FRANK ZAPPA Hot Rats SCARCE ORIG 1st PRESS UK 1969 EX LP, GREAT COVER & SOUND.

	£		55
	$		72

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Artist or Band: FRANK ZAPPA

Album Title: Hot Rats

Producer(s): Frank Zappa

TRACK LIST:

Side 1: Peaches en Regalia; Willie the Pimp; Son of Mr Green Genes.

Side 2: Little Umbrellas; The Gumbo Variations; It Must Be a Camel.

Label/Format: Reprise – original 3-colour riverboat format with matt, quite smooth surfaces.

Label Conditions: Both very clean, fresh and attractive with any spindle marks few, small and light. The record plays superbly with high quality sound and was a pleasure to play-grade – one that closely matches my own prized copy.

Catalogue Number: RSLP 6356

Mode / Speed: Stereo / 33.3 rpm.

Weight of Record: 134 grams.

Country of Manufacture: England

Rarity: The actual album itself, moderate, this was Zappa’s most commercially successful album in the UK, although strangely it failed to sell well in the United States. Available relatively briefly on the first label design before being repressed on the new tan format, initially with the same catalogue number. Then subsequently on new Kinney Reprise with the usual K- number prefix. Finding first pressings appearing little played with great sound and fine cover are way harder to find.

Original Year of Release: 1969

Matrix Nos: RSLP 6356 A1 / RSLP 6356 B1 [both machine punched and clear, this pressed to a high standard by CBS]

Musicians: Frank Zappa – Guitar, octave bass, percussion; Ian Underwood – piano, organus maximus, flute, all clarinets, all saxophones; Captain Beefheart – vocal on ‘Willie the Pimp’; Sugar Cane Harris – violin; Jean luc Ponty – violin; John Guerin – drums; Ron Selico – drums; Max Bennett – bass; Shuggy Otis – bass.

Brief Artist & Album Info: The album that proved to the world that Frank Zappa was one of the greatest guitarists of his generation – if not THE best ever (even acknowledged by fellow guitar players). A point proven over many years of quality albums, not just a small few. At the end of 1968, Zappa’s contract with MGM expired, he and his manager Herb Cohen set up Bizarre Records. This gave them total control over their own packaging and music. Major distribution was needed, so they chose Reprise, Frank Sinatra’s label which had recently been acquired by Warner Brothers. Hot Rats was the second album to be accredited to Frank Zappa, he used a 16-track recorder and state-of-the-art production techniques, making this a musicial extravaganza with phenomenal sound and detail. Indeed, Zappa was one of the first to utilise multi-track techniques to get real stereo effects from a drum kit on to a record. It proved a successful album in the UK, but mysteriously was a relative failure in his native US. This is high-octane jazz-rock, a predominately instrumental album and (for me anyway) one of the greatest ever made. To make it, Zappa called upon the services of some of the great musicians of the West Coast. Don ‘Sugarcane’ Harris features on electric violin with some blistering solos as does French violin virtuoso Jean luc Ponty. Also featured are veteran bassist Max Bennett, John Guerin, a young drummer who had been working with Tom Scott on fusing rock and jazz, also with Shuggy Otis, Ron Selico and Paul Humphrey. Zappa supplied himself with the finest rhythm section he could get. The other hugely important presence was fellow-Mothers of Invention member Ian Underwood, who played keyboards and electric saxophones. This is one of Underwood’s finest moments recording with Zappa, his blistering electric saxophone solo on ‘The Gumbo Variations’ takes the breath away. Last but not least, there is a cameo performance from Don van Vliet, better-known as Captain Beefheart on vocals for ‘Willie the Pimp’ the lyrics of which are derived from an interview Zappa conducted with a New York-based groupie named Annie. Zappa himself plunges into a virtuoso guitar solo. His wah-wah pedal make the notes talk, but amongst the frenzy there remains a marvellous coherent melody throughout. Frank dubbed in percussion, chains, castanets that added that extra fizz and Underwood is credited for playing ‘organus maximus’ which is a pipe organ. Unfortunately, too much of these details are lost on the CD versions I have heard.

The cover is as famous as the music: it features Christine Frka (Miss Christine) of the infamous GTO’s, lurking inside a disused swimming pool in Beverly Hills. A striking image that was seen under many an arm in the heady days of the late 1960s. She is often credited as the inspiration for the Alice Cooper look, both recorded on Zappa’s Straight label. A notably thin Czech girl, she sadly she died in 1972. ‘Hot Rats’ charted at No. 9 in the UK and a miserly 173 in the United States. A work of genius that must have opened many eyes, ears and minds on issue. Even non-Zappa fans who simply never understood his music usually appreciate this album. Anyone who likes the sound of the electric guitar cannot fail to be impressed by this blistering set. Some rock guitarists have been quoted as saying Hot Rats contains impossible to play guitar chords, well this great man played them, and how. This easily ranks in my top 10 greatest albums ever made, I never tire listening to it and this impressive original does it strong justice. It plays beautifully and I heard nothing at all to fault with all the detail, warmth and dynamics of a master-recording. This a gateway into Zappa’s recording studio itself and no other formats will better it. The great feeling of holding and playing a first-pressed ‘Hot Rats’ is a pleasure in itself. There will never be a better way to enjoy the king of the bizarre than on record – a timeless excursion into Frank’s world of jazz-rock, the word ‘masterpiece’ is often overused, but not in this case. If you have not experienced the world of Zappa, there is no better place to start – but be warned – this man’s music is highly addictive and his catalogue vast.

Cover Grade and Format: EXCELLENT(+): An unlaminated gatefold format with a matt, smooth surfaces. Printed and made in England by MacNeill Press, it has the correct RSLP 6356 catalogue number. The original polylined inner sleeve is included.

Cover Front: One of rock’s most famous and well-known front covers – this seen to high advantage on this very fine example. Always prone to wear and never laminated, but any grubbiness, rubbing or creasing little and light with no sticker issues or fading. A light and small rub on the top right corner tip and minor grubbiness on the white areas that so few can hope to avoid totally. The quite creepy graphics of Miss Christine look fantastic as seen. Overall, this front gives scant clues of age and I can hardly believe this classic is now around 52-years-old.

Cover Back: In terms of lack of wear, this back is one of the finest I have seen, it so often suffers deep penetrating, ugly ring wear which this one has avoided with any creasing or blemishes very few, light and faint. A very fine back to match an overall impressive front.

Cover Inner Gatefold: The inside is very impressive with barely anything to fault. Note the close-up of the great Captain Beefheart circa his classic 1969 Trout Mask Replica era. Two of the greatest musical minds of the 20th-century, both sadly gone and much missed.

Top Edges: Both straight, flat and flush. Any of the little rubbing very patchy and mostly light.

Bottom Edges: Overall quite similar to above, some more consistent rubbing on the printed back edge, but in context for a storage edge, this is relatively light.

Right Edge(s), and Type: The closed front edge remains generally sharp and neat. The rear opening edges also have only minimal, very patchy light traces of thickening and have fared exceptionally well. The inside one especially, virtually as sharp as day of manufacture.

Spine and Text: The black surface spine has always been prone to wear, this has little with little rubbing, any traces small and light. Solid, straight with minimal compression or tilt. Folded squarely, so the edges meet up flush and parallel. The text all strong and impressive with any rub clipping tiny and light, as seen, this is still very easily read and neat overall. Again, a spine that seldom survives the years this well with many eroded and tatty.

Corners: Generally, only modest and small, quite mild tip rubs with fine to very fine shape retained.

Cover Summary: One of rock’s most famous covers and this is a splendid example giving only polite hints of it’s considerable age. No disputing the vintage of this one: RSLP covers were gone by 1971. This should please many collectors.

The Inner Sleeve: NEAR EXCELLENT: a polylined white inner that has quite gently aged with the right corners neatly crease-folded, this often done by the more careful owner to stop the record sliding out. Other creasing or crinkle, generally light only. The window circle crisp and neat with no tears, the lining fresh and still clear, and all edges naturally intact. This is UK patented 1,072,844 with ‘Foreign Patents Pending’ text.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: EXCELLENT: with any surface marks very fine, quite wispy and faint as seen critically under bright light. No penetrating stylus scratches, viewed in average room little even registers. Clean with fine shine and solidly pressed. This plays impressively with all the original details intact, and importantly, present. Most of the CD and digital versions I have heard have disappointed, lacking bass and the sound altered with many of the percussion details muted or even missing. One of rock’s most amazing experiences that pushed sound and engineering technology, at the time, near to its limits. For the ‘early-bird’ Zappa fans who bought this from the back end of the 1960s into the early 1970s, most played it into submission – imagine the thrill of hearing this masterpiece for the first time. No other format gives the thrill of a tri-coloured first pressing. Hardly any surprise it has acquired ‘Classic Album’ status and it remains one of the greatest ever made. This contains musicianship, composition and sound of the highest possible calibre and few would have even known the brilliance of this long-haired ‘weird’ American at this time. Visually, a record to please many collectors.

Album Played For Grading: Yes. [I play ALL records I offer before submitting to Ebay, also the record is played in its entirety unless clearly stated otherwise.

Sound Quality & Audio Grading – The Hot Rats Hi-Fi Experience: This copy plays very well and even above its visual with little to fault – crank this up and prepare to be thrilled. Cleanly pressed to offer all the detail and dynamics*. Both channels are clean and sharp, the sound and production are up there with the very best from this period with stunning stereo separation and detail. Zappa spared no expense in recording this classic, he was a sound perfectionist and only wanted the highest quality possible. His ‘solo’ masterpiece, the sonic delivery of the music defies it’s substantial age. With the highest possible technology of the day utilised, this has not aged at all and will better anything the digital age has to offer. It makes worthy systems excel with high quality and beautifully produced sound and warmth. The delicate high frequencies of the electric violins, percussion and winds simply rasp and fizz from the speakers. Zappa’s frenzied and blistering guitar work is heard to maximum effect and this will leave fans wanting more. What set’s this analogue recording apart are the bass-lines which are full-bodied and deep and fully focused, and more importantly – present! The CD versions are leaner and lack that vital depth and power. Beefheart’s cameo role on ‘Willie the Pimp’ is famous as he shrieks Hot Meat, Hot Raaaaattttzzzzz, Hot Zitz, Hot Wrists, Hot Ritz, Hot Roots, Hot Sooooottts… this is the album’s only vocal track and it Fizzzessssss, the man’s voice totally unique and seldom sounding better. Nothing beats an original copy – a stepping-stone to his more challenging works. They do not make records like this any more and the spirit of this much-missed musical genius lives on in this monumental work. My musical world has never been quite the same since his sad and untimely death.

His Legacy: Frank Zappa issued over 60+ official albums in his own lifetime – now expanded to well over 100 official albums – and most I consider essential. Sadly leaving us too young, it’s such a shame his work, music and talent was only recognised by many after his loss, but not unusual for a genius in the arts. But for lifelong fans, his name was known from his early years and lives on forever. With more and more music fans still discovering the master guitarist and musician’s work, this is the ideal place to start. The greatest entertainer in rock will always live on.

* As played on my Pro-Ject Turntable with Ortofon Blue Cartridge tracking at 2 grams, Naim SuperNait 2 Amp and Spendor A7 speakers.