I don't think that Trout Mask, which I adore, is loose. I think it was very tightly arranged to sound that way. But it's my 2nd favorite. My favorite is Lick My Decals Off. I saw that lineup in 1971 at the tiny Ungano's club in Manhattan. Staggering. I'm a sucker for marimba!
I don't agree that he never made a bad album, though. The Mercury Records period (Unconditionally Guaranteed & Bluejeans & Moonbeams) is pretty dire. The label apparently pressured him to become more commercial. I also saw him live during the Mercury period, in Brussels at the ICA. Henry Cow (who I had actually gone to see) opened and blew him off the stage.
That's an excellent strategy, trying again anon.....I was 18 the year it came out, and already steeped in Charles Ives and Harry Partch, Carl Ruggles and even Conlon Nancarrow....the ideal age to encounter it, which I did more less at the same time as encountering Hot Rats, which to this day I consider one of the most perfectly produced rock albums ever made....and especially Willie the Pimp, the most perfectly supernal love song in history....
I met Morris Tepper after a show he played with his band at the silver lake lounge, I think it was late 90’s. Such a nice guy. Loved talking to him about Dons paintings. Also bought my first vinyl records from Licorice Pizza in Torrance!
A visionary genius all the way. I do like his collaborations with Zappa a lot, Hot Rats, Bongo Fury, with Frank even pretending to "produce" the earlier Trout Mask....sometimes setting up recording equipment with Don's musicians in different rooms of that cult-like house they shared back then. The resonances with Hair Pie and Ornette are striking....except that Ornette really could play sax of course. In Don't case, the sax payed him. He is a special specimen for sure.
I don't think that Trout Mask, which I adore, is loose. I think it was very tightly arranged to sound that way. But it's my 2nd favorite. My favorite is Lick My Decals Off. I saw that lineup in 1971 at the tiny Ungano's club in Manhattan. Staggering. I'm a sucker for marimba!
I don't agree that he never made a bad album, though. The Mercury Records period (Unconditionally Guaranteed & Bluejeans & Moonbeams) is pretty dire. The label apparently pressured him to become more commercial. I also saw him live during the Mercury period, in Brussels at the ICA. Henry Cow (who I had actually gone to see) opened and blew him off the stage.
That's an excellent strategy, trying again anon.....I was 18 the year it came out, and already steeped in Charles Ives and Harry Partch, Carl Ruggles and even Conlon Nancarrow....the ideal age to encounter it, which I did more less at the same time as encountering Hot Rats, which to this day I consider one of the most perfectly produced rock albums ever made....and especially Willie the Pimp, the most perfectly supernal love song in history....
I met Morris Tepper after a show he played with his band at the silver lake lounge, I think it was late 90’s. Such a nice guy. Loved talking to him about Dons paintings. Also bought my first vinyl records from Licorice Pizza in Torrance!
A visionary genius all the way. I do like his collaborations with Zappa a lot, Hot Rats, Bongo Fury, with Frank even pretending to "produce" the earlier Trout Mask....sometimes setting up recording equipment with Don's musicians in different rooms of that cult-like house they shared back then. The resonances with Hair Pie and Ornette are striking....except that Ornette really could play sax of course. In Don't case, the sax payed him. He is a special specimen for sure.
Big Eye Beans From Venus! Happy Birthday !!!!!
I want to hear a LOT more about you father's appreciation of Trout Mask Replica & folks' feelings about Lick My Decals Off, Baby?