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29th January 2024 - Lumpy Gravy
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One of the issues of aNONradio is that I have something to listen to
most of the time. Throw in podcasts and I find myself sitting down
with an album rather rare. Today, I decided to sit down with an album
and felt in a Frank Zappa mood so ended up with Lumpy Gravy.
Released in 1968 and worked on at the same time as 'We're Only In It
For The Money' which was recorded with the Mothers of Invention, Lumpy
Gravy is a truely weird album. If you consider Frank Zappa's work so
far as being mixes of blues, rock, do wop and just about any other
contemporary style of music then Lumpy Gravy is the out pouring of
Frank's mind. It certainly feels that way. The album consists of 2
parts which last around 15 minutes each. Originally, Lumpy Gravy was
meant to be an orchestral work released by Capitol Records. However,
MGM felt this violated Zappa's contract with Verve Records and so that
album was recalled. As became a typical Zappa move, Frank ended up
releasing another album with the same name which is almost an
anti-commercial 'middle finger raised' affair. Well, there is no
almost about it. Zappa made an album which is a series of musique
concrete pieces from fragments of the original orchestral music,
non-sensical jabberings from various people and then moments of surf
music. Clearly not aimed at commercial success, clearly aimed to annoy
lots of people.
Yet, there is a strange manner in which it all comes together. At
times, you ride the weirdness and have a lovely time. Then moments
come and you are lost, confused and angered at the lack of musical
sense. However, these moments are short and often rewarded with a
period of musical coherence. It makes for a fun journey although not
one you wish to make regularly. Will it make you a fan of Zappa? Hell
no! I certainly do not recommend starting here in your journey with
Zappa's music. Start somewhere else like 'Freak Out!', 'Absolutely
Free' or 'Apostrophe (')'. I would love to recommend starting with
'Hot Rats' as a favourite album but you have to be comfortable with
the orchestral side of Zappa to really embrace that album I think.
This is an album which I keep returning to. It is a fun ride and some
of the snippets are stuck deep in the head. I often find myself with
some tune bouncing in the head and it can often be tracked to Lumpy
Gravy. There are even 2 versions of which I recommend finding and
listening to if you find you enjoy this sort of thing. The album was
remixed in 1984 a couple of times. A quick look and there are even
more remixes if you hunt. Poor Zappa completionists! Anyhow, if you
like anything experimental, odd or just plain weird then give it a go.
Maybe give it another go. Sometimes you need to work out how to tune
your ears to what sounds like noise, a la Captain Beefheart and the
Magic Band's 'Trout Mask Replica'. It can be worth the effort. I
certainly found it so.