Burnt Weenie Sandwich
This album contains a mix of studio recordings and live material blended together masterfully. Like 'Weasels Ripped My Flesh' it was released after the breakup of the original Mothers of Invention.
The first cut, WPLJ, is a doo-wop number originally written and performed by the Four Deuces. The Mothers show their considerable skill with this musical form while they sing the praises of drinking White Port and Lemon Juice. Roy Estrada flavors the song with some off-color Spanish commentary.
The instrumental Igor's Boogie appears in two different forms; Phase 1 and Phase 2. Both are short tributes to Igor Stravinsky, one of Zappa's great influences and bear some passing similarity to 'Histoire du Soldat' by that composer. The phases contain strong saxaphone playing by Bunk Gardner and honks by what might be a bicycle horn.
Both the 'Overture to A Holiday in Berlin' and 'Holiday in Berlin, Full Blown' are strange, beautiful melodies with a feeling of something out of 'Caberet'. There are also lyrics to 'Holiday in Berlin' on other recordings that describe a riot staged by Berlin revolutionaries and their attempt to coerce Zappa to help them. There even seems to be a theme in these songs that later appears, only slightly modified, in the Star Wars soundtrack, written by John Williams many years later! The Full Blown version contains one of the most accessible of Zappa's guitar solos, very melodic and to the point. There is an almost worshipful atmosphere created by the Mothers as they back Zappa in this live recording that was spliced onto the preceding studio material.
The 'Theme from Burnt Weeny Sandwich' is a long guitar jam with various percussion effects and organ backing. It is beautiful and danceable.
'Aybe Sea' which used to close side one and open side two of the original vinyl release is a very fine, haunting solo which segues nicely into 'The Little House I Used To Live In', one of Zappa's finest tunes. The full power of the Mothers is evident in this mixture of live and studio material. The music can scarcely be contained, it is so joyous and flamboyant! Highlights are the violin playing of SugarCane Harris, Zappa's manic guitar work, Don Preston's piano solo and Zappa's concluding frenetic organ solo. This nearly-nineteen minute piece is the highlight of the album.
Before the concluding doo-wop number 'Valerie' with Roy Estrada singing a very fine falsetto, there is a short live recording of Zappa 'interacting' with an audience member which should be heard to be appreciated. Zappa makes one of his straightforward statements that shoots an arrow of truth for those who will see it.
All in all this is a wonderful album, very well recorded and well played and is one of the finest albums that Zappa produced in his long career.
The first cut, WPLJ, is a doo-wop number originally written and performed by the Four Deuces. The Mothers show their considerable skill with this musical form while they sing the praises of drinking White Port and Lemon Juice. Roy Estrada flavors the song with some off-color Spanish commentary.
The instrumental Igor's Boogie appears in two different forms; Phase 1 and Phase 2. Both are short tributes to Igor Stravinsky, one of Zappa's great influences and bear some passing similarity to 'Histoire du Soldat' by that composer. The phases contain strong saxaphone playing by Bunk Gardner and honks by what might be a bicycle horn.
Both the 'Overture to A Holiday in Berlin' and 'Holiday in Berlin, Full Blown' are strange, beautiful melodies with a feeling of something out of 'Caberet'. There are also lyrics to 'Holiday in Berlin' on other recordings that describe a riot staged by Berlin revolutionaries and their attempt to coerce Zappa to help them. There even seems to be a theme in these songs that later appears, only slightly modified, in the Star Wars soundtrack, written by John Williams many years later! The Full Blown version contains one of the most accessible of Zappa's guitar solos, very melodic and to the point. There is an almost worshipful atmosphere created by the Mothers as they back Zappa in this live recording that was spliced onto the preceding studio material.
The 'Theme from Burnt Weeny Sandwich' is a long guitar jam with various percussion effects and organ backing. It is beautiful and danceable.
'Aybe Sea' which used to close side one and open side two of the original vinyl release is a very fine, haunting solo which segues nicely into 'The Little House I Used To Live In', one of Zappa's finest tunes. The full power of the Mothers is evident in this mixture of live and studio material. The music can scarcely be contained, it is so joyous and flamboyant! Highlights are the violin playing of SugarCane Harris, Zappa's manic guitar work, Don Preston's piano solo and Zappa's concluding frenetic organ solo. This nearly-nineteen minute piece is the highlight of the album.
Before the concluding doo-wop number 'Valerie' with Roy Estrada singing a very fine falsetto, there is a short live recording of Zappa 'interacting' with an audience member which should be heard to be appreciated. Zappa makes one of his straightforward statements that shoots an arrow of truth for those who will see it.
All in all this is a wonderful album, very well recorded and well played and is one of the finest albums that Zappa produced in his long career.
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