Uncle Meat
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Uncle Meat, released in 1969, is the soundtrack to Frank Zappa's long-delayed film of the same name.
Uncle Meat marked an evolution in Zappa's career, moving further into jazz and classical music—as Zappa saw them. It also contains elements of doo-wop, blues, rock and roll, and sound-bites from the movie. The expected Zappa weirdness is still present on the album; Suzy Creamcheese from Freak Out! is back, as are the biting, satirical lyrics. However, the album focuses more on instrumental music, as can best be seen in the epic, 18 minute long, jazz-rock fusion of "King Kong".
The CD version was released in 1987, and contained a new song, "Tengo Na Minchia Tanta", sung in Italian by Massimo Bassoli, and nearly 40 minutes' worth of sound-bites from the movie. However, many fans have resented these additions, since "Tengo Na Minchia Tanta" was recorded in an entirely different time period, and the movie soundbites are considered by some to be superfluous to the listening tracks. Additionally, their additions force the reissue to use two discs, when the album in its original form could fit on just one disc. Many fans refer to these so-called bonuses as "penalty tracks."
Track listing
All tracks by Frank Zappa, except where noted.Vinyl release
Side 1
- "Uncle Meat: Main Title Theme" – 1:56
- "The Voice of Cheese" – 0:26
- "Nine Types of Industrial Pollution" – 6:00
- "Zolar Czakl" – 0:54
- "Dog Breath, in the Year of the Plague" – 3:59
- "The Legend of the Golden Arches" – 3:28
- "Louie Louie (At the Royal Albert Hall in London)" (Richard Berry) – 2:19
- "The Dog Breath Variations" – 1:48
Side 2
- "Sleeping in a Jar" – 0:50
- "Our Bizarre Relationship" – 1:05
- "The Uncle Meat Variations" – 4:46
- "Electric Aunt Jemima" – 1:46
- "Prelude to King Kong" – 3:38
- "God Bless America" (Irving Berlin) – 1:10
- "A Pound for a Brown on the Bus" – 1:29
- "Ian Underwood Whips It Out" – 5:05
Side 3
- "Mr. Green Genes" – 3:14
- "We Can Shoot You" – 2:03
- "If We'd All Been Living in California..." – 1:14
- "The Air" – 2:57
- "Project X" – 4:48
- "Cruisin' for Burgers" – 2:18
Side 4
- "King Kong Itself [Played by the Mothers]" – 0:49
- "King Kong II [Interpreted by Dom DeWild]" – 1:21
- "King Kong III [Motorhead Explains It]" – 1:44
- "King Kong IV [Gardner Varieties]" – 6:17
- "King Kong V" – 0:34
- "King Kong VI" [Live at Miami Pop Festival] – 7:24
CD release
Disc 1
- "Uncle Meat: Main Title Theme" – 1:56
- "The Voice of Cheese" – 0:26
- "Nine Types of Industrial Pollution" – 6:00
- "Zolar Czakl" – 0:54
- "Dog Breath, in the Year of the Plague" – 3:59
- "The Legend of the Golden Arches" – 3:28
- "Louie Louie (At the Royal Albert Hall in London)" (Richard Berry) – 2:19
- "The Dog Breath Variations" – 1:48
- "Sleeping in a Jar" – 0:50
- "Our Bizarre Relationship" – 1:05
- "The Uncle Meat Variations" – 4:46
- "Electric Aunt Jemima" – 1:46
- "Prelude to King Kong" – 3:38
- "God Bless America" (Irving Berlin) – 1:10
- "A Pound for a Brown on the Bus" – 1:29
- "Ian Underwood Whips It Out" – 5:05
- "Mr. Green Genes" – 3:14
- "We Can Shoot You" – 2:03
- "If We'd All Been Living in California..." – 1:14
- "The Air" – 2:57
- "Project X" – 4:48
- "Cruisin' for Burgers" – 2:18
Disc 2
- "Uncle Meat Film Excerpt, Pt. 1" – 37:34
- "Tengo Na Minchia Tanta" – 3:46
- "Uncle Meat Film Excerpt, Pt. 2" – 3:50
- "King Kong Itself [Played by the Mothers]" – 0:49
- "King Kong II [Interpreted by Dom DeWild]" – 1:21
- "King Kong III [Motorhead Explains It]" – 1:44
- "King Kong IV [Gardner Varieties]" – 6:17
- "King Kong V" – 0:34
- "King Kong VI" [Live at Miami Pop Festival] – 7:24
Personnel
Musicians
- Frank Zappa – guitar, percussion, vocals
- Jimmy Carl Black – percussion, drums, poverty
- Ray Collins – vocals
- Aynsley Dunbar – drums
- Roy Estrada – bass guitar, vocals
- Bunk Gardner – clarinet, flute, bass clarinet, piccolo, alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone
- Ruth Komanoff – marimba, vibes
- Billy Mundi – drums
- Don Preston – electric piano
- Euclid James Sherwood – tenor saxophone, tambourine, voices, choreography
- Art Tripp – percussion, chimes, drums, marimba, xylophone, bells, tympani, vibraphone, wood block
- Ian Underwood – clarinet, flute, piano, celeste, harpsichord, alto saxophone, baritone saxophone, wind, electronic organ
- Nelcy Walker – soprano vocals
- Pamela Zarubica as Suzy Creamcheese
Production
- Frank Zappa – producer
- Jesper Hansen – engineer
- Euclid James Sherwood – equipment technician
- Art Tripp – advisor
- Cal Schenkel – package design
- Euclid James Sherwood – choreographer
- Roy Estrada – prop design
- Ian Underwood – copyist, public relations, special assistance
Charts
Album - Billboard (North America)| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Pop Albums | 43 |
Cover Versions
"King Kong" has been covered by Babe Ruth on their album First Base. It was also covered by The Residents in 1971; their version is available on The Residents Radio Special cassette and CD release.
External links
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