types of Industrial Pollution
4. Zolar Czakl
5. Dog Breath, in the Year of the Plague
6. Legend of the Golden Arches
7. Louie Louie (At the Royal Albert Hall in London)
8. Dog Breath Variations
9. Sleeping in a Jar
10. Our Bizarre Relationship
11. Uncle Meat Variations
12. Electric Aunt Jemima
13. Prelude to King Kong
14. God Bless America [Live at the Whisky a Go Go]
15. Pound for a Brown on the Bus
16. Ian Underwood Whips It Out [Live on Stage in Copenhagen]
17. Mr. Green Genes
18. We Can Shoot You
19. If We'd All Been Living in California...
20. Air
21. Project X
22. Cruisin' for Burgers

Tracks:

1. Uncle Meat Film Excerpt, Pt. 1
2. Tengo Na Minchia Tanta
3. Uncle Meat Film Excerpt, Pt. 2
4. King Kong Itself [Played by the Mothers]
5. King Kong II [Interpreted by Tom Dewild]
6. King Kong III [Motorhead Explains It]
7. King Kong IV [Gardner Varieties]
8. King Kong V
9. King Kong VI [Live at Miami Pop Festival]

Average customer rating:

Delia's Ice Scream Greta Gaines , Elastica , Bif Naked , Bad Religion , Bell Book & Candle , Meat Puppets , Taproot , and Uncle Kracker ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B000OEKWA0

Average customer rating:

South of My Pants Manufacturer: Friday Ngiht Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B000IICHHI

Product Description

1. Meat Shirt 2. Aunt Flo and Uncle Freddy 3. If We Were President 4. Guess What? That's What (Bonus Track)

Average customer rating:

Uncle Meat Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention Manufacturer: Vido Arts ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Experimental Rock | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Comedy Rock | Comedic Music | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Rock | Imports | Stores | Music ASIN: B00005MIIZ Release Date: 2002-03-26

Tracks:

1. Uncle Meat: Main Title Theme
2. The Voice Of Cheese
3. Nine Types Of Industrial Pollution
4. Zolar Czakl
5. Dog Breath, In The Year Of The Plague
6. The Legend Of The Golden Arches
7. Louie Louie (At The Royal Albert Hall In London)
8. The Dog Breath Variations
9. Sleeping In A Jar
10. Our Bizarre Relationship
11. The Uncle Meat Variations
12. Electric Aunt Jemima
13. Prelude To King Kong
14. God Bless America (Live At The Whisky A Go Go)
15. A Pound For A Brown On The Bus
16. Ian Underwood Whips It Out (Live On Stage In Copenhagen)
17. Mr. Green Genes
18. We Can Shoot You
19. 'If We'd All Been Living In California...'
20. The Air
21. Project X
22. Cruising For Burgers

Tracks:

1. Uncle Meat Film Excerpt Part I
2. Tengo Na Minchia Tanta
3. Uncle Meat Film Excerpt Part II
4. King Kong Itself
5. King Kong II
6. King Kong III
7. King Kong IV
8. King Kong V
9. King Kong VI

Album Description

Japanese limited edition reissue of 1969 album, packaged in a miniature gatefold LP sleeve.

Album Details

Japanese Version featuring a Limited LP Style Slipcase Cover. Strictly Limited to 2000 Copies!

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7. 2
8. 2005 Warped Tour Compilation [Live]
9. 5 (REISSUED WITH 2 BONUS TRACKS) [Extra tracks]
10. About Time

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