Zappa is Misunderstood
By Russ Barkheimer
To the unaquainted, the music of Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention is unexplainable and one either loves it or hates it. Zappa's first album out in 1965', "Freak Out", one of the first double rock albums, which was followed by many recordings on up to the present.
Zappa didn't receive any recognition until early in 1974 when "Apostrophe" was released containing his first single "Don't Eat The Yellow Snow". Many people assumed that this was his first recording and that Zappa was new on the music scene, when in reality was his tenth anniversary in the recording industry. A lot of people do not really understand Zappa's lyrics and some of his musical style is alien to many. The lyrics of most of his songs are just his tongue-in-cheek outlook on the world around him and the group pokes fun at anything and everything. One should not take him too seriously, because I do not believe he wants to taken seriously, in his lyrics at any rate.
"Bongo Fury" is Zappa's latest offering and most of it was recorded live in concert at Austin, Texas on May 20 and 21, 1975. The quality of this live recording is excellent and like all of Zappa's live recordings, of which there are several, it contains new material.
One number that is quite appropriate for our times is "Poofter's Froth Wyoming Plans Ahead". Frank points out before starting the number, "This song is about the rapidly approaching bicentennial and how everyone is trying to sell us things that we shouldn't ought to buy. And they have been planning it for years." The number immediately following is called "200 years old" which pokes fun at out way of life rather effectively.
This album is a fine example of Zappa's compositions, lyrically as well as musically and also shows Frank and the band in their element: the stage.
This album was produced by Zappa and is on Discreet Records which is his own record label.