Electric Aunt Jemima/Prelude to King Kong

The Mothers of Invention: Frank Zappa (low vocals, electric guitar, percussion), Ray Collins (high-pitched vocals), Ian Underwood (alto and baritone saxes, flute, clarinet, piano, electronic organ, harpsichord, celeste), Bunk Gardner (alto, tenor and soprano saxes, flute, piccolo, clarinet and bass clarinet, bassoon), Don Preston (electric piano), Roy Estrada (electric bass), Jimmy Carl Black (drums) and Art Tripp (drums, timpani, vibraphone, xylophone, marimba, wood blocks, bells, small chimes). From the album Uncle Meat (1969).

In 1964, after working in a studio recording doo-wop singles and composing music for B movies, Zappa returned to Los Angeles and in 1965 joined the rhythm and blues band Soul Giants with singer Ray Collins, bassist Roy Strada and drummer Jimmy Carl Black. Soon he convinced them to play their own compositions instead of covers of other musicians’ songs and to change their name to the Mothers. Then, they partnered with manager Herb Cohen and began getting nightclubs performances and introducing themselves to the city’s undergroung scene.

At a concert at the Whisky a Go Go they were discovered by record producer Tom Wilson, who in 1966 arranged for them a contract with Verve Records to record five albums in two years on the condition that they changed their name to Mothers of Invention. The first was a double album entitled Freak Out!, and after including Elliot Inberg as a second guitarist, they recorded it along with an orchestral ensemble. It’s a conceptual album, that is, its tracks acquire greater meaning collectively than individually.

The music is composed of blues, rhythm and blues, doo-woop, rock, concrete music, avant-garde made from sound collages and orchestral arrangements. The lyrics show a satirical view of pop culture, are non-conformist and anti-authoritarian, and have a certain dadaist style, although there is also some romantic songs, with most of Zappa’s compositions. The album made him a new radical voice in rock against American consumism. Despite not being well received in the United States, the album was successful in Europe and in 1999 received the Grammy Hall of Fame Award.