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The Mothers Of Invention

Mothers Of Invention, The

59 articles

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Mothers of Invention: Freak Out! (Verve)

Review by uncredited writer, Disc and Music Echo, 19 November 1966

FREAK OUT! by the fearsome-looking MOTHERS OF INVENTION hasn't been released over here yet, and if it is a lot of people are going to ...

The Mothers of Invention: Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, Santa Monica CA

Live Review by Todd Everett, Creem, October 1970

New Mothers ...

Mothers of Invention, B.B. King, Booker T. & the MGs: Fillmore Auditorium, San Francisco CA

Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 7 June 1968

America's Musical Soul Shines Through ...

Frank Zappa: Frank's Wild Years

Retrospective and Interview by Neil Slaven, Record Hunter, July 1992

AFTER 25 YEARS of unique musical anarchy and as many confrontational albums, Frank Zappa is facing his greatest adversary – prostate cancer. Undulled, he relates ...

The Mothers of Invention: Uncle Meat (Bizarre)

Review by Richard C. Walls, Creem, June 1969

(Most of the music is from the Mothers' movie of the same name which they haven't got enough money to finish yet.) ...

The Mothers Of Invention: Weasels Ripped My Flesh (Bizarre)

Review by Richard C. Walls, Creem, October 1970

IT SHOULD BE widely known by now that Frank Zappa is more than just a master of bizarre but also a brilliant composer and arranger ...

The Mothers of Invention: Town Hall, New York NY

Live Review by Robert Shelton, The New York Times, 23 December 1967

TOWN HALL ROCKS TO A ZANY GROUP Mothers of Invention Also Offer Serious Music ...

Billy James on Columbia, Elektra and the L.A. music industry

Interview by Richie Unterberger, unpublished, 1986

Author’s note: This was based around one of the first significant historical interviews I did. The essay wasn't published anywhere, just typed out for a ...

Albums by the Mothers of Invention, Rolling Stones et al

Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 1966

POPULAR RECORDS: PASS ASPIRIN, PLEASE ...

The Mothers of Invention: The Balloon Farm, New York NY

Live Review by Richard Goldstein, The Village Voice, 1 December 1966

THE BALLOON Farm became much more than a discotheque last weekend, and the resident combo became much more than a pop-music ensemble. ...

Frank Zappa: "Son of Suzy Creamcheese"

Profile and Interview by Robert Shelton, The New York Times, 25 December 1966

  THE MOST original new group to simmer out of the steaming rock 'n' roll underground in the last hour and one-half is an audacious crew ...

The Mothers of Invention: Royal Albert Hall, London

Live Review by Hugh Nolan, Disc and Music Echo, 30 September 1967

MOTHERS of INVENTION: best rock sound since Beatles! ...

Jimmy Carl Black, 1938-2008

Obituary by Alan Clayson, The Guardian, 4 November 2008

Drummer and sometimes lead vocalist who worked with Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart ...

The Mothers of Invention, Weather Report, Copperhead: Winterland, San Francisco CA

Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 16 December 1972

Unique Blend Of Styles at Winterland Show ...

The Velvet Underground, Nico, the Mothers of Invention: The Exploding Plastic Inevitable, Fillmore Auditorium, San Francisco CA

Live Review by Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner, 30 May 1966

Gimmicky 'Explosion' ...

LP Reviews: Sam & Dave, James Brown, Chet Atkins, and the Mothers of Invention

Review by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, April 1967

  Sam And Dave: Double Dynamite (Stax 589003) ...

Killer Riffs: A Guide to Parody in Popular Music

Essay by Simon Reynolds, Pitchfork, 19 October 2016

From the Residents' freakish Beatles sendups, to Spinal Tap's meta-metal escapades, to the gastronomic goofs of "Weird Al", a chronicle of those who have turned ...

The Mothers of Invention: Absolutely Free (Verve V6-5013)

Review by Greg Shaw, Mojo Navigator, August 1967

THIS ALBUM is a "first" in the rock genre, being basically an opera more than anything else. The record is divided into 13 tracks, each ...

The Mothers of Invention: Weasels Ripped My Flesh (Reprise/Bizarre 2028)

Review by Nick Tosches, Fusion, 2 October 1970

THIS ALBUM should be had for the cover art alone. Cal Schenkel's art direction has gone itself one better this time with Neon Park's acrylic ...

Aesthetics of Outrage

Overview by Geoffrey Cannon, The Guardian, 26 November 1971

Update, 2020. "Perverted, outrageous, violent, repulsive, ugly, tasteless. A travesty. That's what's good about them". This was a quote about the Rolling Stones, recorded around ...

Frank Zappa & the Mothers of Invention: Royal Albert Hall, London

Live Review by Geoffrey Cannon, The Guardian, 12 June 1969

Update, 2019. FRANK ZAPPA was always friendly when he and I met, between 1968 and 1970. This may have been because I took him seriously, ...

The Mothers of Invention, Alice Cooper, Wild Man Fischer: Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles CA

Live Review by John Mendelssohn, UCLA Daily Bruin, 15 January 1969

Frank Zappa and other frightening occurrences ...

Frank Zappa & the Mothers of Invention: Civic Auditorium, Santa Monica CA

Live Review by John Mendelssohn, Los Angeles Times, 24 August 1970

WITH HIS latest assortment of the Mothers of Invention, which was on display Friday evening at the Santa Monica Civic, Frank Zappa, America's most beloved ...

The Mothers of Invention: Burnt Weeny Sandwich (Reprise)

Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 21 March 1970

IT WAS ONE of the great tragedies of modern music when the Mothers broke up last year, but they leave behind memories of success and ...

The Mothers of Invention: Cruising with Ruben and the Jets (Verve V6 5055S)

Review by Miles, International Times, 13 December 1968

The 1955 Zappa ...

The Mothers of Invention: Weasels Ripped My Flesh

Review by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 12 September 1970

IF YOU'RE A Frank Zappa fan eagerly awaiting the album with the new line-up, don't be fooled into thinking that Weasels Ripped My Flesh is ...

Freak Out!

Report and Interview by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 22 October 1966

The latest West Coast way of life — rebels with a cause, & their music ...

The Mothers of Invention: Royal Festival Hall, London

Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 2 November 1968

WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THE MOTHERS COULD BE BORING? ...

Frank Zappa: Meet the Boss Mother, Sussing Out Britain...

Interview by Nick Jones, Melody Maker, 26 August 1967

IF AFFLUENCE and power is the Great American Dream, Frank Zappa is the Great American Nightmare. ...

The Mothers of Invention: Uncle Meat (Transatlantic)

Review by uncredited writer, Melody Maker, 14 June 1969

A DOUBLE volume set of madness, absurdity, serious music, rock and roll, electronics and sprecht stimme by Frank Zappa. Suzie Creamcheese and the Mothers presents ...

The Mothers Of Invention: Weasels Ripped My Flesh (Reprise MS 2028)

Review by Miles, Strange Days, 23 October 1970

"IT'S WEIRD, I like it" said Denise after hearing Weasels Ripped My Flesh. It is very important that you too should know about this latest ...

Platter Chatter: New Albums From The Beatles, Mothers Of Invention etc.

Review by uncredited writer, Hit Parader, October 1967

ABSOLUTELY FREE by the Mothers (Of Invention) must be heard to be believed and appreciated. The music is incredibly dynamic, the lyrics irresistibly memorable. ...

The Mothers of Invention: Royal Festival Hall, London

Live Review by Hugh Nolan, Disc and Music Echo, 2 November 1968

Mothers Superior ...

Mothers Of Invention: Fillmore East — June 1971 (Kinney)

Review by Mick Farren, International Times, 26 August 1971

FOR THE most part this could be a live recording of the concert I saw at the Colosseum in January of this year. The band ...

Kim Fowley: Portrait of a Freak

Interview by uncredited writer, International Times, 31 October 1966

KIM FOWLEY is a hustler. He telephoned International Times and bombarded me with ideas. His main idea was that I should interview him and give ...

Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention: Royal Albert Hall, London

Live Review by Nick Jones, Melody Maker, 30 September 1967

MOTHERS — ALMOST A FREAK OUT, NOT A LOVE IN, DEFINITELY A SEND-UP! ...

Mother's Union

Report and Interview by Michael Watts, Richard Williams, Melody Maker, 5 December 1970

TELL ME, Mr. Zappa, what do you think of the critical reaction to your work over the past five years?  ...

Newport Jazz Festival 1969: New Records & Not All That Jazz

Live Review by Ian Dove, Billboard, 19 July 1969

NEWPORT, R.I. — On paper at least the experiment of adding rock music to the Newport Jazz Festival 1969 came from the purest of motives. ...

Zappa, Vegetables And Uncle Meat...

Report and Interview by Hugh Nolan, Disc and Music Echo, 5 October 1968

THE FOLLOWING scene is not recommended for the squeamish, children below the age of three months, soldiers, policemen, politicians or vegetable-lovers (but may be seen ...

My Favorite Records: Frank Zappa, Boss Mother

Interview by Jim Delehant, Hit Parader, August 1967

IF YOU WANT to learn how to play guitar, listen to Wes Montgomery. You also should go out and see if you can get a ...

Frank Zappa: A Frank Talk With Zappa On Being A "Rebel Chief"!

Interview by Caroline Boucher, Disc and Music Echo, 29 August 1970

AFTER A recent concert in Texas, Frank Zappa was accosted by a very smart elderly man, and three society women. "We want you to know ...

You're Probably Wondering Why I'm Here: Frank Zappa

Profile and Interview by David G. Walley, Rock, 8 June 1970

"Always wondered whether I could make it in society because it's a drag when you're rejected..." ( Frank Zappa c. 1965) ...

Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention: Fillmore East, New York NY

Live Review by Mike Jahn, The New York Times, 7 June 1971

Zappa's Musicians Rock Through Epic Of Stylized Traveler ...

Mother's Rites: Freak Out/Absolutely Free

Review by Geoffrey Cannon, The Listener, 19 October 1967

2012 NOTE: Here below is the second column I wrote for The Listener in late 1967. It was the first of a number I ...

Frank Zappa RIP

Obituary by David Stubbs, Melody Maker, 18 December 1993

FRANK ZAPPA, who died last week at the age of 52, has long been regarded as one of the most important figures in rock, a ...

Frank Zappa & the Mothers of Invention: The Truth Is, They're Not As Ugly As Their Pictures

Report and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 7 June 1969

Watching With Mothers: Chris Welch survives a week with Frank Zappa ...

Mothers Of Invention: 
Freak Out!
 (Verve)

Review by Nick Jones, Melody Maker, 4 March 1967

Freak Out with the Mothers ...

Miles' Trip: New York

Report by Miles, International Times, 30 June 1967

"Two persons were shot dead and several others injured in a gun battle between shoplifters and store detectives in a Bronx supermarket today." ...

Frank Zappa: Head Mother Speaks

Interview by Loraine Alterman, Fifth Estate, 1 December 1967

HIS NAME has a certain zing to it. Zappa – a name you don't easily forget. Like the man, Frank Zappa, leader and creator of ...

The Mothers of Invention: If You Get A Headache…

Report and Interview by Loraine Alterman, Detroit Free Press, 15 July 1966

MOTHERS AND fathers, you thought the Beatles were bad. You got up in arms about the Rolling Stones. Sonny and Cher made you cringe. Well, ...

Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention: The Coliseum, London

Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 5 December 1970

PROBABLY only Frank Zappa and his musicians could properly review their concerts at London's Coliseum on Sunday. So much happened in each two-hour segment, one ...

Frank Zappa: The Freak-Out List (Chrome Dreams)

Film/DVD/TV Review by Gene Sculatti, Ugly Things, 2010

YOU GOTTA HAND it to the folks at Chrome Dreams. Recognizing a good thing, they've come up with yet another "unauthorized" Zappa title (their fifth, ...

Frank Zappa: A Real Mother

Obituary by Andy Gill, Q, February 1994

Francis Vincent Zappa II, 1940-1993 ...

Mothers of Invention Don Preston and Bunk Gardner

Interview by Phil McMullen, Ptolemaic Terrascope, Winter 1992

DON PRESTON: a man whose career with Frank Zappa spanned the period 1966 to 1974 all told, with time off for good behaviour in between, ...

Frank Zappa: Reviled, Revered Mother Superior

Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 5 October 1968

FEAR OF THE abnormal isn't a trait confined to Americans, but they do seem to express their fears more vociferously than most. ...

Kim Fowley: I'm The Most Phenomenal Man In Records!

Interview by Richard Williams, Melody Maker, 25 November 1972

KIM FOWLEY'S looking for love. "Well," he says, snuffling into a wad of Kleenex, "I'm real entertaining and I have some nice human qualities...and I'm ...

The Rock & Roll Disc Interview: Frank Zappa

Interview by Tom Graves, Rock & Roll Disc, December 1987

FRANK ZAPPA is nothing if not an American original. As American youth swarmed to record stores in search of Monkees and Archies records (it ...

Frank Zappa Interview

Interview by Miles, International Times, 29 August 1969

FRANK: There are some things I'd like to clarify about my editing technique. The editing technique is an extension of the composition because, as I ...

Ugly, vulgar, insulting — Zappa scores!

Review by Simon Frith, Let It Rock, November 1973

The Mothers: Overnite Sensation (Discreet)Faust: Faust IV (Virgin) ...

see also Frank Zappa

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